Open Journal of Geology

Volume 7, Issue 4 (April 2017)

ISSN Print: 2161-7570   ISSN Online: 2161-7589

Google-based Impact Factor: 1.46  Citations  

Sedimentological Study of Caves in the Zemo Imereti Plateau, Georgia, Caucasus Region

HTML  XML Download Download as PDF (Size: 3548KB)  PP. 465-477  
DOI: 10.4236/ojg.2017.74032    2,035 Downloads   3,393 Views  Citations

ABSTRACT

The Zemo Imereti Plateau is located in the easternmost part of the limestone region of western Georgia and is Caucasus’ only karst plateau. It is centrally located in a relatively elevated part of the intermountain plain of the country of Georgia. Lithostratigraphical (petrographic, mineralogical, and XRD) research on terrigenous sediments found in caves in the region was conducted in the Upper Cretaceous limestones located at different hypsometric levels (400 - 700 m). This study focused on allochthonous deposits, which, due to sedimentological features, contains significant and complete information for paleogeographic reconstruction as opposed to the autochthonous sediments. Source provinces of the sediments’ origin were determined using petrographic analysis. Lithological study of the terrigenous sediments indicated their origin from the Racha range, as well as their transportation mechanisms, and sedimentation conditions during deposition. Approximate ages (the end of the Middle Pleistocene and the beginning of the Late Pleistocene) of ancient terrestrial sediments in Rganisklde Cave were achieved by taking into account the geological and geomorphological development of the region. Lithostratigraphical analysis of the cave deposits and modern archaeological data indicate that the formation of the caves in the Zemo Imereti plateau took place mainly during the end of the Middle Pleistocene and in the beginning of the Pleistocene; while on the southern slope of the Racha range and in the surrounding area of Ertso-Tsona (Caucasus southern slope), they formed in the Early Pleistocene.

Share and Cite:

Asanidze, L. , Chikhradze, N. , Lezhava, Z. , Tsikarishvili, K. , Polk, J. and Chartolani, G. (2017) Sedimentological Study of Caves in the Zemo Imereti Plateau, Georgia, Caucasus Region. Open Journal of Geology, 7, 465-477. doi: 10.4236/ojg.2017.74032.

Cited by

[1] Storage and distribution of organic carbon in cave sediments: examples from two caves in the northern karst region of Puerto Rico
Environmental Earth …, 2023
[2] On the taxonomic status of Dina ratschaensis Kobakhidze, 1958 with a description of two new species–Dina imeretiensis sp. nov. and D. samegreloensis sp. nov …
European …, 2023
[3] ABOUT KARST (CHEMICAL) DENUDATION IN ZEMO IMERETI PLATEAU (COUNTRY OF GEORGIA)
International …, 2021
[4] The results of a complex study of the Turchu limestone hollow (polje). Western Georgia, Caucasus
European Journal of …, 2021
[5] Platform Karst of Georgia
2021
[6] Zaza Lezhava, Kukuri Tsikarishvili, Lasha Asanidze
2021
[7] Impact of Anthropogenic Factor on Karst Landscape (Zemo Imereti Structural Plateau Case Study), Georgia, Caucasus
2020
[8] Filling the gaps: Late Upper Palaeolithic settlement in Gvardjilas Klde, Georgia
2020
[9] Hydrodynamic zones of fissure-karst waters of Zemo Imereti Plateau in the Republic of Georgia
2020
[10] ON THE EVOLUTION OF KARST CAVES IN THE CONDITIONS OF PLATFORM KARST (ZEMO IMERETI PLATEAU CASE STUDY; GEORGIA)
2019
[11] Karst Caves Origination Conditions in the Zemo Imereti (Chiatura) Structural Plateau, Georgia.
2019
[12] and Levan Tielidze
2019
[13] Karst Landscape of Georgia
Geomorphology of Georgia, 2019
[14] Karst map of Georgia (Caucasus region) scale: 1: 1,500,000
2019
[15] Karst Relief Development History of Zemo Imereti Plateau, Georgia, Caucasus
2019
[16] ABOUT GENESIS OF KARST CALDERA OF DENUDATION-TECTONIC LANDFORM. GEORGIA, CAUCASUS
2019
[17] Mapping of Potential Show Caves in the Racha Limestone Massif (Country of Georgia)
2018
[18] Geoecological Monitoring of Karst Water in Georgia, Caucasus (Case Study of Racha Limestone Massif)
2017
[19] Ecological Investigation of Karst Waters in the Central Part of Georgia
2017
[20] Speleological Investigation of the Largest Limestone Massif in Georgia (Caucasus)
2017

Copyright © 2025 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

Creative Commons License

This work and the related PDF file are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.