Assessment of landscape sensitivity based on geochemical characteristics of sediments (Kremna basin)

Abstract

The scale of human impacts on the natural environment is now considerably larger than at any point in history. The concept of geomorphic sensitivity can help to understand the rate, magnitude and nature of landscape adjustment to perturbation in a given natural system. Aim of this research is to show that geochemical and mineralogical data are important factors in determining landscape sensitivity. To test the suggested premise Neogene lacustrine Kremna basin (Serbia) was selected since sediments found in lacustrine basins are usually prone to dispersion and erosion. Furthermore, lacustrine basins often bear fossil and mineral resources and because of that are often undergoing land use changes. For the purpose of this study, samples of serpentinite, carbonates, marly carbonates, oil shale and tuff were analyzed. Besides mineralogical and petrographic analyses, samples were subjected to the weathering experiments. Obtained results indicate that marly carbonates and tuff are most prone to dispersion primarily due to presence of clay minerals. However, oil shale which also contains clay minerals showed minor leaching characteristics due to high content of organic matter. It can be concluded that mineralogical and geochemical characteristics are important for determining landscape sensitivity to erosion processes of an area.