Heads22 Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 I googled "geology" http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/oct/20/e...les-forming-at/ State Department of Veterans Affairs officials are still trying to determine what has caused two large holes to develop at the newly-opened East Tennessee Veterans Cemetery on East Gov. John Sevier Highway. A 20-foot hole showed up a couple of weeks ago, and then another appeared last week. The holes forced postponement of the Oct. 28 official opening of the state's newest veterans cemetery. Don Smith, assistant commissioner of veterans affairs, toured the cemetery grounds Thursday. He said the opening will be delayed until state officials determine what prompted the holes to appear and then get them fixed. He said engineers put a camera inside a large drain pipe this week to search for the cause of the jagged depression in the west end of the cemetery. "It showed that the ground had dipped," he said. Both holes, which Smith does not yet classify as sinkholes, are near the cemetery's Committal Building, where funeral ceremonies take place. The largest hole is slightly east of the building where drainage runs into a 10-acre flood plain. The smaller hole, about 6 feet or so in diameter, is in a curbed traffic island near parking spaces for the Committal Building. Smith pointed out water seepage in the cemetery's asphalt circular road near the office building. That could be from an underground aquifer, he said. He said if an aquifer is the source, engineers have told him it would be an easy fix to divert the aquifer to the cemetery drainage system. Next week, engineers will again be on site to dig near the large drain pipe to see if a cause for the depression can be determined, Smith said. The 70-acre cemetery opened Sept. 15 with the interment of Army Col. Jack Roger Harris, whose family owned the farm site in East Knox County before selling it to the state. So far 45 veterans have been buried in the new facility. Smith said no burials have occurred where the holes are, nor are any interments planned there. However, some geologic reports indicate the cemetery sits on top of limestone rock — conducive to sinkholes — known to geologists as karst. Harry Moore, retired Tennessee Department of Transportation regional geo-technical engineer, a well-known geologist and author of geologic history of East Tennessee, said the old farm is in a karst area. "Right across (the French Broad River, which borders the cemetery), you are in cave country," Moore said. Moore said that since there are sinkholes and caves across the river, there is a strong likelihood that there are sinkholes and caves beneath the cemetery. "The geology does not change, so there would be a propensity for sinkholes," he said. Smith said he was satisfied engineering and geologic tests prior to cemetery construction were sufficient. "They tested down to 35 feet for sinkholes and didn't find anything," he said. "But, East Tennessee is full of sinkholes," he said. i expect him to reply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farmteam Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 I love drunk Heads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quin Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 I am here to "represent". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 So...I'm supposed to show up and do the limestone dissolution dance? Would it help if I were pantsless? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heads22 Posted October 21, 2011 Author Share Posted October 21, 2011 QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 21, 2011 -> 08:00 AM) So...I'm supposed to show up and do the limestone dissolution dance? Would it help if I were pantsless? You already know the answers to these questions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 QUOTE (Heads22 @ Oct 21, 2011 -> 09:51 AM) You already know the answers to these questions. It is Friday afterall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quin Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 21, 2011 -> 08:00 AM) So...I'm supposed to show up and do the limestone dissolution dance? Would it help if I were pantsless? The laughing...it hurts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Oct 21, 2011 -> 08:08 PM) The laughing...it hurts. That's why the true version is done pantsless. Much less pain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 21, 2011 -> 07:28 PM) That's why the true version is done pantsless. Much less pain. For you maybe... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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