ZAPIS LĄDOWYCH ETAPÓW HISTORII GEOLOGICZNEJ GÓR ŚWIĘTOKRZYSKICH W OSADACH I FORMACH KRASOWYCH - WYBRANE PRZYKŁADY

Abstract

RECORDS OF TERRESTRIAL STAGES OF GEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE ŚWIĘTOKRZYSKIE (HOLY CROSS) MOUNTAINS IN THE KARST FORMS AND THEIR SEDIMENTS - SELECTED EXAMPLESAbstract. The paper presents three examples of interpretations of geological events and paleogeographic and paleoenvironmental conditions, made on the basis of studies of karst forms in Devonian carbonate rocks of the Świętokrzyskie (Holy Cross) Mountains, central Poland. The first study concerns paleokarst forms in two sites: Wietrznia and Jaworznia which record the Late Permian relief evolution and its tectonic rejuvenation at the beginning of the Triassic period. The next two interpretations concern the Cenozoic karst forms. Analysis of spatial development of subsurface karst systems made possible to determine the erosional base stabilization levels during the Neogene. The uppermost karst horizon (Łagów) was most probably related to the level of one of the transgressions in the Fore-Carpathian marine basin. In turn, the study of sand sediments filling the karst forms, particularly analysis of roundness and shape of sand grains, enables to distinguish five types of sand grains of different genesis, among which are grains originated from various local weathered rocks as well as pyrogenic particles. Based on this analysis, the extent of Lower Triassic cover was determined and karst development during the Quaternary period was assessed, as well as some suggestions on the Neogene paleoenvironment were formulated.