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KARST AND PSEUDOKARST LANDSCAPE OF GEORGIA (CAUCASUS). A SHORT REVIEW.

Lasha Asanidze, Zaza Lezhava, Кукури Цикаришвили, George Gaprindashvili, Nino Chikhradze

First published: 2021-12-20https://doi.org/10.5593/sgem2021/1.1/s01.009View metrics

Abstract

Georgia is a classical karst country, where a variety of surface and underground karst forms are represented. The main aim of this work is to present karst and pseudokarst features in Georgia, which occupy 17.9% or 12,454 km2 of the entire territory of Georgia. All layers of the Upper Jurassic, as well as the Cretaceous and Lower Paleogene systems are being karstified in Georgia About 10.2% (7120 km2) of the country is occupied by karst (carbonate rocks). Limestones are represented by Upper Jurassic, Cretaceous and Lower Paleogene ages, while the crushed rocks (conglomerates, sandstones, breccias) with limestone cement represent the clastokarst distribution area of Neogene and Quaternary ages. Significant areas (About 7.7% or 5334 km2 of the country) are also occupied by pseudo-karst relief developed in Mio-Pliocene clays and clay-rocks and Upper Eocene gypsum suite. Natural cavities are also found in effusive rocks, which cover large areas in southern Georgia. However, such pseudokarstic areas do not contain cave systems of significant size, but only contain some surface pseudokarst morphologies.

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Title
KARST AND PSEUDOKARST LANDSCAPE OF GEORGIA (CAUCASUS). A SHORT REVIEW.
Authors
Lasha Asanidze, Zaza Lezhava, Кукури Цикаришвили, George Gaprindashvili, Nino Chikhradze
Proceedings
SGEM International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference EXPO Proceedings; 21st SGEM International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference Proceedings 2021, Science and Technologies in Geology, Exploration And Mining
Publisher
STEF92 Technology
Year
2021
Pages
59-64
SWS Citekey
Asanidze202116974
ISSN
1314-2704
ISBN
978-619-7603-20-0
Language
en
Publication type
Conference Paper
Keywords
KarstPseudokarstLimestonesCavesGeorgia
References15

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