Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 3.46
Inclined massive
stalagmites with new vertical
speleothems in Lepenitsa
Cave
earthquakes. An eventual dating of the sismothems in
the future can estimate the age of the seismic event
(or
events)
that
caused
the
deformations
in
the
Lepenitsa Cave.
The epicenters of the earthquakes in the region are
connected mainly to the faults of Hremshtitsa fault
zone, presented by a group of steep slope faults with
general direction 140. During the early Quaternary in
them, as well as the faults of Dospat and Babiak-
Grashovska fault zones are performed movements
that form in a regional aspect the West Rhodopes
block morphostructure (Katskov and Marinova
1992
).
The absolute dating of deformed speleothems in the
cave will probably delineate two or more phases of
intense seismotectonic activity associated with
movements in the Pleistocene of the described faults.
3.3.2.2 Yamata Cave
The Yamata Cave is located in the area of the
Dobrostan Plateau, 38 km S-SE from Plovdiv,
Western Rhodopes. The entrance is south facing and
is situated at an altitude of 860 m above the deep
valley of Mostovska Sushitsa River. The access is
relatively difficult, as the only suitable starting point
is ''Martsiganitsa'' hut (1,387 m. a.s.l.) from which
the cave is reached with overcome the denivelation of
about 550 m (Fig.
3.49
).
The Yamata Cave is formed of fine gray-white
marble of Dobrostan Marble Formation. Structurally,
Fig. 3.47
Fractured and inclined massive stalagmite
the strongest known earthquakes until now. These
preferred directions are different from the direction of
the palaeoflow of the cave sediments—an indication
that
the
fall
of
the
stalagmites
was
due
to
the
