Rock Mass Quality Analysis of Soko Cave, Temayang District, Bojonegoro Regency, East Java based on Q-System, Rock Mass Rating, and Geological Strength Index Methods

Ulfa Ambarwati, Agus Hendratno

Abstract


This study aims to analyze the rock mass quality of Soko Cave, located in Temayang District, Bojonegoro Regency, East Java, as a basis for evaluating geotechnical stability for tourism purposes. Three rock mass classification methods were used: Q-System, Rock Mass Rating (RMR), and Geological Strength Index (GSI). Data were obtained through field surveys, geological mapping, cave geometry measurements, and observation of discontinuities using the scanline method at 11 observation stations. The rock mass quality was generally classified as good to very good, with the Q-System method producing the highest score, followed by GSI and RMR. The differences in results were due to the different parameters used by each method. Based
on these findings, the rock mass in Soko Cave was considered naturally stable and did not require additional support structures, making it safe for geological tourism development. This study not only compares methods but also emphasizes the importance of using the three systems complementarily to provide a realistic and applicable picture of the stability of rock masses in carbonate caves. The GSI method shows potential as a reliable approach for this environment, although further validation with a broader data coverage is needed.


Keywords


Soko Cave, rock mass quality, q-system, rock mass rating, geological strength index

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.55981/risetgeotam.2025.1370

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