PRZEKSZTAŁCENIA RZEŹBY ZWIĄZANE Z WYDOBYCIEM KRUSZYWA NATURALNEGO W POŁUDNIOWEJ I ŚRODKOWEJ CZĘŚCI WZGÓRZ SOKÓLSKICH

Abstract

RELIEF CHANGES CONNECTED WITH THE EXCAVATION OF NATURAL AGGREGATE IN SOUTHERN AND MIDDLE PART OF THE SOKÓŁKA HILLS

Abstract. The aim of the study was to catalogue and characterize the changes of relief caused by excavation of natural aggregate. The research was carried out in southern and middle part of the Sokółka Hills. Adetailed survey on anthropogenic landforms was carried out. 167 excavations were investigated. The cartogram of spatial intensity of relief changes in the vicinity of Sokółka town was worked out. The greatest
recognized deposits are located in the vicinity of Kamionka Stara, Drahle, Starowlany and Zadworzany villages. The deposits in Sokółka region originate from Pleistocene and are the effect of activity of glaciers and meltwaters of Warta Glaciation. Those are the deposits of sands and sands with gravels of end moraines, outwash plains and eskers.. Natural aggregate exploitation results in anthropogenic forms such as excavations and heaps, leveled surfaces, artificial water bodies, steep scarps and landfill walls. The whole surface area of transformed terrains equals over 550 ha by now. The greatest concentration of post-mining landforms was observed in the eastern and south eastern direction from Sokółka town. The changes are predicted to occur in the range of 1000 ha. Despite reclamation of post-mining areas, the relief of middle and southern part of Sokó³ka Hills will remain strongly changed.