چكيده لاتين :
1. Introduction
Today, tourism is considered as an important economic activity across the world.
Among various types of tourism, geotourism and geopark are newly growing
branches which are related to geological activities (Hose, 2008; Alexandrowicz,
2006; Gordon, 2012). In geotourism, geological heritage are protected and operated
within a range surrounded by specific borders called geoparks; it is accompanied
by education, development, and economic growth of local communities
(Amrikazemi et al., 2017). As a branch of tourism, geotourism is studied by
examining and identifying the locations as well as protecting geological heritage
(Amrikazemi, 2012). This type of tourism has the most significant connection to
humans’ everyday activities; mines have also been closely connected to the
changes and developments of human life since past to present. These places can be
introduced in the form of geotourism within mining-centered geoparks.
Accordingly, Tabas geopark is introduced as a mining-centered geopark and its
potentials are assessed.
2. Review of Literature
In geoscience and its different subjects related to tourism (particularly geotourism),
it appears essential to gain a thorough understanding of its developments and
evolution during various points of time. The identification of each would guide
humans towards a better recognition of different earth-related processes. One of
such instances is the present study which can be referred to in tourism studies and
planning, particularly in mine geotourism. There has been a number of different
researchers studying geotourismpotentials and the geopark at this region (Nazemi,
2009; Orouji, 2012; Abdi et al., 2013; Yahya Sheibani & Zamaniyan, 2014;
Salmani et al., 2015; Nazemi & Maghzinajafabadi, 2010; Sheibani & Zamaniyan,
2016; Sheibani et al., 2016; Yahya Sheibani, 2017; Yahya Sheibani et al., 2018).
The geological background of this region demonstrates a number of valuable and
rare potentials, the likes of which have scarcely been found across Iran;
subsequently, there has been very few studies conducted in the area of tourism and
the importance of mines at this region through a technical perspective. The results
of the study showed the existence of an extensive variety of mining attractions alongside other geological and natural potentials as well as historical-cultural
attractions.
3. Method
To identify the mines and mineral geosites in this study, many trips have taken
place during a few years. In addition to mineral potentials at each mine, special
attentions has been paid to their surrounding attractions such as rural areas and
historical-cultural, natural and geological attractions. Two types of mines including
active and old, abandoned mines were taken into account. Moreover, the
assessment indices laid out by Fassoulas, Mouriki, Dimitriou-Nikolakis, and
Iliopoulos (2012) were used to carry out quantitative examinations and assessments
on mineral geosites.
4. Results and Discussion
Given the large area of Tabas County, its diverse types of rocks from various
geological periods, and a broad spectrum of diverse minerals, Tabas can be
considered as a collection of minerals. The most significant active mines in this
region include Parvadeh fully-mechanized and open-air Mazino coal mines,
Kamarmahdi Fluorite, Kalmard incombustible soil and bauxite, construction
stones, and Chirouk foundry sand; the most important abandoned mines in Tabas
includes Ozabkuh and Chah Sorb led and zinc mines and Gazou copper. Seventy
six percent of the total coal supplies in Iran are located in Tabas; as a result, the
county is known as the coal industry capital of Iran. Kamarmahdi fluorite mine is
considered as one of the largest fluorite mines in both Iran and the Middle-East, in
which fluorite veins have appeared with a variety of colors (green, yellow, purple,
amethystine, and white). Kalmard incombustible soil and bauxite mines along with
the geological position of Precambrian, Paleozoic, and Mesozoic formations with
beautiful appearances and stunning wrinkles as well as Kalmard and Robat-e-Khan
Inns and deserts occupy a valuable position in Western Tabas. Furthermore,
marbles and travertine with diverse colors are among the most important mines for
construction stones. Chirouk foundry sand mine is one of the largest, most valuable
mines in Iran given its production of natural, spherical foundry sands. In addition,
Ozabkuh and Chah Sorb led and zinc mines at the north of Tabas, and Gazou
copper mine at the south-east of the county are valuable instances of old abandoned
mines which are capable of attracting any visitor to their unique attractions.
The method proposed by Fassoulas et al. (2012) was used to assess mineral
geosites. According to the results obtained from the evaluation of 9 mineral
geosites, the highest scores related to educational indices respectively belonged to
Parvadeh coal mines, Ozabkuh led and zinc mines, and Kamarmahdi Fluorite mine.
Moreover, Ozabkuh and Chah Sorb led and zinc mines and Chirouk foundry sand
mine obtained the highest scores in tourism value index. Finally, the highest scores
on protection necessity belonged to Parvadeh coal mines, Kamarmahdi Fluorite
mine, and Chirouk foundry sand mine; there should be more attention paid to these
sites in terms of protection necessities. 5. Conclusion
There are a number of highly diverse geological, cultural-historical, natural, and
mineral attractions in Tabas County. This city has numerous known and unknown
mineral potentials, to the extent to which it occupies a special position among
Iranian cities in terms of diverse mineral capabilities in high quality and quantity;
the county is also known as the coal capital and one of the most important mineral
centers of Iran. The most significant mining geotourism locations include active
mines such as Parvadeh coal mine, the open-air Mazino coal mines, Kamarmahdi
Fluorite, Kalmard incombustible soil and bauxite, construction stones, and Chirouk
foundry sand mine. Furthermore, the old abandoned mines include Ozabkuh and
Chah Sorb led and zinc mines and Gazou copper. As a useful instrument, the
quantitative assessment method in this study can be employed for sustainable
management and protection of geological heritage. In this method, the highest
scores on educational indices respectively belonged to Parvadeh coal mine (21.1),
Ozabkuh led and zinc mines (20.1), and Kamarmahdi Fluorite (19.3). In tourism
indices, the highest scores respectively belonged to Ozabkuh and Chah Sorb led
and zinc mines (16.9), Chirouk foundry sand mine (15.3), and Kamarmahdi
Fluorite (14.8). Moreover, Parvadeh coal mine (16.33), Chirouk foundry sand mine
(15.66), and Kamarmahdi Fluorite (15.33) obtained the highest scores in protection
necessity. In addition, all mines are at a suitable conditions in terms of aesthetic
aspects and landscape. However, for a more comprehensive plan, using other
assessment methods appear to be of necessity by experts in different areas. One of
the significant results of this applied study involves the introduction of
Tabasgeopark mineral geosites in line with the preservation of geological and
mineral heritage of this region in Iran; the findings can be useful in achieving
future purposes at this region.
