At the geophysical seminar held on May, 28, 2025, Il’ya Shaparenko, jr. rsearch scientist of the Laboratory of Electromagnetic Fields, IPGG SB RAS, presented results of the study of the structure of geological hazard development zones inferred from the electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) data, on the examples of fault structures in Gorny Altai (the Altai Mountains) and suffosion sinkholes (land surface collapsed into a void) in coastal zone of the Caspian Sea.
Il’ya Shaparenko
According to Il’ya Shaparenko, this research will contribute greatly to the knowledge about the structure of areas affected by such hazardous processes resulting in occurrence of faults in seismically active regions and suffosion sinkholes caused by natural phenomena (such as the dissolution of limestone) and human activities like mining, coal extraction etc.
Sinkholes may develop gradually (over months or years – due to suffosion or solution processes) or suddenly (surface collapse), posing serious risks to infrastructure and human safety. It stands to reason that studying these processes is critical for minimizing their devastating effects.
Results of I.O. Shaparenko's work allowed determining geoelectric characteristics of fault structures of different parts of intermountain depressions and their mountain framing in the Gorny Altai area. In addition, the probable cause of the formation of suffusion collapse sinkholes in the area of oil and gas condensate field in the Caspian Basin was established based on the analysis of geoelectric field models and geological data.
Y.K. Sovetov, V.V. Potapov, V.A. Cheverda
I.O. Shaparenko's presentation prepared on the materials of his dissertation for the Candidate of Science degree (PhD) in geology and mineralogy (specialty 1.6.9 - Geophysics) aroused great interest among the participants – IPGG researchers represented by M.I. Protasov, D Sc (phys.-math.), V.A. Kakulya (engineer), V.A. Cheverda, D Sc (phys.-math.), K.V. Sukhorukova, D Sc (Tech.), etc. Extensive comments were made by Y.K. Sovetov, PhD (geol.-mineral.), V.V. Olenchenko, PhD (geol.-mineral.), V.D. Suvorov, D Sc (geol.-miner.), E.V. Balkov, D Sc (Tech.), and N.N. Nevedrova, D Sc (geol.-mineral.), the scientific supervisor of the research work. Their valuable recommendations will be taken into account in the preparation for the thesis defense.
V.V. Olenchenko makes an elaborate overview of the research work
Published by IPGG Press Service