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Volume 15
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Geosciences, Volume 15, Issue 8 (August 2025) – 44 articles

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14 pages, 967 KiB  
Perspective
Refining the Concept of Earthquake Precursory Fingerprint
by Alexandru Szakács
Geosciences 2025, 15(8), 319; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080319 - 15 Aug 2025
Abstract
The recently proposed concept of “precursory fingerprint” is a logical consequence of the commonsense statement that seismic structures are unique and that their expected preshock behaviors, including precursory phenomena, are also unique. Our new prediction-related research strategy is conceptually based on the principles [...] Read more.
The recently proposed concept of “precursory fingerprint” is a logical consequence of the commonsense statement that seismic structures are unique and that their expected preshock behaviors, including precursory phenomena, are also unique. Our new prediction-related research strategy is conceptually based on the principles of (1) the uniqueness of seismogenic structures, (2) interconnected and interacting geospheres, and (3) non-equivalence of Earth’s surface spots in terms of precursory signal receptivity. The precursory fingerprint of a given seismic structure is a unique assemblage of precursory signals of various natures (seismic, physical, chemical, and biological), detectable in principle by using a system of proper monitoring equipment that consists of a matrix of n sensors placed on the ground at “sensitive” spots identified beforehand and on orbiting satellites. In principle, it is composed of a combination of signals that are emitted by the “responsive sensors”, in addition to the “non-responsive sensors”, coming from the sensor matrix, monitoring as many virtual precursory processes as possible by continuously measuring their relevant parameters. Each measured parameter has a pre-established (by experts) threshold value and an uncertainty interval, discriminating between background and anomalous values that are visualized similarly to traffic light signals (green, yellow, and red). The precursory fingerprint can thus be viewed as a particular configuration of “precursory signals” consisting of anomalous parameter values that are unique and characteristic to the targeted seismogenic structure. Presumably, it is a complex entity that consists of pattern, space, and time components. The “pattern component” is a particular arrangement of the responsive sensors on the master board of the monitoring system yielding anomalous parameter value signals, that can be re-arranged, after a series of experiments, in a spontaneously understandable new pattern. The “space component” is a map position configuration of the signal-detecting sensors, whereas the “time component” is a characteristic time sequence of the anomalous signals including the order, occurrence time before the event, transition time between yellow and red signals, etc. Artificial intelligence using pattern-recognition algorithms can be used to follow, evaluate, and validate the precursory signal assemblage and, finally, to judge, together with an expert board of human operators, its “precursory fingerprint” relevance. Signal interpretation limitations and uncertainties related to dependencies on sensor sensibility, focal depth, and magnitude can be established by completing all three phases (i.e., experimental, validation, and implementation) of the precursory fingerprint-based earthquake prediction research strategy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Precursory Phenomena Prior to Earthquakes (2nd Edition))
21 pages, 8328 KiB  
Article
Three-Dimensional Morphometric Analysis of the Columbretes Grande Turbidite Channel (Ebro Continental Margin, NW Mediterranean)
by José Luis Casamor
Geosciences 2025, 15(8), 318; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080318 - 15 Aug 2025
Abstract
Turbidite channels are final conduits for the transfer of terrigenous detritus to the deep-sea depositional systems. Studying their morphology and geometric parameters can provide information on density flow characteristics and sedimentary processes, making it an objective and quantitative way to differentiate the deep-sea [...] Read more.
Turbidite channels are final conduits for the transfer of terrigenous detritus to the deep-sea depositional systems. Studying their morphology and geometric parameters can provide information on density flow characteristics and sedimentary processes, making it an objective and quantitative way to differentiate the deep-sea deposits they feed, which are of special interest to the oil industry. In this work, the morphology is studied, the main geometric parameters are calculated, and the potential sedimentary fill of a turbiditic channel, the Columbretes Grande channel, located on the Ebro continental margin (NW Mediterranean Sea), is reconstructed and visualized in 3D. This complete morphometric analysis shows a concave and smooth channel indicating a profile in equilibrium with local evidence of erosion. Considering the height of the flanks (< 150 m), the existence of well-developed levees, the high sinuosity of some of its reaches, and the relatively low slopes, the channel can be classified as depositional. The sinuosity index is close to 2 in some courses, and the gentle slopes suggest that the fine-grained turbidity currents that episodically circulate in its interior reach the channel’s end. Full article
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21 pages, 35452 KiB  
Article
Integrated Geophysical Techniques to Investigate Water Resources in Self-Sustained Carbon-Farming Agroforestry
by John D. Alexopoulos, Vasileios Gkosios, Ioannis-Konstantinos Giannopoulos, Spyridon Dilalos, Antonios Eleftheriou and Simos Malamis
Geosciences 2025, 15(8), 317; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080317 - 13 Aug 2025
Abstract
The present paper deals with the combined application of near-surface geophysical techniques in a sustainable agriculture project. Their application is focused on the identification of any subsurface water in the context of sustainable water management for the selected living hub, located in the [...] Read more.
The present paper deals with the combined application of near-surface geophysical techniques in a sustainable agriculture project. Their application is focused on the identification of any subsurface water in the context of sustainable water management for the selected living hub, located in the semi-arid area of Agios Georgios-Mandra Attiki. The objective of the multidisciplinary geophysical study was to determine the depth of the bedrock and the thickness of the post-Alpine deposits. In addition, the subsurface karstification and the possible aquifer presence were examined. For that reason, the following techniques were implemented: Electrical Resistivity Tomography, Seismic Refraction Tomography, Ground-Penetrating Radar, and Very-Low Frequency electromagnetic technique. The study was also supported by drone LiDAR usage. The investigation revealed several hydrogeological characteristics of the area. The thickness of the post-Alpine sediments is almost 3 m. However, no shallow aquiferous systems have been developed in this formation, as indicated by their relatively high resistivity values (100–1000 Ohm.m). Furthermore, the alpine bedrock exhibits extensive karstification, facilitated by the development of fracture zones. The absence of an underlying impermeable layer prevented the development of aquiferous zones, at least up to a depth of 100 m. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: “New Horizons in Geophysics: From Theory to Applications”)
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24 pages, 4639 KiB  
Article
Testing Satellite Snow Cover Observations Using Time-Lapse Camera Images in Mid-Latitude Mountain Ranges (Northern Spain)
by Adrián Melón-Nava and Javier Santos-González
Geosciences 2025, 15(8), 316; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080316 - 13 Aug 2025
Abstract
Reliable monitoring of snow cover in mountainous regions remains a challenge due to frequent cloud cover and the revisit limitations of optical satellites. This study compares satellite snow-cover records with >99,000 ground-based time-lapse camera observations across northern Spain (2003–2025). Cloud cover caused major [...] Read more.
Reliable monitoring of snow cover in mountainous regions remains a challenge due to frequent cloud cover and the revisit limitations of optical satellites. This study compares satellite snow-cover records with >99,000 ground-based time-lapse camera observations across northern Spain (2003–2025). Cloud cover caused major data loss, with up to 57% of satellite images affected. Effective revisit intervals (the average time between usable images) diverge substantially from nominal values: 2.3 days for MODIS, 6.9 days for Sentinel-2, and over 21 days for Landsat. A hierarchical multisensor approach with 5-day gap-filling reduced this to just 1.3 days. On dates when cameras confirmed snow, satellites underestimated snow presence by 61.6% (Sentinel-2), 71.5% (Landsat), and 79.7% (MODIS), though gap-filling approaches reduced underestimation to 49.4%—deficits largely attributable to cloud-obscured scenes. When both satellite and camera provided cloud-free observations for the same date and location, classification agreement exceeded 85%. Despite this, satellites consistently failed to detect short-lived snow events and introduced temporal biases. On average, Snow Onset Dates were detected 13–52 days later, and Snow Melt-Out Dates differed by up to 40 days compared to camera-derived records. These results have implications for snow-cover monitoring using satellite images and highlight the need for integrating ground-based observations to compensate for satellite limitations and improve snow cover seasonality assessments in complex terrains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Cryosphere)
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23 pages, 10900 KiB  
Article
GIS-Based Process Automation of Calculating the Volume of Mineral Extracted from a Deposit
by Anna Szafarczyk and Michał Siwek
Geosciences 2025, 15(8), 315; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080315 - 12 Aug 2025
Viewed by 63
Abstract
The recording of minerals extracted from a deposit is crucial for effective planning, exploitation management, and compliance with legal requirements. It also enables improved workplace safety and the minimization of negative environmental impact. Automation in mining optimizes exploitation, transportation, and data management processes, [...] Read more.
The recording of minerals extracted from a deposit is crucial for effective planning, exploitation management, and compliance with legal requirements. It also enables improved workplace safety and the minimization of negative environmental impact. Automation in mining optimizes exploitation, transportation, and data management processes, resulting in better forecasting, more accurate resource calculations, and reduced operational costs. The usage of geographic information system tools facilitates data modeling and analysis, enhancing monitoring and mining exploitation management. This paper presents the classical approach to determining the volume of extracted minerals and proposes GIS-based tools for the automation of the volume calculation process. The automation of the process is presented both from a theoretical perspective, providing requirements and parameters for individual calculation procedures, and from a practical perspective, using the example of a typical open pit mine, where the procedure is implemented starting from field measurements, carrying out calculations, and ending with visualization and interpretation. The study highlights the benefits of automating the calculation procedure for the volume of extracted minerals, including task execution acceleration, increased efficiency, reduced calculation time, and minimized human error. This ultimately leads to more precise and consistent results. Full article
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54 pages, 10419 KiB  
Review
State-of-the-Art Review and Prospect of Modelling the Dynamic Fracture of Rocks Under Impact Loads and Application in Blasting
by Muhammad Kamran, Hongyuan Liu, Daisuke Fukuda, Peng Jia, Gyeongjo Min and Andrew Chan
Geosciences 2025, 15(8), 314; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080314 - 12 Aug 2025
Viewed by 77
Abstract
The dynamic fracture of rocks under impact loads has many engineering applications such as rock blasting. This study reviews the recent achievements of investigating rock dynamic fracturing and its application in rock blasting using computational mechanics methods and highlights the prospects of modelling [...] Read more.
The dynamic fracture of rocks under impact loads has many engineering applications such as rock blasting. This study reviews the recent achievements of investigating rock dynamic fracturing and its application in rock blasting using computational mechanics methods and highlights the prospects of modelling them with a hybrid finite-discrete element method (HFDEM) originally developed by the authors. The review first summarizes the peculiarities of rock dynamic fracturing compared with static fracturing, which are that the physical-mechanical properties of rocks, including stress wave propagation, strength, fracture toughness, energy partition and cracking mechanism, depend on loading rate. Then the modelling of these peculiarities and their applications in rock blasting using fast developing computational mechanics methods are reviewed with a focus on the advantages and disadvantages of prevalent finite element method (FEM) as representative continuum method, discrete element method (DEM) as representative discontinuum method and combined finite-discrete element (FDEM) as representative hybrid method, which highlights FDEM is the most promising method for modelling rock dynamic fracture and blasting application as well as points out the research gaps in the field of modelling the dynamic fracture of rocks under impact loads. After that, the progress of shortening some of these gaps by developing and applying HFDEM, i.e., the authors’ version of FDEM, for modelling rock dynamic fracture and applications in rock blasting are reviewed, which include the features of modelling the effects of loading rate; stress wave propagation, reflection and absorbing as well as stress wave-induced fracture; explosive-rock interaction including detonation-induced gas expansion and flow through fracturing rock; coupled multiaxial static and dynamic loads; heterogeneous rock and rock mass with pre-existing discrete fracture network; and dynamic fracturing-induced fragment size distribution. Finally, the future directions of modelling the dynamic fracture of rocks under impact loads are highlighted and a systematic numerical approach is proposed for modelling rock blasting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Geomechanics)
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38 pages, 13807 KiB  
Article
A Sediment Provenance Study of Middle Jurassic to Cretaceous Strata in the Eastern Sverdrup Basin: Implications for the Exhumation of the Northeastern Canadian-Greenlandic Shield
by Michael A. Pointon, Helen Smyth, Jenny E. Omma, Andrew C. Morton, Simon Schneider, Stephen J. Rippington, Berta Lopez-Mir, Quentin G. Crowley, Dirk Frei and Michael J. Flowerdew
Geosciences 2025, 15(8), 313; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080313 - 12 Aug 2025
Viewed by 252
Abstract
The Sverdrup Basin, Arctic Canada, is ideally situated to contain an archive of tectono-magmatic and climatic events that occurred within the wider Arctic region, including the exhumation of the adjacent (northeastern) part of the Canadian-Greenlandic Shield. To test this, a multi-analytical provenance study [...] Read more.
The Sverdrup Basin, Arctic Canada, is ideally situated to contain an archive of tectono-magmatic and climatic events that occurred within the wider Arctic region, including the exhumation of the adjacent (northeastern) part of the Canadian-Greenlandic Shield. To test this, a multi-analytical provenance study of Middle Jurassic to Cretaceous sandstones from the eastern Sverdrup Basin was undertaken. Most of the samples analysed were recycled from sedimentary rocks of the Franklinian Basin, with possible additional contributions from the Mesoproterozoic Bylot basins and metasedimentary shield rocks. The amount of high-grade metamorphic detritus in samples from central Ellesmere Island increased from Middle Jurassic times. This is interpreted to reflect exhumation of the area to the southeast/east of the Sverdrup Basin. Exhumation may have its origins in Middle Jurassic extension and uplift along the northwest Sverdrup Basin margin. Rift-flank uplift along the Canadian–West Greenland conjugate margin and lithospheric doming linked with the proximity of the Iceland hotspot and/or the emplacement of the Cretaceous High Arctic Large Igneous Province may have contributed to exhumation subsequently. The southeast-to-northwest thickening of Jurassic to Early Cretaceous strata across the Sverdrup Basin may be a distal effect of exhumation rather than rifting in the Sverdrup or Amerasia basins. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: “Sedimentology and Stratigraphy”)
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51 pages, 29464 KiB  
Review
Impact of Aerosols on Cloud Microphysical Processes: A Theoretical Review
by Kécia Maria Roberto da Silva, Dirceu Luís Herdies, Paulo Yoshio Kubota, Caroline Bresciani and Silvio Nilo Figueroa
Geosciences 2025, 15(8), 312; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080312 - 11 Aug 2025
Viewed by 107
Abstract
The direct relationship between aerosols and clouds strongly influences the effects of clouds on the global climate. Aerosol particles act as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and ice nuclei (IN), affecting cloud formation, microphysics, and precipitation, as well as increasing the reflection of solar [...] Read more.
The direct relationship between aerosols and clouds strongly influences the effects of clouds on the global climate. Aerosol particles act as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and ice nuclei (IN), affecting cloud formation, microphysics, and precipitation, as well as increasing the reflection of solar radiation at the cloud tops. Processes such as gas-to-particle conversion and new particle formation (NPF) control aerosol properties that, together with meteorological conditions, regulate cloud droplet nucleation through Köhler theory and related effects. The indirect aerosol effects described by Twomey and Albrecht demonstrate how changes in aerosols impact droplet number, cloud lifetime, and precipitation efficiency. Cloud microphysical processes, including droplet growth, collision-coalescence, and solid-phase mechanisms such as riming, vapor diffusion, and aggregation, shape precipitation development in warm, cold, and mixed-phase clouds. Ice nucleation remains a significant uncertainty due to the diversity of aerosol types and nucleation modes. This work synthesizes these physical interactions to better understand how the chemical and physical properties of aerosols influence cloud and precipitation processes, supporting improvements in weather and climate prediction models despite numerical challenges arising from the complexity of aerosol–cloud interactions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Climate and Environment)
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40 pages, 14629 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Geothermal Potential of a Fractured Carbonate Reservoir (Southern Apennines, Italy): Relationships Between Structural Control and Heat Flow
by Chrysanthi Pontikou, Ioannis Vakalas, Sotirios Kokkalas, Raffaele Di Cuia, Angelo Ricciato and Giovanni Toscani
Geosciences 2025, 15(8), 311; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080311 - 11 Aug 2025
Viewed by 266
Abstract
As part of the energy transition needed to mitigate global warming, the study and sustainable exploitation of geothermal resources—a largely underutilized form of energy and heat production—is crucial. The availability of subsurface data acquired for oil and gas exploration purposes provides an opportunity [...] Read more.
As part of the energy transition needed to mitigate global warming, the study and sustainable exploitation of geothermal resources—a largely underutilized form of energy and heat production—is crucial. The availability of subsurface data acquired for oil and gas exploration purposes provides an opportunity to reconsider these data to enhance the use of geothermal potential. This is the case of a fractured carbonate reservoir in the Southern Apennines (Italy). All available subsurface data were gathered, homogenized, and reinterpreted to build a 3D geological model of the study area, where a positive thermal anomaly is known, yet the mechanisms and pathways of heat transport were previously unclear. By integrating subsurface, temperature, and literature data, a geological model is proposed that explains how high temperatures and heat propagation are closely linked to specific geological features. By cross-referencing and weighing the relevance of data for geothermal purposes, an attempt is made to rank the geothermal potential of existing wells in the area. This study demonstrates how a well-constrained geological model and the joint analysis of multidisciplinary data can provide the necessary knowledge base for conducting further technical, engineering, and economic analyses to assess the commercial viability of the identified geothermal resource. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Structural Geology and Tectonics)
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2 pages, 132 KiB  
Correction
Correction: Telesca et al. Statistical Investigation of the 2020–2023 Micro-Seismicity in Enguri Area (Georgia). Geosciences 2025, 15, 247
by Luciano Telesca, Nino Tsereteli, Nazi Tugushi and Tamaz Chelidze
Geosciences 2025, 15(8), 310; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080310 - 11 Aug 2025
Viewed by 66
Abstract
There was an error in the original publication [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Geophysics)
25 pages, 5810 KiB  
Article
Pliocene Marine Bivalvia from Vale Farpado (Pombal, Portugal): Palaeoenvironmental and Palaecological Significance
by Ricardo J. Pimentel, Pedro M. Callapez, Mahima Pai, Paulo Legoinha and Pedro A. Dinis
Geosciences 2025, 15(8), 309; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080309 - 8 Aug 2025
Viewed by 359
Abstract
The western Iberian marine Pliocene represents a key transitional zone between tropical and boreal molluscan faunas. Recent studies at the rediscovered fossil locality of Vale Farpado have yielded 34 bivalve species, distributed among 18 families. The most diverse families identified are Veneridae and [...] Read more.
The western Iberian marine Pliocene represents a key transitional zone between tropical and boreal molluscan faunas. Recent studies at the rediscovered fossil locality of Vale Farpado have yielded 34 bivalve species, distributed among 18 families. The most diverse families identified are Veneridae and Pectinidae. The assemblage is predominantly composed of suspension- and deposit-feeding taxa, with no evidence of carnivorous feeding strategies. Most taxa exhibit an infaunal life habitat. Initial colonising bivalve communities inhabited mobile, gravel-dominated substrates, where coarse clasts and disarticulated bioclasts provided stable microhabitats for epifaunal species. Over time, later assemblages became established, primarily on sandy substrates. Palaeoenvironmental indicators, including molluscs and foraminifera, suggest that these benthic communities occupied the infralittoral zone, at depths generally shallower than 30 metres, and the sea surface temperatures were broadly subtropical. However, periodic incursions of cooler, nutrient-rich waters driven by upwelling systems influenced local conditions, enhancing primary productivity and supporting a taxonomically rich and ecologically complex benthic ecosystem. The bivalve assemblages of Vale Farpado thus contribute valuable insights into the palaeoecology and biogeographical dynamics of the Pliocene North Atlantic, particularly in the context of sea surface temperature gradients and bivalve faunal interchange between temperate and tropical marine realms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sedimentology, Stratigraphy and Palaeontology)
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21 pages, 4201 KiB  
Article
Short-Term Geomorphological Changes of the Sabato River (Southern Italy)
by Francesca Martucci, Floriana Angelone, Edoardo G. D’Onofrio, Filippo Russo and Paolo Magliulo
Geosciences 2025, 15(8), 308; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080308 - 8 Aug 2025
Viewed by 273
Abstract
Short-term channel adjustments are a research topic of great relevance in the framework of fluvial geomorphology, but studies on this topic have been quite scarce in Southern Italy, at least since the 2010s, notwithstanding the fact that this area is strongly representative of [...] Read more.
Short-term channel adjustments are a research topic of great relevance in the framework of fluvial geomorphology, but studies on this topic have been quite scarce in Southern Italy, at least since the 2010s, notwithstanding the fact that this area is strongly representative of a much wider morphoclimatic context, i.e., the Mediterranean area, which particularly suffers from the effects of current climate change. Currently, different interpretations still exist about the type and role of controlling factors, and a common morphoevolutionary trend is quite far from being defined; so, new case studies are needed. In this paper, the geomorphological changes experienced by the Sabato R. (Southern Italy) over a period of ~150 years were investigated. A reach-scale geomorphological analysis in a GIS environment of raster data, consisting of four topographic maps (from 1870, 1909, 1941 and 1955) and five sets of orthophotos (from 1998, 2004, 2008, 2011 and 2014), was carried out, integrated with field-surveyed data. Land-use changes, in-channel anthropic disturbances, floods and rainfall variations were selected as possible controlling factors. The study highlighted four morphoevolutionary phases of the studied river. Phase 1 (1870s–1910s) was characterized by a relative channel stability in terms of both mean width and pattern, while channel widening dominated during Phase 2 (1910s–1940s). In contrast, Phase 3 (1940s–1990s) was characterized by intense and diffuse narrowing. Finally, during Phase 4 (from the 1990s onward), an alternation in channel narrowing and flood-induced widening was detected. During all phases, changes in both channel pattern and riverbed elevation were less evident than those in channel width. Land-use changes and, later, floods, in addition to in-channel human disturbances at a local scale, were the main controlling factors. The obtained results have profound implications for rivers located outside Italy as well, as they provide new insights into the role played by the considered controlling factors in the geomorphological evolution of a typical Mediterranean river. Understanding this role is fundamental in regional-scale river management, hazard mitigation and environmental planning, as proved by the vast pre-existing scientific literature. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrating Geomorphological and Hydrological Insights for Flood Risk Assessment)
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28 pages, 4027 KiB  
Review
Isotopes in Archeology: Perspectives on Post-Mortem Alteration and Climate Change
by Antonio Simonetti and Michele R. Buzon
Geosciences 2025, 15(8), 307; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080307 - 7 Aug 2025
Viewed by 434
Abstract
Isotopic investigations focused on determining the mobility and provenance of ancient human civilizations and sourcing of archeological artifacts continue to gain prominence in archeology. Most studies focus on the premise that the geographic variation in isotope systems of interest (e.g., Sr, Pb, Nd, [...] Read more.
Isotopic investigations focused on determining the mobility and provenance of ancient human civilizations and sourcing of archeological artifacts continue to gain prominence in archeology. Most studies focus on the premise that the geographic variation in isotope systems of interest (e.g., Sr, Pb, Nd, O) in the natural environment is recorded in both human hard tissues of local individuals and raw materials sourced for artifacts within the same region. The introduction of multi-collection–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) and laser ablation systems are techniques that consume smaller sample sizes compared to previous mass spectrometric approaches due to their higher ionization efficiency and increased sensitivity. This development has facilitated the isotopic measurement of trace elements present at low abundances (e.g., Pb, Nd, <1-to-low ppm range) particularly in human tooth enamel. Accurate interpretation of any isotope ratio measurement for the proveniencing of such low-abundance samples requires the adequate evaluation of post-mortem diagenetic alteration. A synopsis of practices currently in use for identifying post-mortem alteration in human archeological samples is discussed here. Post-mortem shifts in radiogenic isotope signatures resulting from secondary alteration are distinct from those potentially related to the impact of climate change on the bioavailable budgets for these elements. This topic is of interest to the archeological community and discussed here in the context of Holocene-aged samples from burial sites within the Nile River Valley System, and preferred dust source areas from the neighboring Sahara Desert. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Isotope Geochemistry: Latest Developments and Applications for Geosciences)
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23 pages, 3031 KiB  
Article
Integrated Capuchin Search Algorithm-Optimized Multilayer Perceptron for Robust and Precise Prediction of Blast-Induced Airblast in a Blasting Mining Operation
by Kesalopa Gaopale, Takashi Sasaoka, Akihiro Hamanaka and Hideki Shimada
Geosciences 2025, 15(8), 306; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080306 - 6 Aug 2025
Viewed by 240
Abstract
Blast-induced airblast poses a significant environmental and operational issue for surface mining, affecting safety, regulatory adherence, and the well-being of surrounding communities. Despite advancements in machine learning methods for predicting airblast, present studies neglect essential geomechanical characteristics, specifically rock mass strength (RMS), which [...] Read more.
Blast-induced airblast poses a significant environmental and operational issue for surface mining, affecting safety, regulatory adherence, and the well-being of surrounding communities. Despite advancements in machine learning methods for predicting airblast, present studies neglect essential geomechanical characteristics, specifically rock mass strength (RMS), which is vital for energy transmission and pressure-wave attenuation. This paper presents a capuchin search algorithm-optimized multilayer perceptron (CapSA-MLP) that incorporates RMS, hole depth (HD), maximum charge per delay (MCPD), monitoring distance (D), total explosive mass (TEM), and number of holes (NH). Blast datasets from a granite quarry were utilized to train and test the model in comparison to benchmark approaches, such as particle swarm optimized artificial neural network (PSO-ANN), multivariate regression analysis (MVRA), and the United States Bureau of Mines (USBM) equation. CapSA-MLP outperformed PSO-ANN (RMSE = 1.120, R2 = 0.904 compared to RMSE = 1.284, R2 = 0.846), whereas MVRA and USBM exhibited lower accuracy. Sensitivity analysis indicated RMS as the main input factor. This study is the first to use CapSA-MLP with RMS for airblast prediction. The findings illustrate the significance of metaheuristic optimization in developing adaptable, generalizable models for various rock types, thereby improving blast design and environmental management in mining activities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Geomechanics)
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19 pages, 14233 KiB  
Article
Subsurface Characterization of the Merija Anticline’s Rooting Using Integrated Geophysical Techniques: Implications for Copper Exploration
by Mohammed Boumehdi, Hicham Khebbi, Doha Dchar, Lahsen Achkouch, Anwar Ain Tagzalt, Nour Eddine Berkat, Mohammed Magoua, Youssef Hahou and Othman Sadki
Geosciences 2025, 15(8), 305; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080305 - 6 Aug 2025
Viewed by 228
Abstract
This study investigates the subsurface rooting of the Merija anticline in the Missour Basin, Morocco, with a focus on copper mineralization exploration. A sequential geophysical workflow was implemented, combining gravity surveys, electrical resistivity (ER), and induced polarization (IP) methods. The gravity data, acquired [...] Read more.
This study investigates the subsurface rooting of the Merija anticline in the Missour Basin, Morocco, with a focus on copper mineralization exploration. A sequential geophysical workflow was implemented, combining gravity surveys, electrical resistivity (ER), and induced polarization (IP) methods. The gravity data, acquired along spaced profiles extending from outcropping areas to Quaternary-covered zones, clearly delineated the structural continuity of the anticline beneath the cover. The application of trend filtering in covered areas allowed the removal of regional effects, successfully isolating residual anomalies associated with the buried continuation of the anticline. Interpolated Bouguer anomaly maps highlighted a major regional fault, interpreted as controlling the deep rooting of the anticline. A resistivity profile was then deployed perpendicular to this fault, providing detailed imaging of the anticline’s geometry and lithological contrasts. Complementary IP profiles conducted near the mine site targeted the detection of chargeability anomalies associated with copper mineralization dominated by malachite, confirming the electrical signature of copper mineralization, particularly within the sandstone and conglomerate formations of the Lower Cretaceous. To validate the geophysical interpretations, a drilling campaign was conducted, which confirmed the presence of the identified lithological units and the anticline rooting, as revealed by geophysical data. This approach provides a robust framework for copper exploration in the Merija area and can be adapted to similar geological contexts elsewhere. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Geophysics)
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21 pages, 1212 KiB  
Article
A Semi-Supervised Approach to Characterise Microseismic Landslide Events from Big Noisy Data
by David Murray, Lina Stankovic and Vladimir Stankovic
Geosciences 2025, 15(8), 304; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080304 - 6 Aug 2025
Viewed by 204
Abstract
Most public seismic recordings, sampled at hundreds of Hz, tend to be unlabelled, i.e., not catalogued, mainly because of the sheer volume of samples and the amount of time needed by experts to confidently label detected events. This is especially challenging for very [...] Read more.
Most public seismic recordings, sampled at hundreds of Hz, tend to be unlabelled, i.e., not catalogued, mainly because of the sheer volume of samples and the amount of time needed by experts to confidently label detected events. This is especially challenging for very low signal-to-noise ratio microseismic events that characterise landslides during rock and soil mass displacement. Whilst numerous supervised machine learning models have been proposed to classify landslide events, they rely on a large amount of labelled datasets. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop tools to effectively automate the data-labelling process from a small set of labelled samples. In this paper, we propose a semi-supervised method for labelling of signals recorded by seismometers that can reduce the time and expertise needed to create fully annotated datasets. The proposed Siamese network approach learns best class-exemplar anchors, leveraging learned similarity between these anchor embeddings and unlabelled signals. Classification is performed via soft-labelling and thresholding instead of hard class boundaries. Furthermore, network output explainability is used to explain misclassifications and we demonstrate the effect of anchors on performance, via ablation studies. The proposed approach classifies four landslide classes, namely earthquakes, micro-quakes, rockfall and anthropogenic noise, demonstrating good agreement with manually detected events while requiring few training data to be effective, hence reducing the time needed for labelling and updating models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Approaches with Seismic Techniques to Investigate Landslide Areas)
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14 pages, 7406 KiB  
Article
Machine Learning-Driven Calibration of MODFLOW Models: Comparing Random Forest and XGBoost Approaches
by Husam Musa Baalousha
Geosciences 2025, 15(8), 303; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080303 - 5 Aug 2025
Viewed by 241
Abstract
The groundwater inverse problem has several challenges such as instability, non-uniqueness, and complexity, especially for heterogeneous aquifers. Solving the inverse problem is the traditional way to calibrate models, but it is both time-consuming and sensitive to errors in the measurements. This study explores [...] Read more.
The groundwater inverse problem has several challenges such as instability, non-uniqueness, and complexity, especially for heterogeneous aquifers. Solving the inverse problem is the traditional way to calibrate models, but it is both time-consuming and sensitive to errors in the measurements. This study explores the use of machine learning (ML) surrogate models, namely Random Forest (RF) and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), to solve the inverse problem for the groundwater model calibration. Datasets for 20 hydraulic conductivity fields were created randomly based on statistics of hydraulic conductivity from the available data of the Northern Aquifer of Qatar, which was used as a case study. The corresponding hydraulic head values were obtained using MODFLOW simulations, and the data were used to train and validate the ML models. The trained surrogate models were used to estimate the hydraulic conductivity based on field observations. The results show that both RF and XGBoost have considerable predictive skill, with RF having better R2 and RMSE values (R2 = 0.99 for training, 0.93 for testing) than XGBoost (R2 = 0.86 for training, 0.85 for testing). The ML-based method lowered the computational effort greatly compared to the classical solution of the inverse problem (i.e., using PEST) and still produced strong and reliable spatial patterns of hydraulic conductivity. This demonstrates the potential of machine learning models for calibrating complex groundwater systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Hydrogeology)
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19 pages, 6218 KiB  
Article
Quantitative Relationship Between Electrical Resistivity and Water Content in Unsaturated Loess: Theoretical Model and ERT Imaging Verification
by Hu Zeng, Qianli Zhang, Cui Du, Jie Liu and Yilin Li
Geosciences 2025, 15(8), 302; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080302 - 5 Aug 2025
Viewed by 271
Abstract
As a typical porous medium, unsaturated loess demonstrates critical hydro-mechanical coupling properties that fundamentally influence geohazard mitigation, groundwater resource evaluation, and foundation stability in geotechnical engineering. This investigation develops a novel theoretical framework to overcome the limitations of existing models in converting electrical [...] Read more.
As a typical porous medium, unsaturated loess demonstrates critical hydro-mechanical coupling properties that fundamentally influence geohazard mitigation, groundwater resource evaluation, and foundation stability in geotechnical engineering. This investigation develops a novel theoretical framework to overcome the limitations of existing models in converting electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) profiles into water content distributions for unsaturated loess through quantitative inversion modeling. Systematic laboratory investigations on remolded loess specimens with controlled density and water content conditions revealed distinct resistivity–water interaction mechanisms. A characteristic two-stage decay pattern was identified: resistivity exhibited an exponential decrease from 420 Ω·m (water saturation (Sw = 10%)) to 90 Ω·m (Sw = 40%), followed by asymptotic stabilization at Sw ≥ 40%. The derived quantitative correlation provides a robust mathematical basis for water content profile inversion. Field validation through integrated ERT and borehole data demonstrated exceptional predictive accuracy in shallow strata (<20 m depth), achieving mean absolute errors of <5%. However, inversion reliability decreased with depth (>20 m), primarily attributed to density-dependent charge transport mechanisms. This underscores the necessity of incorporating coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical processes for deep-layer characterization. This study provides a robust framework for engineering applications of ERT in loess terrains, offering significant advancements in geotechnical monitoring and geohazard prevention. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Transport, Transformation and Cycling of Elements in Water and Soil and Their Response to Human Activities)
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58 pages, 10593 KiB  
Article
Statistical Physics of Fissure Swarms and Dike Swarms
by Agust Gudmundsson
Geosciences 2025, 15(8), 301; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080301 - 4 Aug 2025
Viewed by 261
Abstract
Fissure swarms and dike swarms in Iceland constitute the main parts of volcanic systems that are 40–150 km long, 5–20 km wide, extend to depths of 10–20 km, and contain 2 × 1014 outcrop-scale (≥0.1 m) and 1022–23 down to grain-scale [...] Read more.
Fissure swarms and dike swarms in Iceland constitute the main parts of volcanic systems that are 40–150 km long, 5–20 km wide, extend to depths of 10–20 km, and contain 2 × 1014 outcrop-scale (≥0.1 m) and 1022–23 down to grain-scale (≥1 mm) fractures, suggesting that statistical physics is an appropriate method of analysis. Length-size distributions of 565 outcrop-scale Holocene fissures (tension fractures and normal faults) and 1041 Neogene dikes show good to excellent fits with negative power laws and exponential laws. Here, the Helmholtz free energy is used to represent the energy supplied to the swarms and to derive the Gibbs–Shannon entropy formula. The calculated entropies of 12 sets and subsets of fissures and 3 sets and subsets of dikes all show strong positive correlations with sets/subsets length ranges and scaling exponents. Statistical physics considerations suggest that, at a given time, the probability of the overall state of stress in a crustal segment being heterogeneous is much greater than the state of stress being homogeneous and favourable to the propagation of a fissure or a dike. In a heterogeneous stress field, most fissures/dikes become arrested after a short propagation—which is a formal explanation of the observed statistical size-length distributions. As the size of the stress-homogenised rock volume increases larger fissures/dikes can form, increasing the length range of the distribution (and its entropy) which may, potentially, transform from an exponential distribution into a power-law distribution. Full article
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29 pages, 12422 KiB  
Article
Real-Time Foreshock–Aftershock–Swarm Discrimination During the 2025 Seismic Crisis near Santorini Volcano, Greece: Earthquake Statistics and Complex Networks
by Ioanna Triantafyllou, Gerassimos A. Papadopoulos, Constantinos Siettos and Konstantinos Spiliotis
Geosciences 2025, 15(8), 300; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080300 - 4 Aug 2025
Viewed by 1390
Abstract
The advanced determination of the type (foreshock–aftershock–swarm) of an ongoing seismic cluster is quite challenging; only retrospective solutions have thus far been proposed. In the period of January–March 2025, a seismic cluster, recorded between Santorini volcano and Amorgos Island, South Aegean Sea, caused [...] Read more.
The advanced determination of the type (foreshock–aftershock–swarm) of an ongoing seismic cluster is quite challenging; only retrospective solutions have thus far been proposed. In the period of January–March 2025, a seismic cluster, recorded between Santorini volcano and Amorgos Island, South Aegean Sea, caused considerable social concern. A rapid increase in both the seismicity rate and the earthquake magnitudes was noted until the mainshock of ML = 5.3 on 10 February; afterwards, activity gradually diminished. Fault-plane solutions indicated SW-NE normal faulting. The epicenters moved with a mean velocity of ~0.72 km/day from SW to NE up to the mainshock area at a distance of ~25 km. Crucial questions publicly emerged during the cluster. Was it a foreshock–aftershock activity or a swarm of possibly volcanic origin? We performed real-time discrimination of the cluster type based on a daily re-evaluation of the space–time–magnitude changes and their significance relative to background seismicity using earthquake statistics and the topological metric betweenness centrality. Our findings were periodically documented during the ongoing cluster starting from the fourth cluster day (2 February 2025), at which point we determined that it was a foreshock and not a case of seismic swarm. The third day after the ML = 5.3 mainshock, a typical aftershock decay was detected. The observed foreshock properties favored a cascade mechanism, likely facilitated by non-volcanic material softening and the likely subdiffusion processes in a dense fault network. This mechanism was possibly combined with an aseismic nucleation process if transient geodetic deformation was present. No significant aftershock expansion towards the NE was noted, possibly due to the presence of a geometrical fault barrier east of the Anydros Ridge. The 2025 activity offered an excellent opportunity to investigate deciphering the type of ongoing seismicity cluster for real-time discrimination between foreshocks, aftershocks, and swarms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: Natural Hazards)
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16 pages, 21475 KiB  
Article
Palynostratigraphy of the “Muschelkalk Sedimentary Cycle” in the NW Iberian Range, Central Spain
by Manuel García-Ávila, Soledad García-Gil and José B. Diez
Geosciences 2025, 15(8), 299; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080299 - 4 Aug 2025
Viewed by 401
Abstract
The Muschelkalk sedimentary cycle in the northwestern region of the Iberian Range (central Spain) lies within a transitional area between the Iberian and Hesperia type Triassic domains. To improve the understanding of its paleopalynological record, fifty samples were analyzed from ten stratigraphic sections [...] Read more.
The Muschelkalk sedimentary cycle in the northwestern region of the Iberian Range (central Spain) lies within a transitional area between the Iberian and Hesperia type Triassic domains. To improve the understanding of its paleopalynological record, fifty samples were analyzed from ten stratigraphic sections corresponding to the Tramacastilla Dolostones Formation (TD Fm.), Cuesta del Castillo Sandstones and Siltstones Formation (CCSS Fm.), and Royuela Dolostones, Marls and Limestones Formation (RDML Fm.). Despite previous studies in the area, palynological data remain scarce or insufficiently detailed, highlighting the need for a systematic reassessment. Based on the identified palynological assemblages, the succession is assigned to an age spanning from the Fassanian to the Longobardian, with a possible extension into the base of the Julian (early Carnian). The results confirm that the siliciclastic unit (CCSS) represents a lateral facies change with respect to the carbonate formations of the upper Muschelkalk (TD and RDML). From a paleoecological perspective, the assemblages indicate a warm and predominantly dry environment, dominated by xerophytic conifers, although evidence of more humid local environments, such as marshes or coastal plains, is also observed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sedimentology, Stratigraphy and Palaeontology)
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21 pages, 4289 KiB  
Article
H2 Transport in Sedimentary Basin
by Luisa Nicoletti, Juan Carlos Hidalgo, Dariusz Strąpoć and Isabelle Moretti
Geosciences 2025, 15(8), 298; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080298 - 3 Aug 2025
Viewed by 484
Abstract
Natural hydrogen is generated by fairly deep processes and/or in low-permeability rocks. In such contexts, fluids circulate mainly through the network of faults and fractures. However, hydrogen flows from these hydrogen-generating layers can reach sedimentary rocks with more typical permeability and porosity, allowing [...] Read more.
Natural hydrogen is generated by fairly deep processes and/or in low-permeability rocks. In such contexts, fluids circulate mainly through the network of faults and fractures. However, hydrogen flows from these hydrogen-generating layers can reach sedimentary rocks with more typical permeability and porosity, allowing H2 flows to spread out rather than be concentrated in fractures. In that case, three different H2 transport modes exist: advection (displacement of water carrying dissolved gas), diffusion, and free gas Darcy flow. Numerical models have been run to compare the efficiency of these different modes and the pathway they imply for the H2 in a sedimentary basin with active aquifers. The results show the key roles of these aquifers but also the competition between free gas flow and the dissolved gas displacement which can go in opposite directions. Even with a conservative hypothesis on the H2 charge, a gaseous phase exists at few kilometers deep as well as free gas accumulation. Gaseous phase displacement could be the faster and diffusion is neglectable. The modeling also allows us to predict where H2 is expected in the soil: in fault zones, eventually above accumulations, and, more likely, due to exsolution, above shallow aquifers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy in Energy Extraction: Geological Insights and Innovations)
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23 pages, 28189 KiB  
Article
Landslide Susceptibility Prediction Using GIS, Analytical Hierarchy Process, and Artificial Neural Network in North-Western Tunisia
by Manel Mersni, Dhekra Souissi, Adnen Amiri, Abdelaziz Sebei, Mohamed Hédi Inoubli and Hans-Balder Havenith
Geosciences 2025, 15(8), 297; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080297 - 3 Aug 2025
Viewed by 860
Abstract
Landslide susceptibility modelling represents an efficient approach to enhance disaster management and mitigation strategies. The focus of this paper lies in the development of a landslide susceptibility evaluation in northwestern Tunisia using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) approaches. [...] Read more.
Landslide susceptibility modelling represents an efficient approach to enhance disaster management and mitigation strategies. The focus of this paper lies in the development of a landslide susceptibility evaluation in northwestern Tunisia using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) approaches. The used database covers 286 landslides, including ten landslide factor maps: rainfall, slope, aspect, topographic roughness index, lithology, land use and land cover, distance from streams, drainage density, lineament density, and distance from roads. The AHP and ANN approaches were applied to classify the factors by analyzing the correlation relationship between landslide distribution and the significance of associated factors. The Landslide Susceptibility Index result reveals five susceptible zones organized from very low to very high risk, where the zones with the highest risks are associated with the combination of extreme amounts of rainfall and steep slope. The performance of the models was confirmed utilizing the area under the Relative Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves. The computed ROC curve (AUC) values (0.720 for ANN and 0.651 for AHP) convey the advantage of the ANN method compared to the AHP method. The overlay of the landslide inventory data locations of historical landslides and susceptibility maps shows the concordance of the results, which is in favor of the established model reliability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Natural Hazards)
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19 pages, 865 KiB  
Article
What Are US Undergraduates Taught and What Have They Learned About US Continental Crust and Its Sedimentary Basins?
by Clinton Whitaker Crowley and Robert James Stern
Geosciences 2025, 15(8), 296; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080296 - 2 Aug 2025
Viewed by 266
Abstract
We need to educate students and the public about addressing natural resource challenges to maintain civilization moving into a sustainable future. Because US mineral and energy resources are found in its continental crust and sedimentary basins, introductory geology students need to be well-informed [...] Read more.
We need to educate students and the public about addressing natural resource challenges to maintain civilization moving into a sustainable future. Because US mineral and energy resources are found in its continental crust and sedimentary basins, introductory geology students need to be well-informed about US crust and basins. We think that creating effective videos about these topics is the best way to engage students to want to learn more. In preparation for making these videos, we researched what introductory geology students are taught and what they learn about these topics. Student interviews informed us about learned curriculum, and taught curriculum was analyzed using a novel keyword-counting method applied to textbook indices. We found that geophysics is stressed twice as much as geology, radiometric dating, and sedimentary basins. We expected that students would have learned more about geophysics and less about the other topics; however, this was not the case. Students knew more about geology, and less about geophysics, radiometric dating, and sedimentary basins. To make effective videos on these topics, we need to explain the following threshold concepts: seismic refraction to scaffold student understanding of crustal geophysics, as well as radiometric dating and deep time to understand crustal geology and the economic importance of sedimentary basins. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sedimentology, Stratigraphy and Palaeontology)
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23 pages, 2750 KiB  
Article
Seasonal Sea Surface Temperatures from Mercenaria spp. During the Plio-Pleistocene: Oxygen Isotope Versus Clumped Isotope Paleothermometers
by Garrett F. N. Braniecki, Donna Surge and Ethan G. Hyland
Geosciences 2025, 15(8), 295; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080295 - 2 Aug 2025
Viewed by 329
Abstract
The Mid-Piacenzian Warm Interval (MPWI) is marked by warmer temperatures and higher atmospheric CO2 levels than today, making it an analogue for late-21st-century-warming, whereas the early Pleistocene cooling is more like today. We compare seasonal growth temperatures derived from oxygen isotope ratios [...] Read more.
The Mid-Piacenzian Warm Interval (MPWI) is marked by warmer temperatures and higher atmospheric CO2 levels than today, making it an analogue for late-21st-century-warming, whereas the early Pleistocene cooling is more like today. We compare seasonal growth temperatures derived from oxygen isotope ratios (δ18O) and clumped isotopes (∆47) in Mercenaria. Modern shells were previously collected from coastal NC. The fossil shells are from the Duplin (MPWI) and Waccamaw Formations (early Pleistocene), NC. Oxygen isotope ratios range from −2.2‰ to 2.3‰ (modern), −0.9‰ to 2.4‰ (MPWI), and −0.9‰ to 2.9‰ (early Pleistocene). The values of Δ47 range from 0.576‰ to 0.639‰ (modern), 0.566‰ to 0.621‰ (MPWI), and 0.581‰ to 0.615‰ (early Pleistocene). We show that Mercenaria do not require a species-specific ∆47 calibration. Modern and MPWI ∆47-derived summer/winter temperatures (SST∆47) and seasonal amplitudes are indistinguishable from δ18O-derived temperatures. The early Pleistocene summer SST∆47 is indistinguishable from δ18O-derived temperatures, but the winter SST∆47 is warmer by 5 °C and may reflect within-shell time averaging. The modern summer/winter SST∆47 are indistinguishable from the MPWI, but the MPWI has a lower seasonal amplitude by 5 °C. Compared to our calculated δ18Osw values, modeled values for the MPWI are within error but are much lower, and they are not within error for the early Pleistocene. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pliocene Studies in Paleobiology, Paleoenvironment and Paleoclimate)
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37 pages, 9057 KiB  
Review
Palaeoclimatic Geoheritage in the Age of Climate Change: Educational Use of the Pleistocene Glacial and Periglacial Geodiversity
by Paweł Wolniewicz and Maria Górska-Zabielska
Geosciences 2025, 15(8), 294; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080294 - 2 Aug 2025
Viewed by 604
Abstract
The lithological record of past climates and climate changes reveals significant potential in enhancing education and understanding of global climate changes and their impacts on contemporary societies. A relatively young geological record of Pleistocene cooling and glaciations serves as one of the most [...] Read more.
The lithological record of past climates and climate changes reveals significant potential in enhancing education and understanding of global climate changes and their impacts on contemporary societies. A relatively young geological record of Pleistocene cooling and glaciations serves as one of the most useful geo-educational tools. The present study encompasses a comprehensive review of ongoing efforts to assess and communicate the glacial geoheritage of the Pleistocene, with a detailed case study of Poland. A literature review is conducted to evaluate the extent of scientific work on inventorying and communicating the geodiversity of Pleistocene glacial and periglacial environments globally. The study demonstrates a steady increase in the number of scientific contributions focused on the evaluation and promotion of Pleistocene geoheritage, with a notable transition from the description of geosites to the establishment of geoconservation practices and educational strategies. The relative complexity of the palaeoclimatic record and the presence of glacial geodiversity features across extensive areas indicate that effective scientific communication of climate changes requires careful selection of a limited number of geodiversity elements and sediment types. In this context, the use of glacial erratic boulders and rock gardens for promotion of Pleistocene glacial geoheritage is advocated, and the significance of educational initiatives for local communities and the preservation of geocultural heritage is outlined in detail. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Research Trends of Geoheritage and Geoconservation)
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20 pages, 5875 KiB  
Article
Optimizing Rock Bolt Support for Large Underground Structures Using 3D DFN-DEM Method
by Nooshin Senemarian Isfahani, Amin Azhari, Hem B. Motra, Hamid Hashemalhoseini, Mohammadreza Hajian Hosseinabadi, Alireza Baghbanan and Mohsen Bazargan
Geosciences 2025, 15(8), 293; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080293 - 2 Aug 2025
Viewed by 356
Abstract
A systematic sensitivity analysis using three-dimensional discrete element models with discrete fracture networks (DEM-DFN) was conducted to evaluate underground excavation support in jointed rock masses at the CLAB2 site in Southeastern Sweden. The site features a joint network comprising six distinct joint sets, [...] Read more.
A systematic sensitivity analysis using three-dimensional discrete element models with discrete fracture networks (DEM-DFN) was conducted to evaluate underground excavation support in jointed rock masses at the CLAB2 site in Southeastern Sweden. The site features a joint network comprising six distinct joint sets, each with unique geometrical properties. The study examined 10 DFNs and 19 rock bolt patterns, both conventional and unconventional. It covered 200 scenarios, including 10 unsupported and 190 supported cases. Technical and economic criteria for stability were assessed for each support system. The results indicated that increasing rock bolt length enhances stability up to a certain point. However, multi-length rock bolt patterns with similar consumption can yield significantly different stability outcomes. Notably, the arrangement and properties of rock bolts are crucial for stability, particularly in blocks between bolting sections. These blocks remain interlocked in unsupported areas due to the induced pressure from supported sections. Although equal-length rock bolt patterns are commonly used, the analysis revealed that triple-length rock bolts (3, 6, and 9 m) provided the most effective support across all ten DFN scenarios. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Computational Geodynamic, Geotechnics and Geomechanics)
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19 pages, 8049 KiB  
Article
Determination of the Magnetic Field Coordinates of BMM Sensors Under a Collapsed Rock Mass Array for Assessing Ore Body Contour Displacement
by Andrey O. Shigin, Danil S. Kudinov, Ekaterina A. Kokhonkova and Vyacheslav V. Romanov
Geosciences 2025, 15(8), 292; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080292 - 1 Aug 2025
Viewed by 203
Abstract
This article analyzes the operating principle of the BMM sensor emitter in order to improve the accuracy of the wireless determination of the BMM sensor coordinates under a massif of destroyed rock in the context of the problem of determining the shift of [...] Read more.
This article analyzes the operating principle of the BMM sensor emitter in order to improve the accuracy of the wireless determination of the BMM sensor coordinates under a massif of destroyed rock in the context of the problem of determining the shift of rocks during gold ore mining. Using numerical simulations, FEM has been developed to develop digital models reflecting individual cases of the propagation of the magnetic field of the emitter located in various geological conditions and positions relative to the rock surface and the vertical axis. The accuracy of determining the coordinates of the radio beacon in the rock has been analyzed, and data on the deviation of the coordinates of the peaks of the magnetic field strength from the radio beacon axis have been obtained in cases of a heterogeneous composition of the rock massif, the influence of the deviation of the emitter axis angle from the vertical, the influence of the unevenness of the collapse relief, and the influence of the superposition of fields from different radiation sources. A study has been carried out to determine the direction of the radio beacon search based on the resulting vector of the emitter’s magnetic field strength. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Mining and Geotechnical Engineering)
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12 pages, 11337 KiB  
Brief Report
Crustal-Scale Duplexes Beneath the Eastern Rioni Foreland Basin in Western Georgia: A Case Study from Seismic Reflection Profile
by Victor Alania, Onise Enukidze, Nino Kvavadze, Tamar Beridze, Rusudan Chagelishvili, Anzor Giorgadze, George Melikadze and Alexander Razmadze
Geosciences 2025, 15(8), 291; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080291 - 1 Aug 2025
Viewed by 264
Abstract
Our understanding of foreland basin subsurface structures relies heavily on seismic reflection data. The seismic profile across the eastern Rioni foreland basin in western Georgia is critical for characterizing its deformation structural style. We applied fault-related folding and thrust wedge theories to interpret [...] Read more.
Our understanding of foreland basin subsurface structures relies heavily on seismic reflection data. The seismic profile across the eastern Rioni foreland basin in western Georgia is critical for characterizing its deformation structural style. We applied fault-related folding and thrust wedge theories to interpret the seismic profile and construction structural cross-section, which reveals that compressional structures are controlled by multiple detachment levels. Both thin-skinned and thick-skinned structures are identified. The seismic profile and structural cross-section reveal the presence of normal faults, reverse faults, thrust faults, duplexes, triangle zone, and crustal-scale duplexes. The deep-level detachment within the basement is responsible for the development of the crustal-scale duplexes. These structures appear to have formed through the reactivation of pre-existing normal faults during compressive deformation. Based on our interpretation, the imaged duplex system likely represents the western subsurface continuation of the Dzirula Massif. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Structural Geology and Tectonics)
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44 pages, 58273 KiB  
Article
Geological Hazard Susceptibility Assessment Based on the Combined Weighting Method: A Case Study of Xi’an City, China
by Peng Li, Wei Sun, Chang-Rao Li, Ning Nan and Sheng-Rui Su
Geosciences 2025, 15(8), 290; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080290 - 1 Aug 2025
Viewed by 312
Abstract
Xi’an, China, has a complex geological environment, with geological hazards seriously hindering urban development and safety. This study analyzed the conditions leading to disaster formation and screened 12 evaluation factors (e.g., slope and slope direction) using Spearman’s correlation. Furthermore, it also introduced an [...] Read more.
Xi’an, China, has a complex geological environment, with geological hazards seriously hindering urban development and safety. This study analyzed the conditions leading to disaster formation and screened 12 evaluation factors (e.g., slope and slope direction) using Spearman’s correlation. Furthermore, it also introduced an innovative combined weighting method, integrating subjective weights from the hierarchical analysis method and objective weights from the entropy method, as well as an information value model for susceptibility assessment. The main results are as follows: (1) There are 787 hazard points—landslides/collapses are concentrated in loess areas and Qinling foothills, while subsidence/fissures are concentrated in plains. (2) The combined weighting method effectively overcame the limitations of single methods. (3) Validation using hazard density and ROC curves showed that the combined weighting information value model achieved the highest accuracy (AUC = 0.872). (4) The model was applied to classify the disaster susceptibility of Xi’an into high (12.31%), medium (18.68%), low (7.88%), and non-susceptible (61.14%) zones. The results are consistent with the actual distribution of disasters, thus providing a scientific basis for disaster prevention. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landslide Susceptibility Mapping, Hazard Assessment and Risk Evaluation)
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