R O M A N I A

GEOGRAPHICAL STUDIES AND ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION RESEARCHES

No. 4

2005

GEOGRAPHICAL PHORUM GEOGRAPHICAL STUDIES AND ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION RESEARCHES

Editorial Board

Ed itor-in-chief Reader Vasile PLENICEANU Assistant editor-in-chief Reader Viorica TOMESCU Members: Lecturer Sandu BOENGIU, Lecturer Gheorghe CURCAN, Lecturer Cornel GOLEA, Reader Constantin GRIGORA, Teaching Assistant Emil MARINESCU, Teaching Assistant Ioan MARINESCU, Reader Vasile PLENICEANU, Reader Viorica TOMESCU, Teaching Assistant Liliana POPESCU, Teaching Assistant Mihaela VIERU, Teaching Assistant Alina VLDU Editorial Advisory Board: Ph.D. Lucian BADEA, The Institute of Geography, The Romanian Academy, Bucharest Professor Dan BLTEANU, The Institute of Geography, The Romanian Academy, Bucharest Professor Sterie CIULACHE, University of Bucarest Ph.D. Constantin ENACHE, University of Craiova Professor George ERDELI, University of Bucarest Professor Maria PTROESCU, University of Bucarest Professor Constantin SAVIN, University of Craiova Editorial manager Lecturer Sandu BOENGIU

Translators: Asist.univ. AlinaVLDU, Prep.univ. Liliana POPESCU, Teaching Assistant Mihaela VIERU, Mihaela LICURICI

Make-up editors: Sandu BOENGIU, AlinaVLDU, Liliana POPESCU, Mihaela LICURICI Cover: Gugu Lake, Godeanu Massif (photo by E. Marinescu)

Editorial corespodence should be addressed to: University of Craiova, History, Philosophy and Geography, Geography Departament 13, Al. I. Cuza Street, Craiova, Romnia, Tel: 0251416574 int. 4110, Fax: 0251418515 E-mail: geography@central.ucv.ro , sboengiu@central.ucv.ro web: http://cis01.central.ucv.ro/geography/

The publication has been supported by the University of Craiova

ISSN 1583-1523

Contents

Lucian BADEA The Danube Marsh. Geographical entity / Balta Dunrii. Entitate geografic ....

5

GEOMORPHOLOGY, PEDOLOGY

Constantin GRIGORA Observations regarding the distribution of phaeozems within Aradului plain / Observaii asupra distribuiei faeoziomurilor n Cmpia Aradului

11

Gabriel MUTIHAC The rapport between the geological structure and the relief features within the Olnetilor Hillocks / Raportul dintre constituia geologic i caracterele reliefului n Munceii Olnetilor ..

17Alexandru ISTRATE The role of the tectonic factor in the distribution of the landslides in the

Carpathian flysch from the Ialomita Basin / Rolul factorului tectonic n distribuia i prognoza alunecrilor de teren n zona fliului carpatic din bazinul Ialomiei........................

26Sandu BOENGIU, Marcel TRK OANCE Features of the relief fragmentation within the

Blahnia basin. The piedmont sector / Caracteristici ale fragmentrii reliefului n bazinul Blahniei. Sectorul piemontan .

32

Mdlina CHIESCU, Ovidiu MURRESCU, Alexandru ISTRATE The limestone deposit from Lespezi-Dobreti, Dmbovia county. General presentation / Zcmntul de calcar Lespez-Dobresti, judetul Dmbovia. Prezentare generala ..

38

CLIMATOLOGY, HIDROLOGY

Alina VLDU The frequency of monthly quantities of precipitation on value categories within Oltenia (1961-2000) / Frecvena cantitilor lunare de precipitaii pe clase de valori n Oltenia (1961-2000)

45Alina-Cristina COCO, Octavian COCO The climatic individuality of the Semenic mountains /

Individualitatea climatic a Munilor Semenic

50

Alexandru ISTRATE, Ovidiu MURRESCU, Mdlina CHIESCU Systemic analysis applied to the protection of karst hydrostructures. Case study: Bucegi Massif / Analiza sistemic aplicat proteciei hidrostructurilor carstice. Studiu de caz: Masivul Bucegi

56

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

Stephen IRVING Exporting sustainable development Canadas sustainable cities initiative in Bucharest, Romania / Exportnd dezvoltarea durabil. Iniiativa pentru orae durabile a Canadei n Bucureti,Romnia ...

64Mihaela VIERU Negotiating religious space: Romanian immigrants collective identity in Ottawa,

Canada. Anthropological perspectives / Negociind spaiul religios: identitatea colectiv a imigranilor romni din Ottawa, Canada. Perspective antropologice

74

Elena MATEI The rural sustainable development of Izvorul Brzii settlement / Dezvoltarea rural durabil a localitii Izvorul Brzii ...

78

Eleonora KALMUTSKAIA Social economic and demographic factors interdependence within Cernui border region / Interdependea factorilor social economici i demografici n regiunea de frontier Cernui

87Camelia TEODORESCU The analysis of the mean net income of the occupied active population

within Oltenias counties nowadays / Analiza venitului mediu net al populaiei active ocupate din judeele Olteniei n perioada actual ..

92

Ana Maria MARIN, Iuliana NEDELOAEA, Marian MARIN, Nicolae MOCANU Regional development trends along the Danube-Black Sea channel / Direcii de dezvoltare regional n lungul Canalului Dunre Marea Neagr ..

96Marilena DRAGOMIR, Iulica VDUVA Geodemographical characteristics of Vlcea county /

Caracteristici geodemografice ale judeului Vlcea ...

102

Liliana POPESCU Social-economic structure of towns population within the County of Dolj in 2002 / Structura social-economic a populaiei oraelor din judeul Dolj n anul 2002 .

108

ENVIRONMENTAL GEOGRAPHY

Vasile PLENICEANU, Emil MARINESCU Critical areas within the geographical space of the central-south Oltenia, seen from the viewpoint of the natural habitats quality degradation / Zone critice n spaiul geografic din partea central-sudic a Olteniei sub aspectul deteriorrii strii de calitate a habitatelor naturale ...

112Viorica TOMESCU Natural protected areas for biodiversity within Oltenia and their role in

sustainable development / Ariile naturale protejate din domeniul biodiversitii n Regiunea enia i rolul lor n dezvoltarea durabil.. Olt

116Ines GRIGORESCU, Mihaela FELCIUC Natural environment protection means within the

metropolitan area of Bucharest municipality / Mijloace de protecie a mediului natural n aria metropolitan a municipiului Bucureti ...

122

Rzvan OPREA, Gheorghe CURCAN Dysfunctionalities related to the alpine meadow of the Bucegi Mountains / Disfuncionaliti n cadrul golului alpin al Munilor Bucegi ......................................

130

Ioan MARINESCU The assessment of the green spaces ecologic effectiveness in Craiova ipality / Evaluarea eficienei ecologice a spaiilor verzi din municipiul Craiova Munic .

135

Mihaela SENCOVICI The condition of the environment in Dmbovia county related to the main economic activities / Starea mediului n judeul Dmbovia n raport cu principalele activiti economice ...

141

DOCUMENTARY

Oana-Ramona ILOVAN Rodna and the implications of disfavoured zone status / Rodna i implicaiile statutului de zon defavorizat .

152

Ion MARINIC, Nastasia COVACI Statistical correlations between the solar activity and the climatic phenomena / Corelaii statistice ntre activitatea solar i fenomenele climatice .......

162

Constantin MIHILESCU, Inesa MIHILESCU The influence of Sun activity and tidal forces on extreme phenomena periodicity / Influena activitii solare i forelor mareice asupra periodicitii fenomenelor extreme ....

168Ana-Maria MUREANU The watering and climatic importance of Bile Olneti spa / Importana

balneoclimateric a staiunii Bile Olneti

176

Ctlin STOENESCU Economic activity and sustainable development within the Danube Delta / Activitatea economic i dezvoltarea durabil n Delta Dunrii .

183

Mihaela Daniela Hurezeanu Some aspects regarding the spatial organisation of Strehaia / Unele aspecte privind organizarea spaiului n oraul Strehaia

194

5

Geographical Phorum Geographical studies and environment protection researches

Anul 4, Nr. 4 / 2005, pag. 5 - 10

THE DANUBE MARSH. GEOGRAPHICAL ENTITY

BALTA DUNRII. ENTITATE GEOGRAFIC

Lucian BADEA1

Abstract: The easily flooded region, or the Danube Holm, considered as a whole (from the Western Oltenia - all the way to the Isaccea Marsh, at Patlgeanca) has always been called Balta (Dunrii)/ The Marsh (of the Danube), not only by the local population, but also by all those who have known and used this low and humid land. Balta/ Marsh represents a term with regional meaning (similar to that of mountain or field), being also the name of a regional unit. This is a name that reflects completely the features of the designated geographical reality and it entered the geographic scientific literature - including the international one - as such. During the last half of century, the whole Danube Marsh was subject to man-made transformations, thus becoming an area with a different landscape and with a dominant agricultural function. However, it remained the same geographical individuality (still under the influence of the great river, although in a much smaller degree) and there is no reason to be considered another thing or named in a different way by the practitioners that are not in the habit of using the correct, long-established geographical names. Key words: easily flooded region, The Danube Holm, The Danube Marsh Cuvinte-cheie: regiune inundabil, Lunca Dunrii, Balta Dunrii

The Danube Flood Plain and Marshes (all the way

to Patlgeanca the first splitting) generally referred to as the easily flooded Danubian region, made the subject of many studies; thus, further preoccupations (including the geo-historical one) for detailed knowledge on this region might seem senseless. It is a region known under a name which now seems inadequate for a geographical reality that has undertaken significant transformation, even a total environmental change, that once had very clear features and functions (although very different from the present ones). Our purpose is not to evaluate the present state of the former flood plain in order to underline the effects of the dyking and other transformations that took place especially in the last 50 years. On the other hand, it is clear that the results (considered from the economic efficiency viewpoint) are far from expectations. The main reason is that, at the political and administrative levels, (with the support of some so-called specialists people that were not well-trained or possessed only the minimal knowledge for understanding nature) there was no accurate vision of the region (that would match the complexity, variety and dynamics of the specific processes) and there were performed unilateral transformations (only for agricultural purposes) led by a greed of economic origin.

At present, we deal with a different landscape of the Danube flood plain and marshes, a totally man-

Lunca i Blile Dunrii (pn la primul

Ceatal), cuprinse sub termenul de regiunea inundabil a Dunrii, au constituit obiectul multor studii i nu este exclus ca pentru unii s par fr sens continuarea preocuprilor, inclusiv geoistorice, pentru cunoaterea detaliat, adncit, a acestei regiuni. O regiune cunoscut sub numele care pare, acum, inadecvat unei realiti geografice mult modificate, pn la transformarea total a mediului, un mediu cu particulariti i funcii foarte bine precizate cndva (dar altele dect cele din prezent). Nu ne-am propus o evaluare a strii actuale a fostei regiuni inundabile cu scopul punerii n eviden a efectelor ndiguirii i a ansamblului de modificri ntreprinse cu deosebire n ultima jumtate de secol. Este, ns, sigur c rezultatele (vzute prin prisma eficienei economice) sunt departe de ceea ce s-a scontat. Iar aceasta n primul rnd pentru c politic i administrativ (cu susinerea unor aa numii specialiti, fr pregtirea necesar, chiar minim pentru nelegerea naturii) nu a existat o viziune corect asupra regiunii n cauz (pe msura complexitii, varietii i dinamicii proceselor specifice) i s-a adoptat o cale a modificrilor unilaterale (n scopuri numai agricole), pornite sub imperiul unei meschine lcomii de sorginte economic.

Avem de-a face n prezent cu un alt peisaj al 1 The Institute of Geography, The Romanian Academy, Bucharest

6

induced environment, with other uses and another function. It is mainly an agricultural landscape that has probably greatly influenced the consideration and designation of this unit in a different way from what it had been initially considered, characterised and named as a geographical individuality The Danube Marsh especially by non-geographers, by practitioners that are not familiarised with the correct usage of geographic names.

The area between Clrai and Brila, belonging to the alluvial plain of the Danube (directly influenced by the river) had and still bears the names of Balta Ialomiei (Borcei)/ Ialomia Marsh and Balta Brilei/ Brila Marsh, while for the region located upstream, all the way to Western Oltenia, the name of the Danube Flood Plain is used in studies (beginning with the elementary school books), although the people directly bound to this region do not use (nor know) the term lunc (alluvial plain).

About 30 years ago, when the Institute of Geography used to host the debating society of geographic toponymy and terminology initiated by professor Ion Conea, during one of these meetings, I spoke about the term balt (marsh) and especially the toponym (The Danube Marsh), a unique toponym (due to its content and age).

Professor Vintil Mihilescu also participated at that discussion and the following day he brought me an one-page text referring to the Danube Marsh a text that had been written before the debate and that confirmed my opinion. I have taken the liberty of combining his text with the ideas that I sustained during that particular debate.

In 1907, G. M. Murgoci published the study La plaine Roumaine et le Balta du Danube (The Romanian Plain and the Danube Marsh). Of course, what he had in mind was not a particular marsh, but the low region situated along the great river and called Balt by the local population (and mainly by the population of Brila, Murgocis native town) a term referring to the large alluvial plain of the Danube with its swamps, streams, pastures, used in winter time by the Transylvanian moving flocks. And the Transylvanians used to say that they took their flocks to winter in Balt, which, of course, did not mean that they took them to drink water from the shallow lakes that have a variable perimeter and that bear the name of bli (marshes); their destination was represented by the surrounding pastures and by the ones located on the sand banks. Not so long ago, before the construction of the dykes, the inhabitants used to say: I was in Balt; I haed the corn that I have in Balt; the cattle are in Balt.

And this term has been used (and still is) not onlyby those who live near Brila and Ialomia (Borcea)Marshes, but also by all those who have had permanentconnections and have somehow used that low andhumid land (the alluvial plain that is liable toinundation) situated along the Danube, beginning in

Luncii i Blilor Dunrii, un mediu eminamente antropizat, cu alt mod de utilizare i alt funcie. Un peisaj dominant agricol care, foarte probabil, a influenat foarte mult considerarea i numirea acestei uniti altcumva dect a fost considerat, caracterizat i numit ca individualitate geografic Balta Dunrii , mai ales de negeografi, n primul rnd practicieni, mai puin deprini cu utilizarea corect a numelor geografice.

Dac pentru partea dintre Clrai i Brila din regiunea creat de Dunre ca albie major (i aflat sub influena direct a fluviului) s-au utilizat i s-au meninut numele de Balta Ialomiei (Borcei) i Balta Brilei pentru ceea ce se afl amunte pn n vestul Olteniei, n lucrrile de tot felul (ncepnd cu manualele de curs elementar) se folosete numele de Lunca Dunrii, dei cei legai direct de aceast regiune nu folosesc (chiar nu cunosc) termenul de lunc.

Cndva, cu aproximativ 30 de ani n urm, cnd n Institutul de Geografie funciona un cerc de toponimie i terminologie geografic iniiat de profesorul Ion Conea, n una din edinele acestuia, am fcut o intervenie referitoare la termenul balt i mai ales la toponimul Balta (Dunrii), un toponim unicat (prin coninut i vechime).

La discuia respectiv a participat profesorul Vintil Mihilescu, iar a doua zi mi-a adus un text de o pagin referitor la Balta Dunrii. Un text scris mai nainte de discuia din cerc, care se nscria (i confirma) ntru totul cele susinute n edina amintit. Mi-am permis s combin textul prof. V. Mihilescu cu ceea ce am susinut n acea reuniune a cercului de toponimie.

n 1907 G. M. Murgoci publica studiul La plaine Roumaine et le Balta du Danube. Desigur, el nu se gndea la o anumit balt, ci la regiunea joas din lungul marelui fluviu creia populaia local (n primul rnd cea de la Brila de unde era i Murgoci) o numea Balt, nelegnd prin aceasta lunca cea larg a Dunrii cu bli, grle, pune, folosit i iarna de turmele transhumante ale ciobanilor ardeleni. i acetia spuneau de altfel c-i duc turmele la iernat n Balt, ceea ce nu nsemna, desigur, c le duc s le adape n apa lacurilor puin adnci i cu perimetru variabil numite bli, ci la punea din jurul acestora i de pe grinduri. i pn deunzi, naintea ndiguirilor, locuitorii de pe maluri se exprimau astfel: am fost n Balt; am prit porumbul din Balt; vitele sunt n Balt.

Iar acest lucru l-au spus (i l spun nc) nu numai cei din vecintatea Blilor Brilei i Ialomiei (Borcei), ci toi cei care au avut legturi permanente i au utilizat ntr-un anumit fel fia joas i umed (cmpia aluvial, inundabil) din

7

Western Oltenia i.e. in the region where the river getsthe shape and features of a true individuality. Whetherwe ask the inhabitants of Rast and Bistre, the ones thatlive in Potel, Grojdibod, Bneasa, Feteti, Fceni orTufeti, the answer will be unanimous: any activitytaking place in the land that used to be the overflowingdomain of the Danube is located in Balt (Marsh).

It is, therefore, extremely clear (professor VintilMihilescu continues) that Balta (the Marsh) was and we do not see why it still wouldnt the broad, morehumid bottom of the valley that the Danube used to periodically flood; on these occasions, the watercovered everything: water, marshes, the surface ofwhich diminished towards autumn and wintertime,streams, pastures, willow woods and poplar groves, allfull of birds in passage, higher sand banks that havebeen scarcely inhabited in the last 150-200 years, as compared to the centuries before, fishing and huntingdomain, area of intense grazing, especially in autumnand wintertime, of alleatory agriculture.

Balta is one of those rare names that ournation has given to a geographic region and thatdifferentiates it, as a specific territorial individuality from the higher field (with steppe aspect) locatedon both sides of the great river.

Actually, the word balt (marsh) - not the one that implies a water surface (a lustre), a lake, but that designating a humid region, liable to inundation, with specific vegetal associations - does not represent merely a name attributed to a certain region, to a geographic unit or individuality (respectively The Danube Marsh as a whole, with its well-known divisions that run from Western Oltenia to the its delta). Depending on its usage as an appellation, the word equally has the meaning of area, space, geographic region or type of natural environment. By the word balt, the Romanian people designated a space that presented certain conditions (or a well-defined complex of conditions and processes) and, in this respect, the term may be equivalent to those of field (plain), alluvial plain or mountain. For example, to say I take the sheep (or the cattle) to the marsh, as it happens in all the villages situated along the Danube (and as it is said by all those who used this region) is the same thing as asserting: I take the sheep to the mountains or the sheep go to the mountains, without clearly mentioning the precise part (or division) of this region (or geographic entity). Even the Transylvanian shepherds, that used to move their flocks, were similarly saying that they were leaving and taking the sheep in the marsh, somewhere, in a certain part of the region that was liable to inundation (or of the Danubes holm). The term and the name of Balt has the meaning and it is used in order to clearly define the difference between the field (whether or not we talk about the plain surface of a terrace, even the inferior terrace, having, here and there only 2-3 metres above the slightly raised alluvial plain, or the Burnaz field surface, that of the Brgan or of the Dobroudja Plateau) and the nearby region created by the river and

lungul Dunrii, ncepnd de acolo de unde aceasta capt conturul i caracterele de adevrat individualitate, adic ncepnd din vestul Olteniei. Indiferent dac i ntrebm pe cei de la Rast i Bistre, pe cei de la Potel, Grojdibod sau Bneasa, pe cei de la Feteti, Fceni sau Tufeti, toi, n egal msur, vor rspunde c orice activitate desfurat n fia care a fost domeniul de revrsare a apelor Dunrii este localizat n Balt.

Este ct se poate de clar, aadar (continu profesorul Vintil Mihilescu) c Balta a fost i nu vedem de ce s nu mai fie fundul larg al vii, mai umed, expus alt dat revrsrilor periodice ale Dunrii, cnd intra aproape totul sub ap: ap, bli din ce n ce mai restrnse spre toamn i iarn, grle, pune, pduri de salcii i plopi, toate pline de psret n trecere, grinduri mai nalte cu puine aezri n ultimii 150-200 de ani, dar mai multe n secolele trecute, domeniu de pescuit, vntoare, punat intens mai ales toamna i iarna, agricultura aleatorie.

Balta este una din rarele numiri dat unei regiuni geografice de poporul nostru, care o deosebete ca individualitate teritorial specific de cmpul mai nalt (cu aspect stepic) de pe dreapta i de pe stnga fluviului.

De fapt, cuvntul balt, nu cel care desemneaz o suprafa (un luciu) de ap, (adic lac), ci cel care are semnificaia de regiune umed, inundabil, cu asociaii vegetale specifice, nu este numai un nume atribuit unei anumite regiuni, unei uniti sau individualiti geografice (respectiv Balta Dunrii n totalitatea ei, cu binecunoscutele ei diviziuni din vestul Olteniei pn n delt). Dup cum este utilizat ca apelativ are, n egal msur, i sensul de arie, spaiu, regiune geografic sau tip de mediu natural. Prin balt poporul a desemnat un spaiu cu anumite condiii (sau ansamblu de condiii i procese precis definit), iar termenul, n acest sens, poate fi echivalat cu acelea de cmp (sau cmpie) lunc sau munte. Spunnd de exemplu: duc oile (sau vitele) n balt, aa cum se spune n toate satele din lungul Dunrii (i cum spun toi cei care foloseau aceast regiune) este la fel cum se spune: duc oile n munte sau urc oile la munte, fr s se precizeze n care anume parte (sau diviziune) a acestei regiuni (sau entiti geografice). Chiar pstorii ungureni care practicau transhumana spuneau n acelai fel c pleac i duc oile n balt, undeva, ntr-o anume parte a regiunii inundabile (sau luncii Dunrii). Termenul i numele de Balt are sensul i este folosit spre a se defini clar diferena dintre cmp (indiferent dac este podul unei terase chiar a terasei inferioare, pe alocuri numai cu 2-3 m deasupra luncii uor nlate sau suprafaa

8

directly submitted to its manifestations. For the local inhabitants, there is also an economic differentiation concerning the specific possibilities of turning to the best account the natural resources. The field (generally the flat surface of a terrace) represents not only the relatively dry surface that is burn by the sun and has no vegetation, but also an almost exclusive domain for the arable plots of land (for the extensive field culture). Unlike the field, Balta is a much more complex area, with a more diversified landscape owing to the various life environments that are brought together: they run from the permanently lacustrian environments and the reed thickets, to meadows, riverside coppices, shrubberies and cultivated land in the more elevated areas. Even the specific usage of the word, in order to better indicate the place of a certain activity, bears certain differences in relation to the features of the environment and of that specific action (after an investigation conducted in the villages located in Oltenia, at the contact between the terrace and the alluvial plain): I have the cattle, the land, I have to plough in the marsh; I bring the hay or the wood from the marsh; he has left, he takes the geese or the cattle to the marsh (i.e. to the pond/balta - the lake located in the alluvial plain-marsh); he is gone on the pond/balt (to fish, with the boat); my cattle are/ I have mowed across the pond; he is gone across the pond, i.e. on the other side of the (lake) pond, on the sand banks that are located between the lake and the Danube.

Generally speaking, this is a very rich and diverse terminology, but a very precise one nonetheless and it represents the result of a millenary experience of the man-environment relationship (a certain type of environment, i.e. that of the alluvial plain or, even more precisely, that of the Danubes Marsh). It is worth mentioning the fact that, knowing the termbalt/marsh and its various values, (the two expressions Alluvial Plain and Lake are usually learned in school) the inhabitants of the above mentioned villages did not have to use other expressions such as alluvial plain or lake. No doubt, these millenary relations are seen (as it is denoted by the employment of balt/marsh in multiple ways) from the viewpoint of the usage value of the alluvial plain and of the phenomena that take place within this geographical space.

Everybody knows by now that the Danube Marshes have been seriously modified, so that they could be used otherwise than in a traditional way. A rapid and extended transformation took place, and it has been realised with mechanical means. Nowadays, no lakes are to be found in the Blile Dunrii and its characteristic landscape has been replaced by another one, giving the impression of a different geographic region. The transformation appears to have come as a real shock that has puzzled a lot of people. A lot, and especially the ones that had poor knowledge about the term and name the term and name balt (marsh). Once the name Insul replaced the traditional

cmpului Burnazului, a Brganului sau a Podiului Dobrogei) i regiunea alturat creat i supus direct manifestrilor fluviului. Pentru localnici este o difereniere i cu evident latura economic prin specificul posibilitilor de utilizare a ceea ce ofer particularitile mediului natural. Cmpul (de regul un pod de teras) reprezint nu numai suprafaa relativ uscat, ars de soare, fr vegetaie, ci i un domeniu aproape exclusiv al terenurilor arabile (pentru cultura mare de cmp). Spre deosebire de aceasta, Balta este o suprafa mult mai complex, cu peisaj mult mai variat prin mbinarea mai multor medii de via de la cele permanent lacustre i stufrii, la pajiti, zvoaie, tufriuri i terenuri cultivate n prile mai nalte. nsui modul de indicare a blii ca loc de desfurare a unei anumite a activiti este difereniat n raport cu particularitile mediului i al aciunii respective (dup o anchet fcut n satele situate la contactul terasei cu lunca din Oltenia): am vitele, am pmntul, am de artur n balt; aduc fnul sau lemnele din balt; a plecat, duce vitele sau gtele la balt (adic la balta-lacul din interiorul luncii-blii); s-a dus pe balt (la pescuit, cu barca); am vitele sau am fost la cosit peste balt; s-a dus peste balt, adic dincolo de (lac) balt, pe grindurile dintre acestea i Dunre.

n general, este o terminologie foarte bogat, foarte variat, dar precis, rezultat dintr-o experien milenar a raporturilor om-mediu, un anumit mediu, anume acela al luncii sau, mai precis, al Blii Dunrii. Foarte semnificativ este i constatarea c populaia din satele mai nainte amintite nu folosesc termenii de lunc i lac pentru c l-au avut pe acela de balt cu variatele lui sensuri de folosire. (Cei doi termeni de lunc i lac sunt, de regul, aflai la coal). i, fr ndoial, aceste milenare raporturi sunt vzute (aa cum rezult din folosirea termenului de balt n multiple feluri) prin prisma valorii de utilizare a albiei majore i a fenomenelor care au loc n acest spaiu.

Nu mai constituie o noutate pentru nimeni c Blile Dunrii au fost supuse unei foarte accentuate modificri antropice n scopul unei alte utilizri dect cea tradiional. A avut loc o modificare rapid i de proporii cu mijloace mecanizate. Acum nu mai sunt bli n Balta Dunrii i peisajul su caracteristic a fost nlocuit cu altul care d, ntr-adevr, impresia c avem n fa o cu totul alt regiune geografic. S-ar putea spune c intervenia i modificarea a fost ca un adevrat oc care i-a descumpnit pe muli. Pe muli dar, n general, pe cei mai puin avizai asupra coninutului termenului i numelui de balt. Faptul le-a produs, probabil, o anumit derut de ndat ce au dat curs inteniei de a

9

Balt, people must have been confused by this inappropriate intervention of the planners and users that knew little about the terminology. Insul/Isle designates a piece of land that is surrounded by sea waters or even by those of a lake; this is surely different from the dry surface located at the middle of a river and that bears the name of ostrov/eyot. Balt signifies a totally different thing and it cannot be named either isle or eyot. In comparison, how would it be to use island to designate the area between the Sulina and Chilia channels, just like manz people call island the territorz bet6ween the Danube and the Borcea channel, for instance. The subject of the marshes that are named isle has already been discussed and dwelt upon, but it is necessary to insist on this issue, since preserving the acknowledged names is not a matter of conservatory geographic whim, but a modality to express reality and to fight against ignorance. We have succeeded in preserving the name of Balta Mic a Brilei (and it was mentioned as such in the Law concerning the National and Natural Parks) for the Natural Park located between the Danube and the Vlciu branch from Balta Brilei.

The term isle has a very precise meaning and itcannot be used (by less educated people, includingjournalists) to replace such terms or names asostrov or balt.

Some parts of the Danubes alluvial plain andmarches have become fallow lands as a result of thehuman irresponsibility face to the naturalenvironment; therefore, the attitude based on greedfor a certain material production must be replaced.

The final part of professor Vintil Mihailescus discourse includes a certain appeal both togeographers, as well as to all those who aresomehow involved in the future of this region that requires special attention. It is a geographic region,an exquisite piece of the Romanian land.

This low and humid corridor has preserved itsnatural physical features (recent alluvial soil, lowswampy regions within some of the largest basinlakes - Suhaia, Greaca, Boian, Clrai) and it isdifficult to be drained precisely because Balta/The Marsh continues to exist, the soil humidity beingexcessive even during the droughty years. At leastgeographers and () economists must stand for themaintenance of the name Balt- used at least forsome sectors of the great Danube alluvial plain(Balta Ialomiei, Balta Brilei, Balta Tulcei) becausethe existence of the ponds in this region (ponds thatare less extended and sometimes disappeardownstream) is, in a certain way, ephemeral and onlythe other physical features (the alluvial soil, itshumidity and the water infiltration from the Danube)are permanent and truly specific to the Marsh(Blii).

If, judging by appearances, someone sees thesethings in a different way, geographers must make

schimba numele de Balt cu cel de Insul, o intervenie neavenit a practicienilor proiectani i utilizatori, mai puin avizai. Insul nseamn o bucat de pmnt nconjurat de apele mrii i chiar ale unui lac, diferit de cea care se afl n mijlocul unui ru care este numit ostrov. Balta nseamn cu totul altceva i nu poate fi numit nici insul, nici ostrov. Prin comparaie nu tim cum ar aprea spunnd insul spaiului dintre braele deltei Sulina i Chilia aa cum unii destul de muli spun insul la ceea ce este ntre Dunre i braul Borcea, de exemplu. Asupra numirii blilor ca insule s-a mai discutat i s-a scris, dar trebuie insistat, ntruct exist suficiente motive pentru a se pstra numele consacrate, nu dintr-un capriciu geografic conservator, ci pentru a exprima o realitate i a contracara influena necunoaterii. Am reuit s meninem numele de Balta Mic a Brilei (i a aprut menionat cu acest nume n legea referitoare la parcurile naionale i naturale) pentru parcul natural dintre Dunre i braul Vlciu din Balta Brilei.

Termenul de insul are un coninut foarte bine precizat i nu poate fi utilizat (de cei mai puin avizai, inclusiv din pres) n locul termenilor i numelor de ostrov sau balt.

Paragina care a cuprins unele pri ale Luncii i Blilor Dunrii (ca urmare a iresponsabilitii umane fa de mediul natural) impune o cu totul alt atitudine dect aceea impus de lcomia pentru o anumit producie material.

Cuvntul profesorului V. Mihilescu referitor la Balta Dunrii, n ultima sa parte, include i un anumit ndemn, nu numai pentru geografi, ci pentru toi cei care au o anumit implicare n viitorul acestei regiuni creia trebuie s i se acorde cu totul alt atenie. Este o regiune geografic, pies deosebit a pmntului romnesc.

Culoarul acesta jos i umed, a rmas, ns, cu proprietile lui fizice naturale (sol aluvial recent, locuri joase mltinoase n perimetrele unora din marile cuvete lacustre Suhaia, Greaca, Boian, Clrai ), greu de secat tocmai pentru c Balta rezist, umiditatea din sol rmnnd pe alocuri n exces chiar n anii secetoi. Cel puin geografii i () economitii trebuie s pledeze pentru pstrarea numelui de Balt, aplicat cel puin unor sectoare din lunca cea mare a Dunrii (Balta Ialomiei, Balta Brilei, Balta Tulcei), cci existena blilor n aceast regiune (bli supuse, de altfel restrngerii lor i chiar dispariiei din amunte spre avale) este, ntr-un fel, trectoare i numai celelalte caractere fizice (solul aluvial, umiditatea lui i infiltraiile din Dunre) sunt permanente i cu adevrat specifice Blii.

Dac cineva vede altfel lucrurile, judecndu-

10

them aware. It is their duty both as scientists as wellas patriots.

What happened with the Danube Delta, with thewhole alluvial plain of the Danube, as a result of theprocess of dyking and transformation in agriculturalregion in order to reach its present condition can beconsidered only a failure.

All that has been said about this geographicentity as well as the repeated appeals to itsprotection have proved to be totally justified. Ifhuman interventions are determined only bypolitical-administrative reasons, by a sectarianscientific vision, they can only lead to failures, nomatter where they are undertaken; this is trueespecially in the case of a fragile naturalenvironment such as the Danube alluvial plain.

le la suprafa, geografii trebuie s le deschid ochii. Este datoria lor nu numai de oameni de tiin, dar i patriotic.

Ceea ce s-a ntmplat cu Delta Dunrii, cu Lunca Dunrii n totalitatea ei, prin aciunea de ndiguire i transformare n regiune agricol spre a ajunge n starea actual, nu poate fi considerat dect cel puin un semieec. Tot ceea ce s-a spus despre aceast entitate geografic i semnalele repetate trase pentru ocrotirea acesteia s-au dovedit ntrutotul justificate. Interveniile antropice fcute numai sub determinare politico-administrativ, n viziune tiinific sectar, nu pot duce dect la eecuri, oriunde ar fi ntreprinse. Cu att mai mult cu ct este n cauz un mediu natural fragil ca acela al cmpiei aluviale a Dunrii.

Received on the 20th of October 2004

11

Geographical Phorum Geographical studies and environment protection researches

Anul 4, Nr. 4 / 2005, pag. 11 - 16

OBSERVATIONS REGARDING THE DISTRIBUTION OF PHAEOZEMS WITHIN ARADULUI PLAIN

OBSERVAII ASUPRA DISTRIBUIEI FAEOZIOMURILOR N

CMPIA ARADULUI

Constantin GRIGORA1

Abstract: Aradului Plain, part of the West Plain of the country, was made up especially by the alluvia carried by the Mure. Within it, the last deposits the present pedogenesis takes place are varied as origin, but the formation of phaeozems is linked especially to sandy, fluvial, and fluvial-limnic deposits, which do not have or have just a small quantity of calcium carbonate. Phaeozems appear especially along the axis of the Mure alluvial fan and in the Southwestern part of the divagation plain. There have been noticed three characteristic situations for these soils formation. One of them is represented by depression areas with fluvial-limnic deposits, where pelic phaeozems appeared; the second situation is induced by the flat relief with medium texture fluvial deposits, coarse sand and gravel, where cambic and argic phaeozems appeared; the third situation is that of levees and sand dunes, where cambic and psamic phaeozems appeared. Key words: soils, phaeozem, Aradului Plain. Cuvinte cheie: soluri, faeoziom, Cmpia Aradului.

Introduction Phaeozems represent a new type of soil

introduced in the Romanian System of SoilTaxonomy in 2003. The criteria established for thedelimitation of this type of soil determine themodification of the content of certain soils mapsmade after the previous classifications. Theclassification of this aspect and the understanding ofthe different environment factors importance in thephaeozems genesis and distribution brought to theelaboration of the map rendering the phaeozemsdistribution within Aradului Plain.

Geographical location and limits ofAradului Plain

Aradului Plain belongs to the larger unit ofBanato-Criene Plain; it is one of the plains built bythe Mure at the mountains foot. It lies between thesteep slopes of the Zarandului Mountains, in theEast, Vingi Plain in the South, Semlacului Plainand the boarder with Hungary in the West, andCriurilor Plain in the North. The Northern limit isstrongly waved and less-clearly shaped, as theMure sent some of its branches near the Criul Albwhen it built this plain. This limit might be drawntaking into account the direction the old courses theMure and the Criul Alb used to flow, their levees, the depression areas, as well as the disposing of theloess-like deposits and especially of the fluvial onesbrought by the Mure.

Introducere Faeoziomurile reprezint un nou tip de sol,

introdus n anul 2003 n Sistemul Romn de Taxonomie a Solurilor. Criteriile stabilite pentru delimitarea acestui tip de sol determin modificarea coninutului unor uniti din hrile de soluri, ntocmite dup precedentele clasificri. Clarificarea acestui aspect i nelegerea importanei diverilor factori de mediu n geneza i distribuia faeoziomurilor au stat la baza ntocmirii hrii distribuiei faeoziomurilor n Cmpia Aradului.

Aezarea geografic i limitele Cmpiei Aradului

Cmpia Aradului face parte din unitatea mare a Cmpiei Banato-Criene, fiind una din cmpiile construite de Mure la ieirea din muni. Ea se ntinde ntre abruptul Munilor Zarandului, n partea de est, Cmpia Vingi n sud, Cmpia Semlacului i grania cu Ungaria n vest, iar n partea de nord se gsete Cmpia Criurilor. Limita nordic este puternic ondulat, fiind mai puin clar, pentru c Mureul, cnd a construit aceast cmpie, i-a trimis unele din braele sale pn n apropierea Criului Alb. Aceast limit a putut fi trasat innd cont de direcia pe care au avut-o vechile cursuri de ap ale Mureului i Criului Alb, grindurile acestora, ariile depresionare, precum i de dispunerea depozitelor loessoide, dar mai ales a celor fluviale aduse de Mure.

1 University of Craiova, Geography Department

General data regarding the environmentconditions within Aradului Plain

The geological and lithological data emphasize

that the territory of Aradului Plain formed andevolved together with the entire Panonic basin.Beginning with the Miocene, when the Panonic Seaappeared, to the Quaternary, there are depositedthick layers of sediments, of more than 1,000-2,000 m, (Arad-Gai 1106 m, Chiineu Cri 1263 m, Grniceri 1981 m or Socodor 2663 m). Some deposits, where the present solification takes place,date back to the Pleistocene and Holocene. They arerepresented by loess, loess-like deposits, sandy clayish sandy wind deposits, fluvial deposits, fluvial-limnic deposits, diluviums and colluviums.

The relief of Aradului Plain is flat and slowlyfragmented; the absolute altitudes oscillate between90 m in the NW and 123 in the SE, near thesettlements of Smbteni and Ghioroc where theMure enters the plain. It is noticeable that the highest altitudes are along the axis of the Murealluvial fan that is directed from Puli to NW,towards Zimand, Curtici and Macea.

Aradului Plain is a plain of fluvial accumulation;it is, in fact, one of the Mure alluvial fans. During the subaerial evolution, at the surface of the alluvialfan, there were deposited a series of materials thatrepresent the present solification deposits. Taking into account the distribution of these last deposits,there were separated some important sub-units: the plain with loess and loess-like deposits; the plain with sandy wind deposits; the divagation plain,which, in its turn, presents two sub-units: the olddivagation plain with fluvial, loess-like and fluvial-limnic deposits and the flood plain with recentfluvial and fluvial-limnic deposits (Fig. 1).

Date generale privind condiiile de mediu din Cmpia Aradului

Datele geologice i litologice arat c teritoriul

Cmpiei Aradului s-a format i a evoluat odat cu ntreg bazinul Panonic. ncepnd din Miocen, cnd are loc instalarea Mrii Panonice i pn n cuaternar, sunt depuse stive groase de sedimente, ce depesc 1000 -2000 m (Arad-Gai 1106 m, Chiineu Cri 1263 m, Grniceri 1981 m sau Socodor 2663 m). Ultimele depozite, cele pe care are loc solificarea actual, sunt de vrst Pleistocen superior i Holocen. Acestea sunt reprezentate prin loessuri, depozite loessoide, depozite eoliene nisipoase - lutonisipoase, depozite fluviale, depozite fluvio-lacustre i depozite deluvio-coluviale.

Relieful Cmpiei Aradului este plan, foarte slab fragmentat, altitudinile absolute fiind cuprinse ntre 90 m, n partea de NV a teritoriului i 123 m n SE, n aria localitilor Smbteni i Ghioroc de la ieirea Mureului n cmpie. De remarcat este faptul c cele mai ridicate cote ale Cmpiei Aradului se gsesc pe axul conului de dejecie al Mureului, acesta avnd direcia dinspre Puli spre NV, ctre Zimand, Curtici i Macea.

Cmpia Aradului constituie o cmpie de acumulare fluvial, de fapt unul din conurile aluviale ale Mureului. n decursul evoluiei subaeriene, pe suprafaa conului de dejecie s-au depus o serie de materiale care reprezint actualele depozite de solificare. innd cont de distribuia acestor ultime depozite, s-au deosebit cteva subuniti mai importante: cmpia cu loess i depozite loessoide; cmpia cu depozite eoliene nisipoase; cmpia de divagare, care are la rndul ei dou subdiviziuni: cmpia de divagare veche, cu depozite fluviale, depozite loessoide i depozite fluvio-lacustre i albia major inundabil, cu depozite fluviale i fluvio-lacustre recente (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1. The relief units of Aradului Plain 1. Plains with loess and loess-like deposits; 2. Plains

with sandy wind deposits; 3. Old divagation plain with fluvial, loess-like and fluvial-limnic; 4. The flood plain with recent fluvial and fluvial-limnic deposits; 5. The 3-5 m terrace of the Mure; 6. Colluvium alluvial fan glacis.

Unitile de relief ale Cmpiei Aradului 1. Cmpie cu loess i depozite loessoide; 2. Cmpie cu

depozite eoliene nisipoase; 3. Cmpie de divagare veche, cu depozite fluviale, depozite loessoide i depozite fluvio-lacustre; 4. Albia major inundabil, cu depozite fluviale i fluvio-lacustre recente; 5. Terasa Mureului de 3-5 m; 6. Glacis coluvio-proluvial.

12

13

Besides these units, there has to be mentioned thepresence of a colluvium-alluvial fan glacis at thecontact with the Zarandului Mountains and of somesmall fragments of the 3-5 m terrace of the Murelocated at the contact with Vingi Plain andSemlacului Plain near the settlement of Pecica.

The climatic conditions of the studies area are specific to the moderate temperate continentalclimate with Atlantic and Mediterranean influences. The annual mean temperature is of about 10.5C(Arad 10.6C, Chiineu Cri 10.2C), while themean annual amount of precipitation increases fromwest to east, from less than 550 mm at the borderwith Hungary to about 580 mm along the line Arad -Chiineu Cri to reach then 650 mm at the contactwith the mountains (623 mm la Lipova). The annualpotential evapotranspiration is of about 700 mm inthe plain central part (695 mm at Arad, 698 mm atChiineu Cri), which shows that there is a certainaridity degree, especially during summer months.

Surface and underground waters The main water stream is the Mure, which is

dyked on both sides. Before dyking, at floods, thewater of the river reached the former beds towardsZimand, Sofronea and Snmartin, as well as thedepression area located at the contact with theZarandului Mountains or the Dead Mure and,further more, the Ierului valley near the settlementsof Sederhat and Turnu. At present, many of theseformer beds are dyked and used to collectprecipitation water, to drain phreatic water or tosupply water for some local irrigation systems.

As it is made up of thick sedimentary deposits,Aradului Plain owes rich deep aquifers, which areused to supply fresh water to many settlements. Phreatic waters are generally located near thesurface, at less than 7 m depth.

Within the area covered by phaeozems, phreaticwater is fresh (< 0.5 g/l) to moderately brackish (1-2 g/l), with a bicarbonate-calcic mineralization.

Phaeozems distribution The phaeozems distribution area within Aradului

Plain is closely linked to the disposing of the fluvialdeposits that make up this region. Firstly, it can be noticed that the fluvial deposits these soils formedon are quite varied from the texture point of view, from sands to clays. However, a characteristic ofthese deposits is the lack of carbonates or their lowquantities, so that the leaching process could removethem towards the base of the profile. Most of thesandy alluvial deposits underwent wind action and, nowadays, they appear as small steady dunes, whichstill preserve the SE-NW orientation characteristic tothe former levees of the Mure.

The phaeozems units are mainly found along theaxis of the Mure alluvial fan and another part aredistributed within the divagation area located NW ofArad, from Zimand and Livada towards Sn Pauland Sederhat.

n afara acestor uniti, trebuie menionat prezena unui glacis coluvio-proluvial la contactul cu Munii Zarandului i a ctorva mici fragmente din terasa Mureului de 3-5 m, situate la contactul cu Cmpia Vingi i Cmpia Semlacului n dreptul localitii Pecica.

Condiiile climatice ale teritoriului cercetat sunt specifice climatului temperat continental moderat, dar cu influene atlantice i mediteraneene. Temperatura medie anual este n jur de 10,5C (Arad 10,6C, Chiineu Cri 10,2C), iar precipitaiile medii anuale cresc dinspre vest ctre est, de la < 550 mm la grania cu Ungaria, la cca. 580 mm pe linia Arad - Chiineu Cri, ca s ajung la aproximativ 650 mm la contactul cu muntele (623 mm la Lipova). Evapotranspiraia potenial anual se apropie de 700 mm n partea central a cmpiei (695 mm la Arad, 698 mm la Chiineu Cri), ceea ce arat c exist un anumit grad de ariditate, prezent mai ales n lunile de var.

Apele de suprafa i subterane Principalul curs de ap este Mureul, acesta fiind

ndiguit pe amndou prile. nainte de ndiguire, la ape foarte mari, Mureul i trimitea apele pe vechile albii prsite pn ctre localitile Zimand, Sofronea i Snmartin, ca i pe ulucul depresionar de la contactul cu Munii Zarandului sau pe Mureul Mort i mai departe pe valea Ierului pe lng localitile Sederhat i Turnu. n prezent, multe din aceste cursuri prsite au fost canalizate i servesc la colectarea apelor din precipitaii, la drenarea apelor freatice sau pentru alimentarea cu ap a unor sisteme locale de irigaii.

Fiind alctuit din depozite sedimentare groase, Cmpia Aradului are bogate strate acvifere de adncime, ce sunt utilizate la alimentarea cu ap potabil a multor localiti. Apele freatice sunt, n general, aproape de suprafa, ntlnindu-se la mai puin de 7 m adncime.

n zona de rspndire a faeoziomurilor, apele freatice sunt dulci (< 0,5 g/l) pn la moderat slcii (1 - 2 g/l), cu o mineralizare de tip bicarbonato-calcic.

Distribuia faeoziomurilor Aria de rspndire a faeoziomurilor n Cmpia

Aradului este legat de dispunerea depozitelor fluviale ce alctuiesc aceast regiune. n primul rnd se observ c depozitele fluviale pe care s-au format aceste soluri sunt foarte variate textural, de la nisipuri pn la argile. Dar, caracteristic acestora, este lipsa carbonailor n aceste materiale sau ei au fost n cantiti reduse, astfel c procesul de levigare i-a putut deplasa spre baza profilului. Depozitele aluviale nisipoase au suferit n mare parte o remaniere eolian, gsindu-se astzi sub forma unui relief de dune mici, fixate, dar care pstreaz nc orientarea de la SE ctre NV a vechilor grinduri ale Mureului.

Dispunerea unitilor cu faeoziomuri se concentreaz pe axul conului de dejecie al Mureului, iar o parte se gsesc distribuite n aria de divagare de la nord-vest de Arad, respectiv dinspre Zimand i Livada spre Sn Paul i Sederhat.

14

The genesis of the phaeozems from AraduluiPlain is not strictly related to the climatic conditions(the mean annual quantity of precipitation is of 500-650 mm, mean annual temperature of about 10.5Cand potential evapotranspiration of almost 700 mm),but they create proper conditions for the formationof the bioaccumulative mollic horizon, for thedevelopment of the mineral part alteration processesor for the leaching of some soil components. The decisive factor for the formation of these soils is thelow content of carbonates or even their absence inthe deposits where phaeozems appeared. At thesame time, these deposits gradually transform insands and gravels at a depth of about 1-1.5 m, factthat favours a good circulation of the water along thevertical profile, which determines the slow leachingof certain soil components or of the productsresulted from the alteration of the silicates.

The analysis of the pedogenetic conditionsemphasized the presence of three characteristicsituations for the formation of the phaeozems and,thus, their distribution can be explained, as well asthe presence of certain specific sub-types.

The first situation is induced by the presence ofpelic phaeozems (cambic or argic), mostly gleyic orphreatic humid, only within depressions. Withinthese areas, according to the sedimentation laws inthe alluvial plains, only the fine alluvia representingthe fluvial limnic deposits were deposited during thelast alleviation phases. Within these depressionareas, which were also the most poorly drained,swamp soils with a rich humiferous horizon at thesurface initially formed. Once the alluviation processceased due to the evolution of the Mure course, these swamps surfaces were drained by bothchanneling of the old beds and a natural process.Consequently, swamp soils mostly transformed inpelic phaeozems due to the high content of claywithin the upper part of the soil profile. It has to benoticed that there appeared Vertosols within some ofthese depression areas. This fact can be explainedonly by the depositing of alluvia with a high contentof clay, rich in smectite minerals, within these areas.Even some of the pelic phaeozems, such as the oneslocated near Puli, present a vertic character in thehorizon B.

The second situation is represented by areas withcambic and argic phaeozems; in some places, theyare phreatic humid. These territories, which displaya flat relief, present relative altitudes of about 1-2 m higher than the ones within the above-mentioneddepressions. The last deposited sediments had apredominantly medium texture, but they oftenpresent coarse sand and quarzitic and crystallinegravel. This shows that these deposits probablyformed also by the mixing with other pre-existent formations.

The geological evolution of the Mure alluvialfan was not induced only by accumulation,

Geneza faeoziomurilor din Cmpia Aradului este legat n mic parte de condiiile climatice, unde precipitaiile medii anuale de 500-650 mm, temperaturile medii anuale de cca. 10,5C i evapotranspiraia potenial de aproape 700 mm, creeaz condiii de formare a orizontului bioacumulativ de tip molic, de desfurarea proceselor de alterare a prii minerale i de levigare a unora din constituenii solului. Factorul decisiv n geneza acestor soluri l reprezint ns coninutul redus de carbonai sau chiar absena acestora n depozitele pe care s-au format faeoziomurile. De asemenea, faptul c aceste depozite trec la adncimea de cca. 1-1,5 m n nisipuri i pietriuri favorizeaz o circulaie bun a apei pe profilul de sol, ceea ce determin levigarea uoar a unora din constituenii solului sau a produselor rezultate din alterarea silicailor.

Analiza condiiilor pedogenetice a evideniat prezena a trei situaii caracteristice n care s-au format faeoziomurile, de unde rezult o anumit distribuie a lor, dar i prezena unor subtipuri caracteristice.

Prima situaie este dat de prezena faeoziomurilor pelice (cambice sau argice), cel mai adesea gleice sau freatic-umede, doar n ariile depresionare. n aceste teritorii, conform legilor sedimentrii din lunci, n ultimele faze de aluvionare s-au depus doar aluviunile cele mai fine, ele constituind depozitele fluvio-lacustre. n aceste arii depresionare, ce au fost i cele mai slab drenate, s-au format iniial soluri de mlatin, cu un bogat orizont humifer la suprafa. Odat cu ntreruperea procesului de aluvionare, ca urmare a evoluiei cursului Mureului, dar i a ndiguirii luncii actuale, aceste suprafee de mlatin au fost drenate, fie prin canalizarea vechilor albii prsite, fie procesul a decurs n mod natural. Ca urmare, solurile de mlatin au evoluat n mare parte ctre faeoziomuri pelice, datorit coninutului ridicatde argil din partea superioar a profilului de sol. Trebuie observat c n unele din aceste arii depresionare s-au format ns vertosoluri. Acest fapt se poate explica doar prin aceea, c n acele areale s-au depus aluviuni cu un coninut mai ridicat de argil, bogat n minerale smectitice. De altfel, chiar unele din faeoziomurile pelice, cum sunt cele din apropiere de Puli, au caracter vertic n orizontul B.

O a doua situaie o reprezint ariile cu faeoziomuri cambice i argice, n unele perimetre acestea fiind freatic-umede. Aceste teritorii, ce se prezint sub forma unui relief plan, au altitudini relative cu cca. 1 -2 m mai ridicate, fa de ariile depresionare despre care am vorbit mai sus. Ultimele sedimente depuse au avut o textur predominant mijlocie, dar prezentnd frecvent nisip grosier i pietri cuaritic i cristalin. Aceasta arat c formarea acestor depozite s-a realizat probabil i prin amestecul cu alte formaiuni preexistente.

Evoluia geomorfologic a conului aluvial al

15

construction, but also by erosion during certainphases. Thus, at least the Southern part of thealluvial fan, delimited by a circle arch-like line, wasmodeled by the Mure beginning with the last part of the upper Pleistocene and during the Holocene(Grigora, 1999). The Northern limit of thisperimeter begins at Puli and Ghioroc and then is directed North westwards to North of Zimandu Nouand Andrei aguna and, then, South westwardspassing through Sofronea, Sn Paul, Sederhat up toPecica. This territory was modified by the Mure, ast. Manciulea (1938) underlines, showing thatbefore dyking, one branch of the Mure, calledValea Seac (Dry Valley), still functioned duringfloods, on the direction Puli - Zimand Sofronea.

The phaeozems formed in these conditionsbelong to the cambic sub-type, in the western side, in the neighbourhood of the the settlement ofZimand Cuz, and to the argic sub-type, North andEast of Horia (Fig. 2)

Mureului nu a fost doar una de acumulare, de construcie, ci, pe semne, au fost faze cnd el a fost supus eroziunii. Astfel, cel puin partea sudic a conului, delimitat de o linie ca un arc de cerc, a fost remodelat de Mure cu ncepere din ultima parte a Pleistocenului superior i continund i n timpul Holocenului (Grigora, 1999). Limita nordic a acestui perimetru ncepe de la Puli i Ghioroc se orienteaz spre nord-vest, ajungnd la nord de Zimandu Nou i Andrei aguna, apoi se ndreapt spre sud-vest pe la Sofronea, Sn Paul, Sederhat, pn la Pecica. Faptul c acest teritoriu a fost modificat de Mure, este subliniat i de t. Manciulea (1938), el artnd c pn la ndiguire, un bra al Mureului, numit Valea Seac, nc funciona n timpul viiturilor pe direcia Puli - Zimand - Sofronea.

Faeoziomurile formate n aceste condiii aparin subtipului cambic n partea vestic, aria localitii Zimand Cuz i subtipului argic, la nord i est de Horia (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2. Pheozems distribution within Aradului Plain / Distribuia faeoziomurilor n Cmpia Aradului 1. Cambic phaeozems; 2. Argic phaeozems; 3. Cambic, psamic phaeozems; 4. Pelic, inclusively vertic phaeozems; 5.

Gleyic phaeozems; 6. Gleyic, psamic phaeozems; 7. Cambic, psamic phaeozems and cambic chernozems. 1. Faeoziomuri cambice; 2. Faeoziomuri argice; 3. Faeoziomuri cambice, psamice; 4. Faeoziomuri pelice, inclusiv

vertice; 5. Faeoziomuri gleice; 6. Faeoziomuri gleice, psamice 7. Faeoziomuri cambice, psamice i cernoziomuri cambice. This distribution is induced by the quantity of

precipitation, which is higher in the Eastern part ofthe area and, especially, by the texture of the soilparental material which, here, is medium-coarse (sandy-clayish clayish), while, in the West, the

Aceast distribuie este cauzat att de cantitatea de precipitaii ceva mai mare n partea de est a teritoriului, ct mai ales de faptul c aici textura materialului parental al solului este mijlociu-grosier (nisipolutoas-lutoas), pe cnd n partea vestic

16

medium-fine textures (clayish loamy-clayish) predominate.

The third situation is that of the pheozems formedon sandy deposits. They are located on the highestareas, former levees and hillocks or even terraces ofthe Mure, such as the ones South of Pecica, on theleft bank of the Mure. Many of these areas withsandy deposits were modeled by the wind; nowadays,there can be noticed a micro-relief represented bysteady dunes of 2-3 m relative altitude. The distribution area of these deposits is located on theborder of the divagation plain, marked by that above-mentioned circle arch, but the widest surfaces are tobe found in the neighbourhood of the settlements ofMacea and Curtici. The sandy deposits favoured theeasier development of the mineral part alteration processes and of the carbonates leaching andformation of the cambic B-horizon. Thus, it seems that some of these sandy deposits did not havecarbonates from the very beginning or their quantitywas very small. Consequently, the transformation intophaeozem was quite rapid. Within some areas, wherecertain deposits present a coarser texture (sandy withsilicatic gravel), there appeared mollic eutricCambisols.

The pheozems within these areas belong to thecambic-psamic sub-type. They are often associatedwith cambic pheozems in those places where thetexture is finer. In the area of Macea-Curtici, thecambic-psamic pheozems are associated withcambic Chernozems, which formed on deposits withloamy-sandy texture.

Conclusions The research of the pheozems within Aradului

Plain emphasized that their genesis is mainly linkedto the nature of the solification deposit and less tothe climatic conditions. The relief also markedespecially the formation of certain texturalcategories of deposits and also the genesis of some phaeozems sub-types.

predomin texturile mijlocii-fine (lutoase-lutoargiloase).

A treia situaie remarcat este cea a faeoziomurilor formate pe depozite nisipoase. Acestea se gsesc distribuite pe terenurile cele mai nalte, foste grinduri i popine ale cursurilor Mureului sau chiar terase, cum sunt cele de la sud de Pecica, de pe malul stng al Mureului. Multe din aceste teritorii cu depozite nisipoase au fost modelate eolian, astzi gsind aici un microrelief de dune fixate de 2-3 m altitudine relativ. Aria de rspndire a acestor depozite se gsete pe marginea cmpiei de divagare, marcat de acel arc de cerc de care vorbeam mai sus, dar cele mai extinse suprafee le gsim situate n zona localitilor Macea i Curtici. Depozitele nisipoase din aceste teritorii au favorizat desfurarea mai uoar a proceselor de alterare a prii minerale i de levigare a carbonailor i de formare a orizontului B cambic. De altfel, se pare c unele din aceste depozite nisipoase au fost lipsite de carbonai nc de la constituirea lor sau acetia au fost n cantitate foarte redus. Astfel,evoluia ctre faeoziom a fost destul de rapid. n unele areale, unde depozitele au o textur mai grosier (nisipoas cu pietri silicatic), s-au format eutricambosoluri molice.

Faeoziomurile din aceste areale aparin subtipului cambic-psamic. Ele se asociaz adesea cu faeoziomuri cambice, acolo unde textura este ceva mai fin. n zona de la Macea-Curtici, faeoziomurile cambice-psamice se asociaz cu cernoziomuri cambice, acestea din urm fiind formate pe depozite cu textur lutonisipoas.

Concluzii Cercetrile ntreprinse asupra faeoziomurilor din

Cmpia Aradului au evideniat c geneza acestora este legat n primul rnd de natura depozitului de solificare i mai puin de condiiile climatice ale teritoriului. Factorul relief i-a pus amprenta mai ales n formarea anumitor categorii texturale de depozit, dar i asupra genezei subtipurilor de faeoziomuri.

REFERENCES

Grigora, C., (1987), Harta geomorfologic a Cmpiei de Vest dintre Mure i Criul Alb, Lucrrile Conferinei Naionale de tiina Solului, Timioara, 1985, Bucureti.

Grigora, C., (1999), Solurile Cmpiei de Vest dintre Mure i Criul Alb, Editura Universitaria, Craiova. Manciulea, t., (1938), Cmpia Tisei, Buletinul Societii Regale Romne de Geografie Tom. LVII, Bucureti.Posea, Gr., Badea, I., (1980), Harta geomorfologic a Romniei, Editura Didactic i Pedagogic, Bucureti. Posea, Gr. (1997), Cmpia de Vest a Romniei, Editura Fundaiei ,,Romnia de Mine", Bucureti, 430 pp.

Received on the 1 7th of September, 2004

17

Geographical Phorum Geographical studies and environment protection researches Anul 4, Nr. 4 / 2005, pag. 17 - 25

THE RAPPORT BETWEEN THE GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE AND THE RELIEF FEATURES WITHIN THE OLNETILOR HILLOCKS

RAPORTUL DINTRE CONSTITUIA GEOLOGIC I CARACTERELE RELIEFULUI

N MUNCEII OLNETILOR

Gabriel MUTIHAC1

Abstract : The Olnetilor hillocks, representing the Eastern part of the Cpnii Mountains, belong to the category of low mountains and are subject to the tectonic mobility rendered visible by a continuous rising of the relief, which brings to the continuous increase of the difference between the initial topographic surface and the local base level. The hillocks are intensely broken up by a dense hydrographical net. The main water streams present a North-west South-east direction in the South and a North-South direction in the North. Most of the water streams present narrow valleys with convex slopes and, in some cases, they carved gorges and defiles, both in metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. The interfluves keep the same direction and appear as narrow summits with sharp peaks, in many cases, even steep slopes with greater than 45o inclinations, in the centre and in the North, and long slopes and rounded peaks in the South. Within the hillocks there can be also noticed many structural surfaces, some of them bordered by cuestas that can be easily assimilated with the levelling surfaces. In the lithological structure of the Olnetilor Hillocks there can be found metamorphic formations, in the North, represented by amphibolitic and ophthalmic ortoamphibolitic gneiss (gneiss of Cozia), as well as by micaceous paragneiss and, in the South, by neocretacious and Palaeogene sedimentary formations, which are transgressively and discordantly disposed over the crystalline fundament. The sedimentary deposits belong to two sedimentation cycles separated by a intrasenonian stratigraphic lagoon. The first sedimentation cycle, covering the interval Vraconian-early Senonian, includes pelite-detrital deposits represented by an alternation of marly clays, sandstones, conglomerates. The second cycle includes predominantly pelite-psephitic deposits represented by conglomerates, massive sandstones and sandy marly-limestones belonging to the upper Senonian. Within the Olnetilor Hillocks, the Austric supergenetic drifting represents the main tectonic element. Besides it, the region is affected by an approximately East-West system of faults and over it, another system, with a North-South direction. The hillocks region was subject to many emergence phases: a major pre-alpine phase, when the crystalline fundament was affected; a phase by the end of Eo-cretaceous; an inter-Senonian phase and another one by the end of the Cretaceous and the beginning of the Palaeogene. The characters of the interfluves and the aspect of the main valleys generally respects the lithological structure, as the relief general aspect is mainly imposed by the geology of the region. Key words: petrographic relief, structural relief, low mountains, hillocks. Cuvinte cheie: relief petrografic, relief structural, muni scunzi, muncei.

The Olnetilor Hillocks represent the Eastern part

of the Cpnii Mountains and they are limited by theLotru river in the North, the Olt river in the East, theNorth Climneti Andreieti ua Olneti -North Cheia alignment in the South-east, thedepression passage along the alignment North MguraHil-Schitul Jgheaburi-North Suseni-North Brbteti-North Pietreni, in the South, and by Buila-VnturariaMassif in the West/North-west, along the alignment ofthe Stogu-Cndeti and Valea lui Stan peaks.

The hillocks belong to the category of lowmountains, as there can be found only a few peaks over1,400 m high, in the North-west: Naruu (1,436 m) on agneiss layer, Crligele (1,509 m) and Olneti (1,415m) on a polymictic conglomerates and massive

Munceii Olnetilor reprezint partea estic a

Munilor Cpnii i sunt delimitai la nord de rul Lotru, la est de rul Olt, la sud-est de aliniamentul nord Climneti Andreieti ua Olneti -nord Cheia, la sud de ulucul depresionar pe aliniamentul nord dealul Mgura-Schitul Jgheaburi-nord Suseni-nord Brbteti-nord Pietreni, iar la vest/nord-vest de masivul Buila-Vnturaria, aliniamentul vrfurile Stogu-Cndeti i Valea lui Stan.

Munceii se ncadreaz n categoria munilor scunzi, doar n partea nord-vestic gsindu-se cteva vrfuri care depesc 1400 m: Naruu (1436 m) pe un substrat de gnaise, Crligele (1509 m) i Olneti (1415 m) pe un substrat de conglomerate

1 The Institute of Geography, The Romanian Academy, Bucharest

18

sandstones layer. The tectonic mobility represented by a continuous

uplifting tendency of the Carpathians relief from theend of the Eocene, which still continues (with 0.2-0.5mm/year, Visarion, 1977) determined a continuousincrease of the difference between the initialtopographical surface and the local base level, thusstrengthening the relief energy (Niculescu, 1973).

The rising of the river beds with a higher speed thanthe deepening of the streams brought to an enlargementof the run-off slope, which is one of the mainconditions for the predominance of linear erosion ascompared to the horizontal one; the argument is thepredominant convex shape of the slopes.

The main valleys cross successive layers of rocks ofdifferent hardness within the region. That is why theyare made up of a succession of narrow sectors withsteep slopes and thresholds and large sectors wherealluvia accumulate (Badea, 1953).

The denudation potential is influenced anddifferentiated by the present stage of the reliefevolution, by the climatic conditions, and by man-made activities.

The main processes, which lead to the slopestransformation and also strongly influence the otherelements of the landscape, are: ravine formation,surface wash, and mass movement processes.

Orographic structure The Olnetilor Hillocks are crossed by a dense

hydrographical net (a mean density of 2.05 km/km2),which strongly fragments them. The main waterstreams present a North-west/South-east orientation inthe South part of the hillocks, West-east in the centreand North-south in the North (Fig. 1).

The main interfluves keep the same orientation andpresent an aspect of narrow summits with sharp peaksin the North and West and long summits with roundedpeaks and saddles in the south.

Most of the peaks, Naruu, Olnetilor, Crligele,Muntele Basarab, the summits Dosul Pmntului andthe ones in the North and West are bordered by steepslopes with falls.

Ruin-like cliffs can be noticed on the CreastaCocoului-Plaiul Piatra Tiat alignment onconglomerates and massive sandstones. Smaller ruin-like cliffs can also be found at random along thevalleys of the Dneasa, the Lotrior, the Muereasca etc.

The main interfluves present an aspect of narrowsummits with sharp peaks and steep slopes, whichsometimes are greater than 45o such as: MuchiaMnzului, Dosul Pmntului etc.

In the North, on a lithological background of gneissand paragneiss, the interfluves are narrow, with sharpand stray peaks, steep slopes, with falls and greatinclination (more than 45o) in some cases, while in theSouth, on sedimentary rocks, the interfluves appear aslong summits with rounded peaks and saddles.

The valleys, both the main and the secondary ones,are, generally, narrow, with steep and mostly convex

polimictice i gresii masive. Mobilitatea tectonic manifestat printr-o

tendin continu de ridicare a reliefului carpatic de la sfritul Eocenului i continund pn n prezent (cu 0,2-0,5 mm/an, Visarion, 1977) a determinat creterea continu a diferenei dintre suprafaa topografic iniial i nivelul de baz local, accentund energia reliefului (Niculescu, 1973).

nlarea albiilor cu o vitez mai mare dect adncirea cursurilor de ap a determinat mrirea pantei de scurgere, condiie principal pentru predominarea eroziunii liniare fa de cea orizontal, dovada fiind forma predominant convex a versanilor.

Vile principale strbat regiunea tind strate succesive de roci cu duriti diferite. De aceea sunt alctuite dintr-o alternan de sectoare nguste cu pante accentuate i praguri, i sectoare largi n care se acumuleaz aluviuni (Badea, 1953).

Potenialul denudrii este influenat i difereniat de stadiul actual de evoluie a reliefului, de condiiile climatice i de activitile antropice.

Procesele de ravenare, cele de splare n suprafa i deplasrile n mas constituie principalele procese de transformare a versanilor influennd puternic celelalte elemente ale peisajului.

Structura orografic Munceii Olnetilor sunt strbtui de o reea

hidrografic dens (densitatea medie 2,05 km/km2) care i fragmenteaz puternic. Principalele cursuri de ap au orientarea general nord-vest/sud-est in partea sudic a munceilor, vest-est n partea central i nord-sud n partea nordic a acestora (Fig. 1).

Principalele interfluvii pstreaz aceeai orientare i au aspect de culmi nguste cu vrfuri ascuite n nordul i vestul munceilor i de culmi lungi cu vrfuri rotunjite i ei n partea sudic.

Majoritatea vrfurilor: Naruu, Olnetilor, Crligele, Muntele Basarab, culmile Dosul Pmntului i cele din nordul i vestul munceilor sunt mrginite de versani abrupi cu nruituri.

Pe aliniamentul Creasta Cocoului-Plaiul Piatra Tiat se ntlnesc stnci ruiniforme formate pe conglomerate i gresii masive. Stnci ruiniforme de dimensiuni mai mici se ntlnesc rzle i pe vile Dneasa, Lotrior, Muereasca etc.

Interfluviile principale prezint un aspect de culmi nguste cu vrfuri ascuite, cu abrupturi care uneori depesc 45o cum sunt: Muchia Mnzului, Dosul Pmntului etc.

n partea nordic a munceilor, pe un suport litologic de gnaise i paragnaise, interfluviile sunt nguste, cu vrfuri ascuite, rzlee, cu versani abrupi, cu nruituri i pante mai mari de 45o n unele cazuri, iar n partea sudic, pe un suport litologic de roci sedimentare, interfluviile au un aspect de culmi prelungi cu vrfuri rotunjite i ei.

19

slopes, which sometimes present the aspect of gaugesor defiles, as it is the case of the Olt, the Lotriorul, theValea Cldrilor, the Otsul valleys etc.

There can be also noticed many structural surfaces,some of them bordered by cuestas, especially in theSouthern and Eastern part of the hillocks. Some ofthem can be assimilated with leveling surfaces. Themost important such surfaces are those located West ofCciulata, South-east and North-west of PlaiulFrsinel, North and South of Comanca, West ofGurguiata etc.

The geological structure The lithology of the area is represented by

metamorphic and sedimentary formations. The m e t a m o r p h i c f o r m a t i o n s are to be

found in the North of the hillocks, between the Olt andValea lui Stan up to the alignment of the Lotrior (Fig.1). They are represented by metamorphites, whichcame out from the metamorphosis of a magmatic andsedimentary material in the presence of an amphiboliticor even granulitic facies. The very strongmetamorphism generated extremely hard rocks. Theybelong to what it had been called the crystalline of theFgra and are represented by amphibolite andophthalmic ortoamphibolite gneisses, micaceousparagneisses with or without granate (Ghica-Budeti,1931). The gneisses of Cozia present the widestdistribution.

As a very narrow strip, along the Valea lui Stanstream, there can be also noticed epimetamorfitesknown as the Crystalline of the Valea lui Stan-Crpini. They are represented by amphibolite schists,sericito-chlorine and clorit albitice schists withmagnetite (Codarcea-Desila, 1965). They are rocks thatcame out from the metamorphosis of a magmatic andsedimentary material in the conditions of a facies ofgreen schists from the Caledonian orogenesis. They areless resistant than the metamorphites but, as they arenot well developed (in a scales structure), they do nothold a special geomorphologic significance.

The s e d i m e n t a r y f o r m a t i o nsare widely spread and due to their lithological structurethey have a special significance in the formation andevolution of the relief.

The oldest sedimentary deposits are the least spreadones. Thus, along the Valea lui Stan alignment, therecan be found strongly cemented conglomeratesfollowed by marnly limestones, which are alsoindurate. The deposits date back to the Triassic (Lupu,Lupu, 1967) and they are strongly tectonicallydeformed; they belong to the same scales area as theepimetamorphites of the Valea lui Stan-Crpini thatwere generated by the rift areas that used to separatethe Getic continental block from the supra-Getic one(Mutihac, 1990).

The largest part of the Olnetilor Hillocks iscovered by neo-Cretaceous and Paleogene sedimentaryformations (Boldor, Stilla, 1976). This covers theregion expanding from the Olt valley South-westwards

Vile, att cele principale ct i cele secundare, sunt, n general, nguste, cu versani abrupi i cel mai adesea conveci, avnd uneori aspectul de chei sau defilee, ca n cazul vilor Oltului, Lotriorului, Valea Cldrilor, Otsului etc.

Se remarc, de asemenea, multe suprafee structurale, unele mrginite de cueste mai ales n partea sudic i estic a munceilor. Unele dintre acestea pot fi asimilate cu suprafee de nivelare. Cele mai importante dintre acestea sunt la vest de Cciulata, la sud-est i nord-vest de Plaiul Frsinel, la nord i sud de localitatea Comanca, la vest de localitatea Gurguiata etc.

Constituia geologic La alctuirea substratului litologic al Munceilor

Olnetilor particip formaiuni metamorfice i formaiuni sedimentare.

F o r m a i u n i l e m e t a m o r f i c e se ntlnesc n nordul munceilor, ntre Olt i Valea lui Stan aproximativ pn la aliniamentul Lotriorului (Fig. 1). Acestea sunt reprezentate prin metamorfite care au rezultat din metamorfozarea unui material magmatogen i sedimentogen n condiiile faciesului amfibolitic sau chiar granulitic. Metamorfismul foarte puternic a generat roci foarte dure. Acestea se ncadreaz n ceea ce s-a descris drept cristalinul de Fgra i sunt reprezentate prin gnaise amfibolitice i ortoamfibolite oftalmice (gnaise de Cozia), paragnaise micacee cu sau fr granat (Ghica-Budeti, 1931). Cea mai larg rspndire o au gnaisele de Cozia.

Sub forma unei fii foarte nguste, n lungul prului Valea lui Stan se ntlnesc i epimetamorfite cunoscute sub numele de Cristalinul de Valea lui Stan-Crpini. Acestea sunt reprezentate prin isturi amfibolice, isturi sericito-cloritoase i clorit albitice cu magnetit (Codarcea-Desila, 1965). Sunt roci provenite din metamorfozarea unui material magmatogen i sedimentogen n condiiile faciesului isturilor verzi n orogeneza cadomian. Sunt mai puin rezistente dect mezometamorfitele, ns, fiind slab dezvoltate (ntr-o structur de solzi), nu au o semnificaie geomorfologic deosebit.

F o r m a i u n i l e s e d i m e n t a r e au cea mai larg dezvoltare i, prin constituia lor litologic, au o semnificaie deosebit n formarea i evoluia reliefului.

Cele mai vechi depozite sedimentare sunt i cele mai puin extinse. Astfel , pe un aliniament dispus n lungul Vii lui Stan se ntlnesc conglomarate puternic cimentate, urmate de marnocalcare de asemenea ntrite. Depozitele aparin ca vrst Triasicului (Lupu, Lupu, 1967), sunt puternic deformate tectonic i aparin aceleiai zone de solzi ca i epimetamorfitele de Valea lui Stan-Crpini generat de zona de rift care separa blocul continental getic de cel supragetic (Mutihac, 1990).

Cea mai mare parte din Munceii Olnetilor este

20

to the basin of Otsu stream (see Fig. I) and itrepresents the sedimentary cover of the Getic sheet andof the supergenetic units. It is only at the southernextremity, at the border with the sub-Carpathiansdepression passage, where Paleogene deposits appear;they belong to the Getic Depression from ageostructural point of view.

The neo-Cretaceous deposits are represented bypelite-detritic accumulations that are transgressivelyand discordantly disposed, over malm-neocomienelimestones, which form the summit of, or directly overthe crystalline fundament. These deposits belong totwo separate sedimentation cycles separated by aninter-Senonian stratigraphic lagoon that corresponds tothe early laramic tectogenesis (the second Getic phase).

The first sedimentation cycle includes pelite-detriticdeposits represented by an alternance of marly-clays,sandstones and conglomerates belonging to Vraconian-Cenomanian. They hold, as a continuation of thesedimentation, a formation represented byconglomerates, coarse sandstones, sandstone-likelimestones and sandy marls. As the lithologicalconstituents present a well-balanced development, theyimpose a flysch-like character to the stratigraphicsuccession. The above-mentioned deposits belong toTuronian- early Senonian and they cover relativelysmall surfaces.

The second sedimentation cycle includespredominantly pelite-psephitic deposits represented byconglomerates, massive sandstones and sandy marly-limestones belonging to the upper Senonian. Theformations of this cycle are transgressively disposedover the crystalline of the Fgra, as well as over pre-laramic Getic sedimentary. They cover a large arealying from the neighborhood of Pietreni settlementlocated within the basin of the Costeti stream, whichgradually widens North-eastwards and reaches amaximum width within the basin of the Muereascastream and, afterwards, it progressively gets narrowending up at a width of only 2-3 km within the Oltvalley, between Cciulata and the Potei stream.

Paleogene deposits are located at the Southern limitof Olnetilor Hillocks. They also present atransgressive position and are made up, in the lowerhalf of the stratigraphic succession, of breccias,conglomerates and sands, the whole assembly beingknown as the conglomerates of Climneti. They arefollowed by an alternance of marls and sandstonesknown as the marls of Olneti. The Paleogenedeposits cover a several kilometre-large surfacebetween the Olt valley and the Olneti stream, whichgradually narrows westwards, where they disappear inthe basin of the Otsu stream (see Fig. I).

From the tectonic point of view, the major tectonicelement is represented by the Austric supra-geneticoverthrust, which was reactivated by the early inter-Senonian laramic foldings (Mutihac, Stratulat, Fechet,2004). Its trace can be followed in the area Valea luiStan. This is a cicatrized tectonic contact that did not

acoperit de formaiuni sedimentare neocretacice i paleogene (Boldor, Stilla, 1976). Acestea acoper regiunea ce se ntinde din valea Oltului spre sud-vest pn n bazinul prului Otsu (Fig. 1) i reprezint nveliul sedimentar al Pnzei Getice i al unitilor supragetice. Doar la marginea sudic, la limita cu ulucul subcarpatic, n aria Munceilor Olnetilor, sunt implicate i depozite paleogene care, geostructural, aparin Depresiunii Getice.

Depozitele neocretacice sunt reprezentate prin acumulri pelito-detritice care se dispun transgresiv i discordant, fie peste calcarele malm-neocomiene care formeaz culmea Buila-Vnturaria, fie direct peste fundamentul cristalin. Aceste depozite aparin la dou cicluri de sedimentare separate printr-o lacun stratigrafic intrasenonian corespunztoare tectogenezei laramice timpurii (a doua faz getic).

Primul ciclu de sedimentare include depozite pelito-detritice reprezentate printr-o alternan de marno-argile, gresii i conglomerate aparinnd Vraconian-Cenomanianului. Acestea suport, n continuitate de sedimentare, o formaiune reprezentat prin conglomerate, gresii grosiere, calcare grezoase i marne nisipoase. Constituienii litologici avnd, procentual, o dezvoltare echilibrat, imprim suitei stratigrafice un caracter flioid. Ca vrst, depozitele descrise aparin Turonian-Senonianului inferior i ocup suprafee relativ restrnse.

Cel de al doilea ciclu de sedimentare include depozite preponderent pelito-psefitice reprezentate prin conglomerate, gresii masive i marnocalcare nisipoase aparinnd Senonianului superior. Formaiunile acestui ciclu se dispun transgresiv att peste cristalinul de Fgra, ct i peste sedimentarul getic prelaramic. Au o larg extindere acoperind o arie care se ntinde din apropierea localitii Pietreni din bazinul prului Costeti, se lrgete treptat spre nord-est i atinge limea maxim n bazinul prului Muereasca, dup care se ngusteaz progresiv, astfel nct n valea Oltului ocup 2-3 km ntre Cciulata i prul Potei.

La limita sudic a Munceilor Olnetilor se ntlnesc depozite paleogene. i acestea au o poziie transgresiv i sunt constituite, n jumtatea inferioar a suitei stratigrafice, din brecii, conglomerate i nisipuri, ntreg ansamblulalctuind conglomeratele de Climneti. Acestea sunt urmate de o alternan de marne i gresii desemnate drept marnele de Olneti. Depozitele paleogene ocup o zon larg de civa kilometri ntre valea Oltului i prul Olneti i se ngusteaz treptat spre vest unde dispar n bazinul prului Otsu (Fig. 1).

Din punct de vedere tectonic, n aria Munceilor Olnetilor, elementul tectonic major l reprezint ariajul supragetic austric, reactivat n cutrile laramice timpurii, intrasenoniene (Mutihac, Stratulat, Fechet, 2004). Urma acestuia se poate

21

have major effects on the morphological structure. Theplacement of the Valea lui Stan stream on the samedirection, along the trace of the overthrust, is imposedby the poor consistence of the formations from thescales area, as compared to the neighbouringmezometamorphic formations, which are harder, ratherthan by the above-mentioned tectonic contact.

Besides this tectonic contact, the region is affectedby a system of faults directed approximately East-Westover which there is another system with a North-Southapproximate orientation. The first system is older and itis proper to the crystalline fundament. The main faultof this system is Brezoi fault, along which the northerncompartment (Brezoi) is lower and it forms theLovitei Depression.

The second system, which is more recent, broughtto the breaking up of the crystalline fundament inblocks that moved both vertically and horizontally andthus, brought to the unhooking in the older system offaults.

The horizontal movements led to the detachment ofsome rock volumes, which brought to the appearanceof a system of horizontal faults at certain levels ofthe deposits succession. The disappearance of theLotrior course occurred along such a fault and itreappeared after one kilometer through a slope fall.

Within the sedimentary area, the tectonicarrangement is simpler. Thus, the Getic (pre-laramic)sedimentary cover emphasizes the monoclinal disposalof the layers eastwards/south-eastwards; they areaffected by a major fault, which seems to be an echo ofthe trace of the Austric over-Getic overthrust in theGetic sedimentary cover. This fault can be followedfrom the Cheia valley up to the Valea lui Stan, where itmeets the trace of the over-Getic overthrust plane thatwas reactivated during the early laramic tectogenesis(Fig. 1).

The post-laramic sedimentary is even calmer as theentire succession of deposits represents a vastmonocline with a South-east inclination. This structurefavoured the formation of numerous structural surfacesand cuestas.

The area of the Olnetilor Hillocks knew manyemergence phases. Thus, after the major pre-Alpinephase, when the crystalline fundament was eroded,there followed another phase by the end of theEocretaceous, corresponding to the Austrictectogenesis, then an intra-Senonian phase and anotherone by the end of the Cretaceous and the beginning ofthe Paleogene corresponding to the late laramictectogenesis.

Rock-relief rapport The interfluves characters. In the northern part of

the Olnetilor Hillocks, between the Lotrior and theLotru, on a gneiss and paragneiss support, theinterfluves, both the main and the secondary ones,present an aspect of narrow summits with rare sharppeaks and sometimes steep slopes and fallings. Thus,among Valea Satului, Valea Dnesei and the Lotrior,

urmri n zona Valea lui Stan. Acesta este, ns, un contact tectonic cicatrizat, nct nu a mai avut efecte majore n morfostructur. Plasarea cursului prului Valea lui Stan pe direcia i n lungul urmei ariajului se datoreaz mai curnd consistenei mai slabe a formaiunilor din zona de solzi, n comparaie cu formaiunile mezometamorfice limitrofe mai dure, dect contactului tectonic amintit.

n afara acestui contact tectonic, regiunea este afectat de un sistem de falii orientate aproximativ est-vest, cruia i se suprapune un alt sistem orientat aproximativ nord-sud. Primul sistem este mai vechi i este propriu fundamentului cristalin. Principala falie din acest sistem este falia Brezoi, n lungul creia compartimentul nordic (compartimentul Brezoi) este mai cobort, formnd Depresiunea Lovitei.

Al doilea sistem, mai tnr, a dus la compartimentarea fundamentului cristalin n blocuri care s-au deplasat att pe vertical, ct i pe orizontal, provocnd decrori n sistemul de falii mai vechi.

Deplasrile pe orizontal au provocat dezlipirea unor volume de roci crend la anumite nivele din stiva de depozite un sistem de falii orizontale. Pe o asemenea falie s-a produs dispariia cursului apei Lotriorului i reapariia dup aproximativ un kilometru, printr-o cascad de versant.

n aria de rspndire a formaiunilor sedimentare, aranjamentul tectonic este mai simplu. Astfel, nveliul sedimentar getic (prelaramic) arat dispunerea monoclinal a stratelor spre est/sud-est,fiind afectat de o falie major care pare s fie un ecou al urmei ariajului supragetic austric n nveliul sedimentar getic. Falia respectiv se urmrete din valea Cheii spre nord pn n Valea lui Stan, unde ntlnete urma planului de ariaj supragetic reactivat n tectogeneza laramic timpurie (Fig. 1)

Sedimentarul postlaramic este i mai linitit,ntreaga stiv de depozite reprezentnd un vastmonoclin