Lačný A., Vojtko R., Dušeková L. & Čahojová L., 2024: Dolines as important indicators of lithology and tectonics: A case study of the Malé Karpaty Mts. (Western Carpathians). Acta Geologica Slovaca, 16, 2, 79–97.

Dolines as important indicators of lithology and tectonics: A case study of the Malé Karpaty Mts. (Western Carpathians)

Alexander Lačný^1,2, Rastislav Vojtko², Laura Dušeková^3,4 & Lucia Čahojová^1,5

¹State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic, Little Carpathians Protected Landscape Area, Štúrova 115, 900 01, Modra, Slovakia; alexander.lacny@sopsr.sk, lucia.cahojova@sopsr.sk
²Comenius University, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Geology and Paleontology, Ilkovičova 6, Bratislava, Slovakia; alexander.lacny@uniba.sk, rastislav.vojtko@uniba.sk
³State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic, Slovak Caves Administration, Hodžova 11, 031 01 Liptovský Mikuláš, Slovakia; laura.dusekova@sopsr.sk
⁴Institute of Geodesy, Cartography and Geographical Information Systems, Faculty of Mining, Ecology, Process Control and Geotechnologies, Technical University Košice, Park Komenského 19, 04001 Košice, Slovakia; laura.dusekova@student.tuke.sk
⁵Plant Science and Biodiversity Centre, Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Science, Dúbravská cesta 9, Bratislava, 845 23, Slovakia; lucia.cahojova@savba.sk

Abstract

The Malé Karpaty Mountains in southwestern Slovakia contain more than 650 dolines, mostly arranged along tectonic and lithological boundaries. These dolines serve as important indicators of geological structures and provide valuable insights into the underlying bedrock and rock formations. This study focuses on the spatial distribution and formation processes of dolines in the Malé Karpaty Mts. using advanced methods, such as Digital Terrain Models (DTM) derived from airborne LiDAR data. By combining DTM with field measurements and GIS analysis, the study identifies the tectonic and lithological controls on doline formation and demonstrates their value in interpreting the geological and geomorphological evolution of the area. The results highlight the importance of dolines as markers of subsurface structures and their critical role in understanding karst landscapes.

Key words: dolines, DTM, LiDAR, lithology, Malé Karpaty Mts., tectonics, Western Carpathians

Manuscript received: 2024-04-14

Revised version accepted: 2024-11-25