Use of electrical resistivity tomography to reduce landfill siting risks in the south-central kentucky karst

Abstract Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) can be a key tool for aiding in characterization of karst geohazard risks at proposed landfill sites. This study is proximal to the south-central Kentucky karst and Mammoth Cave National Park and possesses siliciclastic cap rock upland areas that pose relatively high groundwater-contamination risks due to adjacent ravines floored by carbonates. Complex stratigraphy associated with the Mississippian-Pennsylvanian unconformity and juxtaposition of heterolithic sedimentary rocks in general presents further challenges for demarcating hydrogeological characterization of the base of engineered landfills. A conceptual site model integrates ERT surveying and field geology that both satisfactorily characterize the site and risks to groundwater resources without conducting multiple borings. The proposed landfill site is compared to well-known and mapped caves at a landfill near Bowling Green, Crumps Cave near Smiths Grove, and River Styx Spring at Mammoth Cave. Our work entails review of ERT datasets at known cave sites and compares these to two ERT profiles that traversed the proposed landfill site, which are integrated with study of outcrops, and an excavated pit and trench. ERT data range from several low 10 s to about 400 Ω-meter values for mud rock units whereas sandy units possess ERT values from approximately 500 to several tens of thousands of Ω meters. The greatest values are indicative of basal Pennsylvanian Caseyville Sandstone, and these exceed 32,000Ω meters. In comparison, ERT values at known cave sites range from one to 100,000 Ω meters, with elevated, dry rock or possibly dry (air filled) caves interpreted from the greatest values and low values reflective of conductive underground cave streams and moist caves. An unexpected challenge specific to the Hart County landfill study includes occurrence of well-drained and highly weathered Caseyville at the highest elevations of the site causing increased electrical contact resistance during ERT surveying. The overall ERT contrast however, between quartz-rich and clay poor strata (high-resistivity rocks and regolith) and clay-rich strata (low-resistivity rocks) provides independent data consistent with the observed stratigraphy exposed in site exposures. Nonuniqueness of conductive intervals at the Hart County site contrasts with other conductive areas at depth associated with moist or wet cave passages as documented at Crumps Cave and Mammoth Cave.