Huge mystery sinkhole gapes open in Chilean desert and it is reported to be deeper than the height of the space needle in Seattle.
Huge Mystery Sinkhole Gapes Open in Chilean Desert
It just looks like a cartoon version of a sinkhole. A massive pit has reportedly opened up in the ground in Chile’s Atacama Desert region. The hole was first detected in July 30, and is estimated to be 82 feet (25 meters) in diameter and 650 feet (200 meters) deep. And at the moment, it is under investigation as to determine the cause of it.
The hole appeared rather sudden on land where Lundin Mining, a Canadian company operates a copper mine. “Upon detection, the area was immediately isolated and the relevant regulatory authorities notified. There has been no impact to personnel, equipment or infrastructure,” Lundin on Monday said in a statement confirming the sinkhole.
The National Service of Geology of and Mining Chile Shard a View of the Hole in Twitter
The National Service of Geology of and Mining (Sernageomin) Chile shared a view of the hole on Twitter. And experts from the agency are assessing the sinkhole at the moment and have already set up a security perimeter around it.
Lundin affirmed that the sinkhole has remained stable ever since it was detected. The company also is monitoring the nearby Alcaparrosa mine for any movement that is related to the event. And for now, work in the underground mine has been suspended temporarily.
Reuters, a news agency shared a flyover of the hole that highlights and shows the extent and darkness of its depths.
The Cause of the Sinkhole
And according to the USGS, sinkholes can be due to a series of causes but at most times associated with groundwater dissolving rock. This therefore created caverns or spaces that can suddenly collapse despite the surface appearing to be stable. And as of now, the investigators in Chile have not yet determine how the sinkhole was created. The sinkhole is a dramatic reminder and show of how our sense of solid ground is sometimes just an illusion.
