On the Duality of Marine Geoheritage: Evidence from the Abrau Area of the Russian Black Sea Coast

Dmitry A Ruban

doi:10.3390/jmse9090921

Abstract

Marine geoheritage is an important but still underdeveloped concept. Field investigations in the Abrau area (Krasnodar Region, southwestern Russia) and subsequent interpretations allow for the characterization of its geoheritage. Two geosites, namely Abrau and Limanchik, are delineated and assessed semi-qualitatively. Their high heritage value, complexity, and appropriate “technical” properties are appraised. The Abrau geosite features Abrau Lake with its enigmatic origin and the outcrops of deformed Upper Cretaceous carbonate flysch deposits. The Limanchik geosite represents an outstanding example of coastal abrasion, Paleocene siliciclastic flysch with trace fossils, and a coastal lagoon separated from the sea by a bar. The heritage aspects of the study areas are related to the development of the Late Cretaceous, Paleocene, and Pliocene seas, as well as to the active dynamics of the Black Sea coastal zone. The duality of marine geoheritage is linked to its relation to both ancient and modern marine environments.

Highlights

Duality of Marine Geoheritage: Investigations of geological and geomorphological heritage have become an important direction of research among international geosciences, with an accumulation of significant amounts of diverse knowledge [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]
The Limanchik geosite represents an outstanding example of coastal abrasion, Paleocene siliciclastic flysch with trace fossils, and a coastal lagoon separated from the sea by a bar
It is possible that the former valley of a small river was dammed by a giant landslide, which may have been triggered by seismic activity along a local fault system. This hypothesis is generally plausible, but one should note the presence of mountain ranges to the south of the lake, which surround the latter and are larger than any natural dam. This lake could be a remnant of the former Pliocene marine basin, which was separated by uplifted ranges

Summary

Introduction

Duality of Marine Geoheritage: Investigations of geological and geomorphological heritage (geoheritage) have become an important direction of research among international geosciences, with an accumulation of significant amounts of diverse knowledge [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]. Chiba et al [12], Peng et al [13], and Vescovo et al [14] paid attention to pollution, waste accumulation, and related conservation in the Mariana Trench, which seems to be a global geoheritage feature due to its outstanding depth. It appears that more evidence from various (terrestrial, coastal, and submarine) localities is necessary to further develop the concept of marine geoheritage

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