Geological mapping by geobotany and VLF: a case study

What is it about?

Geological mapping of an unexposed area was performed with the use of mushrooms as geobotanical indicators and the shallow-penetration electromagnetic VLF method in the Bükk Mountains, Hungary. Common species like Boletus edulis and Leccinum aurantiacum are correlated here with siliciclastic and magmatic formations while Calocybe gambosa is correlated with limestone. The extent and structure of an outcrop were explored with the VLF survey and a trial-and-error method was applied for the interpretation. This case study presented here demonstrates the effectiveness of the combination of these relatively simple and inexpensive methods.

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Why is it important?

In this case study non-geological observations and a cheap and fast geophysical method were successfully combined for mapping the outcrop of low grade metamorphic rocks on a forest covered landscape. The mapped structure controls the drainage of the area with a karst spring flowing out and swallowed back on the other side.