Commune: Liszki (pow. krakowski, woj. małopolskie)
Framework element or context represented:
Landscape of the rocky valley slope in the Polish Jura Chain.
Primary geological/geomorphological interest:
Rocky relief of valley slope controled by gravitational processes.
Comparative assessment justification:
The rocky scenery is the best example of relief generated by gravitational processes on the slope in the Polish Jura Chain.
Protection status and accessibility:
The geosite is proposed since 1991 as the nature reserve in Tenczyn Landscape Park. It is accessible by tourist educational trail.
Character of site: Limestone tors.
Area: 2.22 ha
Altitude: 290-335 m a.s.l.
Lithology: limestones
Discipline: Geomorphology, Palaeoenvironment, Stratigraphy of Phanerozoic
Process Age: Holocene, *all periods
Bedrock Age: Jurassic, *all periods
Description of primary interest:
Protected area spreads along the right slope of the valley Zimny Dół (Cold Hole) from the bottom up to the upper edge. The occurance of two types of Upper Jurassic limestones generated the differentiated relief. Massive limestones as more resistant form tors with overhangs while within pseudonodular limestones hollows and rocky shelters originated. Main range of rocky forms is situated in the uppermost part of the slope. In the middle part groups of tors are separated by very characteristic passes and corridors 0,3 - 4 m in width and up to 20 m long. This rocky labyrinth is developed along orthogonal system of joint. Enlarged fissures run parallel and perpendiculary to the slope and follow mass movements of limestones and block of different size occur in the lower part of the slope. Highest rocky walls and tors concentrate in the eastern part of the nature reserve reaching up to 12 m. They are well shaped and have niches with flat bottom up to 5 m deep. Rocky forms are irregularly distributed within the steep slope. Only a few of them occur in situ along their upper edge. Below them numerous groups of tors bent a little and slide slightly down the hill. They are situated in the upper and middle part of the slope forming scenery typical of the karst relief. In the lowermost part tors and blocks of limestones are translocated or even rotated. Many detached greater and smaller rocky fragments occur around. The upland surrounding the valley is nearly flat covered by loess. Deep sinkholes of different size penetrate loess and attain the karstified surface of Jurassic limestones.
Literature:
DZUŁYŃSKI S. 1952–The origin of the Upper Jurassic limestones in the Cracow Area (English sum.). Rocznik Pol. Tow. Geol. 21, 2: 125-180. GRADZIŃSKI R. 1962–Origin and development of subterranean karst in the Southern part of the Cracow Upland (English sum). Rocznik Pol. Tow. Geol. 32, 4: 429-492. GRADZIŃSKI R., MUSIELEWICZ-JASIŃSKA Z. 1992–Rezerwat przyrody nieożywionej "Zimny Dół" (Polish only). Chrońmy Przyr. Ojcz. 48, 5: 78-83. MATYSZKIEWICZ J. 1994–Remarks on the deposition and diagenesis of pseudonodular limestones in the Cracow area (Oxfordian, southern Poland). Berliner Geowiss. Abh. E13, B.Krebs-Fertschrift: 419-439.