Lithology and the distribution of rock glaciers: Niedere Tauern Range, Styria, Austria

This paper describes and discusses the relationship between bedrock lithology and the distribution of 332 rock glaciers at a regional scale in a 2440 km(2) study area in Styria, Austria, using geological maps at two different spatial scales (1:500,000 & 1:50,000). The relationship between the (a) source head-wall area and the size of rock glacier and the influence of lithology on (b) rock glacier existence, Q density, (d) aspect, (e) lower limit, (f) length and (g) area is assessed. Lithologies favourable for rock glacier genesis are statistically significantly differentiated from less favourable lithologies.