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ET Stays On The Reactor Case... | 361 comments (361 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)
Re: ET Stays On The Reactor Case... (4.00 / 4)
The characteristic feature of a karst is the likelihood  of caves and caverns. It is not that one cannot build on it, but it is prudent to see if there is a big cavern beneath your building site, especially if it is a nuclear reactor. If you have solid limestone all the way down to shale or granite you would be good to go. But if there is a big cavern or water filled void 500 feet down, not so much. And I was referring to Germany, but the same kind of geology in Florida gives rise to sinkholes, which would also be highly undesirable as a feature under a nuclear reactor.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Fri Mar 25th, 2011 at 11:29:49 PM EST
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Re: ET Stays On The Reactor Case... (none / 0)
I agree in that it all depends on the details. You obviously can build on it, since, as an example, all of Florida, except for the panhandle, is karst. And building over holes in the ground is not necessarily a bad thing (otherwise subways and the like wouldn't make much sense).
by Jace on Sat Mar 26th, 2011 at 02:12:48 PM EST
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Re: ET Stays On The Reactor Case... (none / 1)
A subway train falling into a hole isn't going to contaminate the sub-surface water supply of the city for tens of thousands of years.

She believed in nothing; only her skepticism kept her from being an atheist. -- Jean-Paul Sartre
by ATinNM on Sat Mar 26th, 2011 at 02:21:24 PM EST
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Re: ET Stays On The Reactor Case... (none / 1)
I meant that we build quite a bit on top of things like subways, which are nothing more than holes in the ground.
by Jace on Sat Mar 26th, 2011 at 02:36:08 PM EST
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Re: ET Stays On The Reactor Case... (4.00 / 3)
Subways are more than just holes through the ground. They have structure to prevent collapse. The inadequacy of such structures was vividly on display in Hollywood, CA during the last phase of construction for The Red Line back in the late '90s. Existing buildings were put at risk.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Sat Mar 26th, 2011 at 02:48:07 PM EST
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Re: ET Stays On The Reactor Case... (none / 0)
If a hole doesn't have structure, it wouldn't be a hole.
by Jace on Sat Mar 26th, 2011 at 08:50:14 PM EST
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Re: ET Stays On The Reactor Case... (none / 0)
True, but that doesn't mean it is nearly as strong as a purpose built structure.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Sat Mar 26th, 2011 at 10:36:40 PM EST
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ET Stays On The Reactor Case... | 361 comments (361 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)
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