Engineering geological problems in loess regions of hungary

Abstract

Throughout Hungary periglacial conditions were widespread in the Pleistocene. As a result, one-third of the country is covered by loess and its subtypes. From an engineering geological point of view the major problems concerning these areas are the erosion and landslide bluffs and the collapsing of cellars dug in the loess. The length of cellar network in the studied settlements reaches 100 km. The engineering geological studies therefore were concentratedon these two major problems. From a geological viewpoint the territory of Hungary forms a part of the Carpathian basin surrounded by mountain ranges of the Alps, the Carpathians and the Dinarids. Geomorphologically, the area of the country (93,030 square km) is of basin character, dominated by plains (68.8 per cent), with only limited vertical dissection. As far as the superficial geological formations are concerned, the loose, clastic deposits of Quaternary age are dominant. Some 43.8 per cent of these are of fluvial origin (including lacustrine and pasudal) and 42.0 per cent are of aeolian origin.