ESPACIALIZAÇÃO DE FEIÇÕES CÁRSTICAS DA FORMAÇÃO FURNAS: FERRAMENTA PARA GESTÃO DO TERRITÓRIO NO MUNICÍPIO DE PONTA GROSSA (PR)

Abstract

This dissertation seeks to understand the spatial distribution of major karst features in Furnas Formation sandstones (Silurian/Devonian) in the Ponta Grossa city (Paraná State). This geological unit, composed of quartz sandstone cemented mainly by kaolinite, is characterized here as a regional karst system composed of several features, such as caves, dolines, sinkholes, depressions in the terrain, kamenitza, alveolus, dissolution conduits, ruiniform reliefs, among others. In this study was investigated only the caves, furnas (collapse dolines) and depressions in the ground, because such elements of karst landscape in question directly influence the management of the territory, because occupation and land use in places of occurrence of these three relief features provide many geo-environmental risks, able to generate economic, environmental and social losses. The carstogenesis of the Furnas Formation karst system undergoes at least three moments of development, with the presence of mechanical removal processes and dissolution, mainly kaolinitic cement, being: 1) rock alteration in underground environment (phantomization, specifically the arenisation in the sandstone), formed from lithologic discontinuities (sedimentary and tectonic structures); 2) process of underground erosion in epiphreatic environment (oscillation zone of the groundwater level) and; 3) arenisation process and mechanical removal caused by the action of rainwater and river water. In total 227 karst features were studied, among them 41 caves (including 14 dolines) and 186 depressions in the terrain. There is a connection between these features because they are aligned, accompanying major structural lineaments, thus showing a peculiar spatial configuration, with intrinsic relationship between each element. With the overlap of the spatial data of caves, dolines and depressions in the terrain with the map of tectonic structures, was possible to see that there is no exclusive relationship with the occurrence of karst features of the Furnas Formation with the Depression of Vila Velha, showing that the karst occurs in sandstones, even in areas where the basement is not carbonate rocks. The map of land use showed that over fifty percent of the landscape in question presents agriculture use and pastoral use, as there is also a large portion of reforestation with exotic. The urban area has a tendency to expand on the karst system and part of the industrial zone is located the rocks of the Furnas Formation. Finally, the present work obtained a map of Environmental Karstic Zoning (EKZ), which presents six specific areas in this landscape, highlighting which are the restrictions of land use in each area.