ASGP (2001), vol. 71: 115-123

TRAVERTINE MOUND AND CAVE IN A VILLAGE OF LASKI, SILESIAN-CRACOW UPLAND

Michał GRADZIŃSKI (1), Joachim SZULC (1), Jacek MOTYKA (2), Ewa STWORZEWICZ (3) & Andrzej TYC (4)

1) Institute of Geological Sciences, Jagiellonian University, ul. Oleandry 2a, 30-063 Kraków, Poland, M.G. e-mail: gradzinm at ing.uj.edu.pl, J.S. e-mail: szulc at ing.uj.edu.pl
2) Faculty of Mining, University of Mining and Metallurgy, Aleja Mickiewicza, 30, 30-059 Kraków, Poland, e-mail: motyka at uci.agh.edu.pl
3) Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Sławkowska 17, 31-016 Kraków, Poland, e-mail: stworzewicz at isez.pan.krakow.pl
4) Department of Geomorphology, University of Silesia, ul. Będzińska 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland, e-mail: atyc at us.edu.pl

Gradziński, M., Szulc, J., Motyka, J., Stworzewicz, E. & Tyc, A., 2001. Travertine mound and cave in a village of Laski, Silesian-Cracow Upland. Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae, 71: 115-123.

Abstract: The paper deals with Holocene travertine mound occurring near Olkusz, southern Poland. The mound developed within a spring zone maintained by ascending groundwater, which drained the Muschelkalk carbonates. The travertines formed by intense calcification of the moss vegetation colonizing the spring area. The obtained radiocarbon ages indicate that the mound developed in early and middle Holocene times. Outwashing of the underlying sandy deposits resulted in a breaking of the travertine mound and involved development of a small cave within the mound.