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The karst rock relief clearly reveals the ways in which the karst surface and caves have been shaped and how they have developed. The oldest traces are the rock features of old karst caves, which were formed under climate conditions entirely different from the current ones, i.e., in the Pleistocene, and which have been dry for a longer period of time. Today, the wind is the prevailing factor in shaping the rock on the surface and in the karst of the White Desert near Farafra in particular, where we can witness the development of an entire range of wind rock features which helps us sort and classify them logically. However, in the wadis near the Qara Oasis a unique rock relief is forming, in which traces of water flow and dissolution of the rock under the sandy deposits are utterly predominant. The rainfall volume is low, however, the heavy rainfall events lasting short periods of time are enough to shape the less resistant rock. The rock features dominating the walls are co-shaped by dissolution and aeolian erosion. Crust forms on those parts of the rock surface that come in contact with water. The bare surfaces, on the other hand, are carved out by the wind. In the places where the crust has flaked off, the wind carves out cups.

One of the unique examples of the development of subsoil karren into a stone forest on the varied geological bedrock of the Lunan surface is revealed to us. Originally of subsoil formation and later denuded, the rounded hills that dissect the karst surface have transformed into a clustered stone forest whose central part usually consists of a larger dissected rock mass with individual stone pillars and teeth at the edge. The geologic profile contains beds of dense, homogeneous and compact fine-grained limestones that alternate with beds of mostly coarse-grained and just as compact dolomitised limestones. These bed properties are also reflected in the exterior of the rock as a diverse relief. The average calcium carbonate content in both types of rocks combined is 97.3%. The rock is thickly bedded to massive; beds are mainly positioned subhorizontally. The contacts between the beds of limestone and dolomitised limestone are sharp and clearly visible, especially in the bottom part of the geologic profile, whereas in the central part, they are often blurred and one type of rock grades continuously into the other. In the areas containing limestone, individual bedding planes are especially visible. As can be inferred, the slightly more porous dolomitised rock, made up of larger particles, disintegrates faster in a more permanently waterlogged acid subsoil environment, where the moisture penetrates it deeper. However, as it takes longer to dissolve, it protrudes from the surface of the dolomitic limestone rock when exposed to moisture from occasional rain. The composition and fracturing of the diverse rock strata decisively influences the shape of the pillars and their rock relief. Larger subsoil rock forms (channels, notches, half-bells) have developed on all rock strata. The diversity of the rock is also reflected by the notches that have formed under the soil along the more rapidly soluble partly dolomite rock strata. Denuded subsoil-shaped pillars are reshaped by rainwater and trickling water. Smaller rock forms carved by rainwater have formed mostly only on evenly composed, fine- grained limestone rock. The tops on such rock are more distinctly conical and blade-like and wider on more slowly soluble rock.

Due to various factors influencing diverse rocks, karst phenomena take unique shapes that are most often reflected in the rock relief. Through a series of different developmental factors, new factors first gradually transform the traces of old formations and over time, if they are distinct enough, they can replace them with completely new ones. In places old forms are reflected in the formation of a new rock relief only indirectly. The rock relief of karst phenomena, in this case karren, also develops under the influence of a single factor. Developmentally, rock forms, due to dissection of the surface and lasting of development, often in several layers merge into one another. A development model enables us to discover the overall development of the formation of the selected part of the rocky karst surface. The individual rock forms which have merged into the rock relief represent just one stage of development. Good knowledge of the overall development enables us to discern the development so far and predict future development. A number of development models can be discerned. One of the basic models reveals the manner of the rain-induced formation and development of horizontal and gently sloping carbonate rock strata into karren and stone forests, especially after the disintegration of the upper (thinner) rock strata and the denudation and shaping of the bottom strata. It reveals many characteristics of rock formation, from the sheet flow to the formation of rain flutes, their merging into rain channels and the development of funnel-like notches; that is, developmental transition of rock forms and rock relief in the overall development from the flat surface to its dissection into peaks.

A comparison of karren formation on various rocks under diverse environmental conditions makes an important contribution to our understanding of the formation and development of karst. In this regard, the present study brings a number of new insights through description of the karst development on marbles at the foothills of the Altai Mountains. We studied karst phenomena in the field and in the laboratory where structural-textural properties, mineral composition and quantity of carbonate components were determined. Rivers dissected karst surface and additionally uncovered carbonate rocks. The marble layers are faulted, folded and sheared, consequently containing numerous densely spaced net of discontinuities, which are often parallel. Brittle deformations significantly increased the rocks’ porosity, consequently making it more sensitive to water absorption and freezing thaw effect. Distinct continental climate, with extreme daily and seasonal temperature variations, conditions the pronounced peeling off of the marbles along discontinuities. The diversity of disintegration is conditioned by the massive or oriented structure, cleavage, texture, and type and grain size of the marbles’ mineral constituents. Interaction and alternation of chemical dissolution and mechanical disintegration play the major role on the karren formation and its preservation. The formed karren is mostly destroyed due to peeling off and disintegration of the marbles.

Kahf Kharrat Najem Cave is a small cave in United Arab Emirates (UAE) that hosts a bat colony which is the source of guano deposits and peculiar centimeter-long yellowish stalactites. The mineralogy and geochemistry of these deposits were analyzed using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopic microanalysis (EDX), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and stable isotope composition (δ13C and δ15N). Urea CO(NH2)2 was found to be the main compound of these stalactites, while allantoin C4H6N4O3 was found to be an accessory urea byproduct. This paper is the first to mention allantoin in a cave environment. We also identified rare sulfate minerals (aphthitalite, alunite) and phosphates that probably correspond to the archerite-biphosphammite series. The occurrence of these rare bat-related minerals is due to the extremely dry conditions in the cave, which accounts for the extraordinary preservation of the guano deposits and allows for the crystallization of these very soluble minerals.

The extremely interesting karst of the Capo San Vito area in western Sicily displays the majority of the distinct characteristics of the three-dimensional landscape: karst surfaces, caves, unique water trickling systems, and maritime development (Ruggieri, 2009, 2015). By the sea as well as higher in the hinterland, the surface is mostly karren-like. This part of the planned study of the formation of the entire rock surface of this karst presents the results of studying the slope karren above Custonaci. They reveal the development of karren from subsoil karren and the characteristic formation of the karst surface in this area and on this rock. Keywords: karren, lithology, rock relief, Sicily, Italy Škraplje nad Custonacijem (Sicilija, Italija) Nadvse zanimiv kras področja Capo San Vito na zahodu Sicilije ponuja večino izrazitih značilnosti trirazsežne pokrajine, kraško površje, jame in svojevrstno pretakanje vode ter obmorski razvoj (Ruggieri 2009, 2015). Površje je večinoma škrapljasto, tako ob morju kot v višjem zaledju. Tokrat so pri načrtovani proučitvi oblikovanja celotnega skalnega površja tega krasa predstavljeni izsledki proučevanja pobočnih škrapelj nad Custonacijem. Razkrivajo razvoj škrapelj iz podtalnih škrapelj in značilno oblikovanje kraškega površja v tem okolju in kamnini. Ključne besede: škraplje, litologija, skalni relief, Sicilija, Italija.

Minamidaito Island is a karstified coral island located on the Philippine plate. Karstification periods occurred during the end of the Pliocene, in major part of the Pleistocene, and in the Holocene. The first period of karstification can be observed in the lower Daito dolomitized limestone (5 Ma and 4 Ma); the karstification seems to have occurred as a result of sea level change caused by the cooler conditions of the paleoclimatic environment. Geological studies were performed to study reef carbonates in detail. Among them, biointrasparite limestone of framestone and bafflestone types with transitions to grainstone and dolomitized biointrasparry limestone of framestone and bafflestone types dominate. Calcimetric analyses established that in certain locations the distribution of limestone and dolomite differs from the distribution previously described. Rock relief reveals the unique formation of coastal karren, the development of the surface in the interior of the island, and the most characteristic periods of cave development. Key words: Minamidaito Island, lithlogy, coral dolomitized limestone, rock relief, coastal karren, karstification, vegetation.

The study of the formation and development of karst phenomena and their rock relief using laboratory plaster modeling has again proven useful and informative. We continued the study of subsoil karren that forms under tight, poorly permeable contact with soil and of rain flutes formed by water at various temperatures. We determined the pattern of the reshaping of plaster tubes that are wider at the flow inlet than at the outlet end. The results are a significant contribution to explaining the formation of high ceiling niches and pockets in karst caves. The third experiment was carried out in phreatic conditions where water in a flume was forced to flow between layers of different composition. During the experiment, we observed the typical development of channels between pure plaster layers (uniform limestone beds), between plaster layers with added Portland cement reinforced fragments (breccia beds), siporex (slowly dissolving beds) and between three different layer types. Key words: laboratory modeling, karst, rock relief, subsoil karren, rain flutes, caves.

Na 7,5 km trase avtoceste med Divačo in Kozino je bilo na vrtačastem površju oziroma tik pod njim odkritih 50 starih jam. Večina jih je bila zapolnjena z naplavinami in mnoge so bile zaradi znižanja kraškega površja že brez stropa. 6 je bilo brezen, skozi katere prenika voda s prepustnega površja do podzemeljskih voda. Stare jame hranijo sledi začetnih obdobij razvoja kraškega vodonosnika, ko je bil še visoko obdan in ponekod tudi prekrit s flišem. Jame brez stropa so danes samosvoj del kraškega površja. Več jam je ohranjenih pod cesto, ena pa je dostopna skozi umetni vhod. During the construction of new motorways (30 km) over Kras about 200 caves were discovered; in the area between Divača and Kozina (7,5 km) there were 50 old caves, most of them filled by sediments and some of them roofless, and 6 shafts. Old caves provide information on initial stages of the karst aquifer development when it was still surrounded and sometimes even covered by flysch. The more important caves are being preserved, either hidden below the roadway or made accessible by an artificial entrance.

Že od leta 1995 sodelujejo sodelavci IZRK ZRC SAZU na slovensko-kitajskih projektih s področja krasoslovja. V letu 1998 so rezultate raziskav objavili v knjigi “South China Karst”. Tudi v letu 1999 so raziskave opravljali v Yunnanu, in sicer v lunanskem osrednjem “shilinu” (kamnitem gozdu) kot tudi v turistično manj znanih “shilinih”. Poleg tega so spoznavali značilnosti stolpastega krasa okoli krajev Babao in Puzhehei (jugovzhodni Yunnan). From 1995 researchers from Karst Research Institute ZRC SAZU are working on slovene-chinese karstological projects. In 1998 their studies were published in the book “South China Karst”. Also in the year 1999 researches took place in Yunnan, that’s in central Lunan shilin (stone forest) as well as in less touristically known shilins. Beside this they have been recognising characteristics of cone and tower karst in the regions of Babao and Puzhehei.

Jame brez stropa so bile stare jame, ki so zaradi znižanja kraškega površja razkrite. Posebno pozornost so nam na to pomembno, tudi površinsko kraško obliko osredotočila zemeljska dela pri gradnji avtocest na Krasu. Unroofed caves are old caves which have appeared due to the lowering of karst relief. Groundwork for motorway construction on Kras has brought our attention to this important surface form of karst relief.

Na brečasti dolomitni kamnini se pod debelimi tlemi oblikuje podtalni kamniti gozd. Kamniti stebri so pravilnih oblik, navzgor se ožijo in imajo značilni podtalni skalni relief. The stone forest is generally being formed on the dolomitised limestone and dolomite breccia under a thick layer of soil. The stone columns are of regular shape, they attenuate towards their tops and display the typical subcutaneous rock relief.

Jama brez stropa je bila zapolnjena s peščenimi naplavinami dinamične strukture ter teksture svetlo rjave in oker barve. Na vrhu 5 m debelega prereza naplavin so bile rjava prst in skale. Pobranih je bilo 38 vzorcev naplavin. Posamezne magnetne cone nakazujejo, da je naplavina starejša od zgornjega Olduvaja (1,77 M); kot kozinski prerez se konča z reverzno polarizirano magnetno cono in ima dve normalni polarizirani coni. Prerez naplavin je podoben divaškemu. Predvidevamo, da je jama iz mesinskega obdobja in da so naplavine v njej posledica hitrega zvišanja gladine podzemeljske vode po ponovni zapolnitvi mediteranskega bazena z vodo, torej da so bile odložene pred 5,2 milijoni let. A fossil channel was filled by sandy sediments of light brown to ochreous color with dynamic structures and textures (lower sequence) unconformably overlain by remains of collapsed roof with brown and ochreous matrix (upper sequence). The sedimentary profile was about 5 m high. In all 38 samples taken from the profile, only one was cemented. Samples were demagnetised by alternating field (AF) at 10 to 1,000 Oe. The cemented one was demagnetised by gradual thermal process from 80 to 560 °C in the MAVACS apparatus. Detected remanent magnetisation in a natural state varied between 95 and 36,470 pT, values of volume magnetic susceptibility are from 55 to 998 x 10-6 SI. Rocks showed low or medium magnetisation. Normal and inverse polarization was detected after demagnetisation. The primary component of magnetisation and resulting polarity could not be stated in samples with expressive viscose component (up to 90 %). According to arrangement of individual magnetozone, it can be stated that sediments are older than the top of Olduvai chron (1.77 Ma), as the magnetostratigraphic profile at Kozina terminated by reverse polarised magnetozone and contains two normal polarised zones. The profile can be correlated with the Divača profile, not only from the palaeomagnetic point of view, but also from a lithological point of view. We suppose, as in Divača, that the cave is a result of the Messinian speleogenetic epoch and its fossilization was connected with rapid base level uplift after refilling of the Mediterranean basin by water. If this hypothesis is close to reality, the fossilization process can be dated from about 5.2 Ma up.

Na kraškem površju, ki je pokrito z naplavino ali prstjo, nastajajo tudi podtalne skalne oblike. So posledica pretakanja vode po stiku med skalo in prstjo, prenikanja vodo skozi prst in pritekanja vode do površine prsti, ki obdaja skalo. Podtalne skalne oblike so pogosto pomembna sled razvoja kraškega površja. To je poskus razločevanja tipičnih kraških podtalnih skalnih oblik in zasnova za njihovo novo tipizacijo. Subcutaneous rock forms occur on karst surfaces covered with sediment or soil. They are the consequence of water running along the contact between rock and soil, the percolation of water through the soil, and inflow of water to the surface of the soil surrounding the rock. Subcutaneous rock forms are often important traces of the development of karst surfaces. This article tries to distinguish typical karst subcutaneous rock features and to offer a design for their new standardization.

Na trasi avtoceste so na dnu morfoloških depresij oziroma uval med kraškimi pojavi najbolj vidni požiralniki in estavele. Pri gradbenih delih so se razkrile tudi podtalne škraplje ter jame. Izjemnih oblik so tiste, ki so nastale v dnu podolij in ki jih podtalne vode pogosto poplavijo. Imajo povsem svojevrsten, kot vemo tokrat prvič opisani skalni relief. Stare jame, skozi katere so se nekoč pretakali vodni tokovi, pričajo o znižanju gladine podzemeljske vode, ki površje dosega le v najnižjih podoljih ter o verjetnem tektonsko pogojenem členjenju kraškega površja. Dobršen del jam je zapolnjen z drobnozrnato naplavino in pod njo tudi preoblikovan. Oblikovanje špranjastih jam, ki so večinoma ob navpičnih razpokah, pa bi lahko opredelili kot podtalno. Razkrivajo se nam značilnosti plitkega in z naplavinami pokritega krasa, kjer je podzemeljska voda blizu površja. Te značilnosti bi bilo potrebno kar v največji meri upoštevati pri nadaljnjih poseganjih v kras, saj so nam na prvi pogled skrite, vsakršno poseganje v kras pa nam jih razkrije. Mnogi kraški pojavi predvsem jame, podtalne škraplje ali kamniti gozdovi so vredni, da jih zaščitimo in ohranimo. The most conspicuous karst formations uncovered at the bottom of morphologic depressions or uvalas along the motorway route include swallow holes and estavelles. Also uncovered during the construction were underground karrens and caves of exquisite shapes, situated at valley bottoms and often flooded by groundwater. They have a specific rock relief that, to the best of our knowledge, is now described for the first time. Old caves through which streams were once flowing testify to the lowering of the level of groundwater, which reaches the surface only in the lowest-lying valleys, and to probable tectonic dissection of the karst surface. A good part of the caves are filled with fine-grained sediment and have been transformed underneath it. The shaping of fissure caves, located predominantly along vertical fissures, can be defined as having occurred subterraneously. They exhibit features of a shallow, sediment-covered karst where groundwater is close to the surface. These features are not visible at first sight, but they become apparent at any encroachment on karst and should therefore be taken fully into account in any such activity in the future. Many karst formations, above all caves, underground karrens or stone forests, are worthy of protection and preservation

Med Klancem in Črnim Kalom se je na 6,5 km trase avtoceste med zemeljskimi deli, kopanju usekov in predora odprlo 67 jam. Številčno so prevladovale stare jame, torej tiste, skozi katere se je nekoč pretakala voda. Dve tretjini teh jam je bilo zapolnjenih z naplavino. Raziskane jame so nam dopolnile znanje o razvoju tega dela krasa. Prek 500 m dolg jamski splet, katerega smo se trudili ohraniti v celoti, se odprl v predoru Kastelec v bližini Brezna na Škrklovici. Rovi tega spleta so pod cesto povezani z betonskimi cevmi, do katerih vodi jašek z roba cestišča. Sixty-seven caves were opened during the earth removal and the excavation of the tunnel on the 6.5 km route section of the expressway between Klanec and Črni Kal. By their number, old caves predominated. Two – thirds of these caves were filled with deposits. The caves investigated contributed to our knowledge of the development of this part of the karst. The more than 450 m - long cave system of caves which we are trying to preserve was opened in the tunnel at Kastelec near the Škrklovica cave. Below the road, the passages of this system are connected with concrete pipes, leading from the roadside.

Na planoti Banjšice (SZ Slovenija) je najdaljša izvirna jama Smoganica, dolga 492 m. Jama (na nadmorski višini 505 m) leži na jugozahodnem pobočju Čukle (770 m) vzhodno od reke Soče (153 m nad morjem). Smoganica se je razvila v apnenčevi breči, ki je tu debela 10 m in je del zgornjekrednih flišnih plasti. V okolici jame so zeleni laporji kot vključki v breči ali pa je breča vključena v plasti zelenega laporja. Klasti v debelozrnati breči, v kateri je tudi jama, merijo od nekaj cm do več dm v premeru. Klasti večinoma izvirajo iz mlajših rudistnih apnencev, spodnje in zgornje krede ter jurskih mikritnih in oolitnih apnencev. Jama Smoganica leži okrog 2 km južno od Idrijskega preloma in okrog 200 m severno od Kobariškega preloma. V jami zasledimo dve glavni razpoklinski smeri: N30-45°E in N120-135°E. Smoganica se je oblikovala kot sistem manjših rovov, ki so se razvili znotraj breče v vseh smereh. Jama je nastala v freatičnih razmerah. Kasneje je bila v celoti zapolnjena s sedimenti, nad katerimi so nastale nadsedimentne skalne oblike. Sedimenti so bili nato iz jame odnešeni. Današnji vodni tok oblikuje dno jamskih rovov. Višje vode oblikujejo fasete in draslje, nižje pa talne žlebove. Jamo lahko opredelimo kot poligenetsko, saj je njene dele že povsem preoblikovala voda, ki prenika s površja in polzi po jamskih stenah. On the Banjšice plateau (NW Slovenia) the longest spring cave is 492 m long Smoganica. The cave (505 m above sea level) is situated on the SW slope of Čukla (770 m) E from the Soča river (153 m above the sea level). Smoganica is developed in limestone breccia, which is 10 m thick and belongs to the Upper Cretaceous flyschrocks. On the territory around the cave, the green marls are included in breccias or breccias are included into the green marls. Clasts in coarse-grained breccia, in which the cave is located, vary from some cm to several dm in diameter. Clasts are mostly deriving from younger rudist limestones, Lower and Upper Cretaceous and Jurassic micritic and oolitic limestones. Smoganica is situated about 2 km south from Idrija fault and about 200 m north from Kobarid fault. There are two principal fissure orientations in the cave, N30-45ºE and N120-135ºE. Smoganica was formed from the system of smaller passages that have been developed inside the breccia in 3D. The cave was formed in phreatic conditions, later it was completely filled with cave sediments.In the next stagethe above-sediment rock forms were developed. Cave sediments were later removed from the cave. Today the active water stream is cutting rock forms in the bottom of the cave passages. Higher water quantities are forming scallops and potholes and lower quantities floorchannels. Smoganica can be described as polygenetic cave because the percolating water is reshaping the passages.

V prispevku opisujeva tipične značilnosti kamnin, ki jih zasledimo na področju presihajočih Pivških jezer. V zgornje krednih apnencih sta se oblikovali dve značilni kraški jami: Matijeva jama, ki se danes kaže kot estavela in Trnska jama s številnimi znaki pogostega in izdatnega nihanja gladine podzemeljske vode. Predstavljava nekatere nove izsledke raziskav. This article describes the typical characteristics of rock found in the area of the intermittent Pivka lakes. Two characteristic karstic caves formed in Upper Cretaceous limestone: Matijeva jama, which appears as an estavelle today, and Trnska jama, vvith several old and recent signs of frequent and plentiful fluctuation in groundwater level. Several new research results are presented.

Rock relief is an important trace of the formation and development of karst phenomena on various carbonate rock. The existing current state is usually in a rich and diverse stage of homogeneous or heterogeneous development. The various forms of rock relief represent different ways and conditions a karst phenomenon formed and the developmental levels under the same conditions and with the same factors. Research into the connections between different developmental models is therefore necessary. Over time, not only rock relief but also rock forms begin to merge with one another. We are looking at the initial period of the development of a thick rock strata due to rain. On gently sloping rock strata, which tend to disintegrate at the edges, especially when they are inclined downwards, characteristic rock relief forms on the flat surfaces of larger planes, initially due to rainwater and sheets of creeping water and later through three-dimensional dissection and primarily the direct action of rainwater. Škraplje huma Kamenjak (Dalmatinski kras, Hrvaška); od začetnega obdobja členjenja ravnih površin z dežjem do skalnih konic Skalni relief je pomembna sled načina oblikovanja in razvoja kraških pojavov na različnih karbonatnih kamninah. Je pa zatečeno, trenutno stanje v največkrat bogatem in pestrem oblikovnem enovrstnem ali večvrstnem razvoju. Različna oblika skalnega reliefa torej predstavlja različne načine in razmere oblikovanja kraškega pojava in razvojne stopnje znotraj istih razmer in z istimi dejavniki. Zatorej je neobhodno proučevanje znotraj povezav v različne razvojne modele. Ne samo skalni relief, temveč tudi skalne oblike same se skozi čas prelivajo ena v drugo. Pred nami je začetno obdobje razvoja debelih skladov kamnine z dežjem. Na položnih skladih kamnine, ki na robovih, zlasti nagnjenih navzdol razpadajo, na njihovih ravnih površinah večjih ploskev pa se sprva z deževnico in s ploskovno polzečo vodo in nato s trirazsežnim razčlenjevanjem in predvsem neposrednim delovanjem deževnice oblikuje značilen skalni relief. Iz skalnih oblik, ki ga tvorijo, je moč natančno razbrati najbolj značilna obdobja razvoja škrapelj z odločilnimi dejavniki njihovega oblikovanja.

The results of studying the geomorphological, geological, and lithomorphogenetic karst characteristics of the selected mogote reveal its unique but typical formation under the given conditions. Micritic heavily tectonically crushed and heavily recrystallized limestone with stylolites dominates throughout the entire geological column and is very uniform. Analyzing Ca and Mg with complexometric titration method of rock samples showed very pure total carbonate and exceeds 96.5 %. Rock composition anables development of clear development of rock features, the smallest, as well. The specific rock relief of the mogote bears witness to the gradual denudation of the rock and the transformation of subsoil rock forms into forms carved by rainwater and water creeping down the walls. The article brings new knowledge about special but typical shaping of the rock under dense tropical vegetation, this time under vegetation covering the mogote. On denuded surfaces that emerged from the soil, for this circumstances characteristic rock features develop under the weathered debris that accumulates under dense vegetation. Different rock beds in the studied mogote respond in a similar way to karstification.

This paper presents karstological prospecting of selected areas in Ras Al-Khaimah Emirate, UAE. Several locations in Musandam Mts. have been prospected for caves, karst springs and surface karst features. Several smaller (10-20 m long) solutional caves have been discovered and surveyed on the slopes of wadis. They exhibit relatively simple assemblage of dominantly dead-end passages. Geometry, rock relief, geology and sediments of these caves were studied and initial hypothesis on their formation suggested. The largest discovered cave is a tectonic feature developed due to the gravitational sliding of part of a mountain. Surface rock relief resulted from different karst processes was also studied in river beds and side walls of wadis and on the mountain plateaus. Two hydrogeologically different karst springs, Khatt and MeBreda, were analysed for basic physical, chemical and microbiological parameters.

The high karst plateau of Trnovsko-Banjška planota is one of the most important reservoirs of karst water in Slovenia. Almost all important karst springs in this area are captured for water supply. A sustainable management of this source of groundwater is of strategic importance, not only as drinking water supply but also for the economy. For these reasons, many hydrogeological monitoring studies have been carried out over the last decades. However, no consistent regional overview of the hydrogeological functioning of Trnovsko-Banjška planota was available and we decided to study this area with more direct approach based on 3D geological and hydrogeological models. The so called KARSYS approach was developed in Switzerland and applied primarily to characterize groundwater reserves within a karst massif, and to sketch the main flow-paths carrying groundwater from recharge areas to the respective springs. The delineation of spring catchment areas in karst regions was better defined and interactions between catchments were interpreted. These results can be used to improve the management of karst waters in the studied area.

Major stone forest excellently reveals most characteristics of the formation of the various stone forests. The relatively thick stratification and evenly composed rock clearly display the development of stone forests from subsoil karren. This is evident from the shape of individual parts of the stone forest and the shape and rock relief of pillars that comprise the forest. It is the most typical example of development of karren from subsoil to rain and vegetation exposed stone forest. With it we can compare stone forests shaped on different rock and geomorphological and hydrological conditions. Type of rock is clearly reflected in the intensity of corrosion and erosion and with it in the formation and morphological appearance of individual stone pillars and larger blocks of rock. The rock relief on the pillars in stone forests reveals the interwoven traces of the original shaping of the rock below soil and sediment, of the lowering of the level of soil and sediment, and of the younger but distinct transformation of pillars by rainwater, which naturally dominates on the tops. The exceptional character and picturesqueness of this karst phenomenon is the reason for the successful developmentof the stone forest as an international tourist attraction that was deservedly placed on the UNESCO world heritage list.

The form of the karren is dictated by the horizontal laminated beds and fissuring. They are dissected by characteristic rock forms that are traces of their development and current shaping. The permeable contacts between laminae and the vertical fissuring of the rock fostered a distinctive three-dimensional development of karren and with it unique forms.

Heaven’s Cave is located in the centre of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang national park, about 500 km southern from the Vietnamese capital and 40 km from the city of Dong Hoi. Phong Nha-Ke Bang national park is protected also as a UNESCO world heritage site. Due to weak economic situation in this region as a result of lack of natural resources, karst tourism represents an important opportunity for raising the quality of live in the province. A proposal to adapt non-touristic Heaven’s Cave for tourism was presented to Karst Research Institute ZRC SAZU in 2006. Because the caves are sensitive ecosystems and all activities in them should be carefully implemented, our task was to make basic survey and map the cave, to perform a speleological and touristic research, to propose possible interventions for adapting the cave for tourism and to prepare a strategy for tourism development in this area. The latter should also show us if some interest is present among tourists for new show cave in this region. From this point of view this study does not represent systematic long-term approach for adapting a cave for tourism but rather a short study of a cave with potential to be show cave in remote area of Central Vietnam. Approach used in this study should be used in similar environments as a first step to estimate if weakly known cave is environmentally and economically suitable for development for touristic purposes. Keywords: Heaven’s Cave, Thien Duong Cave, Phong Nha-Ke Bang, Vietnam, show cave.

The relief of Bela Krajina and Semiška Reber in southeastern Slovenia is mainly a consequence of post Late Miocene tectonic movements and karstic, mostly subsoil, erosion. In the lower half of the slope at Vrtača in the northwestern part of Bela Krajina, 1.3 km northeast of the center of Semič and 15 to 25 meters above the surroundings, a 250-meter long and about 150-meter wide lateral ridge rises at an inclination of 8°. The formation of the medium-sized relief between the elevated lateral ridge and the lower elongated side depressions is most probably to a large extent the consequence of differences in the rock fissuring and the varying intensity of hundreds of thousands of years lasting corrosion related to it. Traces of subsoil formation are the prevailing feature found on hundreds of rock ribs (i.e., subsoil rock formations that are not cone-shaped like teeth but rather elongated with their longer axes largely parallel to the dip of the surface) dissecting the surface area of one of the vineyard plots on the rocky lateral ridge. This indicates they were relatively recently exposed, as a consequence of human activity when soil was removed from an abandoned plot.

The high mountain karren rock relief reveals the manner of the formation of the mountain karst surface in the northwestern part of Yunnan at altitudes between 4,000 and 4,600 m. Two dominant factors, snow and rain, decisively influence the formation of the majority of rock forms; in places, particularly on the Shika Snow Mountain, two additional factors are subsoil corrosion and water trickling from overgrown surfaces. Biocorrosion is important for the fine dissection of the rock. Sub-snow rock forms dominate in places where the rock has been covered by snow for a longer period. These are primarily the gently sloping sunless parts of the karren, the lower parts or lower walls of karren, and fissures. Gently sloping sunless parts of the karren are often dissected in various ways so there are sub-snow forms on their lower parts and rock forms carved by rainwater on the higher parts, peaks, and ridges. Rain rock forms dominate on sunny surfaces and parts of the rock that are steep, located higher above the floor, and covered by only a thin layer of snow. The relief and individual rock forms are also influenced by the fissuring and the recrystallization of rock characteristic of the Shika Snow Mountain. The rock masses on the Yulong Snow Mountain are larger and its rock forms have more regular shapes. On the Shika Snow Mountain, rock recrystallization has an important influence on the rock forms, causing fine diversities and often jagged edges of rock forms. By this feature of rock forms and the frequent and originally subsoil rock formation on the Shika Snow Mountain we can distinguish the two described areas of mountain karren. In both mountain areas, the basic characteristics are the same and unique. The rock relief of the mountain karren described in this paper is predominantly dictated by the wider climate and microclimate conditions, the form of precipitation, the alternation of snow and rain, the distribution of precipitation, and the solar exposure of the karren.

In upper reaches of the Chang (Yangtze) river, in Deqen prefecture, in northwestern part of the Yunnan province, karst is developed in Devonian carbonate rocks. The Shuilian cave, more than a kilometre long, formed along the contact of fine bedded metamorphosed calcitized sandy siltstones and calcitized siltstones. The cave has two entrances, the upper one being dry and the lower entrance with a steady water flow. It is situated in the steep slope about 70 m above the river level (1,965 m a.s.l.). In the paper a detailed analysis of rocks that host the cave is presented, and also a comprehensive description of the rock morphology and shapes of the cave conduits. Physico-chemical properties of water from cave and from a nearby spring were measured. The temperature and specific electric conductivity determinations indicate a relatively long underground residence time of water which, however, relatively poorly dissolve slowly dissoluble base rock. This could be the explanation for stagnation of the karst deepening with respect to erosional downcutting of the river Chang. In addition, further research is proposed.

This paper explains the investigation of shallow and sediment-covered areas of the Dolenjska karst discovered during the construction of the motorway section between the villages of Hrastje and Lešnica. Research done during construction has again proved to be very useful; we came to numerous and augmentative conclusions about the development of karst features typical of the Dolenjska region. Again the importance of the participation of karst researchers in planning major activities concerning the karst and in monitoring the work was demonstrated. We have researched the unique features of the karst surface marked mostly by large areas of stone forests and characteristic karstification below the thick sediment beds.

The Lao Hei Gin stone forest is yet one more of the diverse and famed Lunan stone forests created from subcutaneous karren. The initial morphogenesis of the stone pillars started along almost horizontal bedding planes and mostly sub-vertical faults and cracks already covered by thick layers of sediments and soil. The forest’s stone pillars stand individually or in groups. The dominant and most characteristic shape of the pillars is mushroom-like, with alternating lithological characteristics of the carbonate beds expressed in a vertical direction.