Albanian Geological Survey

The present study presents the findings of a comprehensive analysis of agglutinated foraminifera and calcareous nannoplankton from drill core Spremberg Cu Sp 101/6, situated within the North Sudetic Cretaceous Basin in Germany. These results provide refined biostratigraphic data and contribute to the paleoenvironmental reconstruction for both surface and bottom water conditions in the studied region. Several calcareous nannoplankton taxa facilitated the identification of specific biozones, including Eiffellithus eximius (UC8), Micula staurophora (UC10), and Lithastrinus grillii (UC11). Notably, M. staurophora and L. grillii display significantly earlier occurrences when correlated with inoceramid zonation, indicating a diachronous first appearance of these taxa. Using cluster analysis, principal component analysis, and taxonomical information, microfossil assemblages suggest that shallower, eutrophic conditions prevailed during the Cenomanian, whereas the Turonian was characterized by less diverse and poorly preserved assemblages. During the Coniacian, calcareous nannofossil assemblages indicate fluctuations between intervals of poor preservation and phases of increased assemblage diversity, probably associated with eutrophic conditions during the early Coniacian. This was followed by a transition to predominantly oligotrophic and deeper conditions during the middle to late Coniacian. Changes in the agglutinated foraminiferal assemblages likely reflect the grade of disturbance of bottom-water conditions mostly controlled by regional subsidence. (c) 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Coastal deltas are increasingly exposed to combined marine forcing and land-based pollution. This study analyses the relationship between deltaic vulnerability and diffuse contamination in the Shkumbin River Delta, Albania. It introduces an Integrated Coastal Vulnerability Index (ICVI) framework that couples geomorphological, hydrodynamic, and sediment contamination indicators to quantify both physical and chemical vulnerability using multi-source datasets. The assessment is based on official institutional data on sediment quality (Cr, Ni, Cu), seawater quality near the delta, and geomorphological changes, as well as GIS-based spatial analyses for the 2017–2023 period, complemented by satellite imagery. Results indicate that the delta operates not only as a sink for contaminants but also as a secondary source of pollution. Beyond episodic extreme events, continuous coastal erosion (−32.81 ha) drives the remobilization of heavy metals from sediments into the water column, establishing a feedback mechanism between physical instability and chemical dispersion. Cr and Ni HQ values are consistently above 1 (range 2.6–4.5 and 3.5–4.2 respectively). The ICVI (12.2) indicates high vulnerability. The findings highlight the value of integrated multi-source assessments, support catchment–delta management to reduce upstream pressures, stabilize sediment dynamics, and protect the Karavasta Lagoon, Ramsar site.

Albania is located within the complex tectonic framework of the external Dinarides and Hellenides, where multiple active fault systems accommodate ongoing crustal shortening. However, significant uncertainties persist regarding fault segmentation, kinematics, and surface expression. This study integrates tectonic geomorphology, field observations, and historical data to reassess the relationships between active structures and destructive seismicity in southern and eastern Albania during the period 1851 to 1942. Remote sensing data, including satellite imagery and digital terrain models, high-resolution topographic data, and field surveys were combined with earthquake catalogues and focal-mechanism datasets to identify and evaluate seismogenic sources in two representative case studies. The first case concerns the Vlora–Elbasani Line and the southern frontal thrust system of the Ionian Zone, which produced a prolonged seismic sequence including more than twelve Mw > 6 earthquakes, culminating in the 1930 event. This sequence is interpreted as a migrating rupture process that facilitated the thrusting of the Ionian Zone over the Sazani Zone. Detailed analysis of the 1897 Dhiver earthquake reveals well-documented coseismic ruptures and highlights the persistence of oral traditions that preserve seismological memory. The second case study focuses on eastern Albania (1894–1942), where strike-slip deformation along the Peshkopi–Bilisht fault system is associated with pull-apart basins and major historical earthquakes within the Ohrid graben.

Seismic methods, including refraction and surface wave techniques in one- and two-dimensional forms, are widely used to assess the technical condition of water reservoir dams. These methods enable the mapping of soil structures and evaluation of their stability. Rayleigh waves are commonly employed in geotechnical studies to characterize soil types through analysis of wave dispersion and inversion. The velocity values derived from these analyses provide insights into the geotechnical properties of deposits. Seismic waves were recorded using a 24-channel Geode instrument, and the data were processed with SeisImager/2D and SeisImager/SW software. By evaluating longitudinal and transverse wave velocities, geological boundaries, slide planes, heterogeneities, and physical-mechanical parameters of dam materials were assessed. The methodology was applied to the Bunavi and Libofsha reservoir dams, where landslide planes and inhomogeneities within the dam bodies were identified.

This study provides a concise lithostratigraphic description of the rocks constituting the geological structure of the Seman region, as well as an overview of its geological and tectonic characteristics. Additionally, it presents a bathymetric map of the coastal area in front of the power plant site in Seman, Fier, Albania. The study incorporates graphic materials analyzed and interpreted by the authors. Based on stratigraphic and tectonic data, the study area is part of the depositional coastal section extending from Vlorë to Shkodër. This section is characterized by interactions between the hydrological network and sea wave activity. The coastline features bays, beaches, and marshes in areas of lower elevation. The geomorphology of the region is relatively stable and flat, while the bathymetry of the coastal zone reveals a gentle underwater slope. A predominant feature of this sector is the continuous deposition of sediments from rivers and streams, flowing east to west, coupled with the effects of tides and sea waves. Consequently, the coastline's shape is influenced by changes advancing eastward. In areas with continuous river flow, the coastal morphology is shaped by the interplay of sea wave intensity, river sediment lithology, and tectonic and neotectonic processes. Using bathymetric data from the Adriatic Sea, a detailed bathymetric map has been created, highlighting the area's underwater features.