Geodiversity Analysis of the Binalood Mountains (Iran) in the Context of Geoheritage Conservation
Abstract
The identification, interpretation, and evaluation of geographical diversity elements are essential for organizing specific regions and the entire landscape, as well as coordinating effective conservation or management. This study focused on the geodiversity analysis of the Binalood mountain range, renowned as the roof of Khorasan with an area of 3798 km2. Quantitative assessment methods were employed to investigate the geoenvironmental diversity of this region. The study utilized the Geomorphodiversity Index (GMI) as a tool for geodiversity assessment. The results reveal a decrease in geodiversity values from valleys to peaks within the study area. The increase in geodiversity values is primarily influenced by geological factors (rock types and formations) and fluvial processes. By comparing the percentage of area obtained for each class (V1 to V5) using the GMI method in two specified domains, it is observed that geodiversity values are higher in the northern domain of the Binalood Mountains compared to the southern domain. The highest geodiversity values were associated with class V5, covering a larger area in the northern domain than the southern domain (12.5% of the recreational area of Akhlamed and Chalidare, located northeast of the northern slopes of Binaloud). Class V4 (49.35%) in the northern domain also allocated a higher percentage of area compared to the southern domain. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International Association for the Conservation of Geological Heritage 2025.