Karst and Pseudokarst of the West Kazakhstan (Republic of Kazakhstan)

Kazhmurat M. Akhmedenov, Dinmuhammed Zh. Iskaliev, Vladim P. Petrishev

Department of Geography, M. Utemissov West Kazakhstan State University, Uralsk, Kazakhstan.
Institute of Steppe (Ural Branch of RAS), Orenburg, Russian Federation.
Scientific Research Institute of Biotechnology and Nature Management, West Kazakhstan Agrarian Technical University Named of Zhangir Khan (WKATU), Uralsk, Kazakhstan.

DOI: 10.4236/ijg.2014.52014                

Abstract

An analysis of the formation of karst and karst-suffosion forms on the territory of the West Kazakhstan region is presented in this paper. Numerous literary sources were used as the information database for the analysis of the relief features of the West Kazakhstan region. Evaluation of the morphometric features of the collapsed new formations on the basis of materials of our own field research is presented here for the first time. According to the research objectives there were defined localization places of the karst-collapsed phenomena where the reconnaissance field surveys were carried out. Survey points’ localization has been carried out by means of GPS system with the help of 12-channel GPS-receiver of Garmin eTrex model. Geoinformational technology, based on MapInfo 9.5 and ArcGIS 9.2 packages was used for the building of the information and cartographic database. Original thematic maps compiled on the basis of the research results’ analysis have been obtained in this research. The features of the Caspian Basin’s karst landscapes, formed as a result of salt-dome tectonic manifestations (Inder Mountains, Malaya Bogdo Mountain, Bish-Chokho hill) are described in this paper. The important elements of the Caspian Basin salt-dome landscapes are landforms of the karst origin from large karst depressions of the karst-tectonic origin to modern forms of the sulfate karst: sinkholes, wells, polje, knobs (“Kurgantau”), arches, caves and grottoes. Some karst formations have a non-salt-dome origin. Three areas with the collapsed forms that have the karst-suffosion origin have been identified (near Konyr village, Berezovka village and Zhanatalap village). The mechanism of the sinkholes formation is due to the changes of the groundwater regime and the displacement of limestone eluvium as a result of active anthropogenic impacts. The sinkholes occurence near Zhanatalap village, which is located near the Karachaganak oil and gas field, is probably due to the anthropogenic initiation of karst-suffosion processes.

Keywords

Geography; Geomorphology; Relief; Karst; Pseudokarst; Collapses; Suffusion; Denudation-Karst; Karst-Collapsing; Funnel; Ponor; Well; Trough; Keprok; Inder; Kazakhstan

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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