Age of karst sediments in Slovenia

Objectives of the course

In recent years, numerous cave sediments in Slovenia have been dated using a variety of methods. The results of the dating opened a new perspective on the age of cave sediments in Slovenia and with it on the development of the karst as well. The largest dating of sediment in karst regions was done in southwestern Slovenia. In this region, the last sea sedimentation occurred in the Eocene when flysch sediment was deposited. A land phase followed that was dominated by denudation. Very few sediments were preserved on the surface, but caves were favourable areas for sedimentation and flowstone and various types of clastic sediments are preserved in them. In the eastern part Holocene and Pleistocene fauna were found, while in the interior no animal or plant remains were found in the oldest sediments so their age has long been the subject of various speculations. More concentrated dating using the U/Th and paleomagnetic methods have provided a better understanding of the age of karst sediments and a chronological sequence of speleological events. Ever more results are showing us the development of caves and the karst surface, the development of individual karst areas in Slovenia, and defining the time of individual events from both the climate and tectonic viewpoints

Prerequisites

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Assessment methods

Oral exam.

Course contents

• Age of cave sediments in Slovenia according to work by archeologists, paleontologists, and geographers before Gospodarič.
• Chronostratigraphy of cave sediments in Slovenia according to Gospodarič
• First absolute dating methods with 14C, U/Th, ESR in Postojna and Križna caves.
• Dating with the U/Th in Slovenia. Dating using geomorphological comparison method on selected examples.
• Use of paleomagnetic method in selected caves in Slovenia.
• Dating of sediments in selected cases from Slovenia’s karst region.
• Development of caves and karst in Slovenia relative to results of dating methods.

Recommended reading

• Bosák, P., Knez, M., Otrubová, D., Pruner, P., Slabe, T. & Venhodová, D., 2000: Palaeomagnetic Research of a Fossil Cave in the Highway Construction at Kozina, SW Slovenia. Acta Carsologica, 29/ 2, 15-33. Postojna.
• Bosák, P., Hercman, H., Mihevc, A., Pruner, P., 2002: High-resolution magnetostratigraphy of speleothems from Snežna Jama, Kamniške-Savinja Alps, Slovenia. Acta Carsologica, 31/3, 15-32. Ljubljana.
• Bosák, P., Mihevc, A., Pruner, P., 2004: Geomorphological evolution of the Podgorski Karst, SW Slowenia: Contribution of magnetostratigraphic research of the Črnotiče II site with Marifugia sp. Acta Carsologica, 33, 1, 175-204. Ljubljana.
• Ford, D. & Gospodarič, R., 1989: U series dating studies of Ursus spelaeus deposits in Križna jama, Slovenia. Acta carsologica, 18, 39-51, Ljubljana.
• Gospodarič, R., 1988: Paleoclimatic record of cave sediments from Postojna Karst. Annales de laq Société géologique de Belgique, T.111, 91-95, Liege.
• Mihevc, A., 2001: Speleogeneza Divaškega krasa. Zbirka ZRC, 27: 1-180. Ljubljana.
• Zupan, N., 1991: Flowstone datations in Slovenia. Acta carsologica, 20, 187-204, Ljubljana.
• Zupan Hajna, N., 1998: Paleomagne¬tic research of & Bosák, P., Pruner, P. cave sediments in SW Slovenia. Acta Carsologica, 27/2, 3, 151-179, Ljubljana.
• Zupan Hajna, N. & Bosák P., Pruner, P., Mihevc, A.2000: Magnetostratigraphy and unconformities in cave sediments: case study from the Classical Karst, SW Slovenia. - Geologos, 5, 13-30, Poznań.
• Zupan Hajna, N., Mihevc, A., Pruner, P. & Bosak, P., 2005: Nova spoznanja o starosti jamskih sedimentov v Sloveniji. V: Horvat, Aleksander (ur.). 17. posvetovanje slovenskih geologov, Geološki zbornik, 18, Univerza v Ljubljani, NTF, Oddelek za geologijo, 132-135, Ljubljana.
• Zupan Hajna, N., Mihevc, A., Pruner, P. & Bosak, P., 2008: Palaeonagnetism and magnetostratigraphy of karst sediments in Slovenia. Založba ZRC, Carsologica, 8, 1-266, Ljubljana.