Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
1
Tectonic Control on Karst Evolution
1.1
State of Knowledge
structures (anticlines, synclines, faults, fractures) and
(or) vertical crustal movements as a precondition to
development of leveled karst (Deike
1969
; Glazek
1989
; Choppy
1997
; Ekmekci
2003
; Yan et al.
2008
).
The tectonic control on the formation of karstic
landforms as karren, dolines, sinkholes, poljes, etc.,
has been also discussed for different geographic ter-
ritories (ex. Renault
1968
; Habic
1982
;
ˇ
ar
1982
,
1985
; Bitencourt Rodet
2001
; Faivre and Reiffsteck
2002
; Popit
2004
, and others).
During the last three decades, the study of the dynamic
tectonics and recent geodynamics in karst terrains was a
theme of different publications but not systematized in a
complete monograph. The Symposium ''Karst and
Tectonics,'' held at the cave site of Han-sur-Lesse,
Belgium in March 1998, brought together researchers
from Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Great
Britain, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Romania,
Spain, and Switzerland to report their studies on the
interaction between karst and tectonics. The most
important results of this meeting were published in
GeodynamicaActa12n
o
3-4 (13 papers—Benkovics
et al.
1999
;Boinet
1999
; Bonnet and Colbeaux
1999
;
Crispim
1999
; Devos et al.
1999
; Fenard et al.
1999
; Gilli
1999
; Gilli and Delange
1999
; Gilli et al.
1999
; Lemeille
et al.
1999
;Quinif
1999
;Rodet
1999
;Theryetal.
1999
),
Geodynamica Acta 12 n
o
12 (three papers—Bracq and
Brunin
1999
; Hauselmann et al.
1999
; Pereira et al.
1999
)
in 1999, Geodinamica Acta 13 n
o
5in2000(twopapers—
Astruc et al.
2000
; Tognini
2000
), and one paper in Bull.
Centre
The relationship between karst and tectonics is briefly
mentioned in the topics by the pioneers of karst sci-
ence: E.A. Martel, Jovan Cvijic, and others. The
structural control on the formation of karst cavities
was described by one of the founders of speleology
Martel in his topic ''Les Abimes.'' Martel thought that
principally all vertical caves are giant marmites,
formed by the mechanical and chemical influence of
waters, swallowed by faults and fractures (Martel
1894
).
The tectonic preconditions of karstification have
been also discussed in the 47 fundamental works of
Cvijic, dedicated to the karst geomorphology and
hydrology: ''The uplift of some limestone surface
remote the base level presented by impermeable strata
or zone fill of water resulting in very intensive
development of the karst erosion. The lowering of the
limestone surface causes retroactivity: the zone filled
with water is closer to the surface and the karst ero-
sion is weakened.'' (Cvijic
1989
, p. 181).
The connection between vertical tectonic move-
ments and the development of karst is also described
in the monograph of the Bulgarian geomorphologist
Zheko Radev: ''…Together with the gradual uplifting
of the mountain were changed the dispositions of the
impermeable strata which formed the base of the karst
water.
After
time
this
circumstance
caused
the
mechanical
erosion
transfer
and
creating
of
new
evolutionary
levels
with
remodelling
of
the
karst
Rech.
Elf
Explo.
Prod.
in
2000
(Montenat
terrain…'': (Radev
1915
, p. 130).
The tectonic control on the formation of surface
and underground karst landforms is described in the
literature
et al.
2000
).
The ''red line'' in these papers is that karstification
is a result of tectonics. It was demonstrated in
examples from different areas that karst terrains are
mostly
as
an
influence
of
the
tectonic
