SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of geohazards of karstified limestone in Al-Coeffiah area, Benghazi plain, NE Libya

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Carbonates and Evaporites Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Al-Coeffiah karst terrain is located in Benghazi plain which is a part of Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar anticlinorium, northeast Libya. The exposed stratigraphic sequence of the area is largely represented by the Middle Miocene limestone rocks of Benghazi Formation. The area is affected by abundant karstic features such as caves and giant dolines with many subsurface voids and canal networks which extends for several kilometers. This research is based on field observations combined with analysis of high-resolution satellite imagery of Al-Coeffiah karst terrain. The main aim is to assess potential geohazards provided by the karst features, including (i) rock failure, (ii) groundwater pollution, and (iii) geochemical processes. The potential geohazards have been found to lies in the large caves at shallow depths such as Al-Jebah, Habibi, Merisi, and Boukarmah doline-caves. In addition, there is a greater geohazard in fractured karst terrains which are created by dolines in soft sediments. Chemical and bacteriological analyses indicate that the groundwater pollution in Al-Coeffiah area and its surrounding regions is considered as one of the most serious problems largely due to the seepage of sewage water through karst phenomena particularly during the last 10 years.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price includes VAT (France)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

Availability of data and materials

Not applicable.

References

  • Abd El-Wahed M, Kamh S (2013) Evolution of strike slip duplexes and wrench-related folding in the central part of Al Jabal Al Akhdar, NE, Libya. J Geol 121:173–195

  • Abd El Aal Kh A, Nabawy BS, Aqeel A, Abidi A (2020) Geohazards assessment of the karstified limestone cliffs for safe urban constructions, Sohag, West Nile Valley. Egypt. J Afr Earth Sci. 161:103671

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abdelmalik MB, El-Moursi ME, Salloum FM (2007) The Environmental impact of the karstic features of Ayn Zayanah—Kuwiffia sector, near Benghazi. Libya. Speleologia Iblea. 12:147–152 (Ragusa, Italy)

    Google Scholar 

  • Abdulsamad A, Bu-Argoub F, Tmalla A (2009) A stratigraphic review of the Eocene to Miocene rock units in the al Jabal al Akhdar, NE Libya. Mar Petrol Geol 26:1228–1239

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alshible M (2019) Geology of Ayn Al Majdoub Karstic Lake, Benghazi, NE Libya. Libyan J Sci Technol 9(1):93–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Anketell JM (1996) Structural history of Sirt basin and its relationship to the Sabratah basin and Cyrenaica Platform, northern Libya. In: Salem MJ, Busrewil MT, Misallati AA, Sola MA (eds) The geology of Sirt Basin, vol III. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 57–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Arsenikos S, de Lamotte DF, Chamot-Rooke N, Mohn G, Bonneau M-C, Blanpied C (2013) Mechanism and timing of tectonic inversion in Cyrenaica (Libya): integration in the geodynamics of the East Mediterranean. Tectonophysics 608(2013):319–329

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calò F, Parise M (2009) Waste management and problems of groundwater pollution in karst environments in the context of a post-conflict scenario: the case of Mostar (Bosnia Herzegovina). Habitat Int 33:63–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper AH, Farrant AR, Price SJ (2011) The use of karst geomorphology for planning, hazard avoidance and development in Great Britain. Geomorphology 134:118–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Covington MD, Wicks CM, Saar MO (2009) A dimensionless number describing the effects of recharge and geometry on discharge from simple karstic aquifers. Water Resour Res 45:1–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dreybrodt W (2004) Dissolution: evaporite and carbonate rocks. In: Gunn J (ed) Encyclopedia of Caves and Karst Science. Fitzroy Dearborn, New York, pp 295–300

    Google Scholar 

  • El Amawy MA, Muftah AM (2010) Karst development and structural relationship in the Tertiary rocks of the western part of Al Jabal al Akhdar, NE Libya: a case study in Qasr Libya area. Speleologia Iblea. 14:173–189

    Google Scholar 

  • El Arnauti A, Lawrence SR, Mansouri AL, Sengor AM, Soulsby AMC and Hassan H (2008) A structural style In NE Libya,Geology of East Libya. In: MJ Salem, A El-Arnauti and AS El-Hawat (eds) Geology of East Libya. 4: 153–178.

  • El-Ebaidi S, Muftah AM, Al Riaydh M (2019) Impacts of multi-pollution sources of groundwater on health and environment in Ras Almingar area, Benghazi-Libya. The Libyan Conference on Chemistry and Its Applications (LCCA 2019).

  • El Qot GM, Abdulsamad EO, El Fakhry A (2017) Shell concentrations from the Miocene Ar Rajmah Group at Soluq-Al Abyar road cut, southern Al Jabal Al Akhdar. NE Libya Arab J Geosci 10:47. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-016-2789-8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • El Rayani I (2021) Karstic features (field studies). Al Cwueffiah area, North east Benghazi, NE Libya. Unpublished M.Sc. Thesis. Faculty of Arts, Geography Dept, University of Benghazi

  • Elshaafi A, Gudmundsson A (2016) Volcano-tectonics of the Al Haruj Volcanic Province Central Libya. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 325:189–202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeres.2016.06.025

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elshaafi A, Bilal A, Awami Y, Salloum F (2021) Development of collapse dolines in Al Jabal Al Akhdar, NE Libya: geomorphic analysis and numerical modeling-based approach. Carbonates Evaporites 36(3):54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elshaafi A, Bilal A, Salloum F, Ruggieri R, El-Shawaihdi Moftah (2023) Hawa Fteah Collapse Doline-Cave in Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar Area, ne Libya: one of the Oldest Caves in North Africa and the Mediterranean Basin. Man and Karst 2022 International Scientific Conference. September 12th/17th 2022 Custonaci, Italy. XVII: 257–263

  • Eugeniusz K, Miszkowska A, Sieczka A (2017) Levels of organic pollution indicators in groundwater at the old landfill and waste management site. Appl Sci 7(6):638. https://doi.org/10.3390/app7060638Muftah

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Faraj HF, Salloum FM, Muftah AM, Bilal AA (2016) Unique dolines field in the area between Soluq and Msus, NE Libya: origin and distribution. 4th International Symposium, Karst Evolution in the South Mediterranean Area. Speleologia Iblea. XVI: 51–64. Ragusa, Italy.

  • Fleury S (2009) Land use policy and practice on karst terrains, living on limestone. Springer, New York, p 187

    Google Scholar 

  • Ford D (2007) Jovan Cvijić and the founding of karst geomorphology. Environ Geol 51:675–684

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ford D, Williams P (2007) Karst hydrogeology and geomorphology. Wiley and sons, Chichester, p 562

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Gabrovšek F, Romanov D, Dreybrodt W (2004) Early karstification in a dual-fracture aquifer: the role of exchange flow between prominent fractures and a dense net of fissures. J Hydrol 299:45–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guerre A (1980) Ayn Zayanah Project, Synthesis Report. Part1: Hydrogeological Appraisal; Pt. 2: Hydrological Analysis Annex I: Geophysical Survey; Annex 2: Report on Exploratory Drilling.Unpublished Rep., Secretariat of Dams and Water Resources, Tripoli. p 88

  • Gutiérrez F (2010) Hazards associated with karst. In: Alcántara I, Goudie A (eds) Geomorphological hazards and disaster prevention. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 161–175

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Gutiérrez F, Cooper AH (2013) Surface morphology of gypsum karst. In: Frumkin A (ed) Treatise on geomorphology Karst geomorphology, vol 6. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 425–437

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Gutiérrez F, Cooper AH, Johnson KS (2008) Identification, prediction and mitigation of sinkhole hazards in evaporite karst areas. Environ Geol 53:1007–1022

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gutiérrez F, Parise M, De Waele J, Jourde H (2014) A review on natural and human-induced geohazards and impacts in karst. Earth Sci Rev 138:61–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kačaroğlu F (1999) Review of groundwater pollution and protection in Karst areas. Water Air Soil Pollut 113:337–356. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005014532330

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klimchouk A, Andreychouk V (1996) Environmental problems in gypsum karst terrains. Int J Speleol 25:145–156

  • Muftah AM, Abdulsamad EO, Ali RA, And Alsonusi AH (2010) Stratigraphy-karst relationships in the Eocene—Miocene carbonates of Al Jabal al Akhdar (Cyrenaica, NE Libya). Speleologia Iblea, vol 14. Ragusa, pp 53–60

  • Onyango JA, Moses DN (2021) Karst-induced geohazards in Kenya’s coastal region: a case study of Vi**o coral limestone quarry. Eur J Environ Earth Sci. 2(5):5–17. https://doi.org/10.24018/ejgeo.2021.2.5.158

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pallas P (1980) Water resources of Libya in the 1970s and 1980s—Second symposium on the geology of Libya held at Tripoli. Academic Pres., p 539–593

  • Parise M (2007) Natural and anthropogenic hazards in karst areas: recognition, analysis and mitigation. In: Gunn J (ed) Geological Society of London, vol 279. Special Publications, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Parise (2008) Rock failures in karst. In Chen et al. (eds) Landslides and Engineered Slopes. Taylor & Francis Group, London, ISBN 978–0–415–41196–7

  • Parise M (2010) Hazards in karst. In: Bonacci O (ed) Proc. Int. Sc. Conf. “Sustainability of the Karst Environment, Dinaric Karst and Other Karst Regions”, Plitvice Lakes, Croatia, 23–26 September 2009, IHP-UNESCO, Series on Groundwater. 2:155–162.

  • Parise M (2015) Karst geo-hazards: casual factors and management issues. Acta Carsologica 44:401–414

    Google Scholar 

  • Parise M, Pascali V (2003) Surface and subsurface environmental degradation in the karst of Apulia (southern Italy). Environ Geol 44:247–256

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Richter D, Goeppert N, Zindler B et al (2021) Spatial and temporal dynamics of suspended particles and E. coli in a complex surface-water and karst groundwater system as a basis for an adapted water protection scheme, northern Vietnam. Hydrogeol J 29:1965–1978. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-021-02356-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Röhlich P (1978) Geological development of Jabal al Akhdar, Libya. Geol Rundsch 67:401–412

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruggieri R, Bambina A, Ingallinera A, Mazzara, Elshaafi A, Bilal A, Salloum Fathi, El-Shari Saad (2023) Karst of Cyrenaica: Second Phase of Research on Al Jabal Al Akhdar, North-East Libya. Man and Karst 2022 International Scientific Conference. September 12th/17th 2022 Custonaci, Italy. Vol. XVII.

  • Salloum FM, Al Amin AA, El-Shawaihdi MHE (2022) Impact of structural fabric on development of karst aquifer in Ayn Zayanah-Al Coeffiah area in Benghazi plain NE Libya. Carbonates Evaporites 37:65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-022-00811-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waltham T, Bell F, Culshaw M (2005) Sinkholes and subsidence: karst and cavernous rocks in engineering and construction. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Waltham T, Lu Z (2007) Natural and anthropogenic rock collapse over open caves. In: M Parise, J Gunn (eds) Natural and anthropogenic hazards in karst areas: recognition analysis and mitigation. Geol Soc Special publication, London. 279: 13–21.

  • White WB (1988) Geomorphology and hydrology of karst terrains. Oxford Univ, Press, p 464

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful for the logistic support from the University of Benghazi during the field visits. Staff members of Earth Sciences Department, University of Benghazi are thanked for their critical discussion on karst features and stratigraphy of Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar. We thank Dr. Rosario Ruggieri, the president of Hyblean Center of Speleo-Hydrogeological Research (CIRS), Ragusa, Italy, for his assistance during the field work as a part of the Cyrenaica Karst Project (CKP) and for the fruitful discussions during the preparation of this manuscript. We also thank the anonymous journal reviewers and the editor in Chief Prof. James W. LaMoreaux for their time and many helpful comments and suggestions.

Funding

Not applicable.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ministry of Education, Benghazi, Libya

    Entisar El-Rayani

  2. Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Benghazi, P.O.B. 1308, Benghazi, Libya

    Fathi Salloum, Abdelsalam Elshaafi, Awad Bilal & Khalifa Eldursi

Authors
  1. Entisar El-Rayani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Fathi Salloum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Abdelsalam Elshaafi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Awad Bilal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Khalifa Eldursi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

E.E., A.E. and A.B, wrote the first draft of the manuscript. K.E. and F.S. prepared the figures and filed photographs. E.E., A.E. A.B and F.S collected the field data and reviewed the manuscript. F.S. carried out the chemical analysis.K.E and A.E have prepared DEM maps and analysed them.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Awad Bilal.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

All authors declare that there is no known conflict of interest that may influence the work presented in this paper.

Ethical approval

Not applicable.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

El-Rayani, E., Salloum, F., Elshaafi, A. et al. Assessment of geohazards of karstified limestone in Al-Coeffiah area, Benghazi plain, NE Libya. Carbonates Evaporites 39, 23 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-024-00933-w

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-024-00933-w

Keywords

Search

Navigation