ABSTRACT
Examples of the application of microgravity mehtod for the detection of potentially hazardous (empty) underground cavities caused by the collapse of coal mines are presented. Within these ...areas some alteration by previous remediation activity had occurred. This was not documented earlier and, therefore, such alteration was often unknown prior to the current investigations. We show a successful application of microgravity, leading to the detection of an empty cavity, in close proximity to where concrete injection was earlier performed. This was subsequently verified thorugh measurements in a borehole. In contrast, two other examples delivered results where the microgravity data, along with signals from other geophysical methods, led to the interpretation that subsidence resulting in the formation of sinkholes had been in‐filled, and in these situations the detection of more recent cavities was considered to be unreliable. These results point to the conclusion that microgravity interpretation of cavities is an effective approach, but the success of this approach may be compromised at sites where remediation activity has already occurred; in such situations the approach should be supplemented by other geophysical methods.
The palynoflora from the Lavanttal Basin is characterised by a diverse spectrum of conifers. Their pollen is mostly well preserved allowing for high taxonomic resolution. Most coniferous taxa belong ...to the Pinaceae (Abies, Cathaya, Cedrus, Keteleeria, Larix, Picea, Pinus and Tsuga) and the Cupressaceae (Cryptomeria, Glyptostrobus and Sequoia), but pollen of Sciadopityaceae (Sciadopitys) is also occuring. The presence of these conifer taxa supports previous suggestions based on sedimentological and palynological observations that the sediments of the Lavanttal Basin accumulated in a lowland/wetland environment. Many of the taxa described in this paper had a wide, mostly Northern Hemispheric distribution, occupying swamps, river plains, deltas, hummocks and also better drained habitats located near to the main areas of sedimentation during most of the Cenozoic. Modern relatives of most of the fossil taxa prefer ample precipitation, suggesting that during the Middle Miocene (Sarmatian), the Lavanttal area received plenty of rainfall; there is no indication of a seasonal climate with a drought period. In general, the conifer taxa identified here are suggestive of a warm-temperate climate.
An integrated study of the litho-, bio-, and isotope stratigraphy of carbonates in the Southern Alps was undertaken in order to better constrain δ13C variations during the Late Carboniferous to Late ...Permian. The presented high resolution isotope curves are based on 1299 δ13Ccarb and 396 δ13Corg analyses. The carbon isotope record of diagenetically unaltered samples from the Carnic Alps (Austria) and Karavanke Mountains (Slovenia) shows generally high δ13C values, but Late Carboniferous and Early Permian successions are affected by a diagenetic alteration as consequence of glacio-eustatic sea level changes. Negative δ13C excursions are related to low-stand deposits and caused by diagenetic processes during subaerial exposure. The comparison with δ13C records from other parts of the world demonstrate that δ13C values are high in most unaltered samples, an overall negative trend during the Permian, as recently published, is not obvious and negative excursions related to changes in the carbon isotope composition of the global oceanic carbon pool cannot be confirmed, except for the Permian–Triassic boundary interval.
•A carbon isotope record for the Late Paleozoic of the Southern Alps is presented.•Eustatic sea-level fluctuations/subaerial exposure results in diagenetic alteration.•Negative carbon isotope excursions seen as consequence of diagenetic resetting•An overall negative trend in δ13C during the Permian is not confirmed.
This study focuses on the analysis of structures and kinematics of a N–S profile along the axis of maximum shortening of the European Eastern Alps. The area includes the southern Austroalpine unit in ...the north and the Southalpine unit, which is a part of the Adriatic indenter. The stratigraphically different units are separated by the Periadriatic fault, the major strike-slip fault within the Alps. In order to assess the kinematics of these units, mainly fault-slip data from north and south of the Periadriatic fault were analyzed. We distinguish a succession of five main kinematic groups in both units: (1) N–S compression; (2) NW–SE compression; (3) NE–SW compression, σ3 changes gradually from subvertical to subhorizontal; (4) N–S compression; and (5) NW–SE compression. Our study reveals that the deformation sequence on either sides of the PAF is similar. The mean orientations of the principal stress axes, however, show small, but consistent differences: The subhorizontal axes north of the Periadriatic fault plunge northward, in the south southward. A counterclockwise (CCW) rotation of the southern part in respect to the north is evident and in line with the well-known counterclockwise rotation of the Adriatic indenter as well as dextral displacement of the N-fanning stress-field along the Periadriatic fault. Opposing plunge directions are interpreted as a primary feature of the internal stress-field within an orogenic wedge further increased during ongoing compression.
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•Deformation stages on either side of the Periadriatic fault show large similarities.•Kinematic analyses of brittle fault datasets yield 5 successive tectonic regimes.•Small differences N vs. S of the principal stress axes (orientation) are visible.•A slight, but consistent CCW rotation of σ1 S of the fault is found.•σ1 N and S of the fault shows opposing plunge directions.
The Miocene Lavanttal Basin formed in the Eastern Alps during extrusion of crustal blocks towards the east. In contrast to basins, which formed contemporaneously along the strike-slip faults of the ...Noric Depression and on top of the moving blocks (Styrian Basin), little is known about the Lavanttal Basin. In this paper geophysical, sedimentological, and structural data are used to study structure and evolution of the Lavanttal Basin. The eastern margin of the 2-km-deep basin is formed by the WNW trending Koralm Fault. The geometry of the gently dipping western basin flank shows that the present-day basin is only a remnant of a former significantly larger basin. Late Early (Karpatian) and early Middle Miocene (Badenian) pull-apart phases initiated basin formation and deposition of thick fluvial (Granitztal Beds), lacustrine, and marine (Mühldorf Fm.) sediments. The Mühldorf Fm. represents the Lower Badenian cycle TB2.4. Another flooding event caused brackish environments in late Middle Miocene (Early Sarmatian) time, whereas freshwater environments existed in Late Sarmatian time. The coal-bearing Sarmatian succession is subdivided into four fourth-order sequences. The number of sequences suggests that the effect of tectonic subsidence was overruled by sea-level fluctuations during Sarmatian time. Increased relief energy caused by Early Pannonian pull-apart activity initiated deposition of thick fluvial sediments. The present-day shape of the basin is a result of young (Plio-/Pleistocene) basin inversion. In contrast to the multi-stage Lavanttal Basin, basins along the Noric Depression show a single-stage history. Similarities between the Lavanttal and Styrian basins exist in Early Badenian and Early Sarmatian times.
The lead–zinc mine Bleiberg-Kreuth located in the Austrian federal state of Carinthia has had a long mining history, spanning from the early 14th century to the 1990s. The mining and processing ...activities undertaken over the centuries and, consequently, the composition of the waste rock material changed throughout this period. Today, the focus on waste rock dumps is motivated firstly by environmental interests and secondly by economic aspects. This article provides a comprehensive approach for the characterisation of three different waste rock dumps. The characterisation covers both mineralogical–geological methods and those involving the use of a mineral processor. The characterisation method presented herein starts with the sampling and calculation of the sampling mass, followed by sieve analysis and sink–float analysis, resulting in a two-dimensional fractional analysis. The consolidated results of the fractional and chemical analyses allow for a simplified forecast model for an ideal classification and density separation. Finally, the practical processability of a pre-concentration was tested by trials for comminution, classification, and density sorting.
The Gradenbach mass movement (GMM) is an example of DGSD (deep-seated gravitational slope deformation) in crystalline rocks of the Eastern Alps (12.85°E, 47.00°N). The main body of the GMM covers an ...area of 1.7 km
2
and its volume is about 120 × 10
6
m
3
. A reconstruction of the deformation history yields a mean displacement of ∼ 22 m from 1962 to 2011. In 1965/66, 1975, 2001, and 2009 high sliding velocities, exceeding several meters per year, interrupt the quasi-stationary periods of slow movement (≤0.3 m/year). Since 1999 the displacement of the main body of the GMM has been observed by GPS. Time series of extensometer readings, precipitation, snow cover water equivalent, water discharge, and hydrostatic water level observed in boreholes were re-processed and are presented in this paper. Continuous recording of seismic activity by a seismic monitoring network at the GMM began in the summer of 2006. Deformation has been monitored since 2007 by an embedded strain rosette based on fiber optics technology and a local conventional geodetic deformation network. The velocity of the GMM could be modeled to a large extent by a quantitative relation to hydro-meteorological data. During the phase of high sliding velocity in spring 2009, the seismic activity in the area increased significantly. Several types of seismic events were identified with some of them preceding the acceleration of the main body by about 6 weeks. The potential inherent in the Gradenbach Observatory data to supply early warning and hazard estimation is discussed.
The paper presents the project entitled Neighbours with a Go-Between that was carried out by the University of Klagenfurt (Austria) and the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia) between 2016 and 2019, ...combining indirect literary translation and intercultural communication. Based on the analysis of student reports, the study shows how the task of collaborative indirect literary translation helped form a temporary community of practice, which in turn enabled the crossing of several types of boundaries and fostered intercultural learning.
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