Natural Hazards 15: 2130, 1997. c 1997 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.

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Karst Hazard Assessment of Eastern Saudi Arabia

AMMAR A. AMIN and KHALID A. BANKHER
Faculty of Earth Sciences, King Abdul Aziz University, P.O. Box 1744, Jeddah 21441, Saudi Arabia (Received: 10 August 1995; in nal form: 23 May 1996) Abstract. Karst phenomena exist in areas in the eastern part of Saudi Arabia, forming solution features such as sinkholes, collapsed dolines and solution caverns, as a result of the chemical leaching of the carbonate and evaporite formations by percolating water. The instability of these karst phenomena could produce land subsidence problems. This paper reviews the geology of documented karstic rock units in Saudi Arabia and proposes a simple engineering classication of the solution features characteristic of limestone. Two case histories in the Dhahran area, eastern Saudi Arabia, will be used as examples for the application of a modied engineering classication. Key words: karst, sinkhole, collapsed dolines, cavern, swallowhole, shaft, geographic area.

1. Introduction Karst phenomena exist over large areas of the eastern and southwestern western part of Saudi Arabia, as shown in Figure 1, forming solution features such as sinkholes, collapsed dolines and caverns. Caves are repositories for sediments moved in to form the surface and also for sediments derived from within the cave. The disposition, sedimentary structure and mineralogy of these sediments can be used to interpret the deposition environments of the sediments as well as the mechanisms of deposition (Trudgill, 1985). The landforms are particularly associated with carbonate and evaporite formations of the Arab, Hith, Sulaiy, Umm er Radhuma, Rus, Dammam; Dam, and Salt dome formations (Powers et al., 1966; Al Sayari and Zotl, 1978; Jado and Johnson, 1983; Grosch et al., 1987; Erol, 1989; Edgell, 1990; Shehata et al., 1990; and Vaslet et al., 1991). A good example is Dahl Hit, which is about 35 km southeast of Riyadh. Here the soluble anhydrite of the uppermost Jurassic Hith formation has been dissolved into prominent sinkholes. These karst features were probably developed during the Pliocene or Pleistocene time when heavy rainfall occurred (Al Sayari and Zotl, 1978; Jado and Johnson, 1983). These cavities and cavern systems can be quite large and pose hazards to construction (Trudgill, 1985). 2. Distribution of Karst Terrains in Saudi Arabia The karstic areas are situated in the Arabian shelf which overlies the bedrock of the Arabian shield rocks. Rock units of the Arabian shelf appear in the form of arcs or belts which consist of successive formations of various ages from Cambrian to

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Figure 1. Sketch geologic map showing the outcropping of karstic rock units in the central and eastern regions of Saudi Arabia.

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Quaternary. Table I showing that these rocks are locally covered by belts of sand dunes in northern, central and southern Saudi Arabia. The geology of central and eastern Saudi Arabia has been adequately covered by several authors (Steineke et al., 1958; Powers et al., 1966; Vaslet et al., 1991). The following is a summary of the documented karstied formations of upper Jurassic to Pliocene age. From bottom to top, the formations are: 2.1. ARAB AND HITH FORMATIONS The Arab formation consists of a 124 m thick complex of limestone and anhydrite. This formation is subdivided into four formal members from Arab-D at the bottom to Arab-A at the top. Each member corresponds to a sedimentologic sequence of shallow-water marine calcarenitic and micritic limestone, calcarenite, dolomite and anhydrite. The Hith formation overlies the Arab formation with 90 m thick massive anhydrite. This formation outcrops with swallow holes (a typical section is located at Dahl Hit 35 km southeast of Riyadh with a large swallow hole about 120 m deep and 60 m in diameter). The main feature of these units originally consisting of anhydrite rocks of the Arab and Hith formations, have been transformed to gypsum resulting in many swallow holes and solution cavities, and very intense brecciation and mixing, particularly in the Arab formations. The karst features of the Arab and Hith formations provide sinkholes (Uyun) for aquifers used in Al Kharj and Al Aaj areas. 2.2. SULAIY FORMATION This formation consists of 170 m of tan, chalky, massively bedded, micritic limestone, calcarenitic limestone and calcarenite. The lower part of the formation is dislocated and has collapsed into the Hith anhydrite-Arab formation producing solution breccias, and forming huge collapse structures. 2.3. UMM ER RADHUMA FORMATION This formation consists of 243 m of light-colored foraminiferal micritic and calcarenitic limestone, dolomitic limestone, dolomite and chert. This thick complex of limestone is strongly karstied. The karst features usually lie below the surface, to depths of more than 50 m, where only the openings of shafts and caves (Dahl) are visible. The karst phenomena are structurally controlled by the orientation of the major vertical joint striking with N 30 E, N 40 W, and a less well-developed striking with N 75 E. 2.4. RUS, DAMMAM, AND DAM FORMATION These consist of 56 m of marl, chalky limestone, and shale in the Rus formation, 33 m of marl, limestone, chalky limestone, dolomite, and shale in the Dammam

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Table I. Lithostratigraphy of the cover rock of Saudi Arabia (after Powers et al., 1966).

formation, and 91 m of marl, shale, sandstone, chalky limestone, and coquina in the Dam formation. These formations contain solution cavities which are controlled by predominant joints with orientations of N 5060 W and N 60 E. Cavities tend

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to follow these joints in the formations. Karst features have been noted throughout the chalky limestone of the Umm er Radhuma, Rus, Dammam, Dam formations (Al Sayari and Zotl, 1978; Jado and Johnson, 1983; Grouch et al., 1987; Edgell, 1990; Shehata et al, 1990). Dammam formation provides conduits for the aquifers used in the Qatif and Khobar areas , and the karst of the Dam formation, which is extensive in both vertical and horizontal directions, provides channels supplying the springs of Hofuf (Grosch et al., 1987). 3. Karst Cycle Cvijic (1918) was one of the rst to develop the concept of cycles of karst erosion, and distinguished ve important conditions: a thick and extensive mass of limestone, an underlying impermeable layer, a surface layer of impermeable rock on which the stream pattern was initiated, a geological succession above sea level, and sufcient time for the full cycle to be developed. Sparks (1961) produced an idealized diagram of karst development where at the youthful stage the upper impermeable layer is removed by surface streams owing through normal valleys before disappearing into stream sinks. Maturity is reached when all rivers have gone underground. Late stage maturity is achieved when the underground streams reach the impermeable underlying stratum and the cave roofs collapse. At the old stages, all large cave roofs have collapsed and the drainaged water reappears at the surface on the exposed underlying impermeable bed. Finally, the limestone cover is reduced to a few residual hills. In terms of this cycle, the degree of karst development in Saudi Arabia may be classied as a youthful to mature stage. 4. Proposed Engineering Classication for Karst Features in Saudi Arabia Fookes and Hawkins (1988) proposed a classication scheme for the solution of limestone. Figure 2 shows the ve main classes which represent a progressive series of solution features and can occur in an idealized cycle of erosion in limestone. In this paper, trials were made to apply the classication scheme to some case histories in Saudi Arabia. In the modied classication, as shown in Figure 3, the same ve classes represent the stages of solution features under an idealized cycle of solution in karstic terrains. As such, they are not necessarily intended to represent the progressive evolution in any one situation, but rather a generally applicable classication system based on a straightforward development of limestone solution features. Clearly, conditions will differ from area to area, depending on a variety of factors such as the acidity of the cover soil, hydraulic parameters of the bedrock, the shape of solution features and the type and purity of the karstic rocks. The sketch proles and descriptions in Figure 3 are an attempt to bring together a series of allied features that are typical of a particular class. Each class has been given a simplied outline scheme which should be considered at the site investigation stage.

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Figure 2. Proposed engineering classication for crystalline limestone terrain in temperate latitude, suggestions for site investigation and possible foundation considerations (after Fookes and Hawkins, 1988).

5. Case Histories The main case histories in Saudi Arabia presented relate directly to problems encountered during road or building construction in the Dhahran area (see Figure 4) of the eastern part of Saudi Arabia. 5.1. KING FAHAD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS (KFUPM), DHAHRAN Jado and Johnson (1983) describe two caves or solution cavities which were discovered during excavation for new buildings on the campus of the university in late April 1981. The caves were never open to the surface but appeared after their tops were cut off by removal of several meters of overlying limestone. In each cavern, a roughly circular chimney extended 1 to 2 m above the main chamber, and when the tops of the chimneys were cut, openings about 1 m across appeared. The caverns were found to be lenticular cavities 1 to 2 m wide, 3 to 5 m high, and several meters long. Cave No. 1, contained a single chamber, but cave No. 2, contained two chambers joined by a constricted passage. There was also a narrow, boulder-choked passage continuing downward and southerly from the southern

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Figure 3. Modied engineering classication for karstic rock terrains in eastern Saudi Arabia.

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Figure 4. Simplied geologic map of Dhahran and surrounding areas (after Jado and Johnson, 1983).

chamber for a distance of more than 3 m. The caverns were completely dry and the air inside was quite humid. In both caves there was a pile of rubble immediately under the opening. Each pile represented collapse fragments and residuals from the solution chimney above. The walls of the caverns were coated from the oor nearly to the roof with a layer of white, nely crystalline gypsum 3 cm thick. The caverns are believed to have formed during a period of high rainfall, probably during the late Pliocene or Pleistocene, large volumes of water percolated through the fractures downward to the water table. As the climate became more arid, solution stopped and, in places, slump and collapse breccia partially lled the cavern. However, the gypsum wall coatings probably formed later during wetter periods that correlate with the formation of fresh water lake deposits in the Rub al Khali. In cave No. 1, the major fracture appeared to strike N 50 W and dip 85 W. In cave No. 2, the attitude could not be measured, but appeared to be more or less parallel to the length of the cavern and near vertical. According to the descriptions, it is clear that a class IV condition exists (see Figure 3). 5.2. CONSTRUCTION SITE, NORTH DHAHRAN Grosch et al. (1987) present some case histories in eastern Saudi Arabia where cavities were discovered at a construction site. One of these cavern systems in the limestone of Dammam formation was detected on 20 June 1984, at the Aramco construction site, north of Dhahran. The oor of the cavern was lined with boulders and collapse debris. The cavern system consisted of several connecting chambers and passageways, whose height ranged from 1 to 3 m with 2 to 5 m of roof cover. Widths ranged from 1 to 9 m. Chimneys were observed to extend to within 1 m

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of the surface, and tunnels connected some of the chambers. The cavern system was completely dry, but the air in the chambers was humid. The orientation of this major axis of the system was approximately N 50 W, following one of the two major joint sets (N 5060 W and N 5060 E) which intersect over the caverns. The system was explored to a distance of 35 m. The chamber walls were completely covered with white crystalline gypsum and calcite deposits which were occasionally ironstained, up to 0.15 m thick. Stalagmites up to 0.3 m high and coated with gypsum crystals were observed in several chambers. A geophysical survey including electrical resistivity measurements was conducted in the area to determine the extent of the cave system and to locate any other cavities which may exist in the vicinity. The survey recorded four areas of high resistivity, but surprisingly did not measure a strong anomaly over the known cavern system. It is speculated that the high resistivity of the air-lled chambers was offset by the low resistivity of the gypsum lining. About 20 boreholes were drilled in the four areas of high resistivity, the results indicated highly fractured rock, but no sizeable solution cavities. Clearly this solution feature represents classes III to IV (see Figure 3). 6. Conclusion Karst phenomena exist over large areas in the eastern part of Saudi Arabia, forming solution features such as sinkholes, collapsed dolines and solution caverns in anhydrite and gypsum of the Arab and Hith formations, and chalky limestone of the Umm er Radhuma, Rus, Dammam, and Dam formations. Solution and collapsed cavities can be developed at any time in documented formations due to injecting waste water or uctuation of groundwater. The solution cavities pose a hazard to construction in central and eastern regions. The proposed modied engineering classication for karstic rock in Saudi Arabia needs more case histories and details of the nature of the geotechnical properties and on the stability of sinkholes. The mentioned case histories suggest that the degree of karstication in the eastern part of Saudi Arabia may refer to classes III to IV. References
Al Refeai, T. and Al Ghamdy, D.: 1994, Geological and geotechnical aspects of Saudi Arabia, Geotechnical and Geological Engineering 12, 253276. Al Sayari, S. S. and Zotl, J. G.: 1978, Quaternary period in Saudi Arabia, Vol. 1, Springer-Verlag, New York. Culshaw, M. G. and Waltham, A. C.: 1987, Natural and articial cavities as ground engineering hazards, Q. J. Eng. Geol., Long. 20, 139150. Cvijic, J.: 1918, Lhydrographie souterraine et l volution morphologique du karst, Rev. G ogr. Alp. e e 6, 375426. Edgell, H. S.: 1990, Karst in northeastern Saudi Arabia, J. King Abdul Aziz University 3, Special Issue: First Saudi Symposium on Earth Science, Jeddah, 1989, pp. 8194. Erol, A. O.: 1989, Engineering geological considerations in a salt dome region surrounded by sabkha sediments, Eng. Geol. 26, 215232. Fookes, P. and Hawkins, A.: 1988, Limestone weathering: its engineering signicance and a proposed classication scheme, Quar. J. Eng. Geol. London 21, 731.

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Grosch, J. J., Touma, F. T., and Richards, D. P.: 1987, Solution cavities in the limestone of eastern Saudi Arabia: in Beck and Wilson (eds.), Proc. Second Multidisciplinary Conference on Sinkholes and the Environmental Impacts of Karst in Karst Hydrology: Engineering and Environmental Applications, pp. 7378. Jado, A. R. and Johnson, D. H.: 1983, Solution caverns in the Dammam dome, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, Arabian Jour. Sci. Engng. 8, 6973. Powers, R. W., Ramires, L. F., Redmond, C. D., and Elberg, E. L.: 1966, Geology of the Arabian Peninsula: Sedimentary Geology of Saudi Arabia, U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 560-D. Shehata, W., Bader, T., and Harari, Z.: 1990, Principal geological hazards along the Arabian Gulf coast, J. King Abdul Aziz University 3, Special issue: First Saudi Symposium on Earth Science, Jeddah, pp. 289302. Sparks, B. W.: 1961, Geomorphology, Longman, London. Steineke, M., Bramkamp, R., and Sander, N.: 1958, Stratigraphic relations of Arabian Jurassic oil, American Association of Petroleum Geologists Symposium, Tulsa, U.S.A., pp. 12941329. Trudgill, S.: 1985, Limestone Geomorphology (ed. K. Clayton), Longman, London. White, W. B.: 1988, Geomorphology and Hydrology of Karst Terrains, Oxford University Press. Vaslet, D., Al Muallem, M., Maddah, S., Brosse, J., Fourniguet, J., Breton, J., and Le Nindre, Y.: 1991, Geologic map of the Ar Riyad quadrangle, sheet 241, scale 1 : 250,000 (including report), Saudi Arabian Directorate General of Mineral Resources, Geoscience map GM-121 C.