Lapiaz
The lapiaz (also called lapié or lapiez , word of origin the Jura his), is a geological formation of surface in the Roche S Calcaire S and dolomitic, created by the Ruissellement of the rainwater which dissolves the rock or by the Gélifraction.
This type of ground, shredded, with the cutting asperities when it is about hard limestone, is furrowed many drains, cracks and cracks of variable size, of which some can reach several meters. Other structures are distinguished: basins and arches.
The rock is also often perforated, giving to see on the surface the ic mechanisms Karst which chair elsewhere the digging of the Grotte S, Aven S, Scialet S and others natural Cavité S.
The furrows are of two types:
- drains, according to the line of the slope, rectilinear or sinuous,
- the cracks (or Leisine S), which are a deepening of the cracks and which cut out the rock in blocks.
Lapiés can be:
- put at naked by the glaciers, subaerial, generally formed by parallel and narrow drains with acute edges,
- covered by humus or a recent, and formed ground of furrows and edges blunted,
- discovered which are lapiés covered but without cover of ground.
The term lapiaz belongs now to the Jargon of sciences of the ground, such as Géologie, Karstologie, Spéléologie.
Sometimes in certain areas, the term of lapiaz replaces a word of the local language, such as for example the cairissa Languedoc ienne.
Derived: Lapiazé , lapiez , lapiés .
Similar formations are in many karstic areas Europe and other continents. Respective designation, although, can change. For example: (German and scientifically), (English), (Slovenien). See under the heading d'" others langues" in the first column of this page.