RELIEF OF QUARRIES OF DAVYDIV RIDGE (BASED ON VYNNYCHKY QUARRY)

Abstract

Davydiv ridge constitutes a distinct geomorphological natural region situated within the marginal zone of the Podillia Upland, which forms part of the northern ledge of Podillia. The Davydiv ridge is also considered the eastern segment of the Lviv Plateau. This region comprises 19 quarries, the majority of which are no longer operational. Predominantly, these quarries extract sand, with a smaller proportion dedicated to limestone and loam excavation. In terms of topography, the quarries of Davydiv ridge are primarily sloping (9), while watershed and sloping watershed quarries are less common. The longest quarry, Davydiv-2, extends approximately 750 meters, while the shortest, known as Honchari, spans 160 meters.

Quarry depths vary between 5 and 30 meters, with the most common range being 15 to 25 meters. A detailed examination of the relief features within the quarries of Davydiv ridge is illustrated using the Vynnychky sand quarry as a representative example. This particular quarry spans 570 meters in length and 420 meters in width, with a maximum depth of 30 meters. It exhibits a complex polygonal shape in a plan view, extending from north to south. The quarry is flanked by ledges to the north, west, and south, seamlessly transitioning into the natural terrain to the east. The geomorphological composition of the Vynnychky quarry encompasses denudational, denudational-accumulative, and accumulative relief elements and forms. Key components of the denudational relief include the overburden benches, operational mine walls, berms, anthropogenic buttes, and the mine floor. Operational mine walls range in height from 5 to 30 meters, while overburden benches reach heights of 7 to 10 meters. Berms are distributed locally across the northern and southern regions of the quarry and are genetically linked to the overburden benches. The mine floor is divided into two relatively distinct sections: northern and southern. Residual forms of natural relief, referred to as anthropogenic buttes, are located within the mine's floor. Denudational-accumulative relief encompasses denudational-accumulative slopes and surfaces in the northern portion of the quarry. Accumulative relief is further categorized into interior and exterior dumps. These dumps are classified by age: 1) up to 5 years; 2) 5-10 years; and 3) over 10 years. Interior dumps dominate the majority of the mine floor, exhibiting flat, hilly, and hilly-depression forms. Exterior dumps are situated beyond the quarry extraction area, featuring hilly and relatively flat formations of varying ages, as well as embankments.

           Key words: quarry; denudational relief; accumulative relief; Davydiv ridge.