Geological and geomorphological characteristics of the Boč hills and land use with special emphasis on isolated karst areas

Tematika diplomskega dela je osameli kras na Boškem hribovju. V nalogi sem proučila geološke in geomorfološke značilnosti Boča. Osredotočila sem se na najpogostejše kamnine, ki se pojavljajo na obravnavanem območju. Poleg apnenca in dolomita, ki prevladujeta na višjih vzpetinah ter na severnem in severozahodnem pobočju, so drugod v veliki meri zastopani še pesek, peščenjak, konglomerat in lapor. Pri geološki zgradbi so me zanimali predvsem dolomit in apnenci, predvsem njuna razširjenost in zakraselost. Veliko pozornost sem posvetila tudi rabi tal, predvsem kako na rabo tal vplivajo različni naravnogeografski dejavniki. Veliko podatkov sem dobila s pomočjo proučevanja na terenu in iz različnega kartografskega gradiva, obdelovala pa sem jih tudi s pomočjo GIS-ov. Proučila sem tudi mineralne in termalne izvire na območju krajevne skupnosti Kostrivnica. Izviri so bili pomembni v preteklosti in so pomembni še danes, saj iz nekaterih še vedno črpajo mineralno vodo, ki jo nato polnijo v polnilnici Kolinska. Močno je razvit tudi zdraviliški turizem. Ker je Boško hribovje že od nekdaj bogato z kamninami in lesom, sem v nalogi raziskala, kako so ljudje znali te surovine izkoristiti. Ugotovila sem, da zelo dobro, saj je v preteklosti po celotnem obravnavanem območju bilo razvito žganje apna, kamnoseštvo, glažutarstvo, na območju Kleč in Hrastovca pa tudi rudarstvo. O obstoju teh dejavnosti marsikje še vedno pričajo njihovi ostanki. Boško hribovje je nekaj posebnega tudi zaradi apnenčaste in dolomitne podlage. Ta je zaradi vode in v njej raztopljenega CO2 iz zraka in prsti, postala propustna. Zaradi tega Boč nima površinskih voda, ampak vsa voda ponikne v notranjost. Apnenec in voda sta v preteklosti ustvarila različne kraške oblike, ki sem jih poiskala na terenu in podrobneje preučila. Takšno območje, ki ni tipično za ta del Slovenije, imenujemo osameli kras ali kras v malem. Na koncu sem vse obravnavane kraške oblike in nekatere zanimivosti povezala v dve kraški učni poti, ki bosta potekali po celotnem Boškem hribovju. Obiskovalci bodo tako lahko kras in nekatere njegove oblike spoznavali na štajerskem koncu Slovenije.The theme of this Diploma theses is isolated karst on the Boč hills. The assignment took into account the geological and geomorphological characteristics of the Boč hills with special consideration given to the most common types of rock that occur in the studied area. Besides limestone and dolomite, which prevail on the higher peaks and on the northern and northwestern slopes, elsewhere sand, sandstone, conglomerate and marl are largely represented. In terms of geological structure I was interested mainly in dolomite and limestone rock types, particularly their prevalence and karstification. In the assignment I also focused on land use, especially on how various different natural geographical factors impact upon it. Lots of data was gathered with the help of field work and from various cartographical materials, which were processed in GIS systems. I studied mineral and thermal springs in the area of the local community of Kostrivnica. Those springs had an important role in the past and they still do today. Mineral water is still taken from some of them, which is then bottled in the Kolinska factory. Also, spa tourism is very well developed. The Boč hills have always been rich in rocks and wood, which is why I also carried out research on how well people knew how to use those raw materials. I discovered that in the past activities such as lime kilns, quarrying, glassworks and also mining in the area of Kleče and Hrastovec were developed, which means that the people of this area knew really well how to use what nature had to offer them. The existence of these activities in many places is still witnessed by the ruins left in certain areas. The region of the Boč hills is special because of its limestone and dolomite base, which became permeable due to water and the presence of dissolved CO2 from the air and soil. That is the reason why there is no surface water because all the water disappears into the interior. Limestone and water created various karst formations in the past, which I found on the field and studied more closely. Such areas, which are not typical for this part of Slovenia, are called isolated karst or karst in miniature. In the final part of the research, I connected karst formations and some attractions together in two Karst Educational Trails, which are spread throughout the Boč hills. Visitors will get the chance to learn about karst and some of its forms in the region of Štajerska