IC012 Criteria of distinguishing the Neogene karst fills from the Quaternary ones in the Swietokrzyskie (Holy Cross) Mts.,Cent. Poland

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2007 - for the purpose of the accreditation
Extent and Intensity
0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Dr. Jan Urban (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Rudolf Musil, DrSc.
Department of Geological Sciences – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: prof. RNDr. Rudolf Musil, DrSc.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives
Second part: The Neogene sands of the peripherial parts of the region contain almost only chemically resistant minerals, although in the Pliocene sediments some semi-resistant minerals (biotite, garnets derived from the rocks denuded in the central part of the region) occur, too. In the Pleistocene sands non-resistant and semi-resistant minerals, supplied directly with the glacial material or by aeolian transport, are common. Similar trend is observed in some karst fills of the Swietokrzyskie Mts. – the Pleistocene sands differ from others in much higher content of transparent heavy minerals, high content of garnets and disthene and occurrence of amphiboles. It suggest aeolian transport of the sand grains to the karst forms. Aeolian transport of sand was very typical for the cold periods of the Quaternary what resulted in specific shape of quartz grains and character of their surface. The aeolian transport – as the most efficient in sand grains corrosion – generates roundness of grains and dull lustre of their surfaces. And the predomination of rounded and dull (semi-dull) quartz grains of fraction 0,25-1 mm is typical for the Pleistocene sands (sandy clays) occurring in the upper parts of some karst forms in the Swietokrzyskie Mts., whereas in the Neogene karst fills several populations of quartz grains can be distinguished. This differentiation is caused by various sources of the detrital material. Round (but not rounded and differing from the Pleistocene ones in the occurrence of recrystalisation planes) quartz grains derived from the weathered Permian-Triassic rocks are the most common in the pre-Quaternary fills. Sands originated due to the denudation of the Paleozoic sandstones are less specific. Population of grains of irregular shape (with concave elements) and specific size (almost exclusively 0,25-0,5 mm), predominant in several fills, represents most likely pyroclastic material supplied by high aeolian transport from the Inner Carpathian volcanic belt in the Neogene. Analyse of the Quaternary sediments occurrence in the karst forms of the Swietokrzyskie Mts indicates rather little effectiveness of karstification in this time span. The surface karst forms filled with the pre-Quaternary sediments usually have not been rejuvenated in this period and the Pleistocene sediments occur only in their uppermost parts. The horizontal (rarely slightly depressed in the central part) Neogene/Pleistocene boundary is characterised by occurrence of iron oxides concentrations (aggregates, etc.). Some of the karst conduits were cleaned (the fills were washed away) and (partly) filled by sediments again during the Quaternary.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is taught only once.
General note: The anotaion has been divided into the two parts.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2006, Autumn 2008.