Paleogeomorphological and paleogeographic significance of the saprolithic weathering crusts for studies of relief formation in the Southern Bulgaria Mountains

Abstract

Structure and distribution of saprolithic crusts are considered. The saproliths are common on different levels of interfluves and in river valleys, and the distribution does not show any relation to erosional placation surfaces. In many sites the saproliths outcrops are 3 to 8 m thick and more. Results of lithological-mineralogical analysis are given together with fulldescription of two sections of saproliths at the Vitosha and Plana mountains. The saproliths are tentatively dated to the Miocene-Quaternary. They were presumably formed under changing environmental and topographic conditions.