Differential evolution of rockwall and talus cones in abandoned basalt quarries and its implications for restoration management: case study from the Radobyl Hill, N Czech Republic

Abstract

The reclamation and restoration of quarries have been well studied in the past decades. Most studies focused on the bio-treatment and restoration of land post-quarrying activities. The present article reports the results of a pilot study on the geomorphic dynamics of an abandoned basalt quarry at the Ceske Stredohori Mountains in Northern Czech Republic. The authors applied geodetic and geomorphologic field techniques together with computer simulations (i) to identify geomorphic processes at the study site and (ii) to assess interrelations and relative rates of impact of the various processes. The results indicated that there were significant differences in rockwall and talus cone dynamics within the study site. The surface dynamics involved (i) a rockfall-dominated mode and (ii) a combination of rockfall and debris-dominated modes. The relative importance of these modes was primarily influenced by the inclination of joints and fissures, rockwall height and profile geometry, which resulted in variable micro-topography of talus cones, and in differential growth of talus cones since the abandonment of the quarry. This article reveals that the difference in the type and rate of geomorphic processes influenced the habitat diversity and should be considered in restoration design.

Keywords:

• basalt quarry
• rockwall
• talus cone
• rockfall
• debris flow
• restoration

Acknowledgements

This study was performed, thanks to financial support to the research project IGA, at Jan Evangelista Purkyne University. The authors thank Language Editing Services for the English style revision.