Keywords:Structural geology, SW Slovenia, nape structure, Karst edge, Cretaceous.

Education of the Young Researcher:
Year 2019: BSc, Turonian to middle Coniacian carbonate succession of south-west limb of Postojna anticline : diploma thesis
Year 2024: MSc, Multi-method studies of potential stratigraphic gaps in Upper Cretaceous carbonate succession of SW limb of Postojna anticline : master's thesis

 

 

Content:

The Karst edge is formed by a repeating sequence of Palaeogene limestones and flysch rocks. In the early phases of the formation of the Dinarides, the limestones were overlain by softer flysch and marl over long distances.Despite the numerous studies and the abundance of new geological data in the proposed study area, many fundamental questions remain to be answered concerning its spatio-temporal dynamics of Cenozoic evolution, the quantification of deformation and the structural and geological structure itself. Further exploration of this area is of utmost importance, not only for a better understanding of the Cenozoic evolution of the broader contact between the Outer Dinaridesand the Adriatic Plate, but also for the most efficient spatial positioning of the infrastructure in a geomorphologically and geologically quite complex environment. A detailed knowledge of the active faulting process is an important contribution to improving the mapping of active faults and their parameterisation, to linking fault structures and zones of continuous deformation, from folds to possible diffuse deformation zones such as broad shear zones, and to understanding the dynamics of the whole area. A comprehensive treatment of surface structures can also shed important light on the structures at depth that drive past and active movement and deformation in the area.

This type of study is possible in the proposed area, mainly due to the many studies that have been or will be carried out. During the geological monitoring of the tunnel construction works and the extensive excavations on the Divača-Koper second railway line, we gained a direct insight into the structures discovered or indicated by geological mapping on a weekly basis. As part of the investigations for the construction of the Divača-Koper AC section, the preliminary investigations for the construction of the Koper-Divača second railway line and the preparation of a hydrogeological map of the Rižana area. After the railway accident in Hrastovlje in 2019, a detailed geological map was also created. In 2024, a postdoctoral project was completed at GeoZS by dr. Ana Novak in a related field of science in the wider vicinity of the proposed study area. The proposed PhD research is thus a logical continuation of the research dynamics, which can be based on an in-depth synthesis of already collected data and a targeted collection of new data. The results will also complement ARSO's mission to study the active tectonics at the Raška Fault and collect long-term seismotectonic parameters for the creation of next-generation seismic hazard models, which is the long-term orientation of ARSO's annual seismotectonic mapping tasks.

 

Selected Bibliography:

1. IVANČIČ, Kristina, BARTOL, Miloš, URŠIČ ARKO, Aleša. Badenian sedimentary succession of the Mestinje Anticline (western Central Paratethys). In. Abstracts book : 36th International Meeting of Sedimentology : June 12-16, 2023, Dubrovnik, Croatia. [S.l.]. ISBN 978-953-6907-79-3. [COBISS.SI-ID 159776003]
2. JAMŠEK RUPNIK, Petra, MENCIN GALE, Eva, URŠIČ ARKO, Aleša, RUPAR, Lovro, JEŽ, Jernej, NOVAK, Ana, MASLAČ, Josipa, ANŽEL, Andrej, ATANACKOV, Jure. Initial results from paleoseismological investigations of the Raša Fault in SW Slovenia. In. 7th Regional Scientific Meeting on Quaternary Geology ; November 14th - 15th 2024, Zagreb, Croatia : karst research and the 100th anniversary of the birth of Mirko Malez : abstract book. Zagreb: Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, 2024. pp. 44-46. ISBN 978-953-347-593-6. [COBISS.SI-ID 216828931]
3. MENCIN GALE, Eva, ATANACKOV, Jure, NOVAK, Ana, JAMŠEK RUPNIK, Petra, IVANČIČ, Kristina, TRAJANOVA, Mirka, GALE, Luka, TRENCHOVSKA, Aleksandra, BARTOL, Miloš, MARINŠEK, Miha, GOSTINČAR, Petra, MILANIČ, Blaž, MARKELJ, Anže, URŠIČ ARKO, Aleša, TERAN, Klemen, BAVEC, Miloš, NEUHUBER, Stephanie, BRAUMANN, Sandra M., WIESER, Alexander, MARCHHART, Oscar. Pliocene-Quaternary landscape evolution of the Krško Basin (south-eastern Alpine foreland, Slovenia) based on sedimentological, geomorphological, and chronological data. V: XXI INQUA Congress : time for change : July 14th-20th 2023, Rome. [S.L.: ICLR. 2023, [1] pp. https://inquaroma2023.exordo.com/programme/presentation/1870. [COBISS.SI-ID 162764035]
4. URŠIČ ARKO, Aleša, OTONIČAR, Bojan, ROŽIČ, Boštjan. Turonian to middle Coniacian carbonate succession of south-western limb of Postojna anticline. In. Zbornik sumetkov = Book of abstracts5th Slovenian Geological Congress, Velenje, 3-5 October 2018. Ljubljana. Geological Survey of Slovenia, 2018. pp. 132-133. ISBN 978-961-6498-60-9. [COBISS.SI-ID 1438302]
5. URŠIČ ARKO, Aleša, OTONIČAR, Bojan. Turonian to intermediate zonation sequence of carbonate rocks of the southwestern wing of the Postojna anticline. In. Treatises, reports = Treatises, reports24th Meeting of Slovenian Geologists, Ljubljana, November 2019. Ljubljana: University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Geology, 2019. [No.] 25, pp. 142-143. Geological Proceedings, 25. ISSN 0352-3802. [COBISS.SI-ID 45656877]
6. URŠIČ ARKO, Aleša, OTONIČAR, Bojan, TEMOVSKI, Marjan, ROŽIČ, Boštjan. Terminal sequence of shallow-marine carbonates in the Postojna area - pedogeon-modified Maastrichitic(?) limestones of the Liburnian Formation in the southwestern wing of the Postojna anticlinal. In. Razprave, poročila = Treatises, reports : 26. posvetovanje slovenskih geologov = 26th Meeting of Slovenian Geologists, Ljubljana, October 2023. Ljubljana: University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, Department of Geology, 2023. Pp. 196-202, illus. Geological Proceedings, 26/1. ISSN 0352-3802. [COBISS.SI-ID 177574147]
7. VALAND, Nina, URŠIČ ARKO, Aleša, WILLEWALDT, Luka, CELARC, Bogomir, DELLA PORTA, Giovanna, KOŠIR, Adrijan. Decoding the PETM record in a virtually uninterrupted Palaeocene-Eocene shallow carbonate ramp succession (Adriatic Carbonate Platform, Slovenia). V: European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2019, Vienna, Austria, 7-12 April 2019. Munich: European Geosciences Union, 2019. [1] p. Geophysical research abstracts, Vol. 21. ISSN 1607-7962. https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2019/EGU2019-12605-3.pdf. [COBISS.SI-ID 44530733]