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Water in Karst Hydrosystems Unsaturated Zone; MRS Evidences within an

Integrated Hydrogeophysical Approach

Conference Paper · September 2014

DOI: 10.3997/2214-4609.20142013

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Water in karst hydrosystems unsaturated zone; Magnetic Resonance Sounding evidences within
an integrated hydrogeophysical approach.

Konstantinos Chalikakis, Simon Carrière, Naomi Mazzilli, Charles Danquigny, Anatoly Legchenko
and Christophe Emblanch

Abstract

Karst unsaturated zone (UZ) is recognized to play a key role in karst hydrosystems recharge and
contaminant attenuation processes. Its characteristics are identified as an important factor for karst
groundwater vulnerability assessment and resource management. A large scale hydrogeophysical
experiment was undertaken over the last 4 years combining several surface-based geophysical
methods and measuring techniques in a unique experimental site within the Fontaine de Vaucluse
(FDV) hydrosystem in southern France. The aim was to apprehend the UZ structure and functioning
of typical urgonian karstified mediterranean limestone. Geological structure is being well recognized
by electrical, electromagnetic and seismic measurements. Magnetic Resonance Sounding (MRS)
results clearly identify water presence and evidence seasonal variations within the karst UZ. Due to
these results a conceptual hydrogeological model is proposed. On May-June 2014 a drilling campaign
is being programmed and a cross-validation of the MRS results is also planned.

20th European Meeting of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics

Athens, Greece, 14-18 September 2014
Introduction

Karst aquifers contain important groundwater resources, mainly around the Mediterranean Sea but
their complexity in terms of functioning and structure complicates water exploitation and protection.
The structure of karst hydrosystems is complex and the related hydrodynamic functioning mechanism
can be highly heterogeneous in both the unsaturated and saturated zones (e.g. Bakalowitz, 2005, Ford
and Williams, 2007). Thus, a suitable characterization of this heterogeneity in the karst environment is
important but still very challenging for surface-based geophysical methods and the choice of adequate
methods remains mainly site related (Chalikakis et al., 2011).

Karst unsaturated zone (UZ) is recognized to play a key role in karst hydrosystems recharge and
contaminant attenuation processes (Lastennet et al., 1995). It can store large amount of water and
provide almost half of the total discharge at a karst outlet (e.g. Emblanch et al., 2003). Its
characteristics are identified as an important factor for karst groundwater vulnerability assessment and
resource management.

A large scale experiment was undertaken over the last 4 years combining geological and
hydrogeological observations with several surface-based geophysical methods (Carrière, 2014). The
study took place in the Low-Noise Underground Research Laboratory (LSBB - http://www.lsbb.eu)
within the Fontaine de Vaucluse (FDV) karst hydrosystem, a unique experimental site with direct
access to the UZ. The aim was to provide a comprehensive understanding of karst UZ both structure
and functioning and to develop accordingly an integrated hydrogeophysical approach.

Experimental site

The FdV karst hydrosystem is located in south-eastern France and the catchment basin is about
1115km² (Puig, 1987). The FdV spring (quite unique outlet of the system) is the biggest karst outlet in
Europe with an average discharge of 19m3/s from 1970 to 2006 (Cognard-Plancq, 2006). An
important part of the karst hydrosystem is developed in the low Cretaceous limestone (Urgonian)
described in details by Masse (1976).

(a)
(b)

Figure 1 A simplified schema of Fontaine de Vaucluse karst hydrosystem and LSBB experimental site
(Carrière, 2014) and its location in France

The LSBB is an underground gallery having been dug for a military purpose and converted into a
research laboratory in 1997. It is located near Rustrel village, in the southern part of the FdV
catchment area (Fig.1). The tunnel is 3.8 km long with a diameter varying between 2 and 4 m. As the
gallery comes across the karstified limestones, the fault throws and the fault networks, it also
intersects arbitrarily some flow paths throughout the UZ. The study took place at the western part of

20th European Meeting of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics

Athens, Greece, 14-18 September 2014
the LSBB where such a permanent water flow is observed within the tunnel located only at 35m
below the surface.

Local Unsaturated Zone structure

Detailed geological and geomorphological characterization of the experimental site combined with
several electrical, electromagnetic, seismic and gravimetry investigations allowed obtaining a
comprehensive knowledge of UZ structure (Carrière, 2014). For example, Electrical Resistivity
Tomography (ERT) and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) provided an enhanced characterization of
karst near surface features at several scales (Carrière et al., 2013). It is important to mention that the
geomorphological conditions and soil occupation (typical dense shrubby Mediterranean forest) on the
site were not very favorable for surface-based geophysical acquisition.

Based on these results several hypotheses regarding water presence within karst UZ have been framed
(Carrière et al., 2013) but no direct links could be established between the hydrogeological
observation at the flow point within the LSBB tunnel and the geophysical results. In order to propose
a complete hydrogeological conceptual schema of karst UZ structure, two MRS campaigns were
performed.

Magnetic Resonance Soundings suitability and results

As compared to other non-invasive surface-based geophysical methods, the MRS method (see
Legchenko et al., 2002) is directly sensitive to groundwater and consequently, MRS is very well
suited to hydrogeological characterization. However the majority of MRS applications on karst
systems (eg., Vouillamoz et al., 2003, Boucher et al., 2006, Legchenko et al., 2008) have been
devoted to the investigation of the saturated zone properties.

(c)

Figure 2 (a) MRS results and (b) MRS water content for soundings S1 and S2; (c) Total porosity of
Urgonian facies measured in small outcropping samples (after Guglielmi, 2010; the red rectangle
emphasize the MRS investigated zone within the lithological column.

20th European Meeting of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics

Athens, Greece, 14-18 September 2014
Mazzilli et al, (2014) assess the potential of MRS to characterize karst UZ in the Larzac dolomitic
plateau (Southern France). The results demonstrate the potential of MRS measurements for estimating
water storage in accordance with the geological features.

Two MRS campaigns were performed in the LSBB experimental sites (July 2011 and February 2012)
with a total of 8 MRS soundings. The hydrogeophysical parameters derived from the magnetic
resonance signal are the volumetric MRS water content (θMRS), the longitudinal relaxation times (T1)
and the observed transverse relaxation time (T2*) versus depth. Both the T1 and T2* are influenced by
the pore size and by the saturation since water remains close to the rock in unsaturated media. In
carbonate rocks the subsurface is composed of limestone and dolomite that have very low magnetic
susceptibility and therefore T2* relaxation time can be safely used in the present study.

MRS results clearly evidence water presence within the UZ (Fig.1a). The estimated MRS water
content varying from 4 to 11% (Fig.1b) and seems to be in accordance with previous petrophysical
measurements obtained in small outcropping samples (Fig.1c) of the Urgonian facies (Guglielmi,
2010). However, the up scaling link of the both types of measurements is not straightforward due to
the significant difference of the measuring volume.

The observed transverse relaxation time (T2*) values varies from 50ms to 190ms in difference
soundings and several times in depth within the same MRS sounding. This can be related to the
important spatial lithological variability of the Urgonian facies. In addition, these T2* values are in
accordance with measurements in other carbonate rocks (e.g. Mazzilli et al., 2014) and low yielding
fractured rocks (e.g. Vouillamoz et al., 2012).

Finally, MRS recognizes a significant seasonal variation of MRS water content between the two
campaigns (Fig. 1b), never observed before in karstified rocks. This variation is observed differently
between the MRS soundings that can be probably related to the spatial heterogeneity of geological
facies. In addition, the MRS seasonal variation seems identifying two different levels: one near the
surface and above the tunnel (located at 35m) and the other just below the tunnel (Fig.1b). The first
level is in accordance with the hydrogeological observations of the water flow point inside the tunnel.
The second level with more important MRS water content variations (± 5-6%) can be interpreted as
the main water storage within the karst UZ. However, further MRS measurements and a cross-
validation with drilling results are needed.

Conclusions and perspectives

MRS results clearly recognize water presence and suggest even seasonal variations within the karst
hydrosystem UZ. These results complete successfully the integrated hydrogeophysical approach
aiming to investigate and improve actual knowledge in karst hydrosystems UZ. According to MRS
and previous hydrogeophysical results a conceptual hydrogeological model is proposed.

However, MRS method evidence at this type of environment several limiting factors; for instance the
small Signal to Noise ratio (S/N) and the equivalency issues in MRS data inversion. Actually progress
in the signal acquisition are being made that significantly improve S/N ratio. For MRS equivalence
issues in karst UZ a control point (eg. borehole) is necessary.

On May-June 2014 a drilling campaign is being programmed to confirm hydrogeophysical hypotheses

and the associated conceptual model of karst UZ. A cross-validation of the MRS results is also
attended at two different scales (field measurements and core samples) in terms of karst UZ
hydrogeological properties.

References

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20th European Meeting of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics

Athens, Greece, 14-18 September 2014
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20th European Meeting of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics

Athens, Greece, 14-18 September 2014

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