Karst clastic sediments, mineral composition and origin

This course is part of the programme
Karstology (Third Cycle)

Objectives and competences

The primary goal of this course is to give students the knowledge about clastic sediments. We divide clastic cave sediments according to origin as autochthonous or allochthonous. The former originate through the processes of disintegration of cave ceilings and walls, and the latter are brought into the caves from elsewhere, most often by water. Allochthonous mechanical sediments in caves include clay, sand, gravel, and light soil that have their source outside the caves. Relative to their depositing both in caves and on the surface, sediments are subject to the processes of diagenesis and weathering.

Prerequisites

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Content

• Introduction
• Surface clastic sediments on karst in Slovenia and around the world
• Division of clastic cave sediments
• Autochthonous clastic cave sediments
• Allochthonous clastic cave sediments
• Fluvial clastic sediments, their graininess and sedimentation
• Mineral composition of clastic cave sediments and their origin
• Source of soil on karst

Intended learning outcomes

The student becomes familiar with the clastic sediments on the surface and in the caves, which are variable on grain size (clay, silt, sand, gravel), mineral composition, origin and age. According to the composition and texture of sediments, the student learns to determine their origin, way of transport and deposition. They learn about the specifics of cave environment and about accumulation and diagenesis of the sediments. From the information obtained they learn to inferred on paleogeographic, paleoclimatic, tectonic, paleohydrological conditions at the time of sedimentation, deposition and diagenesis of sediments in/on karst. Thus, they acquire knowledge and skills needed for independent research on karst clastic sediments.

Readings

  • Kranjc, A., 1989: Recent fluvial cave sediments, their origin and role in speleogenesis. Opera 4. razreda, SAZU, 167, Ljubljana.
  • Mihevc, A. & Zupan Hajna, N., 1996: Clastic sediments from dolines and caves found during the construction of the motorway near Divača, on the classical Karst. Acta carsologica 25, 169–191, Ljubljana. E-gradivo
  • Zupan Hajna, N., 1992: Mineral composition of mechanical sediments from some parts on Slovenian karst. Acta carsologica 21, 115–130, Ljubljana. E-gradivo
  • ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja, OTONIČAR, Bojan, PRUNER, Petr, CULIBERG, Metka, HLAVÁČ, Jaroslav, MANDIĆ, Oleg, SKÁLA, Roman, BOSÁK, Pavel. Late Pleistocene lacustrine sediments and their relation to red soils in the Northeastern margin of the Dinaric Karst = Pozno pleistocenski jezerski sedimenti in njihova povezava z rdečimi tlemi na severovzhodnem robu Dinarskega krasa. Acta carsologica. [Tiskana izd.]. 2019, letn. 48, št. 2, str. 153-171, ilustr. ISSN 0583-6050. DOI: 10.3986/ac.v48i2.7080. E-gradivo
  • AUDRA, Philippe, BOSÁK, Pavel, GÁZQUEZ, Fernando, CAILHOL, Didier, SKÁLA, Roman, LISÁ, Lenka, JONÁŠOVÁ, Šárka, FRUMKIN, Amos, KNEZ, Martin, SLABE, Tadej, ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja, AL FARRAJ AL KETBI, Asma. Bat urea-derived minerals in arid environment : first identification of allantoin, C4H6N4O3, in Kahf Kharrat Najem Cave, United Arab Emirates. International journal of speleology. Jan. 2017, [vol.] 46, [iss.] 1, str. 81-92, ilustr. ISSN 0392-6672. DOI: 10.5038/1827-806X.46.1.2001. E-gradivo
  • BOSÁK, Pavel, ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja. Palygorskite in caves and karsts : a review = Paligorskit v jamah in krasu : pregled. Acta carsologica. [Tiskana izd.]. 2018, letn. 47, št. 2/3, str. 97-108, ilustr. ISSN 0583-6050, DOI: 10.3986/ac.v47i2-3.5186. E-gradivo
  • BLATNIK, Matej, CULVER, David C., GABROVŠEK, Franci, KNEZ, Martin, KOGOVŠEK, Blaž, KOGOVŠEK, Janja, LIU, Hong, MAYAUD, Cyril, MIHEVC, Andrej, MULEC, Janez, ALJANČIČ, Magdalena, OTONIČAR, Bojan, PETRIČ, Metka, PIPAN, Tanja, PRELOVŠEK, Mitja, RAVBAR, Nataša, SHAW, Trevor R., SLABE, Tadej, ŠEBELA, Stanka, ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja, KNEZ, Martin (urednik), OTONIČAR, Bojan (urednik), PETRIČ, Metka (urednik), PIPAN, Tanja (urednik), SLABE, Tadej (urednik). Karstology in the classical karst. Cham: Springer, cop. 2020. 1 spletni vir (1 datoteka PDF (XII, 222 str.)). Advances in karst science (Online). ISBN 978-3-030-26827-5. ISSN 2511-2082. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-26827-5. E-gradivo

Assessment

The oral exam is designed to assess the student acquired knowledge from the classes and ability to understand, articulate and expressing their knowledge. Conditions for examination are the presence at the field work, a short essay (5-10 pages), by which the student works on a certain topic related to his seminar and dissertation. 50/50

Lecturer's references

Associate Professor of Karstology

Bibliography:

https://bib.cobiss.net/bibliographies/si/webBiblio/bib201_20211120_230216_a1661283.html

ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja, OTONIČAR, Bojan, PRUNER, Petr, CULIBERG, Metka, HLAVÁČ, Jaroslav, MANDIĆ, Oleg, SKÁLA, Roman, BOSÁK, Pavel. Late Pleistocene lacustrine sediments and their relation to red soils in the Northeastern margin of the Dinaric Karst = Pozno pleistocenski jezerski sedimenti in njihova povezava z rdečimi tlemi na severovzhodnem robu Dinarskega krasa. Acta carsologica. [Tiskana izd.]. 2019, letn. 48, št. 2, str. 153-171, ilustr. ISSN 0583-6050. https://ojs.zrc-sazu.si/carsologica/article/view/7080/7186, http://www.dlib.si/details/URN:NBN:SI:DOC-UUJD0SY1, DOI: 10.3986/ac.v48i2.7080. [COBISS.SI-ID 45575469]
AUDRA, Philippe, BOSÁK, Pavel, GÁZQUEZ, Fernando, CAILHOL, Didier, SKÁLA, Roman, LISÁ, Lenka, JONÁŠOVÁ, Šárka, FRUMKIN, Amos, KNEZ, Martin, SLABE, Tadej, ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja, AL FARRAJ AL KETBI, Asma. Bat urea-derived minerals in arid environment : first identification of allantoin, C4H6N4O3, in Kahf Kharrat Najem Cave, United Arab Emirates. International journal of speleology. Jan. 2017, [vol.] 46, [iss.] 1, str. 81-92, ilustr. ISSN 0392-6672. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/ijs/vol46/iss1/9/, http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2001&context=ijs, DOI: 10.5038/1827-806X.46.1.2001. [COBISS.SI-ID 41188397]
BOSÁK, Pavel, ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja. Palygorskite in caves and karsts : a review = Paligorskit v jamah in krasu : pregled. Acta carsologica. [Tiskana izd.]. 2018, letn. 47, št. 2/3, str. 97-108, ilustr. ISSN 0583-6050. https://ojs.zrc-sazu.si/carsologica/article/view/5186/6598, http://www.dlib.si/details/URN:NBN:SI:DOC-W1TF9U1O, DOI: 10.3986/ac.v47i2-3.5186. [COBISS.SI-ID 43563053]
BLATNIK, Matej, CULVER, David C., GABROVŠEK, Franci, KNEZ, Martin, KOGOVŠEK, Blaž, KOGOVŠEK, Janja, LIU, Hong, MAYAUD, Cyril, MIHEVC, Andrej, MULEC, Janez, ALJANČIČ, Magdalena, OTONIČAR, Bojan, PETRIČ, Metka, PIPAN, Tanja, PRELOVŠEK, Mitja, RAVBAR, Nataša, SHAW, Trevor R., SLABE, Tadej, ŠEBELA, Stanka, ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja, KNEZ, Martin (urednik), OTONIČAR, Bojan (urednik), PETRIČ, Metka (urednik), PIPAN, Tanja (urednik), SLABE, Tadej (urednik). Karstology in the classical karst. Cham: Springer, cop. 2020. 1 spletni vir (1 datoteka PDF (XII, 222 str.)). Advances in karst science (Online). ISBN 978-3-030-26827-5. ISSN 2511-2082. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007%2F978-3-030-26827-5, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-26827-5. [COBISS.SI-ID 19305731]