Karst Topography

Contents1. Karst2. Zones of Karst 3. Karst Processes4. Karst Topography5. Karst Area in World6. Conditions for the development of the Karst7. Karst Landforms8. Caverns and Cave9. References

Karst• The term "karst" stems from the region Krs in Slovenia, now in

northwestern Yugoslavia, which is typified by stony barren rock

• he Indo- European word "kar" for rock and the Italian word "carso" evolved to the Germanized term"karst," which is now the accepted term for solution-derived landscapes

Ground Water•Vadose zone or Zone of Aeration (Above the Water Table)•Phreatic zone or Zone of Saturation (Below the Water Table)

Zone of water

Karst Processes• Chemical Action• Lithology• Joints• Faults

Karst Topography• Dolomite(CaMg(CO3)2) and Limestone(CaCO3)• Dissolution of rocks (Groud or Surface)

Karst in the World• S.France• Spanish Andalusia• U.S.A• S.Asia

Karst in world

Conditions of Karst Development

• Soluable rock (limestone,dolomite)• Dense highly jointed• Moderate rain fall region

Karst landform• Terra Rosa• Sinkholes• Karst Plain• Stalactites• Stalagmites• Pillars• Karst Solution Valley• Uvala• Polje• Karst Tower• Karst cockpits

Terra Rossa

Sinkholes• Groundwater dissolves

soluble rock, creating fractures and caves.

• Dissolving continues to form larger caves and fractures.

Sinkhole

Karst Solution Valley

Uvala

Polje• A polje is a large flat plain in karst territory, often

structurally controlled

Copyright © Jelena Calic-Ljubojevic 2002

Polje

Tower Karst• Tower karst is created in highly eroded karst regions.

Karst Tower

Karst Cockpits

Caverns and cave• Underground spaces• Natural opening in the ground extended beyond the zone of

light

Karst Caverns or Caves• Speleothems• Stalacite• Stalagmites• Pillar• Natural Tunnels• Natural Bridge

Stalacite

Stalagmite and Pillar

Natural Tunnel

Natural Bridge

References• www.usgs.gov• www.nasa.gov• Jhon.Richard Hugget “Fundamentals of Geomorphology” 2005

edition