Litholigical features of the eastern edge of the Miocene sulfate basin in Prut-Dniester interfluve and the specifics of karstification
Keywords:
sulfate formation, gypsum facies, gypsum, evaporite basin, karstAbstract
The entire sulfate layer of the western Ukraine is divided into units (lithosomes) that define specific conditions of sediment accumulation in each area.
Our research is focused on studying the structural-textural features of the gypsum layer at the edge of the evaporite basin on the Prut-Dniester interfluve and tracing their influence on the development of karst manifestations, both surface and underground.
The lithological characteristics of evaporites in this area were studied by T. Perita and M. Bombel. The latter assigned the eastern edge of the Miocene sulfate basin to unit M, which is entirely represented by a facies of concealed crystalline gypsum with traces of gypsumified microbial mats. This facies is typical for coastal plains of a saline basin, as colonies of cyanobacteria settle in shallow waters under warm climatic conditions, and upon the influx of sulfate solution, these cyanobacteria undergo gypsyfication. Thus, the facies of concealed crystalline gypsum with a wavy structure formed due to the gypsyfication of cyanobacteria in the coastal zone.
Regarding karst manifestations, the investigated area is home to two giant labyrinthine caves: Popelyushka Cave (91 km) and Bukovinka Cave (5 km). These caves serve as classic examples of hypogenic speleogenesis. The morphology of the caves, including ceiling domes, overhanging walls, windows, etc., indicates the formation of galleries by the influx of artesian chemically active waters.
We conducted research to refine the litho-facial features of the territory. The speleological method was employed, as it allows for observing differences in the gypsum layer on uneroded cave walls. We refined the facial differences, using examples from caves such as Popelyushka, Mamalyha, Bukovinka, Pidzamche, as well as through the cavity that was revealed upon penetration under the collapse in the village of Dankivtsi.
Such research serves as the foundation for studying the evolution of the Miocene evaporite basin and also holds practical significance, forming the basis for investigating collapse formation in the surveyed area. This is because different facial variations of gypsum react differently to dissolution by chemically active waters.
References
Климчук, О. Б. (2017). Розвиток теорії гіпогенного карстогенезу: наукові та практичні застосування. Вісник НАН України, (11), 10-29. [Klymchuk, O. B. (2017). Rozvytok teorii hipohennoho karstohenezu: naukovi ta praktychni zastosuvannia. Visnyk NAN Ukrainy, (11), 10-29.]
Коржик, В. П. (2007). Карст і печери Буковини. Проблеми моніторингу, охорони і використання. Чернівці : Зелена Буковина. [Korzhyk, V. P. (2007). Karst i pechery Bukovyny. Problemy monitorynhu, okhorony i vykorystannia. Chernivtsi : Zelena Bukovyna.]
Ломаєв, О. О. (1970). Геологічні умови розвитку карсту на території УРСР. Фізична географія і геоморфологія, (4), 3-14. [Lomaiev, O. O. (1970). Heolohichni umovy rozvytku karstu na terytorii URSR. Fizychna heohrafiia i heomorfolohiia, (4), 3-14.]
Рідуш, Б. Т, & Костюк, У. І. (2018). Особливості літологічної будови сульфатної товщі Припруття та їх вплив на розвиток карсту. Географія в Київському національному університеті імені Тараса Шевченка: 85 років – досягнення та перспективи (GTSNU) : Міжнародна науково-практична конференція. 68–71. [Ridush, B. T, & Kostiuk, U. I. (2018). Osoblyvosti litolohichnoi budovy sulfatnoi tovshchi Prypruttia ta yikh vplyv na rozvytok karstu. Heohrafiia v Kyivskomu natsionalnomu universyteti imeni Tarasa Shevchenka: 85 rokiv – dosiahnennia ta perspektyvy (GTSNU) : Mizhnarodna naukovo-praktychna konferentsiia. 68–71.]
Рідуш, Б., & Купріч, П. (2003). Печери Чернівецької області : Кадастр. Чернівці : Прут. [Ridush, B., & Kuprich, P. (2003). Pechery Chernivetskoi oblasti : Kadastr. Chernivtsi : Prut.]
Andreychouk, V., & Klimchouk, А. (2017). Zoloushka Cave (Ukraine – Moldova) – A Prime Example of Hypogene Artesian Speleogenesis in Gypsum. In Cave and Karst Systems of the World, Chapter 24 (pp. 387-406), Springer International Publishing AG. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53348-3
Bąbel, M. (2005а) Event stratigraphy of the Badenian selenite evaporites (Middle Miocene) of the northern Carpathian Foredeep. Acta Geologica Polonica. 55(1), 9-29.
Bąbel, M. (2005b). Selenite-gypsum microbialite facies and sedimentary evolution of the Badenian evaporite basin of the northern Carpathian Foredeep. Acta Geologica Polonica, 55(2),187-209.
Bąbel, M., Olszewska-Nejbert, D., Boguckyj, A., Jacyszyn, A., & Śliwiński, M. (2009). Gipsy rejonu Mamalygi (Mamalyhi), Zahodnia Ukraina. Lessy najstarsze Podola i Pokucia: problemy genezy, stratygrafii i paleogeografii. Monografia naukowa (XVI Ukraińsko-Polskie Seminarium, Skała Podolska, 13-16 wrzesnia 2009 r.). 169-186.
Iliescu, D. M. (1935). Fenomene carstice in regiunea Mamaliga (Jud. Hotin). Buletinul societatii regale Romane de geografie. (LIV), 265-273.
Klimchouk, A., & Andrejchuk, V. (2002). Karst breakdown mechanisms from observations in the gypsum caves of the Western Ukraine: Implications for subsidence hazard assessment. International Journal of Speleology, 31(1/4), 55-88. http://dx.doi.org/10.5038/1827-806X.31.1.4
Peryt, T. M. (1996). Sedimentology of Badenian (middle Miocene) gypsum in eastern Galicia, Podolia and Bukovina (West Ukraine). Sedimentology, 43(3), 571-588. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3091.1996.d01-26.x
Peryt, T. M. (2001). Gypsum facies transitions in basin-marginal evaporites: middle Miocene (Badenian) of west Ukraine. Sedimentology, (48), 1103-1119. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3091.2001.00410.x
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Scientific Herald of Chernivtsi University : Geography
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
