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The experience in the scientific evaluation of geological sites in the Bulgarian geoparks shows insufficient efficiency of the generalized criteria used for the evaluation of geotopes for the purposes of the Register and Cadastre of the Bulgarian geological phenomena. Here is proposes a new assessment methodology freed from some common criteria included in the expert card for national assessment of geosites. It includes the main evaluation criteria of the 'scientific value' category (representativeness, integrity, rarity), and 'additional values' - scenic/didactic potential, ecological, cultural, and geotourism impact. Due to the fundamentally different themes of the Bulgarian geoparks, the approach of 'thematic geodiversity' has been adopted, which defines one major theme expressing the identity of the geopark within its entire territory, and numerous secondary themes complementing the geodiversity of the area. One of the new criteria included in the expert card reflects the relation of a geosite with the main geopark theme and gives priority to outcrops representing key geological features for its understanding. At the same time, the possible identification of global cycles and events of special scientific interest, which can be presented to the general public in an attractive form, predetermines the high numerical indicator of the 'scientific, research and educational value'. The main purpose of the expert card is to cover as wide a range of geological features as possible and to make the assessment less subjective by using a standard set of criteria against which specific examples can be compared. It is also important to minimize the possibility of interpretation of the explanatory text to the individual indicators. It includes 12 criteria of different weights with 4 to 7 indicators, the numerical expression of which starts from zero, corresponding to a complete lack of geoconservation value. The minimum number of 12 points (of total 48) required to pass the 'threshold of significance' is formed by the first six criteria. It provides the necessary rate of superiority over which the site must be considered geologically significant and deserves to be included in the geopark inventory. The scale of significance grades from local (12-20) to regional (21-30), national (31-40), and international (41-48). Geodiversity sites are of great importance for the geopark initiatives, so the weight of the 'scenic (aesthetic) value' corresponds to the weight of the 'scientific, research and educational value' (6) versus (3) or (4) of the other criteria to better reflect their geotourism significance. Geosites with high interpretive potential, especially where the relationship between geology and human history/culture/spirituality can be demonstrated, should also be prioritized for inclusion in the geopark list. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fossil deposit first described by Franz Toula in 1890, in the Garnyovitsa area near Kotel is estimated as a geosite of a national significance with historical value for the Bulgarian geology. Here is cropping out a huge marl olistolith embedded among Middle Jurassic turbidites of the Kotel Olistostrome Formation. It contains Late Triassic (Norian) hydrozoa and corals, identified by the first explorers of the Bulgarian lands as early as the end of the 19th century. Given the high geodiversity of the area and the proximity to Kotel, this geosite has great potential for geotourism within the future geopark "East Balkan". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nymphean transgression, when the sea level rised to 1.5-2 m, is manifested along the Burgas Bay shoreline and limans embedded in land. Firth sedimentation of sandy-silty deposits and humus mud was recently established on the eastern shoreline of the Atanasovsko Lake. In Gerena area, west of Sozopol town, deposits underlying the high floodplain of the modern sandy beach are composed of clayey silt with low carbonate content. The presence of the cosmopolitan foraminiferal species Ammonia beccarii, which is widespread in peripheral marine environments, suggests that in the past a small semi-enclosed bay existed in this area. The firth appearance of the sedimentation and microfauna determined in the silt allows these deposits to be assigned to the Nymphean accumulative terrace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geopark "Iskar Canyon" is a reinforced initiative for evaluation of the geological heritage of Iskar Gorge based on the already established geopark "Iskar Defile" in the frame of the Register and cadastre of the geological phenomena of Bulgaria. This bottom-up initiative of three Iskar Municipalities - Mezdra, Svoge and Novi Iskar (Sofia Municipality) is of great potential because of the indisputable geological merits of the canyon and its close proximity to the capital city of Bulgaria. This initiative, which is already supported by the Ministry of environment and water, requires a full inventory of geosites, management authority, and management plan including a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development of the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is a contribution to the stratigraphy of the Carpathian type Upper Cretaceous and Paleocene deposits in Kula Zone, NW Bulgaria. It is the result of the development of geosites of scientific value for the purpose of Geopark "Belogradchik rocks". A new formal lithostratigraphic unit Ruzhintsi Formation is characterized to designate a unique facies of the Carpathian type Upper Cretaceous and Paleogene near Beloptichene village, previously related to Kula, Kladorub and Staropatitsa Formations. The new formation is composed of uninterrupted coarse-grained terrigenous sequence of intraclastic marl breccia, conglomerates, gravelites, sandstones, marls and siltstones within the stratigraphic range Upper Campanian--Middle Paleocene. This unit does not meet the definitive features of Kula or Kladorub Formations, and significantly differs from the stratigraphic position of the Staropatitsa Formation. The only surface outcrop near Beloptichene village is pointed as a lectostratotype. In the Upper Cretaceous portion of the section 2 nannofossil zones and 5 subzones are recognized, whereas the Paleocene part belongs to NP 2-NP 5 nannofossil zones (Lower--Middle Paleocene). Besides, exotic outcrops of the Mirkovo Formation and the Krasava Member of Zavala Formation are described in Kurkov Dol, south of Ruzhintsi village, known in the Central and West Srednogorie respectively as "couch-rouge" and "bituminous shale". On the basis of 3 nannofossil zones and 2 subzones recognized in the motley limestone-marl alternation of the Mirkovo Formation, its age is determined as Coniacian--Santonian, while the overlying barren bituminous shale of the Krasava Member of Zavala Formation are related to the Lower Campanian after their stratigraphic position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present lithostratigraphic subdivision is a continuation of the investigation of the Upper Cretaceous rocks in West Srednogorie and complements the lithostratigraphic scheme proposed in Part 1. In the present Part 2 new formal lithostratigraphic units are introduced for the Campanian deposits cropping out on the map sheets Breznik and Dragoman of the Geological map of the Republic of Bulgaria at a scale 1:50 000. Ten lithostratigraphic units in Lyubash and Sofia tectonic units are described: Nedelkovo, Rezhantsi (including Kolonitsa Member), Voynishka, Dolniromantsi (including Garlo Member), Tsrancha and Zavala Formations (including Krasava Member and Yaroslavtsi fossiliferous marker). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper a new lithostratigraphic scheme of the Upper Cretaceous rocks in the West Srednogorie is proposed. In the present Part 1 seven new formal lithostratigraphic units in the Melove, Lyubash and Sofia tectonic Units are introduced: Paramun, Izvor, Rosoman, Melove, Golesh and Kosharevo Formations, and Kreshna Member of the Izvor Formation. The lowermost Paramun Formation (Lower-Middle Turonian), known as "coal-bearing formation", is a transgessive facies of light-gray to rusty-brown conglomerates, sandstones and siltstones with clay, marl and coal interbeds. It is up to 150-200 m thick and crops out as a thin strip at the base of the Upper Cretaceous sections in all of the West Srednogorie tectonic units. The overlying Izvor Formation (Middle Turonian-Coniacian) in Lyubash and Melove Units consists of more than 230 m strong marls, limestone beds and carbonate concretions with 90 m soft marls in the upper part of the unit north of Lyalintsi village, defined as Kreshna Member. The Golesh Formation (Coniacian-Lower Santonian) is a lateral analogue of the Izvor and Melove Formations, composed of about 180 m weakly cemented sandstones and soft clayey-sandy marls between Izvor and Melove Formations in Melove Unit. The Melove Formation (Coniacian-Santonian) is composed of up to 250 m thinbedded carbonate turbidites cropping out in Melove, Lyubash and Sofia Units. The Rossoman Formation (Santonian-Lower Campanian) is composed of more than 750 m alternating volcanic-sedimentary rocks with argillite-marl-limestone interbeds widespread in Sofia Unit. The Kosharevo Formation (Lower Campanian) is composed of more than 92 m marls, limestones, sandstones and polygenetic conglomerates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geology is a natural science, whose importance increased with the increase in raw material needs of humanity. In the second half of 20-th century industrialization led to a number of ecological problems and geological exploration began to associate with the mining activity effects. Recently launched in geology is a new area of knowledge that deals with the conservation of the geological heritage, according to the principles of sustainable development and the World Heritage Convention. The UNESCO initiatives GEOSITES and GEOPARKS provided real opportunities for development of geoconservation, and geodiversity was recognized by the IUCN (Resolution 4 040) as an integral part of the Global Natural Heritage. Bulgaria is a natural geological museum with wonderful rock outcrops of different compositions and ages, from Archean to Quaternary. It has actively involved into the ProGEO initiatives and created national Register and Cadastre of the geological phenomena. The mission of the Bulgarian geoconservation is focused on protection and promotion of Bulgarian geological heritage to stimulate socio-economic activity and sustainable development of the regions through geotourism. The success of this mission goes through popularization of the geosites from the Register and Cadastre, expanding the national geosite list, development of National Geopark Network and development of visitor centers with museum collections of rocks, minerals and fossils, and visual aids for geology and mining activities in the regions. This strategy could be realized only through immediate recognition of geoparks by the Bulgarian legislation and their inclusion into the priorities of the National operational programs of regional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geotrails in Geopark Rila are under preparation along the main tourist routes crossing glacier formations and deposits. In the most visited place - Rila Monastery, two geotrails could be developed: "Kirilova Polyana-Ribni Ezera" and "Kobilino Branishte-Rila Monastery" as well as several one day routes both of scientific and historic value for the Bulgarian geology given their importance for the first evidence of glacial activity on the Balkan Peninsula, obtained as early as the end of the 19th century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]