Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 3.2
Directions of the
fallen stalactones in caves in
the Crimean Peninsula. The
number of stalactones in the
relevant direction are
presented numerically.
Epicentral zones:
A—Sevastopol, B—Yalta,
C—Alushta, D—Feodosia-
Sudak, E—Kerch-Anapa
(Dublyansky
1995
)
indicator of paleoseismic events Dublyansky uses fallen
stalactones, Gilli—broken stalactites, and Quinif and
Delaby—fallen or inclined stalagmites. In our opinion,
a complex approach with measuring the directions of
the entire available range of deformed speleothems
increases the reliability of the obtained results.
In some cases, the breaking or inclination of the
speleothems may be connected to other reasons:
subsidence of clay deposits beneath speleothems,
exaration, biogenic, or anthropogenic influence.
(A)
Biogenic
or
anthropogenic
impact
on
the
speleothems;
With the appearance and development of caving
and cave tourism arise the problem of the protection
of cave landscapes. The first show cave considered in
Europe was Vilenica in Slovenia, where an entrance
fee was introduced for visitors in 1633. The traces of
negative human impact in the caves are presented
most often by broken stalactite and stalagmite frag-
ments and are typical for the easily accessible parts.
Their determination is not difficult in field studies.
Becker et al. (
2006
) reported that in the Dograrati
Cave (Kefalonia, Greece) the stalactites were broken
by gunfire during WW2.
The rare cases of negative biogenic impact on cave
sediments are represented by breaking of stalagmites
by
Fig. 3.3
Serge Delaby near massive ''hanging'' stalagmite
without
fluvial
deposits
under
his
base
in
Troana
Cave,
large
Pleistocene
mammals.
Gilli
reported
Bulgaria. The speleothem is close to cave river
