Geosciences

23 pages, 5140 KiB

Open AccessReview

Remote Sensing and Geophysical Applications in the Dead Sea Region: Insights, Trends, and Advances

by Damien Closson and Al-Halbouni Djamil

Geosciences 2025, 15(2), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15020050 (registering DOI) - 2 Feb 2025

The Dead Sea ecosystem, with its hypersaline conditions, base-level fluctuations, and active tectonics, presents a unique challenge for geological studies. Its equilibrium is increasingly unbalanced due to overexploitation of water and mineral resources. Remote sensing, including drone-based photogrammetry and satellite imaging, monitors large-scale [...] Read more.

The Dead Sea ecosystem, with its hypersaline conditions, base-level fluctuations, and active tectonics, presents a unique challenge for geological studies. Its equilibrium is increasingly unbalanced due to overexploitation of water and mineral resources. Remote sensing, including drone-based photogrammetry and satellite imaging, monitors large-scale surface changes, while geophysical methods like electromagnetic and seismic surveys reveal subsurface structures. The integration of these methods has transformed our understanding. Combined studies now monitor hazards such as sinkholes, subsidence, and landslides with greater precision. Advances in artificial intelligence further enhance analysis by processing vast datasets to uncover previously undetectable trends. This synergy between remote sensing, geophysics, and AI offers efficient solutions for studying the disrupted ecosystem. Critical challenges include environmental degradation, rapid water loss, and sinkhole formation, threatening infrastructure, industries, and habitats. Remote sensing has been pivotal in monitoring and mitigating these hazards. Together with geophysics, it provides a robust framework for addressing these extreme conditions. By combining these methods, researchers gain valuable insights into the unique dynamics of the Dead Sea ecosystem, advancing scientific knowledge and supporting sustainable management strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Hydrogeology)

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14 pages, 3346 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tectonic Setting and Spatiotemporal Earthquake Distribution in Northern Nubia and Iberia

by Enzo Mantovani, Marcello Viti, Caterina Tamburelli, Daniele Babbucci, Massimo Baglione and Vittorio D’Intinosante

Geosciences 2025, 15(2), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15020049 (registering DOI) - 2 Feb 2025

Abstract

The spatiotemporal distribution of major earthquakes in the study area (1600–2024) is analyzed to tentatively recognize the possible connections with the short-term (from decades to centuries) evolution of the ongoing tectonic processes. This study suggests that during the period considered, seismic activity has [...] Read more.

The spatiotemporal distribution of major earthquakes in the study area (1600–2024) is analyzed to tentatively recognize the possible connections with the short-term (from decades to centuries) evolution of the ongoing tectonic processes. This study suggests that during the period considered, seismic activity has been predominantly related to the shortening processes accommodating the convergence of northwestern Nubia with the Iberian and Moroccan plates that mainly involve the westward escape of the Alboran wedge and the NNE-ward escape of the Iberian block. This deformation pattern is inferred from the seismic activity in the North Atlantic domain, the Rif and Betics belts, the western Iberian fault system (onshore and offshore), the Transmoroccan fault system and the Pyrenean thrust front. Seismic activity in the Tell is mainly driven by the Nubia–Eurasia convergence, even though it can be also influenced by the major westward displacements of the Anatolian–Aegean–Adriatic–Pelagian system. This hypothesis could explain the marked increase in seismic activity that occurred in the Tell in the last decades, when that zone may have been affected by the perturbation triggered by the large post-1939 westward displacement of Anatolia. The pieces of evidence and the arguments reported in this study might provide insights into the possible spatial distribution of major earthquakes in the next decades. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Earthquake Geology of Plate Margins and Plate Interiors: Integrating Classical Methods with New Approaches)

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40 pages, 14218 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Geochemistry and Petrogenesis of Permo–Triassic Silicic Volcanic Rocks from the Circum-Rhodope Belt in the Vardar/Axios Zone, Northern Greece: An Example of a Post-Collision Extensional Tectonic Setting in the Tethyan Realm

by Argyro Asvesta

Geosciences 2025, 15(2), 48; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15020048 (registering DOI) - 2 Feb 2025

Abstract

The western side of the Vertiskos Unit crystalline basement in northern Greece is fringed by a Permo–Triassic low-grade metamorphic volcano-sedimentary complex that belongs to the Circum-Rhodope Belt (CRB), which is an important part of the Vardar/ Axios oceanic suture zone. The silicic volcanic [...] Read more.

The western side of the Vertiskos Unit crystalline basement in northern Greece is fringed by a Permo–Triassic low-grade metamorphic volcano-sedimentary complex that belongs to the Circum-Rhodope Belt (CRB), which is an important part of the Vardar/ Axios oceanic suture zone. The silicic volcanic rocks from the CRB are mainly rhyolitic to rhyodacitic lavas with aphyric and porphyritic textures as well as pyroclastic deposits. In this study, geochemical data obtained with X-ray fluorescence (XRF) for the CRB silicic volcanic rocks are reported and discussed to constrain their petrogenesis and tectonic setting. The rocks are peraluminous and show enrichment in K, Rb, Th, Zr, Y, and Pb while being depleted in Ba, Sr, Nb, P, and Ti, and they have Zr + Nb + Y + Ce > 350 ppm, which are characteristic features of anorogenic A-type granites. They have a Y/Nb ratio > 1.2 and belong to A2-subtype granitoids, implying crust-derived magma in a post-collisional tectonic setting. The high Rb/Sr ratio (3.45–39.14), the low molar CaO/(MgO + FeO_t) ratio, and the CaO/Na₂O ratio (<0.5), which they display, indicate that metapelites are the magma sources. Their low Al₂O₃/TiO₂ ratio (<100), consistent with their high zircon saturation temperatures (average T_Zr = 886 °C), and their low Pb/Ba ratio (average 0.06) reveal that they were generated by biotite dehydration melting. The increased Rb/Sr ratio relative to that of presumable parental metapelites of the Vertiskos Unit, coupled with their low Sr/Y ratio (0.12–1.08), reflects plagioclase and little or no garnet in the source residue, indicating magma derivation at low pressures of 0.4–0.8 GPa that correspond to a depth of ~15–30 km. The nearby tholeiitic basalts and dolerites, interstratified with the Triassic pelagic sediments, indicate bimodal volcanism in the region. They also support a model involving an upwelling asthenosphere that underplated the Vertiskos Unit basement, supplying the heat required for crustal melting at low pressures. The Permo–Triassic magmatism marks the transition from an orogenic to an anorogenic environment during the initial stage of continental breakup of the Variscan basement in a post-collision extensional tectonic framework, leading to the formation of the nascent Mesozoic Neo-Tethyan Maliac–Vardar Ocean. This apparently reveals that the Variscan continental collision between the Gondwana-derived Vertiskos and Pelagonian terranes must have been completed by at least the earliest Late Permian. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Geochemistry)

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25 pages, 11268 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimized Random Forest Models for Rock Mass Classification in Tunnel Construction

by Bo Yang, Danial Jahed Armaghani, Hadi Fattahi, Mohammad Afrazi, Mohammadreza Koopialipoor, Panagiotis G. Asteris and Manoj Khandelwal

Geosciences 2025, 15(2), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15020047 (registering DOI) - 2 Feb 2025

Abstract

The accurate prediction of rock mass quality ahead of the tunnel face is crucial for optimizing tunnel construction strategies, enhancing safety, and reducing geological risks. This study developed three hybrid models using random forest (RF) optimized by moth-flame optimization (MFO), gray wolf optimizer [...] Read more.

The accurate prediction of rock mass quality ahead of the tunnel face is crucial for optimizing tunnel construction strategies, enhancing safety, and reducing geological risks. This study developed three hybrid models using random forest (RF) optimized by moth-flame optimization (MFO), gray wolf optimizer (GWO), and Bayesian optimization (BO) algorithms to classify the surrounding rock in real time during tunnel boring machine (TBM) operations. A dataset with 544 TBM tunneling samples included key parameters such as thrust force per cutter (TFC), revolutions per minute (RPM), penetration rate (PR), advance rate (AR), penetration per revolution (PRev), and field penetration index (FPI), with rock classification based on the Rock Mass Rating (RMR) method. To address the class imbalance, the Borderline Synthetic Minority Over-Sampling Technique was applied. Performance assessments revealed the MFO-RF model’s superior performance, with training and testing accuracies of 0.992 and 0.927, respectively, and key predictors identified as PR, AR, and RPM. Additional validation using 91 data sets confirmed the reliability of the MFO-RF model on unseen data, achieving an accuracy of 0.879. A graphical user interface was also developed, enabling field engineers and technicians to make instant and reliable rock classification predictions, greatly supporting safe tunnel construction and operational efficiency. These models contribute valuable tools for real-time, data-driven decision-making in tunneling projects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fracture Geomechanics—Obstacles and New Perspectives)

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22 pages, 29370 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigating the Structure of Detachment Faulting and Its Role in Ore Formation: The Kallintiri Detachment System and the Associated Polymetallic Ore Deposit (Rhodope, NE Greece)

by Konstantinos Soukis, Christos Kanellopoulos, Panagiotis Voudouris, Constantinos Mavrogonatos, Ilias Lazos, Sotiris Sboras, Alexandre Tarantola, Daniel Koehn and Robert Moritz

Geosciences 2025, 15(2), 46; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15020046 (registering DOI) - 1 Feb 2025

Abstract

The Kallintiri area (SW Byala Reka–Kechros Dome, Rhodope) hosts a polymetallic (critical, base, and precious metals) ore deposit, tectonically controlled by the late Eocene–Oligocene, top-to-SW Kallintiri Detachment System. The earliest structure associated with the Kallintiri Detachment is a ductile shear zone at the [...] Read more.

The Kallintiri area (SW Byala Reka–Kechros Dome, Rhodope) hosts a polymetallic (critical, base, and precious metals) ore deposit, tectonically controlled by the late Eocene–Oligocene, top-to-SW Kallintiri Detachment System. The earliest structure associated with the Kallintiri Detachment is a ductile shear zone at the interface between the high-grade footwall gneisses of the Lower and Intermediate Rhodope Terranes. The detachment zone encompasses the uppermost part of the gneisses and the ultramylonitic Makri Unit marble. The marble is bound by a brittle–ductile shear zone at the base and a knife-sharp, low-angle normal fault at the roof, exhibiting considerable brecciation and ultracataclasite development. The hanging wall includes the Makri Unit phyllites and the overlying mid–late-Eocene–Oligocene supra-detachment sediments, which show syn-depositional slump structures and brittle deformation with low- and high-angle faulting and non-cohesive cataclasites. Extensive hydrothermal fluid circulation along the detachment zone and through NW tension gashes and high-angle faults led to pronounced silicification and ore deposition. Field observations and mineralogical and geochemical analyses revealed two primary types of ore mineralization spatially and temporally associated with different structures. Base and precious metals-rich ores are associated with the detachment, while Sb ore deposition is localized mostly within the NW-trending tension gashes and high-angle faults. Full article

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16 pages, 6946 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Earthquake Damage Susceptibility Analysis in Barapani Shear Zone Using InSAR, Geological, and Geophysical Data

by Gopal Sharma, M. Somorjit Singh, Karan Nayak, Pritom Pran Dutta, K. K. Sarma and S. P. Aggarwal

Geosciences 2025, 15(2), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15020045 (registering DOI) - 1 Feb 2025

Abstract

The identification of areas that are susceptible to damage due to earthquakes is of utmost importance in tectonically active regions like Northeast India. This may provide valuable inputs for seismic hazard analysis; however, it poses significant challenges. The present study emphasized the integration [...] Read more.

The identification of areas that are susceptible to damage due to earthquakes is of utmost importance in tectonically active regions like Northeast India. This may provide valuable inputs for seismic hazard analysis; however, it poses significant challenges. The present study emphasized the integration of Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) deformation rates with conventional geological and geophysical data to investigate earthquake damage susceptibility in the Barapani Shear Zone (BSZ) region of Northeast India. We used MintPy v1.5.1 (Miami INsar Timeseries software in PYthon) on the OpenSARLab platform to derive time series deformation using the Small Baseline Subset (SBAS) technique. We integrated geology, geomorphology, gravity, magnetic field, lineament density, slope, and historical earthquake records with InSAR deformation rates to derive earthquake damage susceptibility using the weighted overlay analysis technique. InSAR time series analysis revealed distinct patterns of ground deformation across the Barapani Shear Zone, with higher rates in the northern part and lower rates in the southern part. The deformation values ranged from 6 mm/yr to about 18 mm/yr in BSZ. Earthquake damage susceptibility mapping identified areas that are prone to damage in the event of earthquakes. The analysis indicated that about 46.4%, 51.2%, and 2.4% of the area were low, medium, and high-susceptibility zones for earthquake damage zone. The InSAR velocity rates were validated with Global Positioning System (GPS) velocity in the region, which indicated a good correlation (R² = 0.921; ANOVA p-value = 0.515). Additionally, a field survey in the region suggested evidence of intense deformation in the highly susceptible earthquake damage zone. This integrated approach enhances our scientific understanding of regional tectonic dynamics, mitigating earthquake risks and enhancing community resilience. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Earthquake Hazard Modelling)

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17 pages, 4007 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Out of Pikermi: The Occurrence of Bohlinia in the Late Miocene of the Central Mediterranean

by Antonella Cinzia Marra

Geosciences 2025, 15(2), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15020044 (registering DOI) - 1 Feb 2025

Abstract

During the Late Miocene, Giraffidae of the genus Bohlinia were widespread in the Greco-Iranian bioprovince (Pikermian biome), while the occurrence in Africa (Chad) was disproven. The fossils of Bohlinia cf. attica described and compared here come from the Late Miocene of Cessaniti (southern [...] Read more.

During the Late Miocene, Giraffidae of the genus Bohlinia were widespread in the Greco-Iranian bioprovince (Pikermian biome), while the occurrence in Africa (Chad) was disproven. The fossils of Bohlinia cf. attica described and compared here come from the Late Miocene of Cessaniti (southern Italy), associated with another giraffid, Samotherium cf. boissieri, and the large mammals Stegotetrabelodon syrticus, Tragoportax cf. rugosifrons, cf. Ceratotherium advenientis, and an undetermined Anthracotherid. In terms of paleogeography, the association should be related to the expansion of Pikermian species out of the Greco-Iranian bioprovince and calls for more in-depth considerations. Pikermian giraffids, and Bohlinia in particular, play an important role in understanding the paleoenvironmental and paleogeographical contexts in the Central Mediterranean, an area undergoing major geological changes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Biogeosciences)

28 pages, 20776 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Innovative Approaches to Geoscientific Outreach in the Napo Sumaco Aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark, Ecuadorian Amazon Region

by Samantha-Solange Salazar-Del-Pozo, Felipe Carlosama-Morejón, Karla Freire-Quintanilla, Henry Grefa-Shiguango and Marco Simbaña-Tasiguano

Geosciences 2025, 15(2), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15020043 - 29 Jan 2025

Abstract

The Napo Sumaco Aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark (NSAUGG) in Ecuador represents a genuine variety of geological, cultural, and natural heritage, which aims to promote sustainable development through geotourism. This study describes the significance of NSAUGG, emphasizing its geological diversity which includes a variety [...] Read more.

The Napo Sumaco Aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark (NSAUGG) in Ecuador represents a genuine variety of geological, cultural, and natural heritage, which aims to promote sustainable development through geotourism. This study describes the significance of NSAUGG, emphasizing its geological diversity which includes a variety of geosites, and focusing on three recently annexed geosites: the Wawa Sumaco Quarry, Puka Urku, and the Pucuno River, where geological analyses, including petrographic and mineralogical assessments, were conducted. To enhance community engagement and educational outreach, a multi-platform mobile application, “SumAppGeo”, was developed using ArcGIS and Flutterflow. This application serves as an interactive tool for visitors and local communities, providing detailed geological information, interactive maps, and educational content. The findings reveal the presence of significant geological features, such as haüyne-bearing alkaline rocks, which indicate specific volcanic activity in this region and are an element of geodiversity, validating the Wawa Sumaco Quarry, Puka Urku, and the Pucuno River as geosites. The implementation of SumAppGeo aims to foster a deeper understanding of the region’s geodiversity while promoting responsible tourism practices. This initiative not only supports the recognition of NSAUGG as part of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network but also contributes to the socio-economic development of local communities through sustainable tourism practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: "Trends and Prospects in Geoheritage, Geoparks, and Geotourism")

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19 pages, 6515 KiB

Open AccessReview

North Caucasus Underground Geophysical Observatory: Instrumentation and Observation Results

by Alexey Sobisevich, Yuri Kuzmin, Dmitry Likhodeev, Andrey Kotov, Alexey Desherevsky, Andrey Myasnikov, Valentin Gravirov, Dmitriy Presnov, Konstantin Kanonidi, Irina Puzich, Zalim Dudarov, Spartak Dolov, Irina Suvorova, Alexey Sentsov and George Balashov

Geosciences 2025, 15(2), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15020042 - 27 Jan 2025

Abstract

A full-scale geophysical observatory in the North Caucasus, which was established to study volcanic activity in the Elbrus area, has been functioning for more than 10 years. Results of experimental studies performed at the observatory, located in the deep tunnel, are presented. Special [...] Read more.

A full-scale geophysical observatory in the North Caucasus, which was established to study volcanic activity in the Elbrus area, has been functioning for more than 10 years. Results of experimental studies performed at the observatory, located in the deep tunnel, are presented. Special attention is paid to the stability of metrologically significant parameters of precise information-measuring systems, taking into account different nature noises. Technical characteristics of installed geophysical instruments are given, and the principles of their operation are described. Examples of instrumental observations are also presented; for example, tidal deformations reflecting structural features of the geological environment in the area of the Elbrus volcanic edifice and associated with the presence of magmatic structures were investigated. It was shown that diurnal and semidiurnal harmonics observed in the microvariations of temperature can be caused, among other things, by the influence of tidal effects on the convective component of heat–mass transfer. 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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22 pages, 12760 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of a New Method for Debris Flow Runout Assessment in 0-Order Catchments: A Case Study of the Otoishi River Basin

by Ahmad Qasim Akbar, Yasuhiro Mitani, Ryunosuke Nakanishi, Hiroyuki Honda and Hisatoshi Taniguchi

Geosciences 2025, 15(2), 41; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15020041 - 25 Jan 2025

Abstract

Debris flows are rapid, destructive landslides that pose significant risks in mountainous regions. This study presents a novel algorithm to simulate debris flow dynamics, focusing on sediment transport from 0-order basins to depositional zones. The algorithm integrates the D8 flow direction method with [...] Read more.

Debris flows are rapid, destructive landslides that pose significant risks in mountainous regions. This study presents a novel algorithm to simulate debris flow dynamics, focusing on sediment transport from 0-order basins to depositional zones. The algorithm integrates the D8 flow direction method with an adjustable friction coefficient to enhance the accuracy of debris flow trajectory and deposition modeling. Its performance was evaluated on three real-world cases in the Otoishi River basin, affected by rainfall-induced debris flows in July 2017, and the Aso Bridge landslide triggered by the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake. By utilizing diverse friction coefficients, the study effectively captured variations in debris flow behavior, transitioning from fluid-like to more viscous states. Simulation results demonstrated a precision of 88.9% in predicting debris flow paths and deposition areas, emphasizing the pivotal role of the friction coefficient in regulating mass movement dynamics. Additionally, Monte Carlo (MC) simulations enhanced the identification of critical slip surfaces within 0-order basins, increasing the accuracy of debris flow source detection. This research offers valuable insights into debris flow hazards and risk mitigation strategies. The algorithm’s proven effectiveness in simulating real-world scenarios highlights its potential for integration into disaster risk assessment and prevention frameworks. By providing a reliable tool for hazard identification and prediction, this study supports proactive disaster management and aligns with the goals of sustainable development in regions prone to debris flow disasters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landslides Runout: Recent Perspectives and Advances)

18 pages, 66531 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Application of a Ground-Penetrating Radar in the Characterization of the Archaeological Environment of Site GO-JA-02, Serranópolis-GO: A Non-Invasive Approach for Archaeological Excavation Planning

by Isabela Resende Almeida, Welitom Rodrigues Borges, Julio Cezar Rubin de Rubin, Rafael Espindola Canata, Rosiclér Theodoro da Silva and Jordana Batista Barbosa

Geosciences 2025, 15(2), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15020040 - 24 Jan 2025

Abstract

This study used a ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to characterize the archaeological environment of site GO-Ja-02 in Serranópolis, Goiás, Brazil. In the Serranópolis region, there are records of numerous human burials in archaeological sites located in predominantly sandy soils. Thus, this study proposed the [...] Read more.

This study used a ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to characterize the archaeological environment of site GO-Ja-02 in Serranópolis, Goiás, Brazil. In the Serranópolis region, there are records of numerous human burials in archaeological sites located in predominantly sandy soils. Thus, this study proposed the application of a ground-penetrating radar to locate buried archaeological structures. Using a 400 MHz shielded antenna, the 2D data revealed distinct reflection patterns associated with subsurface elements such as rock blocks, roots, and rock surfaces, which were correlated with the anomalies observed in the depth slices of the generated pseudo-3D block. A ranking methodology was developed based on the archaeological context of the area and was used to indicate priority excavation areas. The results provided an understanding of the site’s archaeological environment, allowing for prior knowledge of areas to be excavated. The non-invasive GPR approach enabled a detailed investigation without disturbing the site, aiding in decision-making for the archaeological team. Furthermore, this study establishes a methodological foundation for future investigations, demonstrating the effectiveness of integrating advanced technologies into archaeological research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: "Trends and Prospects in Geoheritage, Geoparks, and Geotourism")

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16 pages, 2854 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biofacies Analysis of Zanclean Sediments in Virginia: Unraveling the Past Through Benthic Foraminifera

by Whittney Spivey

Geosciences 2025, 15(2), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15020039 - 24 Jan 2025

Abstract

Early Pliocene sedimentary deposits are exposed at the surface along the James and York Rivers, across southeastern Virginia. The Zanclean age (5.33–3.60 Ma) Sunken Meadow Member of the Yorktown Formation records a relatively large-scale marine transgression in the Salisbury Embayment. A total of [...] Read more.

Early Pliocene sedimentary deposits are exposed at the surface along the James and York Rivers, across southeastern Virginia. The Zanclean age (5.33–3.60 Ma) Sunken Meadow Member of the Yorktown Formation records a relatively large-scale marine transgression in the Salisbury Embayment. A total of 15 samples were collected from an outcrop near Spring Grove, VA, for grain-size analysis and to document benthic and planktic foraminiferal assemblages. The sediments are generally moderately well-sorted, shelly fine sands. A total of 48 benthic taxa were recorded from the Sunken Meadow Member, though only 14 taxa occurred in proportions high enough to be included in the Q-mode cluster analysis (>3% of the total assemblage). Low numbers of planktic foraminifera indicate relatively shallow water deposition. Biofacies analysis shows three distinct biofacies groups in the Sunken Meadow Member and the benthic foraminiferal community shifts throughout the unit are indicative of changes in nutrient availability, surface productivity, and bottom water oxygenation. The results indicate a middle to outer neritic depositional environment similar to modern conditions found south of Cape Hatteras, NC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pliocene Studies in Paleobiology, Paleoenvironment and Paleoclimate)

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22 pages, 54340 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Copper Resources: A Geophysical and Geological Approach in the South Riogrande Shield, RS, Brazil

by Marieli Machado Zago and Maximilian Fries

Geosciences 2025, 15(2), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15020038 - 24 Jan 2025

Abstract

The search for mineral resources presents an enduring challenge as these demands consistently surge, and the utilization of geophysics is undeniably intertwined with the pursuit of novel prospects. Technological advancements over recent decades have facilitated access to 2D and 3D visualization software, enabling [...] Read more.

The search for mineral resources presents an enduring challenge as these demands consistently surge, and the utilization of geophysics is undeniably intertwined with the pursuit of novel prospects. Technological advancements over recent decades have facilitated access to 2D and 3D visualization software, enabling robust data integrations. Consequently, interpreters possess the latitude to harness their ingenuity and technical acumen in conducting multifarious analyses. Mineral exploration in greenfield areas, a particularly challenging endeavor, often commences with regional surveys and circumscribed information about the terrain. Notwithstanding limited preliminary data, the judicious deployment of filtering, modeling, and inversion techniques with geophysical data holds sway in catalyzing discoveries. This study, with its comprehensive amalgamation of diverse copper occurrence indicators and the novel procedural framework it establishes for processing and integrating airborne gamma-ray spectrometry and magnetometry geophysical and geological data, exemplifies the complexity and depth of our field. Elaborate litho-geophysical profiles, linked with data concerning mineral occurrences and geochemistry, pinpoint potential copper deposits in the area. This multidisciplinary approach and inversion mode provide detailed insights into probable mineralized body continuity and regional structural frameworks, offering valuable guidance for future regional mineral exploration efforts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geophysical Inversion)

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64 pages, 13137 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Compositional and Numerical Geomorphology Along a Basement–Foreland Transition, SE Germany, with Special Reference to Landscape-Forming Indices and Parameters in Genetic and Applied Terrain Analyses

by Harald G. Dill, Andrei Buzatu, Sorin-Ionut Balaban and Christopher Kleyer

Geosciences 2025, 15(2), 37; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15020037 - 23 Jan 2025

Abstract

The Münchberg Gneiss Complex (Central European Variscides, Germany) is separated by a deep-seated lineamentary fault zone, the Franconian Lineamentary Fault Zone, from its Mesozoic foreland. The study area offers insight into a great variety of landforms created by fluvial and mass wasting processes [...] Read more.

The Münchberg Gneiss Complex (Central European Variscides, Germany) is separated by a deep-seated lineamentary fault zone, the Franconian Lineamentary Fault Zone, from its Mesozoic foreland. The study area offers insight into a great variety of landforms created by fluvial and mass wasting processes together with their bedrocks, covering the full range from unmetamorphosed sediments to high-grade regionally metamorphic rocks. It renders the region an ideal place to conduct a study of compositional and numerical geomorphology and their landscape-forming indices and parameters. The landforms under consideration are sculpted out of the bedrocks (erosional landforms) and overlain by depositional landforms which are discussed by means of numerical landform indices (LFIs), all of which are coined for the first time in the current paper. They are designed to be suitable for applied geosciences such as extractive/economic geology as well as environmental geology. The erosional landform series are subdivided into three categories: (1) The landscape roughness indices, e.g., VeSi_val (vertical sinuosity—valley of landform series) and the VaSlAn_alti (variation in slope angle altitude), which are used for a first order classification of landscapes into relief generations. The second order classification LFIs are devoted to the material properties of the landforms’ bedrocks, such as the rock strength (VeSi_lith) and the bedrock anisotropy (VaSlAn_norm). The third order scheme describes the hydrography as to its vertical changes by the inclination of the talweg and the different types of knickpoints (IncTal_lith/grad) and horizontal sinuosity (HoSi_lith/grad). The study area is subjected to a tripartite zonation into the headwater zone, synonymous with the paleoplain which undergoes some dissection at its edge, the step-fault plain representative of the track zone which undergoes widespread fluvial piracy, and the foreland plains which act as an intermediate sedimentary trap named the deposition zone. The area can be described in space and time with these landform indices reflecting fluvial and mass wasting processes operative in four different stages (around 17 Ma, 6 to 4 Ma, <1.7 Ma, and <0.4 Ma). The various groups of LFIs are a function of landscape maturity (pre-mature, mature, and super-mature). The depositional landforms are numerically defined in the same way and only differ from each other by their subscripts. Their set of LFIs is a mirror image of the composition of depositional landforms in relation to their grain size. The leading part of the acronym, such as QuantSan_heav and QuantGrav_lith, refers to the process of quantification, the second part to the grain size, such as sand and gravel, and the subscript to the material, such as heavy minerals or lithological fragments. The three numerical indices applicable to depositional landforms are a direct measurement of the hydrodynamic and gravity-driven conditions of the fluvial and mass wasting processes using granulometry, grain morphology, and situmetry (clast orientation). Together with the previous compositional indices, the latter directly translate into the provenance analysis which can be used for environmental analyses and as a tool for mineral exploration. It creates a network between numerical geomorphology, geomorphometry, and the E&E issue disciplines (economic/extractive geology vs. environmental geology). The linguistics of the LFIs adopted in this publication are designed so as to be open for individual amendments by the reader. An easy adaptation to different landform suites worldwide, irrespective of their climatic conditions, geodynamic setting, and age of formation, is feasible due to the use of a software and a database available on a global basis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sedimentology, Stratigraphy and Palaeontology)

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17 pages, 4466 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comprehensive Guidelines for Numerical Simulation of Jet Grouting Technology Using MPS-CAE

by Sudip Shakya, Yoji Hontani, Kuo Chieh Chao and Shinya Inazumi

Geosciences 2025, 15(2), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15020036 - 22 Jan 2025

Abstract

This paper presents a thorough guide to simulating jet grouting using the Moving Particle Semi-Implicit (MPS) method for numerical analysis and Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) for model development. It addresses the shortcomings of previous jet grouting simulation studies, which often lacked clear and comprehensive [...] Read more.

This paper presents a thorough guide to simulating jet grouting using the Moving Particle Semi-Implicit (MPS) method for numerical analysis and Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) for model development. It addresses the shortcomings of previous jet grouting simulation studies, which often lacked clear and comprehensive guidelines, by providing a detailed step-by-step approach. The key aspects of the simulation that define and shape the output of real-world jet grouting technology, such as jet grouting spray settings and material parameter configurations, are validated against benchmark experimental data. The previously challenging task of accurately determining material parameters for soil when modeled as a Bingham fluid bi-viscosity model, is simplified into a universal guideline that can be easily applied to any soil type with known unconfined compressive strength. Finally, the reliability of the jet grouting simulation is confirmed by comparing the simulation results with benchmark experimental data under similar conditions, demonstrating the robustness and accuracy of the proposed method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Development in Geotechnical Engineering and Rock Engineering from a Sustainable Perspective)

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33 pages, 15434 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Persisting Rock-Buffered Conditions in the Upper Triassic and Lower Jurassic Dolomites of the Central Apennines (Italy) During Diagenesis, Burial, and Thrusting

by Alessio Lucca, Silvia Mittempergher, Fabrizio Balsamo, Anna Cipriani, Antonino Cilona and Fabrizio Storti

Geosciences 2025, 15(2), 35; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15020035 - 22 Jan 2025

Abstract

Basin-scale dolomitization of carbonate sequences occurs over long time spans and results from diagenesis, burial, and tectonically driven fluid fluxes. Depicting the different geological processes producing dolomitized carbonate sequences requires combining accurate field, petrographic, and geochemical analyses. Here, we investigate the dolomitization processes [...] Read more.

Basin-scale dolomitization of carbonate sequences occurs over long time spans and results from diagenesis, burial, and tectonically driven fluid fluxes. Depicting the different geological processes producing dolomitized carbonate sequences requires combining accurate field, petrographic, and geochemical analyses. Here, we investigate the dolomitization processes in carbonates of the Norian to Toarcian age exposed in the Gran Sasso Massif, Central Apennines of Italy, by integrating field observations, standard and CL petrography, carbon, oxygen, strontium and clumped isotopes, minor elements, and X-ray diffractometry. The carbonates show pervasive replacive dolomitization, and dolomite cements are observed in bed-parallel and thrust-related veins. Replacive dolomites show incomplete replacement from modified seawater in oxidizing conditions, with minimum temperatures of 40–65 °C and a ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr lower than coeval seawater. The first dolomitization event started at shallow burial in the Late Triassic–Early Jurassic and was later affected by replacement at intermediate burial depths. Bedding-parallel dolomite veins crystallized due to fluid overpressures at deep burial depths in a rock-buffered system without variations in geochemistry. Fault-related dolomites cemented thrust-related fractures during compressional deformation in the Messinian–Early Pliocene from seawater modified by mixing with external fluids. Precipitation temperatures of replacive, bedding-parallel, and fault-related dolomite veins are similar. Despite the dolomite types being characterized by different textures and petrographic features, rock-buffered conditions resulted in insignificant variations of their geochemical properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sedimentology, Stratigraphy and Palaeontology)

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18 pages, 4429 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Composition and Dynamics of the Sonosphere Along a Soil-Surface Ecotone at an Agricultural Site in Northern Italy: A Preliminary Approach

by Almo Farina and Timothy C. Mullet

Geosciences 2025, 15(2), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15020034 - 21 Jan 2025

Abstract

Investigating the sonosphere can serve as a valuable proxy for understanding various ecosystem processes. Consequently, an ecoacoustic perspective broadens our capacity to understand how airborne sounds interact along an ecotone at the soil surface with the subterranean sounds generated within a pedon. We [...] Read more.

Investigating the sonosphere can serve as a valuable proxy for understanding various ecosystem processes. Consequently, an ecoacoustic perspective broadens our capacity to understand how airborne sounds interact along an ecotone at the soil surface with the subterranean sounds generated within a pedon. We explored techniques that could detect, quantify, and analyze the sonic dimensions of a sonosphere in the form of sounds within a unit of soil (sonopedon), sounds from a landscape unit (sonotope), and the sonic ecotone (sonotone) where these phenomena converge. We recorded sounds for 24 h over 20 days in September 2024 at 40 sites distributed evenly across a small rural parcel of agricultural land in Northern Italy. We utilized a sound recording device fabricated with a sonic probe that simultaneously operated inside the soil and the grounds’ surface, which successfully captured sounds attributable both to the soilscape and to the landscape. We calculated the Sonic Heterogeneity Indices, SHI_tf and SHI_ft, and analyzed the Spectral and Temporal Sonic Signatures along with Spectral Sonic Variability, Effective Number of Frequency Bins, and Sonic Dissimilarity. Each calculation contributed to a detailed description of how the sonosphere is characterized across the frequency spectrum, temporal dynamics, and sound sources. The sonosphere in our study area, primarily characterized by the low-frequency spectra, possessed a mix of biological, geophysical, and anthropogenic sounds displaying distinct temporal patterns (sonophases) that coincided with astronomic divisions of the day (daytime, twilights, and nighttime). Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Biogeosciences)

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17 pages, 9255 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Forward Modeling Simulations to Validate Changes in Electrical Resistivity Tomography Monitoring Data for a Slope with Complex Geology

by Azadeh Hojat, Luigi Zanzi, Greta Tresoldi and Meng Heng Loke

Geosciences 2025, 15(1), 33; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15010033 - 20 Jan 2025

Abstract

The electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) method has been increasingly integrated with hydrogeological risk mitigation strategies to monitor the internal conditions and the stability of natural and artificial slopes. In this paper, we discuss a case study in which numerical simulations were essential to [...] Read more.

The electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) method has been increasingly integrated with hydrogeological risk mitigation strategies to monitor the internal conditions and the stability of natural and artificial slopes. In this paper, we discuss a case study in which numerical simulations were essential to validate the interpretation of the resistivity images obtained from an ERT monitoring system installed on a critical slope in Italy. An initial analysis of the monitoring data after rainfall events in the study site showed that the resistivity values were decreased only in the central zone along the ERT line, but they were increased in the two sides of the profile. Opposite behaviors were observed during the drying processes following the rainfall events. Core samples show complex geology at the study site, which might justify uneven responses of the different subsurface bodies to meteorological events. However, we decided to investigate the possible inversion artifacts resulting from the individual inversion of the tomographic sections. Forward modeling simulations on simplified time-lapse models of the study site were performed to explore this problem and to compare the individual and time-lapse inversions. Synthetic tests confirmed the nature of these unexpected behaviors and assessed the absolute necessity of a time-lapse approach for a correct inversion of monitoring data in the presence of a complex geological model such as the one of this case study. By applying the time-lapse inversion approach to the real data, the inversion artifact problem was substantially solved, arriving after the proper calibration of the inversion parameters, mainly the time-lapse damping factor and the spatial and temporal roughness constraints, to a reduction in the inversion artifacts to less than 5%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Geophysics)

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24 pages, 13958 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mapping of Agate-like Soil Cover Structures Based on a Multitemporal Soil Line Using Neural Network Filtering of Remote Sensing Data

by Dmitry I. Rukhovich, Polina V. Koroleva, Alexey D. Rukhovich and Mikhail A. Komissarov

Geosciences 2025, 15(1), 32; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15010032 - 16 Jan 2025

Abstract

The present study focuses on analysis of the soil cover structure (SCS, SCSs), which is the most detailed level of soil organization in space. The detail in which complex SCS can be studied is often insufficient, since until now it has not been [...] Read more.

The present study focuses on analysis of the soil cover structure (SCS, SCSs), which is the most detailed level of soil organization in space. The detail in which complex SCS can be studied is often insufficient, since until now it has not been possible to map it over large areas at scales larger than 1:10,000. To increase the detail in which SCS can be studied, the methods of identifying the bare soil surface (BSS) and averaging its multitemporal spectral characteristics were used, which opens up new possibilities for mapping complex SCS over large areas. New SCSs of leached chernozems (Luvic Chernic Phaeozem) were discovered, which can produce patterns on satellite images similar to sections of Timan agate—agate-like soil cover structures (ASCS, ASCSs). ASCSs are formed on Quaternary sediments of varying thickness from 0.3 to 6 m, underlain by carbonate and red sediments of the Permian period. The ASCS pattern is formed by ring-shaped stripes (rings) of different colors and brightness, which are determined by the carbonate and red-colored inclusions involved in the arable horizon. Eight soil varieties were identified to describe ASCSs during the study. According to the WRB, there are six main soil types, and according to the classification of Russian soils in 1977, there are four types. ASCSs were identified over large areas and soil maps of ASCSs were constructed using multitemporal spectral characteristics of the BSS in the form of multitemporal soil line coefficients. Neural networks were used to identify BSS on big remote sensing data. ASCSs have contrasting soil properties and contrasting fertility (productivity of agricultural crops). ASCS maps can serve as the basis for task maps of precision farming systems. Perhaps ASCSs are unique objects for the area of chernozem distribution, where in one soil profile there are rocks with an age from the first thousand years (Quaternary) to 250 million years (Permian). Chernozems are fertile, studied, mercilessly exploited, but sometimes they are simply beautiful—agate-like. Full article

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