Not simply volcanoes – The Geoheritage of the Cretaceous System in the Land of the Extinct Volcanoes Geopark, West Sudetes (SW Poland)

Abstract

Volcanic geoheritage is emphasized as the main asset and distinctive characteristic of the Land of Extinct Volcanoes Geopark in the West Sudetes (SW Poland). However, the geoheritage values of the region are not limited to the legacy of ancient volcanism but include various other elements. This paper explores the contribution of geosites that expose sedimentary rocks of Cretaceous age and landforms developed upon these rocks. Six localities from the Geopark area, included in the comprehensive regional inventory of geosites, are presented. They represent natural and man-made sandstone outcrops and show, among others, lithological variations, small- and large-scale post-sedimentary deformation structures, landforms arising from differential weathering (rock shelters, honeycombs), boulder fields and a sandstone xenolith in volcanic rocks. Next, five localities from outside the Geopark, but still within the Pogórze Kaczawskie region, are described. Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of both groups is attempted, and the results show that, in general, geosites within the Geopark rank higher. However at least two from the other group also have significant geotourist potential. Finally, a brief comparative analysis with other parts of the Sudetes, where Cretaceous sedimentary rocks occur, is offered.

Residual rocky forms in the landscape of the Outer Carpathians (Silesian Beskid Mts, Poland) - geotourist and sedimentological case study

“…Sandstone-to-conglomeratic tors, as attractive natural geosites rich in various qualities, are perfectly in line with the development of geotourism and the promotion of geoeducation (e.g., Słomka & Kicińska-Świderska, 2004;Alexandrowicz, 2008;Strzeboński, 2009;Słomka, 2013;Starzec et al, 2017Starzec et al, , 2018Welc & Miśkiewicz, 2019Migoń & Pijet-Migoń, 2020;Alexandrowicz & Alexandrowicz, 2022). Such landscape components highlight the geological and morphological heterogeneity of abiotic nature and thus illustrate the exceptional value of the Carpathian geoheritage and the need for its conservation (e.g., Alexandrowicz et al, 2000).…”

“…On some surfaces of rock walls there are a number of different-scale (several to a dozen or so cm), more or less regular depressions (cavities) in the form of variously shaped caverns (e.g., Figs 4A-D, 5G, H and 6A, B) (cf. also Migoń et al, 2017;Migoń & Pijet-Migoń, 2020).…”

“…The possibility of creating, modelling, and relative preservation over time of a variety of such tors was conditioned by precisely-defined qualitative and quantitative determinants (cf. Alexandrowicz, 1978;Strzeboński, 2009;Słomka, 2013;Migoń et al, 2017;Michniewicz, 2019;Migoń & Pijet--Migoń, 2020;Alexandrowicz & Alexandrowicz, 2022;Duszyński & Migoń, 2022). The basic factors determining the morphogenetic development of rocky forms included: (i) original textural and structural features, i.e.…”

“…The origin of variously shaped relic landforms has been relatively well understood and described over decades of research (e.g., Alexandrowicz, 1978;Migoń et al, 2017;Michniewicz, 2019;Migoń & Pijet-Migoń, 2020;Duszyński & Migoń, 2022). Therefore, the subjects, such as geoeducational potential, geotourism development, and legal protection of rocky geosites in the Carpathians do not raise any doubts.…”

Exploring Causal Relationships for Geoheritage Interpretation — Variable Effects of Cenozoic Volcanism in Central European Sedimentary Tablelands

“…Coarser and finer variants, with variable content of quartz, alternate in the vertical profile, reflecting changing palaeogeographic conditions of the epicontinental sea (Milewicz 1997;Uličný et al 2009;Leszczyński and Nemec 2019;Nádaskay et al 2019). Various localities (geosites -existing or potential) offer insights into the sedimentary architecture of Cretaceous deposits and help to unravel the complex history of sedimentation and erosion (Adamovič et al 2006(Adamovič et al , 2010Migoń and Pijet-Migoń 2021). Post-depositional deformation of Cretaceous strata was limited in extent, largely confined to the immediate vicinity of major reverse faults such as the Lusatian Fault (Coubal et al 2014(Coubal et al , 2015 or the Jerzmanice Fault (Solecki 2011), active at the Cretaceous/Palaeogene transition.…”