The detection and mapping of subterranean water bearing channels - phase 2

Students supported: 4 Student Assistants"The research conducted under this Grant was directed towards the development of a method for the detection and delineation of subterranean cavities. Such cavities in the carbonaceous rocks of Missouri form a vast system of interconnected channels available for the transport of ground water. These channels play an important role in the water resources of Missouri and also constitute an undesirable means of transport and dissemination of polluted waters from mining districts and heavily populated areas. Such transport systems offer little opportunity for water purification by the natural process of filtering, and such waters may be transported over considerable distances with little change in their polluted state. Prior to this Grant, a reliable method for even the detection of large cavern structures like Onondaga Cave was unknown. Past attempts at cavity detection span a broad spectrum of geophysical exploration methods. While most of these attempts have yielded some degree of success, the general consensus of the authors has been that conventional geophysical approaches to the problem do not appear adequate."--Introduction.Project # B-087-MO Agreement # 14-31-000