The Tunnels of All Dangers
The deadliest reported quarry collapse occurred in Courrières, France, on March 10, 1906. The accident claimed the lives of 1,099 miners.
The collapse of underground cavities is a concerning phenomenon that attracts significant global attention.
The formation and collapse of underground voids can have devastating consequences on infrastructure, human safety, and the environment.
It’s crucial to understand the causes of these collapses, as well as the management and prevention measures to mitigate the associated risks.
Definition and Causes of Collapses
Some quarry collapses can reach diameters of several hundred meters.
Cavity collapses refer to the sudden collapse or subsidence of an underground cavity, such as a cave, abandoned mine, tunnel, or gallery.
Various factors can cause these events:
Geological causes include the dissolution of soluble rocks, such as limestone, by groundwater. Over time, this dissolution…
