Fissure

Ground fissures can form naturally, such as from tectonic faulting and earthquakes, or as a consequence of human activity, such as oil mining and groundwater pumping.

[4] They can be hazardous to people and livestock living on the affected surfaces and damaging to property and infrastructure, such as roads, underground pipes, canals, and dams.

[2][5][6][7] In circumstances where there is the extensive withdrawal of groundwater, the earth above the water table can subside causing fissures to form at the surface.

[8][9] This typically occurs at the floor of arid valleys having rock formations and compacted soils with a high percentage of fine-grained material.

They form when large to massive veins of soluble aggregate like limestone, gypsum, or dolomite are excavated by underground torrents of flowing water.