Besides ground surface subsidence, the extraction of groundwater or oil can also cause the opening
of ground fissures. For example, there has been up to about 5 ft (1.5 m) of ground surface subsidence
in Las Vegas valley between 1963 and 1987 due primarily to groundwater extraction. It has been stated
that the subsidence has been focused on preexisting geologic faults, which serve as points of weakness
for ground movement (Purkey et al., 1994). Figures 7.17 to 7.21 show five views of damage
caused by ground fissures at a housing development in Las Vegas, Nevada, as follows: