Geology, geography and global energy

Scientific and Technical Journal

Typification of sulfate karst features found in the north caspian region’s salt dome structures

2013. №1, pp. 206-211

Golovachev Ilya V. - C.Sc. in Geography, Astrakhan State University, 16 Tatishcev st., Astrakhan, Russian Federation, 414025, bask_speleo@mail.ru

Golovacheva Yekaterina I. - Student, Astrakhan State University, 16 Tatishcev st., Astrakhan, Russian Federation, 414025, pravosolnza@mail.ru

The article indicates that the Northern Caspian (NoC) territory (the Eastern part of the Caspian depression, bounded on the West by the Volga-Akhtubinskaya flood plain) is typified by small karst areas separate from those of the larger Caspian depression. The NoC salt dome structures, the critique relates, were apparently formed during the late Paleozoic period. At this stage, the document describes the general-theoretical features of the sulfate sort of karst – high activity – without delving into those that form part of NoC’s salt dome structures. Up to the present, the paper notes, NoC karstic studies have principally covered only simple karstic areas; no attempts have been made to conduct more general analyses or identify the specific features and regularities of specific types (such as the sulfate karst). Nevertheless, the review says, climatic conditions, salt dome tectogenesis and Paleo-Caspian Sea transgressions and regressions have had a strong impact on the formation of karst features in this area. Subsequently, the study identified a number of characteristics of the sulfate karst type of cap rocks found in NoC’s hydrochloric salt domes. These domes in general, and in particular the gypsum karst sorts, have been subject to the influence of significant geographical formation factors. Consequently, the blueprint concludes, geological factors have influenced the karstic developmental processes, yet geographical factors have given them their special characteristics.

Key words: typology,sulfate karst,salt dome structures,northern area of Caspian region

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