THE KARSTIC GEOMORPHOLOGY IN THE DOLOMITE OF DRINJAL FORMATION IN CENTRAL IRAN (CASE STUDY SADDAT SIRIZE IRON MINE)

Abstract

In the present work, we deal with the geomorphological features formed by karstification in the dolomite of the Drinjal Formation. The study area is located on the southeast wall of the Saddat Sirize iron mine, which is mostly covered by the sedimentary sequence of the Drinjal Formation. The geomorphological features have a direct effect on the slope stability, extraction of the orebody, etc., in a mining project. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of karst geomorphology on the mining project. For this purpose, fields methods were used to examine the dolomite of Drinjal formation. Dolomite in the study area has a variety of developed karstic geomorphological features such needle shape karrens, solution runnel karrens and cryclastic karrens, conical shape doline and Collapse dolines, Karstic cavity and Karst windows. karst geomorphology makes it highly susceptible to a variety of different geological hazards. These karstic geomorphologies can cause the instability of the Saddat Sirize iron mine wall.