Problems of structural landslides in the Polish Flysch Carpathians in the light of unified criteria of the mass movement classifications - A critical review

Geological classification of the rocky landslides in the Polish Flysch Carpathians is rather oversimplified and incorrectly used. This is especially the case of the "structural landslide" type and related terminology, which are too often used by researchers also for description of landslides which are not displaced along structural discontinuities developed in strongly anisotropic flysch rock massifs. Such an approach has been used by a number of authors and is the reason why deep-seated landslides were commonly incorrectly characterized and classified as "structural" ones. The studies of the Carpathian rocky landslides recently conducted by the author with the use of tectonic analysis, confirmed occurrence of all the types of mass movements including toppling, lateral spreading, translational and rotational and compound slides and rock flow as well as the complex landslide which represents the combined type of various gravitational displacements according to the classification of International Geotechnical Societies'UNESCO Working Party on World Landslide Inventory. In the light of this classification, the structural landslide represents only one type of these phenomena, i.e. translational landslide. In the article, the author tries to elaborate proper definition and description of the "structural landslide" criteria sensu Kleczkowski (1955) and Bober (1984)

Geological control on the Osława River meander at Duszatyn, Western Bieszczady Mountains, Polish Outer Carpathians

At Duszatyn village (Western Bieszczady Mts.), the Osława River forms an unique meander loop which is not typical for the mountainous area. Detailed analysis has shown that this landform was created due to the evolution of two left-hand tributaries of the Osława River during the formation of its regressive water-gap. These processes were determined by mass movements which have strongly stimulated the fluvial system. The origin of the Osława River meander was largely controlled by lithological differences in rock resistance, orientation of the joint pattern, as well as the presence of bordering oblique and thrust faults which have had a bearing on the diversified neotectonic uplift of the area

Tectonic position of the Roztocze region in the light of the evolution history of the Carpathian Foredeep

Analizy tektoniczne wykonane na podstawie pomiarów powierzchni nieciągłości tektonicznych w obrębie masywów skalnych polskiej części Roztocza, pozwoliły na odtworzenie historii tektonicznej jego struktury, związanej z tworzeniem się zapadliska przedkarpackiego i etapami nasuwczymi Karpat. Analizy wykazały, że struktura Roztocza powstała w efekcie nakładania się asocjacji struktur tektonicznych związanych z formowaniem uskoku prawoprzesuwczego (tzw. struktury kwiatowe ‒ flower structures i struktury typu koński ogon – horse tail structure) i struktury forebulge związanej z wypiętrzeniem przedgórskim spowodowanym nasuwaniem się Karpat na przedpole (tu: zapadlisko przedkarpackie). Wielokrotne reaktywowanie stref dyslokacyjnych, obramowujących Roztocze i dzielących je na bloki, było efektem formowania się uskoków inwersyjnych (związanych ze strukturą forebulge), reaktywowanych później wskutek kolapsu jako uskoki normalne. Zmiana zwrotu uskoku przesuwczego ograniczającego Roztocze na sinistralny, była efektem reorientacji pola naprężeń spowodowanej zmianą kierunku nasuwczego Karpat ku SSE. Spowodowało to inwersję stref naprzemiennie obniżanych i wynoszonych wzdłuż krawędzi Roztocza: obecnie wynoszone są obszary z niezerodowanymi, miąższami pokrywami utworów neogeńskich, obniżane zaś fragmenty strefy krawędziowej erozyjnie pozbawione tych utworów. Współcześnie obserwowane dźwiganie neotektoniczne Roztocza jest efektem footwall elevation, związanej z zespołami aktywnych uskoków zrzutowych (normalnych), ograniczających strukturę zrębową Roztocza, jak też dzielących wał na bloki.The paper presents new concept of the tectonic development of the Roztocze region, uplifted as a tectonic horst structure. Measurements of tectonic discontinuities (joints, faults) in the rocks building the Roztocze region, as well as the analysis of Neogene deposits distribution on the Roztocze horst, have allowed authors to establish several tectonic stages of the Roztocze development. Thrusting of the Carpathians to the north caused the formation of a strike-slip (dextral) fault along the eastern part of their foredeep (and associated flower structures and horse tail structures). As a result of forebulge structure formation, caused by progressive thrusting of the Carpathian orogen and isostatic uplift of their foreland, strike-slip faults were reactivated as reverse-slip faults. Subsequently, due to collapse of the Carpathian massifs, discontinuities were again reactivated as dip-slip faults. The footwall elevation associated with normal faults formed into the Roztocze Horst and divided region to blocks, causing a neotectonic uplift of the Roztocze region

Diversity of landslide morphology as a part of geoconservation pattern in the Polish Carpathians

Rzeźba polskich Karpat fliszowych jest silnie przekształcona przez ruchy masowe. Z działalnością osuwisk są związane zarówno charakterystyczne kształty stoków, tworzące wielkoskalowe elementy krajobrazu, jak również mniejsze elemeny rzeźby (ściany skalne, skałki, pseudogołoborza, jeziorka, torfowiska). Obszary osuwisk, z silnie przekształconymi glebami i stosunkami wodnymi, są zasiedlane przez charakterystyczną mozaikę zespołów roślinnych, tworzących charakterystyczne biotopy. Osuwiska Karpat, ze względu na swoistą rzeźbę, jak również na ich wpływ na kształtowanie biotopów, stanowią istotny element w geoochronie Karpat Polskich, uwzględniającej zarówno założenia sieci Europejskich Geostanowisk, jak również sieć ekologiczną NATURA 2000 związaną z ochroną siedlisk przyrodniczych

Structural control on the Outer Carpathians relief : a new approach

The article presents a new concept of structural control on the Outer Carpathians relief. The Carpathians’ relief development originated in the stage of sedimentary basin deposition (e.g., gravitational positioning of fragments of rock massif), as well as in the compressional stage of the orogen formation, and, finally, in the stage of secondary tectonic deformation, such as: strike-slip faulting, radial extension, and great extensional collapse of the Carpathian massifs. The difference in elevation between the Beskidy Mts. and Carpathian Foothills belt is caused by the structural position of these segments of rock massifs within an accretionary prism formed during the compressional stage. The tectonic elements formed during the earliest stage of compression (Magura, Dukla and southern Silesian units forming the High Beskid zone) attain the highest structural and elevation position, whereas the elements included as the last ones to the accretionary prism (Sub-Silesian and Skole units) take a lower topographic position, forming the foothills belt. A concept that gravitational collapse generated back-thrusts and tectonic exhumation of the Carpathian massifs allows us to explain seemingly considerable erosional unroofing of the Carpathian surface, estimated at several kilometres. Alternating position of elevated and lowered mountain ridges (Bieszczady–Beskid Niski–Beskid Wyspowy–Beskid Makowski Mts.) can be explained by their association with a major strike-slip fault. Chaotic complexes frequently occurring in the Carpathians are very important for the relief transformation and development of river network (controlled not only by dislocations, but also by chaotic complexes), as well as for the presence of erosional remnants (isolated hills representing blocks in matrix)

The Stone Forest (Kamienny Las) Geopark in Roztocze and its geoturistic values

Roztocze - the picturesque region abounding with unique landforms and pre-Quaternary rock outcrops, is characterized by high geodiversity. Silicified wood fragments are the specific peculiarities of this area and its unique geological heritage. The petrified wood became the geoturistic symbol of this region. Numerous historical buildings and monuments, such as churches, roadside crosses and thumbs (mainly from the 18-19th centuries), made of local rocks, are the remnants of history of three societies: Polish (Roman-Catholic), Ukrainian (Greek-Catholic) and Jewish, which coexisted in the Roztocze region until the Second World War. These traditions and remnants constitute the diverse cultural heritage of this area. Extraordinary geodiversity, natural and cultural values as well as social circumstances gave rise to the establishment of the Stone Forest Geopark in Roztocze, promoting the geological heritage, with special regard to the petrified wood. High scientific and educational values of more than 150 geosites recorded in this region create the advantageous perspectives ofgeotourism development as well as comprehensive ecological education. Eight geotouristic trails are planned in the Geopark. The expansion of the Geopark onto the Ukrainian part of Roztocze seems to be possible in the future. The transboundary Geopark, fulfilling its statutory objectives, will be able to join the European Geopark Network