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Hydrogeology and geomorphology of Bisetun Aquifer (NW Iran): interesting example of deep endokarst

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Abstract

Bisetun Aquifer hosts of a noteworthy example of deep endokarst system in the world which is largely unknown to the scientific community. Several caves with up to 1316.6 m depth and the world's second deepest shaft were discovered in this aquifer during recent years. This research tries to give a scientific explanation from geology, hydrogeology, geomorphology, and hydrochemistry to the questions about formation of this endokarst system. The aquifer is composed of about 3000 m thick Bisetun Limestone with more than 80% carbonate minerals. Existing of massive pure limestone together with the local cold weather and high precipitation at the area enhance karst development, but it seems that formation of deep endokarst in the aquifer is mainly related to the tectonic features. The Bisetun Limestone has experienced about 50–70 km displacement during Eocene, providing suitable structural conditions and near 2000 m relief for deep water circulation. All the caves and shafts are epigenic since they were formed by autogenic water movement from the high-elevation recharge zone toward the springs in nearby valleys. Caves and shafts morphology together with the analysis of structural features indicates that passage development was directed along the W–E-oriented successive thrust faults, subsequently dissected by the NE–SW- and NW–SE-oriented traversing faults. Water chemistry and high recession coefficients of spring's hydrographs show fast groundwater movement via karst conduits, mainly developed along the faults and fractures. Considering hydrogeological setting, it seems possible that even deeper endokarst features would be waiting to be explored at the aquifer.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully appreciate the sincere cooperation of the Surena Caving Team from Iran, La Venta Association from Italy, MSFI, and Kermanshah Regional Water Authority for providing useful data. The authors need to express their appreciation of the great review made by Prof. Paul Williams from University of Auckland. The authors would like to express their sincere thanks and gratitude to Mr. Alessio Romeo, Mr. Ghasem Ghaderi and Mr. Mohammad Kiani for permission to use their photographs taken at the study area. The authors also would like to thank University of Tehran and Shahrood University for providing the facilities and the leave time to work on this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Geology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    Morteza Mozafari

  2. Iran Ministry of Energy, Tehran, Iran

    Maryam Sajjadian

  3. Surena Caving Team, Kermanshah, Iran

    Youssef Sorninia

  4. Faculty of Earth Sciences, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran

    Rahim Bagheri

  5. Department of Applied Geoscience, Hydrogeology Research Group, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Fatemeh Ghader

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  1. Morteza Mozafari
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Correspondence to Morteza Mozafari.

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Mozafari, M., Sajjadian, M., Sorninia, Y. et al. Hydrogeology and geomorphology of Bisetun Aquifer (NW Iran): interesting example of deep endokarst. Carbonates Evaporites 35, 115 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-020-00636-y

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