The Sukil River valley: a natural geological laboratory (case studies from the Ukrainian Carpathians)

Abstract

In this paper we present a brief geological description and interesting objects of the Sukil River Valley, located in the Ivano-Frankivsk region in the western part of Ukraine. Here, in a small area, different types of rocks are exposed. The area is rich in various structural objects, e.g. joints, small faults, different types of folds, duplexes, clastic dykes. Two outcrops of folds in the Cretaceous deposits in the village of Bukivets are unique geosites. Also in the city of Bolekhiv are the ruins of a salt factory. We describe the types of research conducted in this natural laboratory. Most research concerns structural geology. Geological phenomena are studied using both classical approaches and the latest technologies. Electronic compasses were widely used in the study of mesostructures. For the first time, balanced geological sections were built for the territory of the Ukrainian Carpathians both for outcrops and for the entire Sukil River Valley. Ground-based laser scanning was used for detailed mapping of folds from Bukivets. Subsequently, the exposure began to be studied by photogrammetric method with UAV. The result is the construction of virtual geological outcrops, which are widely used in the educational process. The urgency of creating virtual tours became apparent during the covid pandemic. Also, these models were used to create the geotourism route of the Geo-Carpathians. These models are used in the educational process of the Structural Geology of the Carpathians, in the geological training of students in Earth Sciences, in excursions for different types of Ukrainian and international conferences, for high school students, and anyone interested in Geology. Also, they were used to create the geotourism route of the Geo-Carpathians.