How is a sinkhole caused and /or formed?
Sinkholes are caused when rocks underground (ex. limestone, carbonate rock, salt beds) are naturally dissolved by water circulating through them. Water washes away the soil and residue from the voids in the rock. As the rock dissolves, caverns and spaces begin to develop underground, as the space underground enlarges the earth above can crack and sink into the vacant space underground. Any changes in the water system can cause the ground to become unstable and could lead to sinkholes. Some examples of this are the ground freezing and thawing, change in water tables, extremes in precipitation, etc… Diagram courtesy of watermatters.org diagram courtesy of www.depweb.state.pa.us Processes carried out by humans also have an effect on the formation of sinkholes. The presence of sinkholes has been correlated to land-use practices; such as: Ground-water pumping Construction New home development practices Changes to natural water draining patterns Mining (abandoned mines) Drilling water well
