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Detection of underground cavities by combining gravity, magnetic and ground penetrating radar surveys: a case study from the Zaragoza area, NE Spain

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

A geophysical survey routine is proposed to detect underground cavities and dolines; it is based on the sequential application of magnetic, low-frequency ground penetrating radar (GPR) and microgravity techniques. A case study near Zaragoza (Ebro valley, Spain) demonstrates the applicability of these methods. The strong contrast of magnetic and electromagnetic properties (and to a lesser scale, of density) between the doline filling and the surrounding stratified Tertiary and Quaternary rocks allows the shape of filled cavities to be clearly outlined by these methods.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are very grateful to J. Busby, P. Williamson, A.H. Cooper and F. Gutiérrez for their careful revision of the manuscript; J.J. Curto from the “Observatori magnètic de l’Ebre” for providing diurnal variation data and J.J. Villalaín from the Paleomagnetic Laboratory (Burgos University) for the remanence measurements. This work was supported by projects from the Spanish Ministry of Sciences and Technology (PROFIT: FIT-310200-2004-181). E.L.P. was supported by a “Ramon y Cajal” research position (MEC). Research granted by equipment projects funded by the Universidad of Zaragoza, project DGES BTE2002-04168-C03-01, Spanish Ministry of Education, Aragón Government support to Geotransfer research group, funds from the Instituto Geológico y Minero de España and Elf-exploration-production, and project PM045 from the Aragón Government.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dpto. de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad de Zaragoza, Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain

    T. Mochales, A. M. Casas, O. Pueyo, M. T. Román, A. Pocoví & M. A. Soriano

  2. Geologia y Geofísica Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, F. el Católico 59, 4C, 50006, Zaragoza, Spain

    E. L. Pueyo

  3. ARCOTECNOS S.A. Polígono Molino del Pilar, Cno. de los Molinos S/N, c/ B, nave 68, 50015, Zaragoza, Spain

    D. Ansón

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  1. T. Mochales
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  2. A. M. Casas
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Correspondence to T. Mochales.

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Mochales, T., Casas, A.M., Pueyo, E.L. et al. Detection of underground cavities by combining gravity, magnetic and ground penetrating radar surveys: a case study from the Zaragoza area, NE Spain. Environ Geol 53, 1067–1077 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-0733-7

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