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A serious and worrying matter, Maceió is sinking, the capital of Alagoas faces an alarming situation, with a sinking of 1,69 meters in just five days.
A Civil Defense has already warned about the risk of collapse in Maceió, which could open a crater the size of Maracanã, can you imagine? The most affected region has already been evacuated, and more than 55.000 people have had to leave their homes.
Many people are asking themselves: why is Maceió sinking?
The answer is in rock salt extraction, I will explain it clearly so you understand. Down there, at about 1200 meters deep, is where the rock salt is. A extraction It is made by injecting water into wells, which dissolves the salt and forms a saline solution. This solution is removed, and the process continues in other wells.
There is a risk in this method, when these wells connect, they form a large underground cave. If there are not enough support pillars, it could collapse. And that's what's happening in Maceió. The ground is settling, and this can be suddenly, forming a huge crater, or slowly and continuously.
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The current situation
For a while, what are we seeing is an progressive sinking. But the technicians are aware that this could change and become an abrupt situation, which is why they evacuated the risk area. And look, this extraction method can be cheaper, but it has its safety limits.
Maceió and the rock salt challenge: between mineral wealth and environmental risk
Em Maceió, rock salt extraction, a valuable natural resource, has proven to be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the activity boosts the local and national economy, providing essential raw materials for various industries. On the other hand, the dissolution technique used to extract the salt has caused a real geological uproar, with risks of subsidence and collapse.
The dissolution technique, although economical, has proven to be a dangerous dance with nature. Injecting water into wells to dissolve salt creates gigantic caverns underground. These caves, if not managed correctly, can lead to serious geological instabilities. In Maceió, this reality has already knocked on the door, with the ground giving way in an alarming manner. The city, which balances on these underground caves, now faces the challenge of dealing with the consequences of this mining technique.
The dance of geological layers
Imagine layers of soil, sand and rock like a delicate cake, where removing one ingredient can unbalance the entire structure. In Maceió, the Rock salt extraction is doing just that. The upper layers are rearranging themselves, and this movement can be slow and gradual or abrupt and devastating.
Many wonder why wells are filled with sand and not stone, the answer lies in the nature of the dissolution process. Sand allows for a more homogeneous and safe filling of the cavities created by salt extraction, while stone may not accommodate as well, increasing the risk of instability.
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