Geology, geography and global energy

Scientific and Technical Journal

Crystal Cave of baskunchak karst district

2014. №2, pp. 138-149

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

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

Crystal Cave is a beautiful cave of Astrakhan region. It is interesting for its crystal formations. Crystal Cave is the second largest cave of lake Baskunchak area. The cave was formed in the Upper Perm gypsums. These gypsums are covered at the top with loose ancient Caspian deposits. The cave entrance is located on the highly elevated north shore of Lake Baskunchak. The cave was opened in 1986 by Astrakhan tourists. It is a combination of horizontal and vertical karst forms and has a 15-meter well at the beginning. In the middle and at the bottom of the well on the walls grow moss and fern. This is the only habitat of ferns in the wild in Astrakhan region. The cave has only one entrance and has a variety in shape and size halls: Cool, Warm and Revenant, connected by canals and holes. Air circulation is impeded. Crystal Cave deposits are water-mechanical, with collapsed, water chemogenic, organogenic, and cryogenic deposits. Feature of the deposits of the cave is a wide spectrum of secondary crystalline formations and crystals autochthonous minerals. There is material filler in cave deposits, which is pluged the karstic cavity in before Khvalynskiy time. Since 1997, Crystal Cave is part of the Nature Reserve "Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky." It is in good condition, because visiting of tourists in it was stopped. The cave for many years is under supervision of members of the section of Speleology and Karst of Astrakhan branch of the Russian Geographical Society. Now the cave is closed for people visiting and it is on preservation for restoring the crystalline gypsum formations.

Key words: сульфатный карст, карстовая пещера, пещерные отложения, кристаллические образования, вторичная кристаллизация, реставрация карста, Прибаскунчакский карстовый район, sulfate karst, karst cave, cave deposits, crystal formation, the secondary crystallization

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