The studied area is located in the vicinity of the village Osek, in the Vipava valley, SW Slovenia. The northern edge of the Vipava valley belongs structurally to the External Dinarides unit. Due to the naturally occurring structure of the region, the Mesozoic karbonates of the Trnovo and Hrušice nappe are thrusted over the structurally deformed paleogenic flysch. As a result, there are steep carbonate slopes and cliffs that rise above the more gently sloping flysch slopes. Mechanical weathering of limestone supplies material in the form of large accumulations of carbonate gravel and larger blocks of rocks that are involved in slope movement processes.
The evidence of slope movement processes, especially gravity-slide blocks, and geomorphology of the surface can be very well observed on the digital elevation model (DEM) derived from lidar data. On the shaded DEM of the investigated area, a carbonate block, which we named Podkucelj, can be seen very distinctly. The diploma work includes geological mapping of the area surrounding the village Osek in order to determine the lithological and sedimentary composition of the territory, and focuses on the geomorphological characteristics of the area, with an emphasis on the analysis of the larger gravity block Podkucelj.
Geological mapping and DEM analysis showed that the Podkucelj block is built from limestone and limestone breccias, and its surface is slightly less than 1 km2. In addition, the block is divided into three parts: Osrednji Podkucelj, which is the largest, and the smaller Južni and Severni Podkucelj. The forehead of all three blocks is composed of limestone, while carbonate breccias appear in the hinterland. Breccia is bedded in some places and has different strike and dip. There are planation surfaces present on all blocks, indicating a rotational movement. The blocks are subject to intensive weathering and karstification.
In addition to the larger carbonate block, other morphometric elements can be observed on the surface, in particular, scree deposits and carbonate megabeds present in flysch, which are more resistant to weathering and thus stand out, both in nature and on the DEM.
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