Evolution and dynamics of the salt karst in Zagros Mts., Iran: Denudation rates, age of karst forms, governing factors

Salt karst was intensively studied on Mt. Sedom (Israel) by Dr. Frumkin in 90's. Till this time, it is the only place with detailed study of salt karst all over the World. In the Zagros Mountains and Iranian coast of Persian Gulf, there are several tens of salt plugs with well-developed salt karst. These salt plugs show very various conditions (precipitation amount, position above the erosion base, thickness of the cap rock, development of exo and endokarst). Six expeditions performed to the area shown great potential for research of salt karst and fruitful cooperation with Shiraz University. Grant project is focused on evolution and development of the salt karst on selected plugs in Zagros Mts. There are two objectives: Describe and explain the influence of different factors on shape and evolution of exo- and endo-karst forms in salt karst and quantify the rate of speleogenesis in various conditions (erosion rate of salt outcrops and caprock, age of caves).