Scholarly record
SPELEO-GEOMORPHOLOGICAL AND GEOPHYSICAL INVESTIGATIONS IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE ASKHI LIMESTONE MASSIF, GEORGIA, CAUCASUS
Abstract
Georgia is a mountain country, located in the Caucasus region, where carbonate rocks are frequent and geographically well-distributed across the country. The aim of this paper is to introduce the main results of speleo-geomorphological and geophysical investigation conducted in the southern part of the Askhi Limestone Massif (namely Turchu Limestone Polje). Based on the complex studies, karst forms such as sinkholes and ponors were identified, the width of the Quaternary deposits located on the limestones was determined, the average and maximum discharges of the streams flowing on the bottom of the polje were calculated. The closed shape of the Turchu limestone polje and the limestone bottom covered with Quaternary sediments indicate the corrosive origin of the polje, which has been practically confirmed by our georadiological and electrometric studies. It seems that the evolution of the polje is actively taking place in the limestones under the Quaternary sediments and the dissolved material was being removed and is still being done through underground karst ways (underground corrosion). It is notable that the role of tectonic movements in the origin of the polje along with the corrosive processes, which had a periodic character and together with the uplifting of the area caused the lowering of the levels of underground waters and, consequently, the activation of karst processes.
Publication Impact Profile
- Captures
- Mendeley - Readers: 3
Publication details
References14
Asanidze L, Chikhradze N, Lezhava Z, Tsikarishvili K, Polk SJ, Lominadze G. and Bolashvili N. Complex Speleogenetic Processes and Mineral Deposition in the Caucasus Region of Georgia. JEB. v. 38, p. 1107-1113. 2017. DOI: 10.22438/jeb/38/5(si)/gm-30
Asanidze L, Lezhava Z, Tsikarishvili K, Gaprindashvili G, Chikhradze N, Polk J. Karst map of Georgia (Caucasus region) scale: 1:1,500,000. Carbonates and Evaporites. v. 34. p. 1205-1212. 2019. DOI: 10.1007/s13146-019-00525-z
Lezhava Z, Asanidze L, Tsikarishvili K, Chikhradze N, Gadrani L, Chartolani G. Hydrodynamic zones of fissure-karst waters of Zemo Imereti Plateau in the Republic of Georgia. Journal of Environmental Biology. V. 40. p. 337-343. 2020. DOI: 10.22438/jeb/41/2(si)/jeb-09
Tintilozov ZK. Karst Caves of Georgia (Morphological Analysis). Tbilisi. (In Russian). 1976.
Kipiani S. Karst of Georgia (Geomorphological Characterization). V-I, Publishing House Metsniereba, Tbilisi. (In Georgian). 1974.
Maruashvili L. Geomorphology of Georgia. Tbilisi. p. 610. 1971.
White W., Culver D., Herman J., Kane T., Mylroie J. Karstlands. Am. Sci. p. 450- 459. 1995.
Palmer AN. Cave Geology. Dayton, OH. Cave Books. Dayton, Ohio. 2007.
Ford DC and Williams PW. Karst Geomorphology and Hydrology. Wiley, Hoboken, 576. 2007.
Maruashvili L. Fundamentals of Speleology. Metsniereba. 368 pp. 1973.
Gamkrelidze P. The main features of the tectonic structure of Georgia. Proceedings of the Institute of Geology of the Academy of Sciences of the Georgian SSR. V. 10. (In Russian). 957.
Gamkrelidze, P. Tectonics. In the book: Geology of the USSR, vol X. The Georgian SSR �Nedra� (In Russian). 1964.
Janelidze A. Geological complex of Askhi Mountain. Bulletin of the Academy of Sciences of the GSSR, vol. II, �.1-2. 1941.
Jishkariani VM and Kaldani LA. Turchu-Toba Cave System (western Georgia). Bulletin of the Academy of Sciences of the GSSR, vol. 86, � 3. 1977.
View or Download full articleAccess options
SWS access login
Login as SWS Scientific CommitteeLogin as SWS Scientific PartnerLogin as SWS AuthorAuthors and approved SWS contributors will read and export their own linked papers after identity matching by SWS profile, email and SGEM GlobalID.
For librarian assistance: [email protected]
Purchase Instant Access
- Article can be downloaded after successful payment.
- Article may be used according to SWS library access terms.
- Article cannot be redistributed.