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Sinkhole identification and geology

A closed depression in the ground surface formed by the dissolution of soluble bedrock limestone, dolomite, gypsum, salt or by the collapse of an underlying cavity. Sinkholes are characteristic features of karst topography and range from small, shallow depressions to catastrophic collapses hundreds of meters in diameter. They form gradually by dissolution or suddenly by the collapse of a cavern roof. Field: geomorphology. Example: A catastrophic sinkhole approximately 20 m wide and 30 m deep suddenly opened beneath a house in Seffner, Florida, in 2013, illustrating the hazard of building on carbonate karst terrain underlain by active dissolution cavities.. Related terms: Karst, Dissolution, Limestone, Subsidence.

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Sources, scope & corrections

These authoritative resources support category-level nomenclature, terminology, identification methods, and safety. When a specimen-specific safety warning appears, the public-health source listed here directly supports that precaution. They are not line-by-line citations for every other property on this entry, and natural specimens vary.

Editorial owner
GeoMiner
Last updated
2026-03-30T15:19:42.096023+00:00
Review status
Published; not independently peer-reviewed
  • USGS Thesaurus — U.S. Geological Survey. Controlled earth-science terminology used to describe USGS information resources.
  • Glossary of Geologic Terms — U.S. National Park Service. Geologic definitions prepared by the NPS Geologic Resources Inventory.

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Common questions

What does Sinkhole mean in geology?
A closed depression in the ground surface formed by the dissolution of soluble bedrock limestone, dolomite, gypsum, salt or by the collapse of an underlying cavity. Sinkholes are characteristic features of karst topography and range from small, shallow depressions to catastrophic collapses hundreds of meters in diameter. They form gradually by dissolution or suddenly by the collapse of a cavern roof.
What is an example of Sinkhole?
A catastrophic sinkhole approximately 20 m wide and 30 m deep suddenly opened beneath a house in Seffner, Florida, in 2013, illustrating the hazard of building on carbonate karst terrain underlain by active dissolution cavities.
Which earth-science field uses the term Sinkhole?
Sinkhole is used in geomorphology.
Which terms are related to Sinkhole?
Related terms in this reference are Karst, Dissolution, Limestone, Subsidence.

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