26 Applied Geophysical Survey Methods and Mapping in the Southeast

Friday, 21 March 2025
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Alleghany A

CONDUCTING ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY TOMOGRAPHY ABOVE THE GRAND CAVERNS CAVE SYSTEM ON CAVE HILL

Paper number: 26-4
Program: Theme Sessions
Time: 8:45 AM – 9:00 AM

Authors

  • James Fuller Presenting Author
    James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

Abstract

Grand Caverns, located in the southeastern Shenandoah Valley, is the oldest continuously operating show cave in the United States. Cave Hill, within which the caverns are located, is characterized by a complex karst landscape, facilitating the development of the extensive cave passageways within the Grand Caverns system. This study focuses on the connections between surface features (specifically sinkholes) on Cave Hill and the cave systems below.

Sinkholes serve as recharge zones for groundwater infiltration and play a significant role in shaping subsurface groundwater flow within karst. Investigating these features provides essential insights into the hydrogeologic dynamics of the Grand Caverns system. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is used to collect resistivity profiles along sinkholes and other key surface features, enabling the interpretation of subsurface structures and the identification of voids, saturated zones, and potential water pathways. The ERT results highlight the intricate relationship between surface features and the underlying karst geology, revealing how these features influence subsurface hydrology.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 57, No. 2

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025SE-407969

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