Search

Songkhla Lagoon has been studied for decades, but there is no clear evidence of its origin. As a barrier to the lagoon, the Satingpra Peninsula plays a crucial role in understanding its formation. Eleven sediment samples from sand ridges and tidal flats on the Satingpra Peninsular were collected and analysed for granulometry and geochronology. Both coarse-grained and fine-grained quartz-rich fractions were utilised to prepare samples of aliquots. The optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating was performed using the single-aliquot regenerative dose method for a determined (deposited) age. In addition, previous research, geological surveys and geochronological data were combined to explain their formation in this region. The OSL ages in the present study indicated that the late Holocene regression occurred between 0.36 and 3.27 ka (ka stands for 1,000 years). Integrated with previous studies, recorded ages dating back to the mid-Holocene sea level rise (ca. 6.5 ka) and the subsequent late-Holocene decline, indicate that both the old lagoon and middle beach ridge exhibit a sand ridge formation that runs parallel to the shoreline, extending from the south to the north. The middle sand, in this study, formed from about 3.02 to 1.5 ka ago resulting in the lagoon being isolated from the sea during that time. The lagoonal tide led the deposition as the present tidal flat from 3.3 to 1.7 ka. About 2.19 ka ago, the inner and middle ridges formed due to winddriven processes influenced by a dry climate. This was followed by a continued sea level regression, leading to the formation of the outer ridge around 1.5 ka ago when the sea level was 1.4 m below the present sea level. However, it's essential to consider this sea level data in relation to the tectonic and human-induced land motions in the surrounding area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bali island is part of the Sunda volcanic arc with an active volcano at its center. The Buyan-Bratan caldera, the Batur volcano, and the Agung volcano are active volcanoes aligned from the west to the east of the island of Bali. The activity and age of volcanoes progress eastward. Therefore, the physical properties and conditions of each body of magma beneath the volcanoes on the island of Bali requires investigation. Ground magnetic measurements were carried out throughout the island and integrated with the Bouguer anomaly map. Hand samples were taken that represented each lithology of Bali Island. Furthermore, magnetic susceptibility and density measurements were carried out, which were used as initial data for generating magnetic and gravity models. Apart from that, geological maps and previous geological and geophysical research in the Bali Island area were also used as supporting data to create magnetic and gravity models. Magnetic and gravity modeling shows a carbonate rock formation in Bali Island's southern volcanic area, surrounded by a graben up to 6 km deep and covered by volcanic deposits. Furthermore, magnetic and gravity models indicate an intrusive rock between Agung and Batur volcanoes as well as shallow and deep magma chambers beneath the Buyan-Bratan Caldera, Agung, and Batur volcanoes. The magnetic susceptibility and density differences from the magnetic and gravity models in this study are one way to trace the eastward shift in volcanic activity on Bali Island. These findings will contribute to better understanding the volcanic processes and the migration of volcanic centers, which can help volcanic and earthquake hazard mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pivotal environmental geology research was carried out in the protected area of Cape Peloro (Messina, NE Sicily, Italy). The main aims were the ascertainment of the presence of Asbestos Cement Materials (ACMs), their mapping, and, consequently, an estimation of the potential risk for human health and marine coastal environments. The beaches surveyed covered 4500 m of coastline. Through high-resolution photographic surveys, over 520 fiber cement fragments were documented on the beaches as well as in beach deposits. The materials, after microscope, SEM-EDS, and FTIR analyses, were found to be composed of Portland cement with chrysotile and crocidolite fibers. Fragments of ACMs showed typical corrugated forms with centimeter-to-decimeter sizes and prevailing well-rounded, platy, and sub-elongate shapes. In a few localities, some fragments were found to be angular or friable. Furthermore, some fragments found on the beach were covered by conspicuous encrustations of marine organisms, testifying to their long staying in shallow-water marine environments. Illicit landfills and abandoned materials were identified in natural sections on the coastal plain. Most of the rounded ACMs were characterized by their surface texture, with mm-size asbestos fibers exposed on the surface due to significant weathering and abrasion. Notably, new fragments appeared after storms. Significant criticisms have been made related to the ACMs, analogously to what was reported for other Italian marine beaches. Possible intervention and reclamation activities cannot limit themselves to removing the fragments on the beach, as fragments are immersed in the coastal sediments at different depths and are also found in the marine deposits. Here, it is underlined that any asbestos removal and reclamation activities, if not designed and based on a multidisciplinary approach and knowledge of local coastal dynamics and the meteo-marine climate, will be very expensive and ineffective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The northeastern Sichuan area in the northern Yangtze margin has unique Ediacaran geological records, especially the Doushantuo Formation (DST), and become a hot research area in recent years. However, the Cryogenian-Ediacaran (C-E) boundary has not been precisely identified, which restricts the in-depth study of geological information during this crucial transitional period and is unfavorable for a systematic and complete understanding of the Yangtze Block and even the global paleogeographic pattern. This study conducted stratigraphy, sedimentology, and chronostratigraphy to establish the stratigraphic framework and sedimentary evolution of the C-E transition strata in northeastern Sichuan. The results showed that the Ediacaran sediments, without the cap dolomite, unconformably overlaid the Cryogenian sediments in the studied area. The Member II of the DST, characterized by 50e160 m of red-green sandstone (approximately equivalent to the original Chengkou "Guanyinya Formation"), directly overlaid the Cryogenian sediments and displayed a 623 ± 2.3 Ma maximum depositional age from the detrital zircon UePb dating. Regional stratigraphic correlations indicate that the C-E transition strata in northeastern Sichuan had a consistent lithological association and sedimentary sequence characteristics but differed from the Three Gorges. Typically, the upper Nantuo massive glacial diamictites transition to the icebergs rafted lonestone-bearing mudstones at the top, then change upward to DST barrier coast sandstones. The proposed DST of the northeastern Sichuan Basin was divided into three lithostratigraphic members without the regional Member I cap dolomite: (i) Member II purple-red, gray-green sandstone strata, (ii) Member III black mudstone strata, and (iii) Member IV P-Mn bearing strata. During the C-E transition, the study area experienced (i) the global deglaciation stage in the terminal Marinoan glaciation and (ii) the filling-leveling up stage with clastic rocks in the early Ediacaran. Overall, the early Ediacaran of northeastern Sichuan succeeded the paleogeographic features of the late Cryogenian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents an innovative application of kHz regime μLIBS – Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for generating detailed compositional maps of geological samples. The method effectively covers large areas (tens of cm2) rapidly while maintaining high lateral resolution (below 20 μm), producing some of the most extensive LIBS compositional images to date, with a size of 10 million pixels. Employing elemental-based images, we developed a direct methodology for mineral phase identification through mask-creation operations and logical relationships. This approach was successfully applied to reconstruct the mineralogical map of a Li-ore from the west-European Variscan belt, identifying 14 different mineral phases, including economically valuable ones like lepidolite, cassiterite, and columbite-group minerals. Furthermore, based on the reverse normative calculation, the chemical composition of the sample was calculated from the mineral phases previously obtained. The kHz μLIBS approach marks a significant advancement in elemental and phase imaging, especially pertinent to geological applications, providing comprehensive petro-geochemical insights, essential for a fast geological characterization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep coal seam mining causes instability and collapse of coal seam roof frequently, which seriously affects the safety production and threatens the personal safety of underground personnel. In order to evaluate the stability of coal roof accurately, this paper select 6th coal seam in Kongduigou Coalfield of Jungar Coalfieldas research object, analyzes the geological and hydrogeological data, and study the lithology, rock combination, sandstone thickness, fault, fold, seam inclination, rock quality index, and rock compressive strength on the influence of the roof stability, drawing the main control factor 3D mapping projection surface maps. Select 58 borehole data points as the input samples (50 training sets and 8 test sets), use genetic algorithm (GA) to optimize the network random initial weights and threshold initial and sparrow search algorithm (SSA) for secondary optimization for the BP neural network training and learning, establishing GA-BP neural network based on SSA optimization (SSA-GA-BP neural network) coal roof stability evaluation model, which is used to predict and evaluate the 6th coal roof stability of the research area after the training error accuracy reached the requirements. The fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method, BP neural network, GA-BP neural network and SSA-GA-BP neural network are also used to predict and evaluate the 6th coal roof stability. Compare the evaluation results of each model with the actual value. The results show that the error of coal seam roof stability evaluation of SSA-GA-BP neural network is smallest, with the accuracy 88%, and the model is successfully applied to predict the roof stability of the 6th coal seam in Kongduigou Coalfield, which provides a scientific evaluation method and theoretical basis for the evaluation of coal seam roof stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most crucial task of petroleum geology is to explore oil and gas reservoirs in the deep underground. As one of the analysis techniques in petroleum geological research, rock thin section identification method includes particle segmentation, which is one of the key steps. A conventional sandstone thin section image typically contains hundreds of mineral particles with blurred boundaries and complex microstructures inside the particles. Moreover, the complex lithology and low porosity of tight sandstone make traditional image segmentation methods unsuitable for solving the complex thin section segmentation problems. This paper combines petrology and image processing technologies. First, polarised sequence images are aligned, and then the images are transformed to the HSV colour space to extract pores. Second, particles are extracted according to their extinction characteristics. Last, a concavity and corner detection matching method is used to process the extracted particles, thereby completing the segmentation of sandstone thin section images. The experimental results show that our proposed method can more accurately fit the boundaries of mineral particles in sandstone images than existing image segmentation methods. Additionally, when applied in actual production scenarios, our method exhibits excellent performance, greatly improving thin section identification efficiency and significantly assisting experts in identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive identification of geological hazard risks remains one of the most important tasks in disaster prevention and mitigation. Currently, remote sensing combined with deep learning methods can gradually achieve the recognition of geological hazard risks. However, landslide images taken by satellites, with complex backgrounds and varying scales, particularly small-scale landslide images, are prone to false detections and omissions. The fundamental reason is that the existing models cannot effectively extract the detailed features of landslide images in multi-scale complex backgrounds. To address these challenges, we selected Luding County, Sichuan Province, China, as the study area and created an open and accurate landslide dataset. Geological hazard research experts interpreted and annotated the samples, which contained 230 landslide images with corresponding labels and geographical coordinates for each landslide. We propose a novel deep learning method for landslide identification, which combines YOLO + U-Net. The specific recognition process is as follows: Firstly, the landslide images to be measured are input into the improved YOLOv4 model for the target detection task, and the landslide detection frames are output to find the approximate location of the landslide using the frames. Then, we put forward an innovative method to expand the landslide detection box, so that it retains certain contextual semantic information, except for the detection box, other backgrounds are filled with black, which can shield a part of irrelevant complex background interference, conducive to further recognition. Finally, the improved U-Net semantic segmentation model is used to perform the semantic segmentation task inside the detection frame, and the accurate landslide boundary segmentation results are obtained. In the experiments, we thoroughly discussed and compared four methods: U-Net, improved U-Net, PSP-Net, and YOLO + U-Net. YOLO + U-Net showed a 20.6% improvement in mean IoU for small-scale landslides compared to U-Net, and a 2.08% improvement for landslides in complex backgrounds, with an average improvement of 9.91%. These results indicate that YOLO + U-Net can effectively extract detailed features of landslide images at different scales, improve the ability to recognize landslides in complex backgrounds, and effectively reduce the problem of false detection and omission of landslide image identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic separation has been recognized as a valuable technique for extracting or separating target materials from mixed heterogeneous particles. In conventional geological research, it has been used to separate ferro- and ferri-magnetic minerals such as Fe–Ni metal, magnetite and ilmenite. Recently, a mixture of diamagnetic and weak paramagnetic particles has been successfully separated into groups of different materials using a compact magnetic circuit; however, the resolution was not sufficiently high to analyze various heterogeneous particles studied in geological research. Here, we show that the resolution has remarkably improved by developing new magnetic separator. Accordingly, the separation efficiency of particles due to magnetic translation increased by a factor of ~ 2.5, and two different materials were definitely resolved when their variance of the magnetic susceptibility exceeded ~ 2 × 10−7 emu/g; previously, limit of the resolution was above 7 × 10–7 emu/g. We also established the orbit simulation program in magnetic and gravitational field, which accurately predicted the actual trajectory due to magnetic translation. The improved separation resolution of the new separator has significantly increased the range of solid materials that can be magnetically separated, and the range of applications has been considerably expanded to include the matrix of primitive meteorites, surface soils of solid planets and satellites, volcanic ash and sedimentary rocks. The newly developed device is compact and requires little electric power, allowing on-site material screening in various geological research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geophysical and geological research in the Ulleung Basin has been ongoing since the 1970s, involving continuous seismic acquisition and multiple well-drilling projects. This study utilized an integrated quantitative approach with conventional seismic interpretation based on recent trends to understand the history of the shelf-margin development and individual controls that may have influenced each period in the Ulleung Basin. Quantitative analysis was conducted by measuring the progradation (Pse), aggradation (Ase) and sediment influx (Fc) of individual shelf margins in seven dip-oriented seismic profiles, and calculating the shelf-edge gradient (αse) and the P/A ratio. Based on these data and the ratio of accommodation to sediment supply (A/S ratio), which was interpreted from the stratal stacking pattern, five shelf-edge trajectory types were defined and assigned to each shelf margin. By considering individual controls (eustatic fluctuations, sediment supply and tectonic events), we defined the three evolution intervals of the Ulleung Basin during the Middle Miocene to Late Miocene (15 to 6.5 Ma): (1) the upper Middle Miocene (15 to 11.63 Ma) characterized by a moderate sediment supply and high aggradation margin induced by rapid subsidence, (2) the lower Upper Miocene (10.8 to 10 Ma) as a high sediment supply and low aggradation margin associated with reworked sediments from the uplifted Dolgorae Thrust and (3) the uppermost Miocene (9.2 to 6.5 Ma) characterized by a low sediment supply and low aggradation margin experiencing sediment starvation. A comparison with worldwide continental margins indicated that the Ulleung Basin formed under a relatively low rate of progradation (low sediment supply; 4.79 km/Myr) and a high rate of aggradation (high shelf accommodation; 361.04 m/Myr) condition. The SW margin of the Ulleung Basin provides a unique example of understanding stratigraphic architecture variations under changing stress regimes of back-arc setting (extensional to compressional) and understanding of individual controls that influence margin development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid societal development and increased engineering construction have exacerbated the disturbance of the geological environment. The impact of extreme climatic factors has grown, leading to a surge in geological disasters, with landslides emerging as particularly significant. Consequently, fundamental research in geological disaster detection or monitoring necessitates an in-depth study of the physical phenomena accompanying landslides' development, evolution, and occurrence. Exploring the signal characteristics associated with landslides is crucial to indirectly understanding their development and change processes—a scientific question deserving thorough exploration. Despite this research's importance, there is a notable gap in the investigation of the key design and specific implementation of electromagnetic instruments tailored for landslide detection. This gap is particularly pronounced in designing and implementing data acquisition software for electromagnetic instruments. This interdisciplinary research draws on theoretical frameworks from embedded computer science, software engineering, digital signal processing technology, geophysics, and engineering geology. It focuses on developing specialized data acquisition application software for landslide detection or monitoring, contributing to the scientific understanding of landslide development and providing independent intellectual property in the electromagnetic wave signal detection field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the first measurement of bioavailable strontium (87Sr/86Sr) and lead (206Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb, and 208Pb/204Pb) isotope ratios from five cattle bones and one soil sample from Erenda, a Chalcolithic site in coastal east India. Bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr of bones differ from that of the soil. A similar Pb isotope ratio of bones to the soil indicates insignificant diagenesis and local origin of the cattle. Our result suggests a potential influence of marine Sr in modifying the bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr ratio, although the current coastline is 30 km from the site. The finding has implications in archaeological, geological, environmental and ecological research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underground displacement monitoring is a crucial means of preventing geological disasters. Compared to existing one-dimensional methods (measuring only horizontal or vertical displacement), the underground displacement three-dimensional measurement method and monitoring system proposed by the author's research team can more accurately reflect the internal movement of rock and soil mass, thereby improving the timeliness and accuracy of geological disaster prediction. To ensure the reliability and long-term operation of the underground displacement three-dimensional monitoring system, this article further introduces low-power design theory and Bluetooth wireless transmission technology into the system. By optimizing the power consumption of each sensing unit, the current during the sleep period of a single sensing unit is reduced to only 0.09 mA. Dynamic power management technology is employed to minimize power consumption during each detection cycle. By using Bluetooth wireless transmission technology, the original wired communication of the system is upgraded to a relay-type wireless network communication, effectively solving the problem of the entire sensing array's operation being affected when a single sensing unit is damaged. These optimized designs not only maintain monitoring accuracy (horizontal and vertical displacement errors not exceeding 1 mm) but also enable the monitoring system to operate stably for an extended period under harsh weather conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The differences in geomechanical properties and the uncertainty in the spatial distribution of Bimrock pose significant challenges to the construction and disaster prediction of geotechnical engineering. To clarify the geomechanical characteristics of Bimrock, this paper summarizes the basic concepts and classification methods of Bimrock at home and abroad. It discusses the methods and characteristics of determining the geometric features of Bimrock blocks and explores the influencing factors and laws of failure modes and strength under different stress states of Bimrock. The study finds that the failure mode of Bimrock is mainly influenced by factors such as block proportion, degree of welding between blocks and matrix, strength ratio between blocks and matrix, and geometric properties of blocks. Among these factors, block proportion is the most significant, and the degree of welding is a controlling factor. However, due to the complexity of Bimrock structures, there is a lack of applicable methods and mechanical models for the evaluation of geomechanical characteristics of Bimrock in engineering practice. This article also explores the influence and research methods of the geological characteristics of Bimrock in slope and tunnel engineering and, finally, provides prospects for the future research trends relating to Bimrock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Northwest China is known for its Majiayao‐style Neolithic painted pottery which has received much praise for its high level of craftsmanship, yet its chain of production, in particular the step of raw material selection, is still poorly understood. To fill this lacuna, the present study explores the raw materials used in producing these wares from a geological and technological perspective. At its core stands the first geoarchaeological survey conducted around the eponymous site of Majiayao which collected 47 samples of raw materials suitable for ceramic production including clay, loess and rocks, which were all analysed macroscopically. A selection was analysed using thin‐section petrography, and a subset of the clay and loess samples were subjected to firing experiments. Additionally, three clay samples were analysed by scanning electron microscope with energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectrometer to understand their composition and behaviour in ceramic production. These were then compared to archaeological ceramics, thus providing insights into raw‐material availability and selection that will be of importance not only for research on Majiayao‐style pottery but also for later‐period ceramics produced in the area. This research shows how an archaeologically informed geological survey can contribute insights into human–environment interaction in early pottery production, especially the interplay between raw‐material availability, technological know‐how and potters' choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Longshou Shan, located in western China, plays a crucial role in connecting the Tarim Continent with the North China Craton. It provides valuable insights into the Cenozoic intracontinental deformation, the complex dynamics of Eurasian tectonics, and the relationship between the pre-Cenozoic Tethys and Central Asian orogenic systems. Consequently, comprehending the evolution of the Phanerozoic era in this region holds immense significance. Zircon (U-Th)/He (ZHe) dating was conducted on three granite samples (n = 18) collected from the Longshou Shan. The ZHe dates of these granite rocks range from 7.2 to 517.7 Ma, showing a negative correlation with eU values. Furthermore, a limestone sample from the Longshou Shan yielded ZHe (n = 4) ages of 172.0–277.1 Ma and AHe (n = 4) ages of 17–111.9 Ma. The area has undergone complex tectonic processes involving multiple phases of uplift and burial. Using both forward and inverse modeling methods, we aim to establish plausible thermal histories. Our models reveal: (1) Late Paleozoic unroofing; (2) Early Mesozoic cooling and Late Mesozoic regional stabilization; and (3) Cenozoic reheating and subsequent cooling. By investigating the intricate thermal history of the Longshou Shan through multi-method modeling, we compare different approaches and assess the capabilities of single ZHe dating for understanding a thermal history. This research contributes to unraveling the region's geological complexities and aids in evaluating various modeling methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document explores the geological features of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), specifically focusing on the Beishan orogenic assemblage in northwest China. The discovery of a Silurian gabbro in the Hongbaoshan area is discussed, which extends the Silurian SSZ-type ophiolite belt and has potential for VHMS deposits. The gabbro is primarily composed of plagioclase and pyroxene, with minor hornblende and quartz. Dating methods indicate an age of 423.6 ± 1.7 Ma, consistent with the Hongliuhe ophiolite. The gabbro samples also show enrichment in iron, gold, zinc, and copper, suggesting the presence of VHMS mineralization in a supra-subduction tectonic environment. [Extracted from the article]

Integrating a 3D geological model into the virtual Earth environment enables the display of the geological model on a larger scale, making the surrounding terrain and landform more intuitive, and improving the accuracy of geological research. Because the section analysis of 3D geological model can clearly show the geological structure and attribute information on a section, it is a popular analysis method for geologists. However, the existing methods based on Boolean operations have high requirements on the topological relationship of the model, and their efficiency and accuracy are not ideal when faced with complex 3D geological models. Meanwhile, traditional rendering-based methods can only obtain pixel-level sectional results, making measurement difficult. This paper proposes a cutting analysis algorithm for 3D geological model in virtual earth environment. This method utilizes hierarchical bounding volume (BVH) and ray intersection algorithm to extract formation boundary data, avoiding complex Boolean operations and improving the efficiency of section analysis. Furthermore, using these data to draw measurable geological section maps effectively solves the problem that the section results cannot be measured. This method can be used to quickly and effectively obtain a section diagram the conforms to the standard diagram legend, which can be directly used in the preparation of geological analysis reports. The feasibility of this method is verified by taking the section analysis of a complex 3D geological model in a certain area as an example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impact craters are extensively researched geological features that contribute to various aspects of lunar science, such as evaluating the model age, regolith thickness, etc. The method for identifying impact craters has gradually transitioned from manual counting to automated identification. Automatic crater detection based on the digital elevation model (DEM) is commonly used to detect larger craters. However, using only DEM has limitations in discerning smaller craters (diameter < ~1 km). This study utilizes an improved Faster R-CNN algorithm and the Kaguya Terrain Camera (TC) morning map to detect small impact craters in the Chang'e-5 (CE-5) landing site. It uses model fusion to improve the precision of small crater identification. The results show a recall rate of 96.33% and a precision value of 90.19% for craters with diameters exceeding 200 m. The model found a total of 187,101 impact craters in the CE-5 region. The spatial distribution density of impact craters with diameters ranging from 100 m to 200 m is approximately 2.5706/km2. For craters with diameters ranging from 200 m to 1 km, the average spatial distribution density is about 0.9016/km2. By the unbiased impact crater density of chronological analysis, the model age of the Im2 and Em4 geological units in the CE-5 region is 3.78 Ga and 2.07 Ga, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the future, the development of a zero-carbon economy will require large-scale hydrogen storage. This article addresses hydrogen storage capacities, a critical issue for large-scale hydrogen storage in geological structures. The aim of this paper is to present a methodology to evaluate the potential for hydrogen storage in depleted natural gas reservoirs and estimate the capacity and energy of stored hydrogen. The estimates took into account the recoverable reserves of the reservoirs, hydrogen parameters under reservoir conditions, and reservoir parameters of selected natural gas reservoirs. The theoretical and practical storage capacities were assessed in the depleted natural gas fields of N and NW Poland. Estimates based on the proposed methodology indicate that the average hydrogen storage potential for the studied natural gas fields ranges from 0.01 to 42.4 TWh of the hydrogen energy equivalent. Four groups of reservoirs were distinguished, which differed in recovery factor and technical hydrogen storage capacity. The issues presented in the article are of interest to countries considering large-scale hydrogen storage, geological research organizations, and companies generating electricity from renewable energy sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kresty volcano–plutonic complex (KVPC) is one of the representatives of the alkaline–ultrabasic magmatism in the Maymecha-Kotuy Alkaline Province in Polar Siberia. The geological structure of the KVPC consists of intrusive formations of olivinite–pyroxenite and melilitolite–monticellitolite bodies, a series of rocks that break through dikes of trachydolerites, syenites, granosyenites, alkaline picrites and lamprophyres. This paper summarizes the results of the authors' long-term research on the geological structure and features of the material composition of the intrusive magmatic rocks, including geochemistry, mineralogy, distribution of rare earth elements (REE), as well as the results of isotope studies. The multielement composition of the KVPC intrusions demonstrates a complex geodynamic paleoenvironment of the formation as plume nature with signs of subduction and collision. For the ultrabasic series with normal alkalinity from the first phase of the KVPC, a Sm-Nd isochron age yielded an Early Triassic (T1) result of 251 ± 25 Ma. Here, we present U-Pb dating of zircons and perovskite of high-calcium intrusive formations and a dyke complex of alkaline syenites. Thus, for the intrusion of kugdite (according to perovskite), the age determination was 249 ± 4 Ma, and for the crosscutting KVPC dykes of syenites (according to zircon) 249 ± 1 Ma and 252 ± 1 Ma. The age of the most recent dike is almost identical to the age of the main intrusive phases of the KVPC (T1), which corresponds to a larger regional event of the Siberian LIP—251 Ma. According to isotopic Sr-Nd parameters, the main source of KVPC magmas is a PREMA-type material. For dyke varieties, we assume there was an interaction of plume melts with the continental crust. The new age results obtained allow us to further constrain the episodes of alkaline–ultrabasic intrusions in Polar Siberia, taking into account the interaction of mantle plume matter and crustal material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prospecting for and exploiting buried mineral deposits is currently challenging. Given their high precision and resolution, reflection seismic methods might be useful in such applications involving deep mineral deposits. However, there are few open seismic datasets available from mineral deposit exploration, especially in hardrock environments. The world‐class Caosiyao porphyry Molybdenum deposit (1.76 Mt) in the Jining area of Inner Mongolia, China, is largely covered by loess layers, which poses challenges to its exploration. Seismic reflection surveys were conducted to help delineate the deep granite porphyry intrusions and associated orebodies. This paper presents the raw seismic reflection dataset from three profiles on the Caosiyao deposit area, which can be used as a standard dataset for reflection seismic processing in shallow coverage and hardrock areas. Situated at the juxtaposition of the Khondalite Belt and the Trans‐North China Orogen in the northern North China Craton, the Jining region hosts considerable known porphyry Mo deposits. As such, this open dataset can assist in research on deep geological structures and hence increase prospecting efficiency in geologically similar areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Baltic Ice Stream, a large fast‐flowing sector of the last Fennoscandian Ice Sheet that occupied the present‐day Baltic Sea basin, was first conceptualized in the earliest days of glacial geological research in Scandinavia. Landform and sedimentological evidence from the terrestrial margins support the concept and numerical ice‐sheet models demonstrate its existence and possible evolution. However, with evidence for the Baltic Ice Stream thus far limited to the terrestrial periphery, its true form, scale, function, and role in deglaciation have proven enigmatic. Here we present geomorphological evidence directly from the Baltic seabed that confirms the existence of and sheds light on the behaviour of the Baltic Ice Stream. Based on an extensive collection of high‐, moderate‐ and low‐resolution bathymetric terrain models covering a large proportion of the Baltic Sea floor, and complemented by LiDAR‐data for the Baltic islands, we have identified and mapped >20 000 individual subglacial bedforms, meltwater landforms and grounding line landforms. We reconstruct a six‐stage sequence of ice flow and retreat, finding that streaming was persistent in the Baltic but that pathways were variable in extent, timing and duration: different sectors of the Baltic exhibit asynchronous streaming and out‐of‐phase grounding line changes. During deglaciation, grounding line re‐advances occurred in both the southwestern and the northern Baltic Proper, and, while abundant iceberg ploughmarks attest to calving as a significant ice loss mechanism, lobate margins suggest supply to the Baltic catchment was consistently high. Our reconstruction is limited by a fragmentary geomorphic record. Here we put forward a first hypothesis for how the Baltic Ice Stream evolved, and hope it stimulates new geomorphic, stratigraphical and core data collection to extend the landform record, provide insights into subglacial and grounding line processes, and constrain the chronology for Baltic Ice Stream flow and retreat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gramberg All-Russia Research Institute for Geology and Mineral Resources of the World Ocean (FSBI VNIIOkeangeologia) carries out a wide range of research in the fields of geology, engineering geology, geophysics, and geochemistry. The specialists of the institute perform studies using most-up-to-date equipment in several directions, including the study of the geology and mineral resources of the Arctic, Antarctic and the World Ocean. The geological and tectonic maps and atlases of the Eurasian sector of the Arctic shelf and adjacent deepwater zones of the Arctic Ocean have been compiled. This allow one to recognize the rift-related basins on the East Arctic shelf of Russia, and the conjunction areas of the Lomonosov, Gakkel, and Mendeleev oceanic ridges with the Eurasian continental margin. A comprehensive interpretation of geological and geophysical data has revealed features of the tectonics of the Amerasian Basin, which indicate that the evolution of the basin structures took place under conditions of continental rifting. One of the main scientific conclusions drawn at the preparation of the Submission of the Russian Federation in respect of the continental shelf boundary in the Arctic Ocean is the proof of the continental nature of the structures of the Central Arctic Rise Complex: the Lomonosov Ridge, Podvodnikov Basin, Alpha–Mendeleev Rise, Chukchi Basin, and Chukchi Borderland. This conclusion is confirmed by the characteristics of the main layers of the Earth's crust in the above structures. A geodynamic model of the evolution of the Precambrian complexes of East Antarctica has been developed and the main tectonic provinces of Antarctica have been distinguished. A universal seismostratigraphic model of sedimentary basins has been developed for the marginal seas of East Antarctica. An important area of research in Antarctica was the study of the subglacial Lake Vostok. When studying the history of the formation of sulfide mineralization, it was found that the discharge of hydrothermal ore-bearing solutions most often occurs continuously, and only the intensity of the ore formation process changes with time. The possibility of formation of massive sulfide ore volumes additional to the main surface deposit due to metasomatic replacement of host igneous rocks has also been established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problems of the paleogeographical evolution and changes in sedimentation environment within the Indigirka River paleovalley (the East Siberian Sea) are discussed. Based on the results of geophysical and geological research and a high-resolution study of sediment cores (grain size analysis, geochemistry, macro- and micropaleontology, pollen analysis, radiocarbon dating) the development of the Holocene marine transgression has been reconstructed, sedimentation rates have been calculated, and the basic principles of changes in sedimentation processes have been established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study area is located in the south margin of the North China Block, the south end of the junction between the Ordos Block and the Hehuai Block, and is part of the Fenwei Graben System and the Shanxi Cenozoic fault basin in the central part of the North China Craton. The study area has a complex regional geological structure, intense tectonic movement, and frequent magmatic activities. Based on the latest high-precision aeromagnetic data, an integrated interpretation was completed by combining the regional geology, regional gravity, and magnetic susceptibility information. In this paper, the magnetic field characteristics and the relationship with the structure division are described in detail based on the block features in different zones of the reduction-to-the-pole aeromagnetic data. We showed that the different characteristics of the magnetic field depend on the concentrated reflection such as tectonic movement, magmatic activity, and stratigraphic distribution, and the fault structures were inferred and studied, especially the deep and large fault structures. The fault structures were distributed to the northeast (NE) and northwest (NW) directions. On the aeromagnetic map, faults are reflected as a boundary of different magnetic fields and aeromagnetic gradient belts. Under the interaction of NE and NW faults, an X-shaped fault structural system is formed. The NE faults control the magnetic field division, the sedimentary formation, magmatism, metamorphism, and mineral distribution, whereas the NW faults control the magmatism only. The NW faults are characterized by dislocation of NE faults, and the formation time of NE faults is earlier than that of NW trending faults. This study provides insight into the geophysical basis and reference for basic geological research and potential analysis for iron and other metal minerals in the study area in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Airborne time-domain electromagnetic (ATEM) which is suitable for large-scale exploration in complex terrain areas is a high-efficiency, flexible geophysical investigation technique widely applied in various fields of work with broad application prospects. It is difficult to carry out ground geophysical exploration because of the great human disturbance in the study area. By applying ATEM in the air, together with ground geophysical investigation efforts, we were able to greatly improve the hydrogeological research degree of the area and provide useful geophysical data for the fundamental geological research there. The observation system used in our study was an AeroTEM-IV system. The survey data were converted into conductivity depth information, which was used together with existing geological data to examine the electrical structure of the area. By the hydrogeological logging interpretation result, we validated the reliability of the AEM data; comprehensive interpretation was also conducted using airborne magnetic (AM) data to improve the accuracy of the interpretation result. After converting the data across the area, we yielded a three-dimensional data body representing the electrical distribution in the area, with which we inferred the Quaternary formation thickness and aquifer distribution there. Our research and interpretation results confirm that ATEM can be used as a useful means for hydrogeological survey and fundamental geological investigation. It is an effective supplement to ground geophysical exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research focuses on the geological investigation of Kaiama region, which is characterized by a diverse range of rock formations, including mylonites, porphyritic granites, gneiss, schist, phyllites, and pink granites. The study employs remote sensing techniques, utilizing Landsat 8 OLI data and Digital Elevation Models, to systematically map the spatial distribution of hydrothermal alterations and tectonic structures associated with mineralization in the Kaiama area. Various image processing methods such as Color Composites, Band Rationing, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were employed to extract valuable information from the collected datasets. Utilizing Sabins band ratios (4/2, 6/7, and 6/5), we categorized alterations associated with iron oxides, clay minerals, and ferrous minerals. PCA was applied to refine the identification of alteration zones, using two distinct sets of images: H-image (comprising bands 2, 4, 5, and 7) and F-image (comprising bands 2, 5, 6, and 7), which represented iron-oxide and hydroxyl mineral deposits, respectively. The synthesis of H, F, and H+F images in RGB format provided an optimal representation of the spatial distribution of hydrothermal alterations, exhibiting a strong positive correlation with known mining regions for gold, copper, wolframite, and tantalite within the study area. Furthermore, a comprehensive analysis of regional lineaments revealed a consistent NNE-SSW to NE-SW correlation, suggesting a predominant control on mineralization trends. This study advocates for adopting remote sensing techniques, specifically Landsat 8 data and DEM, as an effective approach for mapping hydrothermal alterations and identifying key structural controls associated with mineralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Museums are more than just repositories of cultural goods, their role in society is complex, combining cultural activity with education and entertainment. Classical ways of enhancing the value of a museum's heritage includes visiting permanent as well as temporary exhibitions, providing guides (either through recordings or by appointing guides), providing souvenirs and other artefacts (including specialist literature), organising educational programmes/workshop-type lessons; these ways of enhancing value must be sustainable and durable. Lately, related activities or variations of existing ones have also emerged, such as online workshops, online or hybrid conferences, virtual presentations of exhibitions and sometimes even museum repositories, interactive-fun applications involving key exhibits from permanent exhibitions, mobile programmes with moving collections or workshops accompanied by specialized staff. The National Geological Museum, in addition to the traditional functions of a museum, supports the promotion of geological science with all its branches. It is, in addition to the specialized higher education institutions and several other profile museums, an interactive way of information on the most important sites of geological interest in Romania and beyond; those who want to research a particular geological site, a particular formation, a group of fossils or minerals are provided with a rich and diverse material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tungsten (W) isotopes are useful tools in geological and cosmochemical research, but the chemical separation of W is cumbersome for high‐precision measurement. Here, a novel alkali (sodium hydroxide, NaOH) precipitation method for separation and purification of W in geological samples is described, which simplifies the chemical procedure. The amphoteric character of W is exploited to separate it from most matrix elements in alkaline conditions. Subsequently, TEVA resin was applied to further purify W for measurements using a multi‐collector inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometer. Importantly, the introduction of a certain amount of Na in the W analyte can increase the signal intensity by approximately 1.6 times, which may be caused by Coulomb fission. Such Na‐triggered signal enhancement reduces the test portion mass required for analysis. Our results show that the Alfa Aesar W standard solution and geological reference materials JB‐3, BCR‐2 and BHVO‐2 yield 182W/184W ratios consistent with previously reported values within uncertainty. Repeated measurement of the Alfa Aesar W standard solution shows that the intermediate precision of 182W/184W was better than 5 ppm (2s), which is sufficient to identify subtle 182W isotope variations in terrestrial and extra‐terrestrial samples. Above all, the alkali precipitation method in this study optimises the experimental process and mass spectrometric analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the total intensity F of the lithospheric field over the Xinjiang region (34–50° N, 73–96.5° E) through a three-dimensional surface spline (3DSS) model with 0.1° × 0.1° resolution, constrained by 296 ground measuring points recorded between 1936.0 and 2000.0, 10,236 aeromagnetic data points during 1970–2011, and 10,236 satellite model predictions of CHAOS-7.5. We compare predictions of the new model against those from the regional spherical harmonic (RSH) model, two-dimensional surface spline and Taylor polynomial models, and global models LCS-1 and NGDC720. We select 13,605, 18,723, and 23,841 points from three altitudes to create 3DSSS (sparse), 3DSSM (middle), 3DSSD (dense) models, allowing for external field contamination and boundary effects. Results show a good agreement between the spatially detailed 3DSS model and aeromagnetic data. The new model reveals lower error after inspecting the residuals and root mean square error (RMSE), the coefficients, and correlation coefficients between 3DSS models. The new model enables useful geological interpretation; four magnetic anomalies of Xinjiang are coincident with geological structures, and anomalies are also consistent with the tectonic facies and especially the geological distribution in eastern Tianshan. The lithospheric magnetic field in the research area reflects the magnetization difference of the basement, and its geological origin is ascribed to multi-stage magmatism. Results imply that the 3DSS model can model the spatial distributions robustly and is not sensitive to the number of modeling points. The induced field dominates the continent and has a magnetization process in the WE direction in Xinjiang. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zircon is the most important accessory mineral in geological research, and it records information on isotopes and trace elements, which is of great significance in Earth science research. Trace elements in zircons can be used to analyze the genesis of zircons, calculate the magma temperature and oxygen fugacity, and trace the magma source. Due to the limitation of visual dimensions, zircon information is mainly shown by low-dimensional diagrams in present studies, so high-dimensional relationships are difficult to determine during trace element analysis of zircons. However, with the development of machine learning, mining the high-dimensional relationships during trace element analysis of zircons has become possible. In this paper, four supervised learning algorithms including random forest, support vector machine, decision tree, and eXtreme Gradient Boosting, were implemented to analyze the trace elements of 3907 magmatic zircons from the GEOROC database, and a precise 13-dimensional data classifier model was established to distinguish the volcanic rift, ocean island, and convergent margin tectonic settings. Based on the results of accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score, eXtreme Gradient Boosting is the best machine learning approach in this paper and its results for accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score are 0.906, 0.907, 0.907, and 0.905, respectively. In summary, eXtreme Gradient Boosting could provide a high-dimensional discriminative approach to distinguish tectonic settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the characteristics of lead–zinc mine occurrences and mastering effective investigative techniques are paramount in modern ore prospecting. This research focuses on the forested region of Yichun city in China, with a specific emphasis on the strategic mineral resource of a lead–zinc mine. The study examines the distribution patterns of this mineral and employs advanced aeromagnetic exploration methods. Firstly, we analyzed the geological structure and features of the region by leveraging the latest high-precision aeromagnetic data collected using dynamic delta wing technology. This analysis was complemented by an assessment of the geological conditions of the research area, existing lead–zinc deposits, ground magnetic surveys, and verification studies. With the goal of establishing a meaningful correlation between aeromagnetic anomalies and lead–zinc deposits, we employed various potential field conversion techniques, including the reduction to the pole, vertical derivatives, upward continuation, and residual anomaly analysis techniques. Secondly, we investigated the metallogenic sites within this region and provided a comprehensive summary of the metallogenic circumstances and characteristics related to aeromagnetic prospecting. Thirdly, we employed human–computer interaction fitting inversion techniques to predict the potential for lead–zinc mine prospecting in areas exhibiting aeromagnetic anomalies. The study underscores the significance of high-amplitude and large-scale aeromagnetic anomalies in the study area. Furthermore, we examined the interplay between intrusive rocks, strata, and structural elements within the region to identify favorable conditions for lead–zinc mineralization. As a result of our analysis and discussions, a location was predicted where a lead–zinc mine may exist. The research methodology outlined in this article provides valuable insights for future lead–zinc mine exploration efforts in areas characterized by similar geological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an automated approach for inferring surface geological structures from geophysical survey data. Our method employs machine learning, using mapped geological structures as labels and filtered geophysical surveys as reference maps. We compared the performance of the eight main machine learning algorithms and their 32 branches. Applied to the Geological Survey of Victoria's database for the Bendigo Zone, following an appropriate choice of geological features, the 3‐class classification model using subspace K‐nearest neighbour methods achieves a stable and validated 92% accuracy in around 1 min. The fault‐only classification model achieves a stable and validated 97% accuracy in around 6 min. This shows that geological structural features on the surface may be inferred from between one and three of the following geophysical data types: gravity, airborne total magnetic intensity and first vertical derivative of total magnetic intensity. It shows the prospect of machine learning in geological research and suggests that geophysical data combined with machine learning may be useful and efficient in determining the existence of geological structural features. Plain Language Summary: We used machine learning algorithms (MLAs) to automatically interpret filtered geophysical survey data from the Bendigo Zone, Victoria, Australia.After training on the geophysical survey data, the MLAs successfully inferred the presence of geological boundaries, such as faults, on the surface.We compared the performance of the main types of MLA and found that a subspace K‐nearest neighbour algorithm provided an accurate and stable solution, in a timeframe that compares well with human analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Devonian-Carboniferous sedimentation and paleoenvironments along the Iberian Pyrite Belt are analysed. • Several stratigraphic hiatuses are identified and confirmed in the Neves-Corvo region. • Palynostratigraphy is an important tool to define the age of the black shales hosting the mineralization. • IPB bioevents related to the major extinction event and environment changes are documented in the Devonian-Carboniferous Boundary. • Improvement of the stratigraphy of the IPB and geological knowledge. Based on drill hole sampling and sedimentary rock dating by palynology, the present research focuses on the palynostratigraphic events established in the key geological section of Guedelhinha–Lançadoiras–Algaré located in the Portuguese Neves–Corvo mine region, Iberian Pyrite Belt. The age data allow detailing the lithostratigraphic sequence and further understanding the complex structural setting, representing an important contribution to the geological knowledge of this sector located to the immediate WNW of the Neves–Corvo VMS deposit. The combination of the studied events allows the reconstruction of the Devonian-Carboniferous sedimentation and paleoenvironments along the Iberian Pyrite Belt. Several stratigraphic hiatuses identified in the Neves–Corvo region by the palynological record are confirmed, mainly occurring from the mid Frasnian to mid Famennian, from the early and mid Strunian, and from the early to late Tournaisian, which were mainly coincident with the worldwide extinction events, in particular during Frasnian–Famennian and Late Devonian times. Extensional tectonics and related gravitational faults, local uplift mechanisms and intense volcanic activity could also explain the lack of palynological data and sedimentary hiatus. In this research, the importance of the late Strunian times in the Iberian Pyrite Belt (Miospore Biozone LN of the Neves Formation) is highlighted, confirming the contemporaneity of felsic volcanism, hydrothermalism, sulphide mineralization precipitation and black shale anoxic sedimentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In their highly influential paper, Yarkoni, Tal, and Jacob Westfall. 2017. "Choosing Prediction over Explanation in Psychology: Lessons from Machine Learning." Perspectives on Psychological Science 12 (6):1100–1122. the authors highlight difficulties in traditional explanatory research in the field of psychology and argue in favour of novel data-driven science. By applying machine-learning methods to large data sets, predictive power has been shown to increase significantly. Geological engineers are responsible for a wide range of applications, including the design of tunnels, dams, foundations, and mines. While the field of geological engineering stands on solid mechanistic grounds, we argue that its predictive aspect aligns more closely with psychology than other mechanistic sciences. We therefore propose a paradigm shift in geological engineering research towards a prediction-centric approach. Potentially, this could enhance cost-effectiveness in structural design and lead to substantial societal savings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to better integrate mineral resources in the mining area and improve mine production capacity and economic benefits, a mine plans to implement phase Ⅱ project construction（mining area Ⅱ） when the mineral resources of phase Ⅰ underground project（mining area Ⅰ） are to be nearly depleted. The paper carried out an engineering geological survey on the typical ore rock in the study area in order to demonstrate the impact of the construction of connecting roadway from mining area Ⅰ to mining area Ⅱ on the overlying rock layers of surface villages. Based on the results of on-site engineering geological survey, indoor rock mechanics test, and rock mass quality evaluation, the numerical simulation analysis research on the impact of newly excavated roadway on surface deformation is carried out. The results show that the excavation of the roadway connecting mining area Ⅰ and mining area Ⅱ only results in minus 10 mm surface displacement and will not damage the overlying rock layers of the surface villages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A shallow well was drilled in the East Siberian Sea for the first time with the purpose of geological study of the suture zone of deep waters of the Arctic Ocean and marginal structures of the continental shelf. The works have been carried out at the initiative of the Federal Agency on Mineral Resources (Rosnedra) in August 2022. The well was drilled by the Russian Geological Research Institute (VSEGEI) and Rosgeologia with the assistance of Rosneft and was linked to the Rosneft's long-term stratigraphic drilling program. Drilling was accompanied by continuous seismic-acoustic profiling and well thermometry. The maximum depth of the well was 472 m from the bottom of the sea floor; 147.5 m of core was taken to a depth of 268 m. Two sedimentary sequences were identified in the section: the Lower Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous gently deformed sequence and the Upper Neogene–Quaternary horizontally lying sequence. The sequences are separated by a thick unsampled interval with horizons of confined waters. The Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous sequence composes a northwestern-dipping monocline broken by faults and probably belongs to the complex filling the Zhokhov marginal trough of the Verkhoyansk–Chukotka orogen on the Eastern Arctic shelf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a summary of a special collection of papers presented at the Korea-Japan Joint Conference on the Geochemical and Cosmochemical Applications of Microanalysis. The papers discuss various advancements in microanalytical techniques for earth and planetary sciences. Topics covered include dating of Quaternary zircons, microstructural analysis of zircons, observations of Asian and Saharan dust particles, isotopic variations in planetary materials, a new compact magnetic separator, nanoscale analysis of noble gases, chemical analysis of lunar zirconolites, precision of Pb isotopic dating, determination of elemental abundances, development of a new standard material for meteorite zircons, and non-destructive isotope analysis using a negative muon beam. These developments have the potential to improve analytical data and contribute to the advancement of geochemistry and cosmochemistry. [Extracted from the article]

This paper focuses on the geology and geochemistry of the Rhyacian Josephine gold deposit in northwestern Ghana, where gold is primarily hosted in quartzites, with other lithologies observed, including granitoids, mafic intrusions, and gneisses. Four deformational events, DJO0, DJO1, DJO2, and DJO3, are observed. DJO0 is synonymous with the primary preserved sedimentary crossbedding in the quarzitic rocks. Gold mineralization within the deposit is mainly associated with the DJO1 NNW-trending dextral and steeply dipping sinusoidal shear zone. Gold occurs primarily as free gold and invisible gold within the lattices of the disseminated arsenopyrite along the shear foliation planes of the host rock. The ore body geometry is 15-40 m wide and strikes 800 m in the NNW direction. Silicification, sericitization, chloritization, and sulphidation are the main alteration assemblages associated with the gold mineralization zones within the Josephine deposit. Pathfinder elements for gold are stibnite, tellurium, sulphur, copper, silver, and Lead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A brief summary of the evolving applications of small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) to the microstructural research on geological materials in the last few decades is provided, including new developments and possible future directions. This is an account of authors' view of the interplay between the technical development of SANS instrumentation, methodology and sample environments and the progress of research on the evolution of organic matter, gas adsorption and desorption, fluid transport in the pore space and the microstructure of rocks, based mostly on their own research interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antarctica is of great importance in terms of global warming, the sustainability of resources, and the conservation of biodiversity. However, due to 99.66% of the continent being covered in ice and snow, geological research and geoscientific study in Antarctica face huge challenges. Geophysical surveys play a crucial role in enhancing comprehension of the fundamental structure of Antarctica. This study used bibliometric analysis to analyze citation data retrieved from the Web of Science for the period from 1982 to 2022 with geophysical research on Antarctica as the topic. According to the analysis results, the amount of Antarctic geophysical research has been steadily growing over the past four decades as related research countries/regions have become increasingly invested in issues pertaining to global warming and sustainability, and international cooperation is in sight. Moreover, based on keyword clustering and an analysis of highly cited papers, six popular research topics have been identified: Antarctic ice sheet instability and sea level change, Southern Ocean and Sea Ice, tectonic activity of the West Antarctic rift system, the paleocontinental rift and reorganization, magmatism and volcanism, and subglacial lakes and subglacial hydrology. This paper provides a detailed overview of these popular research topics and discusses the applications and advantages of the geophysical methods used in each field. Finally, based on keywords regarding abrupt changes, we identify and examine the thematic evolution of the nexus over three consecutive sub-periods (i.e., 1990–1995, 1996–2005, and 2006–2022). The relevance of using geophysics to support numerous and diverse scientific activities in Antarctica becomes very clear after analyzing this set of scientific publications, as is the importance of using multiple geophysical methods (satellite, airborne, surface, and borehole technology) to revolutionize the acquisition of new data in greater detail from inaccessible or hard-to-reach areas. Many of the advances that they have enabled be seen in the Antarctic terrestrial areas (detailed mapping of the geological structures of West and East Antarctica), ice, and snow (tracking glaciers and sea ice, along with the depth and features of ice sheets). These valuable results help identify potential future research opportunities in the field of Antarctic geophysical research and aid academic professionals in keeping up with recent advances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eugene (also spelled Yevgeniy or Evgeny) Gurov (Figure 1) was born in Kharkov, Ukrainian SSR, on March 24, 1934. 10th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, pp. 479 - 81. 22 Gurov, E. P., Valter, A. A., Gurova, E. P., and Serebrennikov, A. I. 1978. The geological structure of the crater rim was described by Gurov and Gurova ([4]) and Gurov and Yamnichenko ([23]); see also Gurov et al. ([16]). 21 Gurov, E. P., Valter, A. A., Gurova, E. P., and Kotlovskaya, F. I. 1979. [Extracted from the article]