Nekhodtsev V.A., Lukashov A.A.

 Morphostructural control of underground travertine formation in Moscow. Pp. 137–152.

UDC 551.435.88(470-25)

DOI 10.37724/RSU.2024.85.4.016

 

Abstract. Calthemites (secondary travertine deposits and forms similar to speleothems of karst caves) are usually formed on the inner walls of man-made underground structures in Moscow and other cities. In general, this is a normal process of concrete leaching, but we have found a number of abnormal cases. In such places density of calthemites vary from 5–6 per m2 to 30–40 cm of flowstone rind in 50–200 m long zones. We called these cases as anomalies of calthemites formation. The distribution and volume of these underground formations exceed possible leaching from concrete construction by 100–1 000 times. We spotted 58 zones of calthemites formation in Moscow city. These zones are located mostly in storm sewer within man-made buried valleys and ravines and occupy less than 1,5 % of its length. Anomalies of calthemites formation have sharp borders, which don’t depend on shape, inclination and construction material (bricks or concrete), relief and specific types of industrial waste from the surface. The article contains the map of revealed abnormal zones. Current investigation covers 1 000–1 200 km of underground constructions of all types with depth from 2–3 to 80–85 m evenly distributed throughout Moscow.

We matched all anomalies of calthemites formation with various geologic and geomorphologic characteristics. This article for the first time suggests explanation of mechanisms and spatial distribution of travertine formation within underground structures. All known abnormal cases of calthemites formation match with neotectonic geodynamically active zones and lineaments revealed by other authors. Abnormal travertine formation in Moscow underground infrastructure develops in conditions of CO2 degassing from deeper Jurassic clay and sand. This process takes against the backdrop of the deformation of near-surface Mesozoic and Cenozoic loose ground.

 

Keywords: geodynamically active zones, calthemites, karst, underground rivers, sub-relief, suffusion, travertines.

 

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