Vol. 53 No. 1 (248) (2019)

The article presents an analysis of studies conducted on the Voghjaberd landslide. For the first time, the authors gave a classification type of the Voghjaberd landslide was proposed suggested, the mechanism of landslide processes and the absence of one or several sliding surfaces and horizontal displacements was justified. It was noted that landslides in the study area are associated with subsidence of soils. The causal relationship between the presence of groundwater and subsidence of soils is given.

To solve the problems of catchment of groundwater at high elevations, it is practically important to know the course of the perennial change in various average monthly discharge of the springs. In general, changes in the discharge of springs of the investigated territory (especially volcanic areas) are subject to the law of vertical zonality. The proposed task allows to identify perspective areas for targeted field research. Among the field research method we recommend geophysical ones, which have been successfully used in the search for groundwater at high elevations in a number of volcanic areas.

To identify the directions of groundwater flows and the exact location of groundwater wells in the volcanic regions of the Republic of Armenia, on the example of territory of Aragats Massif, correlation links were found from geophysical field and well data. For this purpose, mathematical-statistical methods with non-uniform location (distribution) of field data of electrical probe points were used. The results contribute to the fixing the location of groundwater wells.

Geomorphological studies conducted on the territory of Vayk using special methods created in the GIS made it possible to identify numerous cryptostructures: linearfaults and ring structures (their fragments). This made it possible to understand the features of the localization of mineralization and to assess the prospects of the area for the detection of new significant ore objects.

In the article an example of forecasting of porphyry-copper mineralization of RA is discussed. Via the geological-geophysical (gravimetric) modeling, the forecasts for the specific mineralization in depth are given. A relationship between the scales of deposits and the values of the local anomalies of the gravitational field is also established.

Based on the actual baseline data analysis, we clarify the reasons for a sharp decline of discharge of freshwater springs’ discharge (around 7–8 times) within the Ararat Valley. The recorded discharge changes of the springs are mainly, due to the over-exploitation of the confined aquifers (especially the second confined aquifers). As a result, a sharp decline of the piezometric levels of aquifers occurred (up to 15 m and more), which directly affected the discharge of the springs, as they are in close hydraulic connection. In order to correct the existent unfavorable situation, legal, institutional and technical measures are necessary to undertake and implement.

In the article, taking into account the geofiltration scheme of the Ararat Valley, an analytical method has been used to predict the change of groundwater level in irrigated lands located outside the drainage zone. Calculations have shown that in areas beyond the influence of the drainage network, the rise of groundwater level during the growing season in the first quarter of the year reaches 2.5 m. In the conditions of the Ararat valley intensive evaporation of groundwater occurs, which leads to a deterioration of the ameliorative state of irrigated lands. Thus, in order to lower and maintain the groundwater table at a critical depth, the construction of a drainage system is a prerequisite.

In the article a special methodology of obtaining an objective aesthetic estimation was given. As well as an analysis of aesthetic territories attractiveness by highland landscape zone was done. As a result, the most attractive areas are widely spread in the low and middle mountain forest zones.

The conditions and causes of formation of exogenic processes that are wide spread in the basin of the Marmarik River are considered. The composition of weathering rocks, their filtration ability, considerable daily fluctuation in air temperature, high partition of mountain slopes, their gradient and shape, large altitudes of the relief and existence of vertical differentiation, nature of plant cover and erosion stability of soils, as well as a breach of nature by humans provoking the formation of dangerous exogenic processes are discussed.

Due to the diversity of natural complex and focal nature urbanization, rural areas of RA stand out with characteristic lines and have an essential role in the development of regions. In the article, based on the generalization of factual data the features of RA rural areas are presented, and actual problems of rural settlements as elements of rural areas are revealed.

In this article the tourism resources of vegetation for the Shirak, Lori and Tavush Regions have been studied and evaluated. Three key areas were identified in which researches were carried out. As the main tourist resource for the region is the forest, the article presents an assessment of the forest for tourism activities. Based on the results of the work, a large-scale vegetation map of the study area was compiled.