Sedimentological and paleontological analysis of the Lower Jurassic part of the Zatrnik Formation on the Pokljuka plateau, Slovenia

The uppermost Ladinian to Lower Jurassic Zatrnik Formation is the lithostratigraphic unit of the Mesozoic deeper marine Bled Basin. The uppermost part of the Zatrnik Formation and the transition into the overlying Ribnica Breccia was logged at the Zajamniki mountain pasture on the Pokljuka mountain plateau in the Julian Alps. The lowermost part the section belongs to the “classical” Zatrnik Formation and is dominated by beige micritic limestone and fine-grained calcarenite. Foraminifers Siphovalvulina, ?Everticyclammina, ?Mesoendothyra and ?Pseudopfenderina are present, indicating Early Jurassic age. The beige limestone is followed by light pink limestone of the uppermost Zatrnik Formation. Slumps are common in this interval, and crinoids are abundant. Alongside some species already present in beds lower in the succession, Meandrovoluta asiagoensis Fugagnoli & Rettori, Trocholina sp., Valvulinidae, small Textulariidae, Lagenida, and small ?Ophthalmidium alsooccur in this interval. Resedimented limestone predominates through the studied part of the Zatrnik Formation, indicating deposition on the slope or at the foot of the slope of the basin. The switch to crinoid-rich facies within the slumped interval of the Zatrnik Formation may reflect accelerated subsidence of the margins of the Julian Carbonate Platform in the Pliensbachian. The Zatrnik Formation is followed by the formation of the Pliensbachian (?) Ribnica Breccia. Impregnations of ferromanganese oxides, violet colour, and an increase in clay content are characteristic. The foraminiferal assemblage consists of Lenticulina, small elongated Lagenida, and epistominids. Individual beds of the Ribnica Breccia were deposited via debris flows. Enrichments in ferromanganese oxides point to slower sedimentation.

Geophysical investigations in the Radovna River Spring area (Julian Alps, NW Slovenia)

The Radovna River Valley is located in the north-western part of Slovenia in the Julian Alps, where there is an extensive intergranular aquifer whose depth to pre-Quaternary bedrock is unknown. Therefore, to obtain information about the depth of the valley and the geometry of the aquifer two geophysical methods were used in our study; ground penetrating radar (GPR) and seismic reflection method. The low-frequency GPR method has shown to be useful for determining the depth of the groundwater and the predominant groundwater recharge. Also, the high-resolution seismic method provided an insight about the morphology of the pre-Quaternary basement with the deepest point at 141 meters below surface. Measurements of hydrogeological parameters such as groundwater level and river discharge measurements were carried out in the study area. Both data analyses showed that groundwater level and river discharge are highly fluctuating and rapidly changing, indicating a well-permeable aquifer, implying that such an aquifer is extremely sensitive and vulnerable to extreme climate events. Both the geophysical methods and the hydrogeological information have provided important information about the morphology of the valley and the alluvial aquifer, as well as increasing the knowledge about the Radovna springs system, which will contribute very important information for future hydrogeological studies.

Using stable isotopes and major ions to identify recharge characteristics of the Alpine groundwater-flow dominated Triglavska Bistrica River

Triglavska Bistrica is a typical Alpine river in the north-western part of Slovenia. Its recharge area includes some of the highest peaks in the Julian Alps. The hydrogeological conditions and flow of the river depend largely on groundwater exchange between the karstified aquifer in the carbonate rocks and the intergranular aquifer in the glaciofluvial deposits. The average volume of the river flow is up to several m3/s. In this study, water samples from different locations along the river were analysed for stable isotope ratios of oxygen and hydrogen, major ions, and concentration of tritium activity. The correlation of major ions suggests that the recharge area consists of both limestone and dolomite rocks. The δ18O and δ2H values decrease downstream, implying that the average recharge elevation increases. At the downstream sampling site V-5, located approx. 300 m upstream from the confluence of the Sava Dolinka River, the calculated mean recharge altitude is estimated to be 1,996 m.

Micro-displacement monitoring in caves at the Southern Alps–Dinarides–Southwestern Pannonian Basin junction

In situ micro-displacement monitoring in caves at the seismically active junction of the Southern Alps, Dinarides and Southwestern Pannonian Basin revealed active tectonic micro-deformations. The largest total vertical movement of 0.35 mm (2008–2018) occurred at Kostanjeviška Jama (Southwestern Pannonian Basin–Dinarides). Two abrupt displacements observed at that cave location correspond to pre- and post-seismic episodes in 2014 and 2015. At Pološka Jama (Southern Alps), more gradual and continuous displacement on a monitored bedding plane of 0.13 mm down-slip (2008–2018) was observed. This movement is attributed to slope relaxation as well as tectonic activity on the Julian Alps thrust fault and the seismogenic Ravne Fault, which generated earthquakes at Mw = 5.6 in 1998 and Mw = 5.2 in 2004. At Jama pri Svetih Treh Kraljih in Dinarides, activity on the Ravne Fault was shown as sinistral-horizontal (0.1 mm) and vertical (0.15 mm) movement along an E–W-oriented tectonic structure. This shallowly buried site also experienced cyclic seasonal displacements. At Županova Jama, multiple short-term horizontal dextral and sinistral strike-slip pulses (2016–2018) demonstrated active tectonic micro-deformations within the wider zone of the Dobrepolje and Želimlje faults. At Postojnska Jama, two episodes of vertical movement on a NW–SE-oriented fault are associated with earthquake swarms: the first episode was in 2010 (MLV = 3.7) and the second in 2014 (MLV = 4.3). In-cave flood events do not coincide with periods of micro-displacement activity in the studied caves, and therefore are not the drivers of the micro-displacement.

Vegetation analysis of the subalpine beech forest on the upper forest line in the Julian Alps (NW Slovenia and NW Italy) and in the northern Dinaric Alps

Using hierarchical clustering with unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) we arranged 603 phytosociological relevés of beech forests on the present upper forest line, mainly from the Julian Alps and the Trnovo Forest Plateau (we also included the relevés from the Karawanks and the Kamnik Alps), into 32 clusters. Based on their analysis and comparison with previously described similar (alti)montane-subalpine beech communities we classified most of the relevés into the association Polysticho lonchitis-Fagetum and its new subassociations ericetosum carneae, cardaminetosum trifoliae, luzuletosum niveae, luzuletosum luzuloidis, calamagrostietosum variae, allietosum victorialis, adoxetosum moschatellinae, stellarietosum nemorum and several new variants. The altitude of the studied stands is predominantly 1400 to 1550 m (the upper line is at 1660 m); they occur at all aspects, frequently on steep and very steep slopes, mainly on limestone and dolomite limestone, the predominant soil type is rendzina. These stands are species rich (on average 61 species per relevé, altogether more than 500 vascular plants) and have many species in common with the stands of associations Rhododendro hirsuti-Fagetum and Rhodothamno-Laricetum.

Grave goods from Sveta Lucija (Slovenia) in Groningen (the Netherlands). Contextualising old study collections

This paper discusses six tombs from Sveta Lucija (Slovenia) that were bought in 1923 from Prof. Rudolf Much (Vienna) by Prof. Albert Egges van Giffen (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen) for the collection of what is now the Groningen Institute of Archaeology. These tombs, excavated in 1890, form part of one of the largest Hallstatt cemeteries known archaeologically, consisting of thousands of tombs. Walking 40 km north from Sveta Lucija, one can reach the Triglav, at 2864 m the highest mountain of the Julian Alps. The site itself is located in a valley, in a strategic location at the confluence of two rivers emerging in these Alps. During the Iron Age, Sveta Lucija functioned as a transitional site between Italy, the Balkans and Austria. This frontier character is reflected in its entire history, starting in the 8th century BC, when it emerged as a settlement centre. The article provides a biography of old study collections since c. 1850 and discusses the role of some influential archaeologists in the history of the excavations at Sveta Lucija since the 1880s. The article then contextualizes the artefacts held at Groningen, concentrating on the 7th to early 5th century BC. The numerous excavations in the burial grounds and settlement for more than a century, make Sveta Lucija one of the more thoroughly investigated European Iron Age settlement centres with a couple of hundred inhabitants. Finally, the article introduces the still-enigmatic development of the site from an Iron Age centre to a Roman village, addressing the decline of its archaeological visibility during the intervening centuries and its correlation with Celtic groups.

New localities of Adiantum capillus-veneris and Moehringia villosa in the southern Julian Alps / Nova nahajališča vrst Adiantum capillus-veneris in Moehringia villosa v južnih Julijskih Alpah

The article describes new localities of two rare species of conservationimportance of Slovenian flora in the southern Julian Alps (the Tolmin-Bohinj and Krn Mts.). The stands of the Mediterranean species Adiantum capillus-venerisin Kneška Grapa gorge under Mt. Masovnik (Kneške Ravne) at elevations 570–600 m are assigned to the new variant Eucladio-Adiantetum hymenostylietosum recurvirostrivar. Astrantia carniolica. Moehringia villosa,an endemic species of European conservation importance, has its northwesternmost locality in its entire distribution range at Curk waterfall in the spring area of the Kozjak under Mt. Krnčica, where it occurs in the stands of the variant Campanulo carnicae-Moehringietum villosaevar. Paederota lutea. Key words: flora, vegetation, Adiantum capillus-veneris, Moehringia villosa, Natura 2000, Triglav National park, Slovenia Izvleček Opisujemo nova nahajališča dveh redkih in varstveno pomembnih vrst slovenske flore v južnih Julijskih Alpah (Tolminsko-Bohinjsko in Krnsko pogorje). Sestoje mediteranske vrste Adiantum capillus-venerisv Kneški grapi pod Masovnikom (Kneške Ravne) na nadmorski višini približno 570–600 m uvrščamo v novo varianto Eucladio-Adiantetum hymenostylietosum recurvirostrivar. Astrantia carniolica. Endemit in evropsko varstveno pomembna vrsta Moehringia villosaima pri slapu Curk v povirju Kozjaka pod Krnčico, kjer uspeva v sestojih variante Campanulo carnicae-Moehringietum villosaevar. Paederota luteado zdaj najbolj severozahodno nahajališče v celotnem območju razširjenosti. Ključne besede: flora, vegetacija, Adiantum capillus-veneris, Moehringia villosa, Natura 2000, Triglavski narodni park, Slovenija

Plant communities with Carex frigida in the Julian Alps (northwestern Slovenia)

In already known localities in the Julian Alps (Mangart, Malo Polje, Zeleno Jezero, Blehe under Šoštar) and in several new ones (Loška Koritnica, Bavh, Spodnji Lepoč, Mlinarica, Konjska planina, Mali Babanski Skedenj) we inventoried the stands along the subalpine-alpine springs and spring areas where Carex frigida frequently occurs as the predominant vascular plant. We classified them into the following associations: Saxifrago aizoidis-Caricetum ferrugineae, Caricetum davallianae s. lat., Ranunculo traunfellneri-Paederotetum luteae, Carici frigidae-Petasitetum albi (alliance Adenostylion alliariae) and Palustriello decipientis-Caricetum frigidae (alliance Cratoneurion). The latter two were described as new. Based on comparisons with similar communities along mountain springs we discussed the most appropriate classification of the latter into higher syntaxonomic units.