An example of the use of geophysical methods for the investigation of a cavern in sandstones

The presence of caverns in sandstones on the border of the Amazon sedimentary basin, which could cause problems to the watertightness of artificial reservoirs in this area, has justified a study of the different geophysical methods which could be used to detect such features from the surface. One particular area, with the presence of a cavern of approximatively 300 m in lengh was chosen, for this study. The methods tested were the electroresistivity, magnetometry, gravimetry and VLF-EM. The gravimetric survey was the most successful for the direct detection of the cavern, but the other methods could be useful in detecting geological features which could be associated with the presence of these features.