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The objective of this study was to analyse the characteristics of highly cited papers (HCPs) in the research field of geosciences based on the Essential Science Indicators database, which is widely used to evaluate institutions and researchers. Multi-aspects, including country/region's productivity distribution, organizations, authors, detailed categories and hot topics, journals and implications of collaboration networks have been explored in this study. The main findings are: (1) USA ranks first in geosciences research with over 60% global share, with most of the leading organizations (12 out of 15) also from that country. (2) The percentage of international collaborations is high in this research field; the collaboration shows tangled networks among countries/regions (organizations) and also indicates close connections worldwide. (3) Despite the dominance of USA in productivity, only 5 of the top 15 authors are from that country, and relatively tight collaboration networks are found among the top authors. (4) The current high-level researches in geosciences focus on meteorology, geochemistry, geophysics, remote sensing and oceanography, and topics involving climate change draw most of the attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract To evaluate the effect of brown-rot fungi Oligoporus placenta and earthworm Eisenia fetida on decomposition of paper mill sludge, the paper mill sludge was mixed with cow dung in 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% proportions and changes in physicochemical quality of waste mixtures was carried out for 28 days. All waste mixtures were treated with: Setup-I (E. fetida), Setup-II (O. placenta) and, Setup-III (E. fetida + O. placenta). A decrease in total organic carbon, C/N ratio and cellulose but an increase in total kjeldhal nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium and pH was recorded. The paper mill sludge in 50–75% proportion in feedstock showed the better results and rate of mineralisation were in order: Setup-III > Setup-I > Setup-II. The proportion of CD has direct role in waste mineralisation. The microbial population (bacterial, fungal and actinomycetes) and earthworm biomass were also high in Setup-III, suggesting the influence of brown-rot fungi on paper mill sludge humification. Results indicate that fungal inoculate in vermicomposting was effective in decomposing cellulose-rich industrial sludge. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • The decomposition of PPMS in vermicomposting and vermibed added with brown-rot fungi is assessed. • The combination of E. fetida and O. placeta caused more humification in PPMS. • The PPMS in 50–75% proportion with CD showed higher nutrient mineralisation. • The earthworm growth and microbial population in waste mixtures also influenced by the treatment type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I thank the discussors for their critique of the above paper. In geology there are rarely any absolute models but working hypotheses, which will be modified with new data. The paper under discussion, Charrach (Carbonates Evaporites 33:727–766, 2018a), presents a very new large data set, which is multi-disciplinary and integrated the most recent research. The critique by Möller et al. (Carbonates Evaporites 10.1007/s13146-019-00486-3, 2019) and their paper of 2018 (Int J Earth Sci 107:2409–2431, 2018), presents a computer simulation, which must be validated with field evidence and recent research in the area, and not based on assumptions, which have turned into facts over time. The discussors may be unfamiliar with the geological research that has been published over the last 20 years in the areas under consideration. Furthermore, the research on marine–non-marine evaporite formations is hardly considered in their discussion, yet much has been published. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Earth and life sciences are replete with portmanteau (blended) words and neologisms. Researchers at the interfaces between the traditional disciplines within the Earth and life sciences have coined dual titles for 'new' disciplines, such as geobiology/biogeology and ecohydrology/hydroecology. An upsurge in such coinage over the last few decades reflects a healthy willingness of many researchers to cross traditional disciplinary boundaries and to include the human sphere within their domains. However, some of the titles cause confusion because their meanings are not self-evident; rather, they sometimes demand extra research to reveal their meanings, thus rendering science less 'open' at a time when Open Science is being vigorously encouraged. After discussing the question of disciplinary neologisms, the paper probes the interchangeability of 15 dual 'new' discipline titles and concludes that six are more-or-less synonymous, three are nonsynonymous, and six are indeterminate for varying reasons. We question the usefulness of some, but by no means all, disciplinary neologisms, given that their meanings are not immediately apparent. Looking beyond portmanteau titles and other neologisms, the paper discusses the rise of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, as seen in the concepts of the Critical Zone, multifunctional landscapes, and Earth System Science, the last of which supports a conceptual model of the planet as an interdependent set of spheres from global to local scales that has the advantages of combining the biotic, abiotic, and human spheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research paper, we suggest a novel analytical method to obtain the approximate solutions of linear and nonlinear differential equations of arbitrary order. The proposed technique is a good combination of Kharrat–Toma transform and q-homotopy analysis method. Additionally, we also find out the solution of Cauchy reaction–diffusion equation associated with regularized version of Hilfer–Prabhakar fractional derivative. The Cauchy reaction–diffusion equation is broadly used to describe the dynamical processes in physics, geology, biology, ecology, etc. Some characteristic properties of the considered model and existence as well as the uniqueness of the solutions are also discussed. The outcomes of the considered model are exhibited graphically to show the accuracy and efficiency of the suggested method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa (MISE) is an infrared compositional instrument that will fly on NASA's Europa Clipper mission to the Jupiter system. MISE is designed to meet the Level-1 science requirements related to the mission's composition science objective to "understand the habitability of Europa's ocean through composition and chemistry" and to contribute to the geology science and ice shell and ocean objectives, thereby helping Europa Clipper achieve its mission goal to "explore Europa to investigate its habitability." MISE has a mass of 65 kg and uses an energy per flyby of 75.2 W-h. MISE will detect illumination from 0.8 to 5 μm with 10 nm spectral resolution, a spatial sampling of 25 m per pixel at 100 km altitude, and 300 cross-track pixels, enabling discrimination among the two principal states of water ice on Europa, identification of the main non-ice components of interest: salts, acids, and organics, and detection of trace materials as well as some thermal signatures. Furthermore, the spatial resolution and global coverage that MISE will achieve will be complemented by the higher spectral resolution of some Earth-based assets. MISE, combined with observations collected by the rest of the Europa Clipper payload, will enable significant advances in our understanding of how the large-scale structure of Europa's surface is shaped by geological processes and inform our understanding of the surface at microscale. This paper describes the planned MISE science investigations, instrument design, concept of operations, and data products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydraulic dissolution, driven by carbon dioxide-rich precipitation and runoff, leads to the gradual breakdown and removal of soluble rock materials, creating unique surface and subsurface features. Dissolution is a complex process that is related to numerous factors, and the complete simulation of its process is a challenging problem. On the basis of deep investigation of the theories of geology and rock geomorphology, this paper puts forward a method for simulating the dissolution phenomenon on a rock surface. Around the movement of water, this method carries out dissolution calculations, including processes such as droplet dissolution, water flow, dissolution, deposition, and evaporation. It also considers the lateral dissolution effect of centrifugal force when water flows through bends, achieving a comprehensive simulation of the dissolution process. This method can realistically simulate various typical karst landforms such as karst pits, karst ditches, and stone forests, with interactive simulation efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

U–Pb dating of detrital zircon is widely used in geology to identify the source of sediments and constrain palaeogeography and tectonic history. We collected the detrital zircon from the Paleoproterozoic to early Palaeozoic strata to understand the North China Craton's geological chronological characteristics. After screening and sorting out data information, we managed and analysed 84 papers from 2006 to 2022. Three hundred seventy‐nine samples comprising 29,431 pieces of U–Pb ages of detrital zircons gathered from the Proterozoic to Ordovician sedimentary rocks in North China Craton (NCC). Detrital zircons within five areas in the NCC, i. e., Xuhuai Basin, Zhaertai‐Bayan Obo‐Huade Basin, Yanliao Basin, Xiong'er Basin and Alxa Block, are discussed in detail. Meanwhile, we collected 2,588 pieces of Lu‐Hf detrital zircon data in the study. This Database can be helpful in understanding and explaining the tectonic evolution of the NCC from the Paleoproterozoic to the Early Palaeozoic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the geology of the unique Mansurovo tetrapod and trace fossil locality in the Orenburg Region of Russia (Gostevskaya Formation, Lower Olenekian Substage, Ustmylian Horizon). Sections of 16 trenches are described bed-by-bed and correlated throughout. Based on fossils (Wetlugasaurus malachovi grouping of the Wetlugasaurus Fauna) and lithology, the Mansurovo section correlates with the middle part of the stratotype section of the Gostevskaya Formation (Buzuluk Depression of the East European Platform). The site geology suggests that the four recognized geological members of the section were formed in a varying channel-floodplain environment during alternating depositional cycles. The depositional settings were reconstructed based on rock structure and texture and microlithological examination of thin sections. The tetrapod faunal assemblages, macrofloral remains and unique trace fossil assemblages are also studied. Based on the lithology and facies analysis, the depositional environment is reconstructed for the locality, showing the irregular riverine depositional pattern due to the wandering of river channels and their periodic drying out in a hot and semi-arid climate during the Early Olenekian. Taphonomy of fossil occurrences suggests that the burial took place in a riverine depositional environment affected by strong currents, and that the Temnospondyli probably died in subaquatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents newly obtained and summarizes preexisting data of long-term geochronological and isotope studies of orogenic mesothermal gold deposits in the world's largest Lena metallogenic province and reviews interpretations of their genesis. Geochronologic data indicate that the gold mineralization was formed during three ore-forming Paleozoic events. The early Late Ordovician–Early Silurian (450–430 Ma) event produced the abundant veinlet—disseminated gold–sulfide mineralization in Neoproterozoic carbonaceous terrigenous–carbonate rocks of the Baikal–Patom foldbelt (BPB). The mineralization was formed simultaneously with regional metamorphic processes. The rejuvenation of hydrothermal activity in the BPB resulted in gold-bearing quartz veins, which was produced in the Middle Carboniferous (340–330 Ma) in relation to postcollisional granitoid magmatism. The latest ore-forming event occurred in the Early Permian (290–280 Ma) and affected exclusively in Precambrian structures of the Baikal-Muya foldbelt (BMB). It was synchronous with the development of intraplate alkaline and subalkaline magmatism in the region. Newly obtained and preexisting isotopic-geochemical (87Sr/86Sr, 143Nd/144Nd, Pb–Pb, and δ34S) data indicate that the mesothermal ore-forming systems of northern Transbaikalia were heterogeneous in their isotopic characteristics, which distinguishes them from the ore–magmatic (intrusion-related type) systems. Comparison of the Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopic composition of the ores and rocks, including magmatic rocks coeval with the gold mineralization, indicates that the Precambrian continental crust was the dominant source of mineral-forming components for the hydrothermal systems of the gold deposits. The contribution of the magmatic source to the genesis of the orogenic gold mineralization was limited and is identifiable only for the Early Permian ore-forming systems of the BMB, for which the input of metals from alkaline mafic melts was suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The First International Symposium on Marine Engineering Geology (ISMEG2016) was held in Qingdao, China, 21-24 October 2016. The symposium was sponsored by the Marine Engineering Geology Commission, International Association for Engineering Geology and Environment (IAEG-C34) and hosted by the Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Geological Engineering at Ocean University of China. Over 200 researchers worldwide participated in the symposium, which included 13 plenary reports, 17 keynote reports, and more than 40 oral presentations and posters. All papers appearing in this thematic issue of Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment are original scientific papers that have been internationally reviewed, focusing on the marine geohazards, engineering characteristics of marine soil, coastal and ocean engineering, and wave-soil interactions encountered in the latest practice of marine engineering geology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kaolin-group minerals occur in nature as the result of high-sulfidation acid sulfate, sulfur-poor HCl-, HF- and H2CO3-rich acidic fluid-related hydrothermal alterations and in situ geochemical weathering. These minerals possess different crystallographic and chemical properties that determine their application areas, mainly in the ceramic and paper industries, and as nanocomposite materials. The physicochemical properties of hydrothermal kaolin deposits are the result of the type of parent rock, the effect of the regional tectonism-associated magmatism, and the chemical features of hydrothermal fluids that interact with the deep basement rocks. However, understanding these geothermal systems is one of the most challenging issues due to the rich mineralogical assemblages, complex geochemistry and isotopic data of hydrothermal alteration zones. This study evaluates the formation of hydrothermal-origin kaolin-group minerals by considering their characteristics of hydrothermal alteration, isotopic compositions and differences in characteristic properties of low- and high-sulfidation occurrences; this paper also addresses mineralogical and structural differences between hypogene and supergene kaolin formations, and kaolin–alunite–pyrophyllite association, and it provides examples of worldwide occurrences. The study of the mineralogical assemblages, geochemistry and isotopic data of the hydrothermal alteration zones is one of the most challenging subjects in terms of gaining a detailed understanding of the geothermal systems. Silicification processes are subsequent to late-stage alteration after the completion of kaolinization processes, erasing existing hydrothermal mineralogical and geochemical traces and making interpretation difficult. In the early stages involving magmatic–hydrothermal-origin acidic geothermal fluids, the latter comes from the disproportionation of SO2 (+H2O) and H2S oxidation to H2SO4 in hydrothermal environments. In the later stages, due to spatial and temporal changes over time in the chemistry of geothermal fluids, the system comes to have a more alkali–chloride composition, with neutral pH waters frequently saturated with amorphous silica which characteristically precipitate as siliceous sinter deposits containing large amounts of opal-A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Launched in December 2022 onboard the Hakuto-R lunar lander, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) Emirates Lunar Mission (ELM) Rashid-1 rover experienced an unsuccessful landing on the lunar surface on April 25th, 2023. The mission's prime landing site was Atlas crater, a 87 km diameter floor-fractured crater emplaced within the lunar highlands in the northeastern quadrant of the Moon. This paper describes the landing site selection procedure for the ELM Rashid-1 rover, from technical requirements that led to the selection of four broad areas of interest, to the placement of candidate landing ellipses based primarily on slope analysis and science interest. The rock abundance and presence of boulders were analyzed to verify the suitability of the target location for landing. Geological context as well as high resolution imagery and topography are presented for the four selected landing sites: Atlas crater (prime), Sinus Iridum, Oceanus Procellarum, and Lacus Somniorum (back-ups). Terrain characteristics and key science questions to be addressed at these locations are discussed, emphasizing the high scientific value of these locations for future lunar missions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cirques are often the most representative and numerous landforms in alpine glaciated watersheds. The readily mappable and measurable nature of cirques (especially aspects and floor elevations) may yield information about the climatic, geologic, and topographic conditions that created them. These ubiquitous landforms are the foci of an alpine glacial geomorphology exercise in an intermediate-level, university geomorphology course. The exercise involves a step-by-step approach using topographic maps and remotely sensed imagery to identify and map cirques, measure cirque aspects and floor elevations, and plot and analyze the resulting data. Students interpret their mapping and analysis results in the context of published literature, ultimately incorporating all into a research paper. Student comments and self-evaluations over time show that the exercise is an effective tool for learning glacial geomorphology, topographic map, and remotely sensed image analysis, data analysis, and report writing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we leverage multimodal data to classify minerals using a multi-stream neural network. In a previous study on the Tinto dataset, which consisted of a 3D hyperspectral point cloud from the open-pit mine Corta Atalaya in Spain, we successfully identified mineral classes by employing various deep learning models. However, this prior work solely relied on hyperspectral data as input for the deep learning models. In this study, we aim to enhance accuracy by incorporating multimodal data, which includes hyperspectral images, RGB images, and a 3D point cloud. To achieve this, we have adopted a graph-based neural network, known for its efficiency in aggregating local information, based on our past observations where it consistently performed well across different hyperspectral sensors. Subsequently, we constructed a multi-stream neural network tailored to handle multimodality. Additionally, we employed a channel attention module on the hyperspectral stream to fully exploit the spectral information within the hyperspectral data. Through the integration of multimodal data and a multi-stream neural network, we achieved a notable improvement in mineral classification accuracy: 19.2%, 4.4%, and 5.6% on the LWIR, SWIR, and VNIR datasets, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to report on fatal landslides resulting from two extraordinary storm events in January and February 2023, in Auckland, New Zealand, including the characteristics of the terrain, the site geology, and the storms. The January 27 Auckland Anniversary storm was from an "atmospheric river," dumping Summer's worth of rain (265 mm) in one day. This was the highest 24-h total on record, estimated a 1 in 200-year event, with a peak 2-min rainfall of 4.2 mm, coinciding with Friday's evening "rush hour." This led to widespread landsliding throughout Auckland, including a fatal landslide in Parnell, central Auckland. Notably, this occurred only meters from a similarly destructive landslide in 1997. With January 2023 Auckland's wettest January on record, and with the region still in a state of emergency, Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle crossed the region on February 13–14. This also caused widespread landsliding, including a fatal landslide at Muriwai on the west Auckland coast. Fatal landslides from the same escarpment had occurred in 1965, close to the February 13, 2023, fatal landslide. Taken together, both storm events caused > 140,000 landslides across the North Island, and flooding, making hundreds of people homeless, with damage estimates of > US$8.6 billion (3.4% of NZ's GDP). For future disaster risk reduction, attention should be paid to revising legislation and local planning, which currently allows people to legally build (and re-build) houses in landslide-prone areas of New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Elat/Timna area in Southern Israel provides an unparalleled opportunity for geological field studies due to its unique geology, spanning from the Neoproterozoic to the Holocene. The well-exposed rocks document the variability and evolution of three major processes: the creation of the Arabian-Nubian Shield during the Neoproterozoic, the accumulation of the Cambrian to Eocene sedimentary sequence, and the Miocene to Recent evolution of the Dead Sea Transform, an active plate boundary. The area's geological diversity and extensive documentation of its geology have made it a particularly important study site for geoscience students. Recently the Geological Survey of Israel published new 1:50,000 scale geological maps of the area, updated by additional fieldwork and presented in a series of reports. This paper presents a brief geological overview and a description of six key locations, complete with maps and photos that are a showcase document to the area's geological uniqueness as an excellently-exposed window into 800 million years of Neoproterozoic to Holocene evolution at the NE African plate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The attractiveness of mineral investments across countries and regions worldwide can be judged through various measures, each with its strengths and weaknesses. The purpose of this paper is to scrutinize the Fraser Institute's ranking of mining jurisdictions, which builds on eliciting the perceptions of industry representatives around the world through an annual survey. The analysis takes stock in the growing scholarship on country performance indicators and concludes that due to the low response rate and the lack of clear definitions of some of the underlying concepts (e.g., political stability), there are reasons to question both the reliability and the validity of this survey. There could also exist incentives among exploration companies to "game" the rankings. For these reasons, the ranking outcomes do not constitute a meaningful scorecard that countries can employ to improve their mining-related policies. However, despite these deficiencies, the Fraser Institute's survey often enjoys relatively uncritical media attention. It even sets in motion a political "rankings game" in which the mining companies, governments, and other organized groups choose to participate. There is an urgent need for a more reliable and unbiased survey approach, including the consideration of alternative—complementing—measures for assessing investment attractiveness in the mining industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, Hessdalen lights (HLs) are misunderstood; nevertheless, these phenomena are surprisingly ignored by most of the scientific community. However, a few researchers, such as Erling Strand and Massimo Teodorani, have paved the right path by showing that experimental methods of physics can be applied to study HLs. Additionally, we believe that matter cannot simply be brushed aside and that it deserves a serious examination. Recently, we proposed a possible origin of HLs (Pascoli, 2021). The basic idea--a micrometric wormhole manifestation--is promoted here, and we suggest that the Hessdalen-type lights, seen pretty much everywhere in the world, may eventually be interpreted as a symptom of an unsuspected phenomenon deep in the subsoil of the considered site. The idea of a geological origin for the Hessdalen lights has already been proposed (Teodorani, 2004, 2014); however, this interesting suggestion is being reconsidered from an entirely new perspective. The present paper has to be seen as a working hypothesis, in which the main interests are to foster thinking on underlying physics and to suggest a full series of experiments that can be performed on these very enigmatic Hessdalen lights. Regardless of the strength of a hypothesis, the experiment is the final arbiter in science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geological reports are a significant accomplishment for geologists involved in geological investigations and scientific research as they contain rich data and textual information. With the rapid development of science and technology, a large number of textual reports have accumulated in the field of geology. However, many non-hot topics and non-English speaking regions are neglected in mainstream geoscience databases for geological information mining, making it more challenging for some researchers to extract necessary information from these texts. Natural Language Processing (NLP) has obvious advantages in processing large amounts of textual data. The objective of this paper is to identify geological named entities from Chinese geological texts using NLP techniques. We propose the Ro-BERTa-Prompt-Tuning-NER method, which leverages the concept of Prompt Learning and requires only a small amount of annotated data to train superior models for recognizing geological named entities in low-resource dataset configurations. The RoBERTa layer captures context-based information and longer-distance dependencies through dynamic word vectors. Finally, we conducted experiments on the constructed Geological Named Entity Recognition (GNER) dataset. Our experimental results show that the proposed model achieves the highest F1 score of 80.64% among the four baseline algorithms, demonstrating the reliability and robustness of using the model for Named Entity Recognition of geological texts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ground ice maps at small scales offer generalized depictions of abundance across broad circumpolar regions. In this paper, the effect of surficial geology mapping scale on modelled ground ice abundance is examined in the Slave Geological Province of the Canadian Shield, a region where the geological and glacial legacy has produced a landscape with significant variation in surface cover. Existing model routines from the Ground ice map of Canada (GIMC) were used with a 1:125000 -scale regional surficial geology compilation and compared to the national outputs, which are based on surficial geology at a 1:5000000 scale. Overall, the regional-scale modelling predicts much more ground ice than the GIMC due to greater representation of unconsolidated sediments in the region. Improved modelling accuracy is indicated by comparison of the outputs to empirical datasets due to improved representation of the inherent regional heterogeneity in surficial geology. The results demonstrate that the GIMC significantly underestimates the abundance and distribution of ground ice over Canadian Shield terrain. In areas with limited information on ground ice, regional-scale modelling may provide useful reconnaissance-level information to help guide the field-based investigations required for planning infrastructure development. The use of current small-scale ground ice mapping in risk or cost assessments related to permafrost thaw may significantly influence the accuracy of outputs in areas like the Canadian Shield, where surficial materials range from bedrock to frost-susceptible deposits over relatively short distances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cornerstone assumption of all Flood Geology models is that rocks can form quickly (i.e., within the timeframe of months to years). However, to date, only isolated examples from the field have been used to support the hypothesis without any quantitative justification. This paper therefore presents the theoretical basis (originally set out by Terzaghi, 1922) for determining the timescales for the first phase of lithification, the mechanical compaction of the sediment under its self-weight (otherwise known as consolidation). The paper demonstrates that when basic soil mechanics theory is applied to the consolidation of thick clay layers of the order of 1,000 m such as those found in the North Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and the Caspian Sea, the timescales predicted for compaction are orders of magnitude greater than is currently assumed. Additionally, it is shown that there is a physical limit to the rate at which sediment can accumulate without creating excessive pore pressure and inducing geotechnical failures. For clay, this limit is approximately 0.1 m/yr, and, for silt, approximately 10 m/yr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reliable geological model plays a fundamental role in the efficiency and safety of mountain tunnel construction. However, regional models based on limited survey data represent macroscopic geological environments but not detailed internal geological characteristics, especially at tunnel portals with complex geological conditions. This paper presents a comprehensive methodological framework for refined modeling of the tunnel surrounding rock and subsequent mechanics analysis, with a particular focus on natural space distortion of hard-soft rock interfaces at tunnel portals. The progressive prediction of geological structures is developed considering multi-source data derived from the tunnel survey and excavation stages. To improve the accuracy of the models, a novel modeling method is proposed to integrate multi-source and multi-scale data based on data extraction and potential field interpolation. Finally, a regional-scale model and an engineering-scale model are built, providing a clear insight into geological phenomena and supporting numerical calculation. In addition, the proposed framework is applied to a case study, the Long-tou mountain tunnel project in Guangzhou, China, where the dominant rock type is granite. The results show that the data integration and modeling methods effectively improve model structure refinement. The improved model's calculation deviation is reduced by about 10% to 20% in the mechanical analysis. This study contributes to revealing the complex geological environment with singular interfaces and promoting the safety and performance of mountain tunneling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lateral response of combined pile-raft foundations (CPRFs) adjacent to tunnel excavation is a challenging problem owing to the complexity of the pile-raft connections. In current engineering practices, the impact of these connections on the lateral performance of CPRFs is frequently overlooked, despite their importance. To address this issue, this study conducted three-dimensional finite element analyses to evaluate the contribution of pile-raft connections to the tunnelling-induced lateral performance of CPRFs in saturated clay. In the analysis, both passive and active loading at the pile head could be considered by varying the tunnel depth. Several parameter studies, such as relative pile-raft modulus, pile embedded modulus, pile embedded depths, and pile shaft skin friction, were conducted to determine the optimal design parameters for CPRFs. The results indicate that pile-raft connections significantly affect the tunnellinginduced deflections and bending moments of pile groups. Inspired by the results, a simplified design method, the pile-raft connection coefficient Kc was proposed. Additionally, the pile-head restraint percentage was established to make a relationship with the pile-raft connection coefficient in order to assess the pile-raft connection and guide the pile-raft design. In this paper, the recommended range value of Kc is 10--200 and the range value of pile-head restraint percentage is 24%--42%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a novel method for determining the depth of lineaments using satellite gravity data, which we test in the Sahel of Sfax area (eastern Tunisia). This region has a relatively flat topography with few significant discontinuities at the surface. As a first step, we used morphometric indices such as slope, aspect, and hydrographic network, calculated from SRTM DEM, to generate separate lineament maps. We then combined these lineaments into a synthetic lineament map, one that showed to be highly consistent with the Bouguer anomaly map deduced from satellite gravity data and the results of similar studies with gravity and seismic geophysical data. The lineament map was then refined and confirmed thanks to field data. These lineaments were later combined with the 3D Euler solution map, and their depth classification was deduced. These results demonstrate both the accuracy of the proposed method as a way to assess lineament depth and its ability to provide valuable information about an area's subsurface geology. This method can be useful for mineral exploration, hydrocarbon exploration, and geohazard assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Erionite is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral found in soils in some geographical regions. Known for its potency for causing mesothelioma in the Cappadocia region of Turkey, the erionite fiber has attracted interest in the United States due to its presence in a band of rock that extends from Mexico to Montana. There are few toxicology studies of erionite, but all show it to have unusually high chronic toxicity. Despite its high potency compared to asbestos fibers, erionite has no occupational or environmental exposure limits. This paper takes what has been learned about the chemical and physical characteristics of the various forms of asbestos (chrysotile, amosite, anthophyllite, and crocidolite) and predicts the potency of North American erionite fibers. Based on the fiber potency model in Korchevskiy et al. (2019) and the available published information on erionite, the estimated mesothelioma potency factors (the proportion of mesothelioma mortality per unit cumulative exposure (f/cc-year)) for erionites in the western United States were determined. The model predicted potency factors ranged from 0.19 to 11.25 (average ∼3.5), depending on the region. For reference, crocidolite (the most potent commercial form of asbestos) is assigned a potency factor ∼0.5. The model predicted mesothelioma potency of Turkish erionite (4.53) falls in this same range of potencies as erionite found in North America. Although it can vary by region, a reasonable ratio of average mesothelioma potency based on this model is 3,000:500:100:1 comparing North American erionite, crocidolite, amosite, and chrysotile (from most potent to least potent). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Himalayan Mountain range is prone to landslides and its influential factors vary from region to region. To identify these factors, it is essential to have comprehensive information about the study area. This study aims to assess Landslide Susceptibility Mapping in parts of the Aglar watershed in the Lesser Himalayas using the frequency ratio method in the GIS environment. An inventory map in the first place of landslide events was prepared using satellite data and field survey studies. In this study, pertinently, sixteen conditioning factors were considered as slope, aspect, profile curvature, plan curvature, elevation, relative relief, geology, distance to stream, distance to road, normalized difference vegetation index, stream power index, topographic wetness index, rainfall, distance to lineaments, geomorphology, and land use land cover based on the local topography and climate. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the study area, subsequently, the frequency ratio of each factor was analyzed. This determined the correlation between landslide classes and each class of conditioning factors. A thorough analysis was conducted to select the most significant factors using the higher and lower prediction ratio values. This study was eventually conducted by comparing three susceptibility maps that were created based on prediction ratio values. To confirm the comparison, the ROC–AUC curve was utilized. The accuracy of the results was evaluated through a prediction rate and success rate curve, resulting in 78.5 and 80.7%, respectively, demonstrating a commendable performance. In this paper, the significance of different conditioning factors is evident in the increase of the very high susceptible area from 2.44 to 5.99% and eventually to 8.44%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The West Kunlun foreland is dominated by segmented fold-and-thrust belts with significant potential for hydrocarbon exploration, while the extent of exploration in this area has been relatively limited. In this paper, by conducting complex structural interpretation, the geometric and kinematic characteristics, as well as the variations in the segmented fold-and-thrust belts within this region are revealed. The West Kunlun foreland fold-andthrust belts are divided into three structural segments, which exhibit distinct structural styles. The Pusha-Kedong segment in the east is characterized by large-scale northward propagation, with high-angle basement-involved faults in the root belt and thin-skinned thrusts in the front belt. Additionally, three-row anticlines developed in the middle to the upper structural layers. The Kashi-Yecheng segment, located in the middle, is characterized by strike-slip faults and basement-involved structural wedges transitioning to detachment structures. Within this segment, the Sugaite structure in the mountain front is a wedge structure composed of basement-involved faults and an upper back-thrust fault. Meanwhile, the Yingjisha structure in the thrust front consists of a fold in the lower part and a backthrust system above it. The lower fold is controlled by the Cambrian detachment thrust, which terminates upward in the Paleogene, while the back-thrust faults truncate upper structural layers and terminate downwards in the Miocene strata. The Wupoer segment in the northwest is controlled by the Main Pamir Thrust and the Front Pamir Thrust, which are low angular forward thrust faults with an arc distribution. A piggyback basin has developed in the root belt and upper structural layer since the Pliocene. Based on the deformation characteristics and the accumulation of oil-gas reservoirs discovered so far, two types of oil and gas-rich thrust belts with different hydrocarbon exploration fields in the West Kunlun foreland are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ships' logbooks are now an accepted part of the repertoire of data sources in climate change studies. This article examines some of the particular issues surrounding logbooks from the Arctic region in the so-called pre-instrumental period. Attention is given to the means by which narrative descriptions of wind, weather and sea ice cover can be reliably expressed in index form. Consideration is also given to the various means by which these data can be most effectively managed for scientific analysis as in most cases they were not recorded for such purposes. Many such logbooks remain yet to be digitized and the methods described here can be applied with equal confidence in future through such undertakings using English language documents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper revisits the standard definition of scientific creativity in the contemporary philosophical literature. The standard definition of creativity says that there are two necessary, and jointly sufficient, conditions for creativity, novelty and value. This paper proposes to characterize the value condition of creativity in terms of "pursuitworthiness". The notion of pursuitworthiness, adopted from the recent debate on scientific pursuit in philosophy of science, refers to a form of prospective epistemic worth. It indicates that a certain object (such as a scientific hypothesis) is promising or has the potential to be epistemically fertile in the future, if further investigated. To support the claim that creative scientific instances are, qua creative, valuable in the sense of pursuitworthy, three examples of creative hypotheses taken from the history of the geosciences are introduced: MacCulloch's continuity hypothesis in mid-19th-century geology, Baron et al.'s phylogenetic hypothesis in contemporary paleontology, and the widely discussed Anthropocene hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, I will show and describe a method of integrating infrared images with a 3D model of the front of an excavation in the longwall type of workings. I will also test the created 3D model for its potential usefulness in geological prospecting, used for looking for changes in geological layout at the front of the excavation. Geological information on the amount of coal in the front is important for the economic side of the excavation. The mine does not want to take out waste rock, but mostly for the safety of operations. The longwall shearers and plows are not designed for excavation in extremely changeable conditions, so if too much shale appears, this might change the speed and economic results of excavation. In addition, if a fold appears, this can destroy the excavating complex. Currently, the geological survey requires a geologist to get to the front, often to the unsupported roof part of the wall, clean the front and sample, and measure the geology. This is dangerous for the geologist. Thus, remote, infrared measurements would improve the safety of the staff and allow the survey to be taken in more places along the longwall. In this paper, I will also propose how such a system could be implemented and what the limitations are. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese Loess Plateau, a region of remarkable ecological and economic value, grapples with significant water management challenges due to its distinctive geology and climate. This perspective offers a short review of the eco-environmental protection measures undertaken in the Loess Plateau, underscoring the transformative impacts of initiatives such as the "Grain for Green" project. However, it also highlights the enduring challenges, including land degradation, water resources issues, socio-economic inequities, and the implications of climate change. Particularly, water management emerges as a pivotal issue with far-reaching repercussions for soil conservation, biodiversity, and human livelihoods. The paper concludes by proposing future actions, emphasizing the necessity for policy modifications, novel initiatives, and research to tackle these challenges and foster sustainable development in the Loess Plateau. The insights gained from this region could offer invaluable lessons for other regions confronted with similar challenges, thereby contributing to global efforts to mitigate desertification and champion sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars acknowledge the importance of geological knowledge in the growth of South Africa's mining industry. While this acknowledgement extends to the analysis of the rise of eMalahleni (formerly known as Witbank) to the status of 'premier coal supplier' of the Union of South Africa, there is currently no specific historical analysis of the role of geological knowledge in the growth and development of the district's mining industry. This article is a response to Kate (formerly Peter) Alexander's call to study the history of mining with reference to the contribution of geological knowledge, and provides a detailed historical account of such a contribution to the development of the political economy of the mining industry of eMalahleni.1 Using a wide range of archival sources, the article draws from literature on the production of vertical territory and takes as its starting point the role of scientific societies such as the Geological Society of South Africa and the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy in the creation of geological knowledge about the coal deposits of the former Transvaal. It then examines the roles of the Transvaal Geological Survey and the Geological Survey of the Union of South Africa, as well as geological maps produced by Alexander Graham in the creation of the Witbank Coalfield, to demonstrate how the development of geological knowledge and mining operations became processes that defined the constitution of the Witbank Labour District. The paper argues that the making of the Witbank Labour District as a coal-mining district was tied to the making of the Witbank Coalfield and that the making of the coalfield from which the district's mining industry developed was a process in which the availability of labour was as crucial a factor in the expansion of its mining operations as scientific societies, shafts, drilling operations and expert geological knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enrolment in geology-related courses has declined over the last few decades, in part due to a lack of understanding of the subject and its relevance to contemporary society. Although a popular medium for entertainment, video games also hold significant pedagogical potential to overcome this problem by immersing players in geology-related topics through the portrayal of a broad range of geological disciplines in the medium's dynamic environments. This paper focuses on volcanology as portrayed in Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda series' (1986-present) Death Mountain, a recurring volcanic peak in the franchise. Volcanic features in each game are documented and compared to real-world examples to determine the accuracy of how the volcanism evolves over time across instalments in the series. I argue that the volcanic history of Death Mountain provides a reasonably realistic evolution, beginning with volcanic hazards like rockfalls and lava from an active stratovolcano, and progressing over time to introduce hydrothermal systems. Then, during divergent timelines, Death Mountain's volcanism shifts to either explosive, shallow-water eruptions or to showing evidence of massive explosive activity. Through this, I argue that the popularity of The Legend of Zelda series and the gradual introduction of volcanic features can be used together to change the perception of geology as "boring" and encourage people to study the subject by offering a fun and immersive means to engage with its content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A traditional block caving mine considers the development of an undercut level that allows blocky or veined rock masses to fracture, fail, and unravel when the undercut area is large enough. Once caving initiates, the rock mass progressively fails when induced stresses overcome the rock mass strength and when fractured rock masses unravel under gravity into the undercut and draw points. If the ability of a rock mass to cave is not enough, the cave will not propagate efficiently, thereby affecting fragmentation and ore recovery with the potential to upset safety and productivity if there are hang-ups in draw points. Therefore, cavability is critical for the success of a caving operation. Despite improving technological trends, most of the empirical approaches used for designing block caving mines were proposed 40 years ago, and their updates do not include most of the new understanding of mining geomechanics acquired since then. More importantly, the role of geology is often overlooked. This paper critically reviews the state of the art in orebody cavability prediction and explores whether traditional and statistical techniques can be applied for predicting cavability better. The review highlights the importance of geology that is often overlooked in orebody cavability prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinson, F.; Douglas, K.; Li, Z.; Meijer, A.; Stacey, C.D.; Kung, R., and Podhorodeski, A., 2024. A generalized semiautomated method for seabed geology classification using multibeam data and maximum likelihood classification. Journal of Coastal Research, 40(1), 1–16. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. This paper presents a GIS-based model to perform semiautomated seabed classification that can act as a first-pass, pseudoclassified surficial geological map. The user can then edit the output into a finalized map in less time than by manual classification. The model uses maximum likelihood classification with unsupervised classification through iterative self-organizing clusters. This model is fully contained within the ArcGIS software suite as a ModelBuilder workflow composed of geoprocessing tools and Python script tools. Model inputs tested include different combinations of multibeam echosounder–derived data: slope, backscatter, and terrain ruggedness. Furthermore, to test the assumption of Gaussian distribution of input data required for maximum likelihood classification, Box–Cox power transformations were applied to slope and backscatter data and were used as model inputs. To illustrate the performance of the model, two locations are highlighted as case studies: Milbanke Sound and Spiller Channel, located on the central coast of British Columbia, Canada. Association between model outputs and ground-truth classes was generally weak to moderate when measured using Cramér's V association scores. Overall, the slope and backscatter parameter model had the highest scores of association. Results from an overlay analysis comparing model outputs with user-confirmed polygons show that the slope and backscatter model performs best in regions with distinct changes in the hardness of sediments but that in fjord regions dominated geologically by steeper bathymetric change, the slope parameter model may perform better. However, all model outputs had difficulty delineating bedrock units. The model has the flexibility to identify certain seabed habitat features as well, including glass sponge reefs—biologically active bioherms that have led to marine protected area designations in other areas of British Columbia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even though the CLIL method of foreign language teaching has been present for more than thirty years, the lack of adequate CLIL-specific teaching material on the market remains an undiminished challenge. One of the reasons may be the scrutiny under which the authors, language teachers, of a CLIL textbook would find themselves, since they would have to grapple with both the linguistic and non-linguistic matter equally. The textbooks "English language for geology students 1 and 2" are an attempt to fully cover a specific subject matter, in this case geology, all the while focusing on fostering student autonomy and intercultural competence. The textbooks follow the principles of the CLIL method in a novel and innovative way, putting special focus on the last of the 4Cs: culture, through geomythology and comic strips. The paper is divided into four parts: introduction, a discussion on CLIL teaching materials, structure and content of the chosen textbooks and concluding remarks. The author will attempt to provide an overview of the textbooks within the CLIL context and to show how they manage to cover the criteria set by CLIL in assuring a stress-free learning environment in which students can acquire skills necessary for success outside the walls of a university classroom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil compaction is a key operation regarding the construction of, for example, railway and road embankments, earth dams and clay liners for waste disposals. Standard and modified Proctor tests are employed to obtain the optimum compaction properties at different energy levels. The choice of compaction technique depends on the type of compacted earthworks to be carried out. In practice, it is possible that the same material deployed in the past for a certain engineering work has to be reused in different work, requiring a different compaction energy. As compaction tests are time consuming, a preliminary assessment of optimum compaction properties from one energy level to another can be useful in geotechnical applications. Two empirical models linking different compaction energies are presented in this paper. Using the liquid limit, the possibility of evaluating the optimum moisture content and maximum dry unit weight from modified properties was investigated. A database of 49 data sets from the literature was used to build a model, which was validated with 14 other independent data sets. Statistical analysis was carried out and Monte Carlo simulations were also performed. This paper provides an update on knowledge regarding compaction at different energy levels using a larger database. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volumetric modeling for Railway Station Subgrade (RSS) is a complex task in applying BIM to railway stations. However, an effective method for handling RSS volumetric modeling, which is further complicated by heterogeneous data sources and geometric features, has been unavailable. To address this issue, this paper presents a BIM modeling method that generates layered microprisms to represent the volumetric information of an RSS. The proposed method is demonstrated with a real-world case, through which the modeling accuracy and the efficiency of spatial data retrieval are verified to be satisfactory. This paper contributes to the existing body of knowledge by proposing a unified and accurate volumetric modeling method for the multi-layer structures. In the future, modeling efficiency can be further improved by introducing GPU-based parallel processing. • Comprehensive volumetric information of railway station subgrade (RSS) is expressed with a multi-layer semantic model. • Involved layers of filler, geology and terrain are depicted by the proposed unified modeling method. • Multi-layer 3D microprisms are generated to express the irregular spaces among the involved layers. • A grid-based spatial retrieval method is developed to achieve high-efficient spatial query. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents findings from a collaborative research project with students and lecturers that explored the integration of technology to enhance accessibility and inclusion in fieldwork education. The project set out to involve students as co-researchers to broaden the insights of the research team, and purposely included the diverse perspectives and experiences of students and lecturers with physical-mobility disabilities. Through analysing three critical incidents from two residential field trips, we developed a set of practical recommendations for using technology to facilitate the inclusion of students with disabilities in field courses. Reflecting on this study and the process of engaging with students as co-researchers, we offer recommendations for implementing equitable and inclusive fieldwork and working collaboratively with students to develop inclusive field experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The text summarizes the Proceedings of the Annual General Meeting of the Geological Society of India in 2022, which took place at the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology in Dehradun. The meeting focused on various aspects of geosciences, including research on the Himalayas, seismogenesis, climate-tectonic interactions, and natural resources. Discussions revolved around the Annual Report and Audited Statement of Accounts for the year ending March 2022, and awards were presented to geoscientists who made significant contributions to the field. The meeting aimed to address issues related to natural disasters in the region and find solutions for sustainable development. The text also includes replies from recipients of awards, who express gratitude for the recognition and discuss their areas of expertise and research contributions in geology, mineralogy, and geochemistry. Additionally, acknowledgments and awards are given to individuals for their papers on groundwater irrigation and contributions to Precambrian Geology. The text concludes with the announcement of elected council members for the Geological Society of India for the triennium 2022-2025. [Extracted from the article]

The paper deals with results of geological and geophysical study of the East Siberian Sea coastal areas are reported. Research activities started in 2018 in the frame of the State Geological Mapping Project (GK-1000/3) and continued in 2022 under support of the Russian Science Foundation. A seismo-stratigraphic scheme of the Quaternary sediment sequence has been compiled, and a conception of the paleogeographical evolution in the Late Pleistocene–Holocene has been proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins (1807–1894), celebrated in Britain and the United States for his models and illustrations of extinct animals, also had an extensive lecturing career. This paper discusses the reports of Hawkins's lectures in Britain, delivered between the 1850s and the early 1880s. Unabbreviated transcriptions of his lectures are rare, but newspaper reports are numerous. Hawkins spoke on comparative anatomy, geology, palaeontology and art, his most prominent themes being the origin of dragon myths and the impossibility of human evolution. Above all, he was known for his ability to sketch natural forms rapidly and accurately as he spoke. Hawkins saw significant success in metropolitan centres, but he also built rewarding relationships with provincial towns. This allowed for substantial engagement with civic scientific communities, whose fossil specimens were used by Hawkins and whose local science initiatives were promoted in press accounts of his lectures. Hawkins's fervent anti-evolutionism aroused attention, although his alternative explanation of life's development, "the unity of plan", led to some confusion, and he became embittered by the spread of evolutionary naturalism. Hawkins's career faded in the 1880s, but memories of his lecturing style lingered with audiences at the century's close. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Wadi Samra–Wadi Kid district in southeastern Sinai, Egypt, has undergone extensive investigation involving remote sensing analysis, field geology studies, petrography, and geochemistry. The main aim of this study is the integration between remote sensing applications, fieldwork, and laboratory studies for accurate lithological mapping for future mineral exploration in the study region. The field relationships between these coincident rocks were studied in the study area. Landsat-8 (OLI) data that cover the investigated area were used in this paper. The different rock units in the study area were studied petrographically using a polarizing microscope, in addition to major and trace analysis using ICP-OES tools. The Operational Land Imager (OLI) images were used with several processing methods, such as false color composite (FCC), band ratio (BR), principal component analysis (PCA), and minimum noise fraction (MNF) techniques for detecting the different types of rock units in the Wadi Kid district. This district mainly consists of a volcano-sedimentary sequence as well as diorite, gabbro, granite, and albitite. Geochemically, the metasediments are classified as pelitic graywackes derived from sedimentary origin (i.e., shales). The Al2O3 and CaO contents are medium–high, while the Fe2O3 and TiO2 contents are very low. Alkaline minerals are relatively low–medium in content. All of the metasediment samples are characterized by high MgO contents and low SiO2, Fe2O3, and CaO contents. The granitic rocks appear to have alkaline and subalkaline affinity, while the subalkaline granites are high-K calc-alkaline to shoshonite series. The alkaline rocks are classified as albitite, while the calc-alkaline series samples vary from monzodiorites to granites. The outcomes of this study can be used for prospecting metallic and industrial mineral exploration in the Wadi Kid district. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the same year as that paper, Roger published a wide-ranging standalone discussion of various aspects of New Zealand terrane concepts, age, content, interpretation, and paleogeography, including descriptions of the Brook Street Terrane and other Eastern Province terranes (Cooper [13]). Roger Cooper (1939-2020) was one of the pre-eminent New Zealand paleontologists and geologists of the twentieth century. At the same time, and in collaboration with Professor Pete Sadler (University of California, Riverside), Roger pioneered the use of innovative, quantitative methods in biostratigraphic correlation and timescale calibration, in the context both of New Zealand sedimentary basin analysis (Cooper et al. [15]) and international timescale calibration. Much of this research was concerned with graptolites (e.g. Cooper [8], [10]; Cooper and McLaurin [22]) but, in collaboration with others, his interests quickly expanded to include conodonts, brachiopods, molluscs, trilobites and graptolites from New Zealand, Australia, Antarctica and Spitsbergen (e.g. Cooper and Druce [16]; Shergold et al. [48]). Roger's career at the New Zealand Geological Survey began in 1969 and was focussed initially on the taxonomy, biostratigraphy, evolution, biogeography and paleobiology of early Paleozoic fossils in New Zealand. [Extracted from the article]

The 2022 Winter Olympics will be held in the Beijing-Zhangjiakou area, which is located in the eastern North China Craton (NCC) and contains a comprehensive geological record from the Archaean to Cenozoic. In this paper, we first review the geology of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou area, then, combined with data from the rest of the NCC, we discuss the geological evolution of the area in the context of the NCC. The geological and tectonic evolution of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou area can be regarded as a proxy or analogue for the geological history of the whole of the NCC. Six stages have been divided as follows: 1) Neoarchean massive continental crust growth; 2) Paleoproterozoic cratonization; 3) Meso-Neoproterozoic multi-stage rifting; 4) Palaeozoic marginal orogeny; 5) Mesozoic craton destruction; and 6) Cenozoic intra-plate extension. We hope this paper will be helpful to both geologists and non-geologists who will attend the 2022 Beijing-Zhangjiakou Winter Olympics and may be interested in rocks and geology around the Winter Olympic sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]