This study presents the results of an organic geochemical characterisation of a liquid hydrocarbon sample from the Ormož-1g well in the Mura-Zala Basin, north-eastern Slovenia. The main objective was to assess the origin, depositional environment, and thermal maturity using biomarker analysis. The bulk composition of the sample was initially determined by gas chromatography. The hydrocarbon sample was then fractionated into saturates and aromatics. These fractions were analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) to identify and quantify specific biomarker compounds. Based on an API gravity of 42.53° and biomarker distribution of the saturated fraction, the sample is classified as light crude oil. The dominance of high molecular weight n-alkanes and a Pr/Ph ratio of 1.83 suggests suboxic marine depositional conditions with significant terrestrial organic matter input. The sterane distribution pattern and the isoprenoid/n-alkane ratio indicate a mixed origin of organic matter. The uniform distribution of n-alkanes, a CPI value close to 1, a high degree of sterane isomerisation and the relative abundance of 3- and 2-methylphenantherene collectively indicate high thermal maturity. These establish a geochemical framework for further hydrocarbon exploration in the Mura-Zala Basin and enhance the understanding of its petroleum potential.
Foraminiferal assemblages and proportions of foraminiferal morphogroups were determined from Upper Triassic deposits of the Eiberg Basin and the Hallstatt Zone of the Northern Calcareous Alps in Austria (Eastern Alps). Foraminifera were hand-picked from the residue of marl samples taken from the upper Norian Pötschenkalk Formation, the middle–upper Rhaetian Zlambach Formation, and the uppermost Rhaetian Tiefengraben Member of the Kendlbach Formation. In total, 72 species from 31 genera were determined. Foraminiferal assemblages from the Pötschenkalk Formation at the Thälerergraben section are relatively diverse. Dentalina, Ammodiscus, Nodosaria, and Glomospirella dominate. Foraminiferal assemblages from the Zlambach Formation at the Rossmoos-/Stambachgraben section are also abundant and diverse. The most common foraminifera are Reophax, Dentalina, and Annulina. The uppermost Kössen Formation at the Schlossgraben section is dominated by hyaline taxa. The most common genera are Ichthyolaria, Lenticulina, and Nodosaria. At the Fonsjoch section, the uppermost Kössen Formation contains Lenticulina, Astacolus, and Trochammina. An increase in opportunists suggests variations in oxygen levels during the deposition of the uppermost Kössen Formation. The Kendlbach Formation at the Schlossgraben section is dominated by Lagenida over agglutinated taxa. Astacolus, Lenticulina, and Trochammina are the most common genera. At the Fonsjoch section, the Kendlbach Formation contains mostly Astacolus, followed by Trochammina, Ammobaculites, Reophax, and Lenticulina. Increases in opportunists point to increased stressful conditions. An increase in nodosariid foraminifera higher up the section indicates a return to better oxygenated conditions.
The Tithonian–Berriasian Chia Gara Formation in Central Iraq represents a major breakthrough in shale oil exploration. This study investigates two continuous core sections (140 m and 137 m) from the East Baghdad (EB1) and Balad (Ba1) oilfields, located within the intrashelf basin along the passive margin of the Arabian Plate. Comprehensive geochemical analyses, including major and trace elements, Mo isotopes, and total organic carbon (TOC), were conducted to evaluate the mechanisms controlling organic matter enrichment. The EB1 and Ba1 cores are subdivided into five and four organic sedimentary facies (OSF), respectively. In EB1, TOC values in the lower OSF 1 and OSF2 range from 3.55 to 8.0 wt.% and 2.31 to 4.42 wt.% and are higher than those of the upper OSF 3, OSF 4, and OSF 5 that range from 0.5 to 3.77 wt.%. In Ba1, OSF 3 and OSF 5, which range from 0.39 to 2.7 wt.%. Redox indicators such as U/Th, Ni/Co, EF(U), and EF(Mo) show a progressive shift towards more oxic bottom-water conditions. The δ98/95Mo data (–0.3 to 2.5‰) confirm the presence of euxinic conditions, particularly within OSF2 in both EB1 and Ba1, thereby resolving previous uncertainties regarding bottom-water redox conditions. Primary productivity indices (Cu/Al and Ni/Al ratios) suggest relatively low productivity in deep-water slope and basinal facies. Furthermore, the upwelling indicators (EF(Co) × EF(Mn)), varying from 0 to 0.48 for EB1 and 0.05 to 0.18 for Ba1, suggest that preservation conditions played a more significant role than productivity conditions within the deep-water slope and basin. Differential subsidence, with local uplifts and erosion within the Mesopotamian Foredeep Basin likely contributed to spatial variability in organic enrichment. Overall, this study highlights the importance of the redox environment in the development of high-quality hydrocarbon source rocks in unrestricted environments that present upwelling.
The Slovenian Basin was the largest Mesozoic inter-platform deeper-marine palaeogeographic unit of the transitional zone between the present-day Southern Alps and the Dinarides. In this study, we present the sedimentology and biostratigraphy of the Toarcian to Tithonian succession of the last unstudied large outcrop belt of the Slovenian Basin Jurassic rocks, which occurs in the Kneža Valley in the foothills of the Julian Alps in NW Slovenia. The studied succession is typical of the southern part of the Slovenian Basin preserved in the Podmelec Nappe, the lowest thrust unit of the eastern segment of the Southern Alps. In two detailed sections, we logged the hemipelagic limestones of the uppermost Krikov Formation, the clay-rich Toarcian Perbla Formation, siliceous pelagites, and resedimented limestones of the Aalenian to Lower Tithonian Tolmin Formation, and calpionellid-bearing Upper Tithonian to Lower Berriasian Biancone Limestone Formation. The thickness of the Perbla Formation follows the eastward thickening trend typical of the successions along the southern part of the basin. The Tolmin Formation shows a high abundance of resedimented limestones, which is also in accordance with the previously established northward waning of resediments within the entire basin. A distinctive feature of the Kneža Valley succession is the unusually small thickness of the radiolarian cherts of the Tolmin Formation (its Upper Member). This indicates a stratigraphic gap, which is related to the Bajocian-Bathonian collapses of the basin’s southern slopes and the margin of the Adriatic Carbonate Platform.
Environmental geophysical investigations require controlled laboratory experiments to better understand the relationships between the parameters measured in the field and complex physicochemical processes occurring in the subsurface. In this work, we introduce the Geoelectrical Laboratory (GEL) of the Geological Survey of Slovenia. A typical application of the spectral induced polarization (SIP) method, focussing on the detection of electron-conducting minerals disseminated in geologic material is presented. This is demonstrated by the close relationship between the polarization peak values, and chargeability values associated with the second peak (m2) of polarization spectra estimated from a double Cole-Cole fit, and the metal content, either by the mass % concentration of the ore mineral or the chemical composition (Pb, Zn and Fe) estimated by XRF measurements. We illustrate this for synthetic mixtures of quartz sand and pure Pb-Zn ore particles from the Mežica mine (Slovenia), the Mežica Pb-Zn mine waste material (K-material) and sediments collected from streams near the waste deposits (S-material). These results evidence promising capabilities of the SIP method for in-situ detection of metallic particles, both within the mine waste deposits and sediments in the surrounding areas. However, further SIP investigations are needed in a larger number of material samples along with geochemical, mineralogical, and granulometric data to refine the links of polarization and chargeability to both the mass content of ore and the specific geochemical composition of the materials under investigation, as well as to determine the influence of the natural geological materials that constitute both the host rock of Pb-Zn ore and the surrounding sediments (e.g., carbonates).
The geological basis of engineering geological surveys is based on age and genetic factors. The age is determined by the regional stratigraphic scheme. Identification of specific features and criteria of genetic subdivisions of rocks is the main task of studying the geological structure of the territory of Lviv city for geotechnical purposes. Stratigraphic and genetic complexes should be identified for this purpose based on the stratigraphic-genetic scheme of bedrock dissection. The bedrock of the Cretaceous and Neogene systems was separated into independent stratigraphic-genetic complexes by this principle and dissected into engineering-geological elements based on the application of stratigraphic and geotechnical research methods. The article describes each engineering-geological element with characteristic geotechnical properties and concludes their use as a basis for foundations of buildings and structures. The soils that are the most difficult in geotechnical terms are also analyzed, recommendations on foundation construction on problematic soils are given, and a set of engineering preparation measures aimed at improving the general engineering-geological situation in Lviv city are defined.
Carbon cycling was investigated monthly (July, August, September, October, November, March and May) from July 2023 to May 2024 in the Radovna stream originating from the permanent Lipnik spring in the Julian Alps, Slovenia using isotopic composition of carbon in dissolved inorganic carbon (δ13CDIC) and particulate organic carbon (δ13CPOC). The investigated catchment is composed of massive coarse - crystal dolomite and limestone. Total alkalinity ranged from 2.2 to 2.7 mM and is characteristic for carbonate pristine environments. In-situ parameters e.g. dissolved oxygen ranged from 11.0 to 12.0 mg/L, pH from 7.9 to 8.1 and specific electrical conductivity from 275 to 318 μS/cm, respectively. The values of dissolved oxygen reflect that the water system is well oxygenated. CO2 presented a source of carbon to the atmosphere during all investigated months. Oversaturation with CO2 is 1.01 to 4.1 times of atmospheric value. δ13CDIC ranged from -11.8 to -9.7 ‰. This indicates that dissolved inorganic carbon under different discharge conditions mainly originates from the dissolution of carbonates (from 50.3 % to 57.3 %), followed by the degradation of organic matter (from 42.8 % to 49.7 %). Equilibration with atmospheric CO₂ has a negligible impact, ranging from 0.01 % to 0.11 %. δ13CPOC in river water indicate sources such as plant debris, with δ13CPOC of -29.4 ‰, and highly degraded soil organic matter, with δ13CPOC of -24.9 ‰. The δ13CDIC and δ13CPOC values are typical for a forest stream flowing over a limestone substrate. Strong statistical negative significant correlation was obtained between electrical conductivity and water temperature, mass of total suspended solids (mTSS) and pH.
In central Slovenia, on the border between Southern Alpine derived units and Dinaric units in the northern part of the Sava Folds, detailed field observations and reambulation-type mapping were conducted. The research aimed to clarify the distribution of Mesozoic formations and the palaeogeographical and tectonic position of the studied area. Based on field observations, lithofacies, microfacies, and biostratigraphic studies (including benthos and planktonic foraminifers, dinocysts, acritarchs, chitinoidellids, calpionellids, green algae, microproblematica, calcareous nannofossils and ascidians), the following successions characterize the northern limb of the Trojane Anticline and the Tuhinj–Motnik Syncline: upper Anisian to lowermost Ladinian platform carbonates (Mendole Formation) are overlain by Ladinian siliciclastic successions including volcanoclastic resediments (Pseudozilian Formation). These either interfinger or are overlain by the Ladinian to lower Carnian platform limestone (Schlern Formation); in the upper part of this formation, the deep–marine siliciclastics and/or carbonates are locally intercalated. Following a significant stratigraphic gap, the lower Tithonian to lower Valanginian pelagic limestone and carbonate resediments (Biancone Formation s.l.) were deposited. The Biancone limestone is covered by upper Aptian–upper Albian (Cenomanian?) marlstone with occasional calcarenite (calciturbidite) interlayers (Lower Flyschoid/Gora Formation). The succession ends with Upper Cretaceous pelagic and resedimented limestones (Volče/Krško Formation). The age and spatial distribution of these successions often differ from that depicted on the existing geological maps. This succession resembles the Transition Zone between the External and Internal Dinarides. Our study indicates the presence of similar transitional Mesozoic Dinaric successions north of the previously proposed Southern Alpine thrust front.
Meteorite Jesenice is a weakly (S3) shocked ordinary chondrite from Slovenia. The shock event was violent enough to cause localized partial melting of the meteorite and the formation of shock veins. Inside the shock veins, metal-sulfide globules were found, which provided evidence for a post-shock cooling rate of 2.2·105 Ks–1 – 7.4·103 Ks–1. From the mineral paragenesis of the shock veins, shock pressure and peak shock temperature were deduced as 2.5–15 GPa and 1500–2150 °C, respectively. We provide evidence that shock veins were formed via a shear and friction mechanism. Furthermore, the confirmed presence of ordered FeNi metal (tetrataenite) found in the matrix indicates that the shock occurred in the parent body of the meteorite Jesenice.
Glacial environments are extremely sensitive to climate change and associated phenomena such as deglaciation and changes in snowfall patterns affecting the glacial mass balance globally. However, as an essential part of the Earth’s water storage, glaciers are of significant importance for the geo-biologic stability. As documented in many locations, landslides on glaciers can trigger altered glacier responses, i.e., glacial advance or glacial surges, which is approached via a literature collection in three categories: cases, inventories, and detection. This publication presents the complexity of landslides on glaciers, statistics based on the literature collection, and a possible index stacking approach towards pattern and shape recognition.
The Uranium Mine Žirovski vrh was actively being researched and excavations took place between 1960 and 1990. Ivan Mlakar (2000) divided the entire Val Gardena Formation into 6 members and named the oldest one the Brebovnica member. This is the only member with uranium ore mineralization. Previously, Tomaž Budkovič (1980) subdivided the gray part of the Val Gardena formation into ten horizons based on colour, grain size, and pebble associations. He did that by mapping of undercut P-10 and its continuation. In this article, we have shown the development of the Brebovnica member in the entire area of the ore deposit, both the mining area and its continuations to the SE and NW. We have modified Budkovič's original division by combining the upper part of the 3rd horizon with intraformational conglomerates and the former 4th sandy horizon into a single 5th conglomerate horizon. In his doctoral thesis (1995), Dragomir Skaberne divided the Brebovnica member into 2 megarhythms, each of which begins with conglomerates and ends with fine-grained sediments. Therefore, it is more appropriate that the 3rd horizon ends with fine-grained sediments and is at the same time the end of the 1st megarhythm, while the intraformational conglomerates, which were previously the upper part of the 3rd horizon, are now part of a single conglomerate horizon, which sometimes also contains sandstones. The total thickness of the Brebovnica member is greatest in the central part of the mine area, where it reaches 410 meters and decreases towards the edges of the basin. Towards Goli vrh in the southeast, where the last uranium mineralization occurs, its thickness decreases to 50 meters. The thickness of individual horizons, except the second and fifth, decreases from tens of meters to only a few meters, and some horizons even wedge out. To the northwest from the former mining area there are no economically significant uranium ores. In that direction, the colorful conglomerates wedge out, and the nature of sandy horizons, which were the main carriers of uranium mineralization in the mining area, changes. Their colour changes from gray and dark gray to greenish gray, with fewer fragments of anthracitized organic matter that created reducing environments necessary for uranium precipitation. The colourful conglomerates contain important pebbles of acidic magmatic rocks with higher uranium contents compared to other rock groups. Their erosion enriched surface and groundwater with uranium already at the surface and additionally during percolation through the layers of colorful conglomerate. Uranium dissolved under oxidizing conditions, while under reducing conditions it precipitated in the binder of sandy grains. Of the entire 18 km length of the gray Bebovnica member as shown on the geological map, only 5.5 km show conditionally economic uranium mineralization, which approximately corresponds to the area where colorful conglomerates occur.
The mineral composition and pressure–temperature conditions of Pohorje quartz diorite were investigated to reconstruct crystallization sequence and integrate the results with previous data on the Pohorje igneous complex, providing insights into its petrogenesis. Pohorje quartz diorite has phaneritic texture and is medium- to coarse-grained. The major minerals include light green clinopyroxene, dark green amphiboles, and white feldspars; the first two give the rock its characteristic colour. The proportion of dark- to light-colored minerals is approximately 4:1. Clinopyroxene predominates and correspond to diopside (XCa = 0.47–0.51, XMg = 0.41–0.49, XFe = 0.05–0.09). Amphiboles are Ca-amphiboles and are divided into two types: Type I amphiboles occur as single grains with distinctive core and rim zones, whereas Type II amphiboles replace clinopyroxene grains. Type I amphibole cores are classified as magnesiohornblende, tschermakite, edenite, pargasite, or magnesiohastingsite; Type I amphibole rims are classified as magnesiohornblende and actinolite; and Type II amphiboles are classified as magnesiohornblende. The dominant feldspars are oligoclase to andesine (XAb = 0.61–0.73), often replaced by potassium feldspar orthoclase. Minor minerals include quartz, biotite group minerals, apatite group minerals, titanite, epidote group minerals (allanite), and magnetite, while secondary minerals comprise chlorite group minerals and calcite. Various thermometers and barometers were applied to reconstruct the crystallization history of the quartz diorite and link it to the evolution of the host granodiorite intrusion. Thermobarometric data indicate that clinopyroxene in the quartz diorite, which is considered the earliest cumulate product from basaltic melts, crystallized under the highest P–T conditions (840–905 °C; 6.70–7.70 kbar), consistent with petrographic evidence. Subsequent crystallization of Type I amphibole cores occurred at 675–730 °C and 6.45–6.50 kbar, conditions comparable to those of the less evolved granodiorite, suggesting coeval formation. Later stages involved the formation of Type I amphibole rims at 585–640 °C and ~2.00 kbar, Type II amphiboles at 615–680 °C and 2.59–2.79 kbar, and biotites at 670–690 °C, associated with the emplacement of more evolved granodiorite at shallower crustal levels
Understanding the spatial distribution of levels of chemical elements in soil is crucial for ensuring a safe and healthy living environment. It also plays an important role in spatial planning, land use management, and monitoring long-term anthropogenic impacts on the environment. This is particularly relevant in urban areas due to their high population density. This study presents the results of research on the levels of chemical elements, pH values, and total and organic carbon contents in the soil of Maribor, along with spatial distribution maps. Soil samples were collected from the upper 10 cm across the entire city using a 500 × 500 m grid. After digestion with aqua regia, the levels of 65 elements were determined using ICP-MS. The results indicate that the topsoil in Maribor is not heavily contaminated with potentially toxic elements. However, we identified several smaller areas and a few localized sites with elevated levels of copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn), primarily within industrial zones and the historic city centre. Their slightly elevated medians compared to Slovenian medians, along with high variability of levels and spatial distribution, suggest at least a partially anthropogenic origin. A partially anthropogenic origin can also be attributed to cadmium (Cd), antimony (Sb), tin (Sn), mercury (Hg), and silver (Ag). In contrast, some elements, for example aluminium (Al), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), and vanadium (V) clearly ref lect the predominant inf luence of the geological setting. With this study, we aimed to define the current geochemical state of the soil in Maribor, make the findings more accessible to the general public, and enable long-term monitoring of soil and environmental conditions.
The stone products from the Roman-time found in the Ig area were mainly made from micritic and peloidal limestone. The provenance of these products has been only roughly defined so far, mainly due to the lack of detailed microfacies descriptions, study of microfossils and missing geochemical analyses from the previously identified or proposed areas of Roman quarries. This database fills this gap and provides a detailed insight into the lithological and geochemical composition of the limestone found in Podutik, Staje, Ig, Podpeč, Jezero near Podpeč, on the hill of St. Ana and at Ledenica near Planinca. The sedimentological logs represent parts of the Lower Jurassic Podbukovje Formation, specifically the members E1 – laminated micritic and oolitic limestone, E2 – fossiliferous limestone, E3 – crinoid limestone belonging to the Podbukovje Formation, and E4 – oolitic limestone and dolomite belonging to the Laze Formation. For purposes of comparison, accessible stone products from the Ig area were studied using the same methods. The applied methodology includes geological mapping, detailed sedimentological description of sediment sequences and macroscopic examination of samples, optical microscopy for the analysis of lithofacies, microfacies and benthic foraminifera, cathodoluminescence analysis, analysis of strontium isotope ratio values, stable carbon and oxygen isotope ratio values, determination of mineral composition and content of major, minor and trace elements.
The present article constitutes a revision of the decapod crustacean species Xanthopsis bodracus Makarenko, 1956 from the early Lutetian (Eocene, Palaeogene) of the Crimean Peninsula, southern Ukraine. The distinctive morphological characteristics of Xanthopsis bodracus enable its classification within the genus Harpactoxanthopsis Via Boada, 1959, as the type series of Xanthopsis bodracus precisely aligns with the diagnostic criteria of this genus. Of the five species in the genus Harpactoxanthopsis, Xanthopsis bodracus is morphologically closest to Harpactoxanthopsis quadrilobatus (Desmarest, 1822). However, there are currently insufficient grounds to confidently synonymise Xanthopsis bodracus with Harpactoxanthopsis quadrilobatus, as the poorly preserved type material, of which only a part has been preserved, does not allow this. In view of this, Xanthopsis bodracus has been revised as Harpactoxanthopsis sp. The Palaeogene decapod assemblages of Crimea consist of five genera including Coeloma A. Milne-Edwards, 1865, Protocallianassa Beurlen, 1930, Arcticocarcinus Shweitzer et al., 2016, Xanthopsis M’Coy, 1849, and Harpactoxanthopsis Via Boada, 1959.
This paper presents a dataset containing the results of geochemical analyses of three different urban materials- soil, sediment and household dust from the urban area of Idrija town (Slovenia). Topsoil, subsoil and garden soil were collected on the urban green surfaces. Sediments were collected in the gully pots of the urban drainage system (road sediments) and local streams flowing through Idrija's urban area (stream sediments). Household dust was collected from the vacuum cleaner bags, which were provided by the residents. The geochemical analyses carried out were: (1) multi-elemental analysis (determination of element contents after modified aqua regia digestion by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) mass spectrometry and ICP emission spectrometry (ES) and (2) solid phase Hg thermo-desorption technique (determination of the relative amount of Hg binding forms). These two methods were applied to all investigated materials. Water leaching tests were carried out to determine the water-soluble Hg content in the urban soil by ICP-MS. A modified simulated stomach acid extraction in vitro tests were carried out to determine the bioaccessible Hg content in topsoil and household dust by ICP-MS. The dataset has a fundamental scientific value and is useful for local soil, sediment and household dust quality research, mitigation of pollution evaluation over time and assessment of environmental exposure and related health impacts.
A spatial inventory of cut slopes in the central and western Lesser Himalaya of Nepal was prepared and characterised to evaluate their stability. The stability of these cut slopes is governed by the geotechnical properties of rock/soil together with slope geometry, groundwater conditions and human interventions. Numerous cut slope failures were observed in areas where slope geometry is modified for engineering developments such as roads, dams, powerhouses, industrial development, etc. Two modelling sites were evaluated using the Limit Equilibrium Method (LEM), Finite Element Method (FEM), and Particle Finite Element Method (PFEM). Pre-failure analyses using LEM and FEM under dry and saturated conditions revealed that the stability of the Lesser Himalayan hillslopes with considerable soil thickness is predominantly controlled by the depth of groundwater level (GWL). Slopes remain stable with a factor of safety (FoS)>1.3 when the GWL lies below 7 m from the surface and gradually become unstable as it approaches the surface. This trend for both slopes confirms that elevated groundwater during the rainy season is the major cause of frequent cut slope failures in the Himalayan regions. The comparison of FoS from LEM and Strength Reduction Factor (SRF) from FEM showed a strong cross-correlation (90–99 %), revealing minimal variation which affirmed the validity of the adopted modelling techniques used in this study. Post-failure simulations of these sites were further analysed using an innovative approach, the robust PFEM modelling technique, to compute the dynamic failure mechanism. Sensitivity analysis of both modelled sites showed that friction angle and cohesion are the most significant parameters for slope stability evaluation. Moreover, forward and back analyses indicated that computed results are in good agreement, thus depicting reliability and performances along with the model validation.
Household, attic, and street dust were sampled and analysed in the influential area of cement plant located in Anhovo, Slovenia. The aim of the work is to determine the geochemical properties of the three types of dust, which are the result of geogenic factors, past and current influences of the cement plant, and other factors. The study covered the settlements of Anhovo, Morsko, Deskle, Ložice, Gorenje Polje, Goljevica, Ravna, Krstenica, Kanal and Bodrež. The levels of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), thallium (Tl) and zinc (Zn) were determined in the sieved dust samples (<0.063 mm) after agua regia digestion. The composition of dusts varies greatly between the three dust types and also between sample sites. The ranges between the minimum and maximum levels are mostly large, which indicates different sources in different parts of the studied area and anthropogenic influences. The results show that the studied area is characterized by relatively high Hg levels in all three types of dust. The Hg levels are significantly higher compared to town of Maribor, the Slovenian countryside and Slovenian urban areas. Based on the presented data, we can conclude that the levels of Hg in the studied three dust types and in the environment is influenced by anthropogenic sources that have been active in the past and sources that are still active today. The studied area is also characterized by slightly higher Tl and Mn levels compared to other data for Slovenia.
Artisanal and Small Scale Mining (ASM) is distinctive to Industrial Mining (IM) upon minimal applications of scientific methods and inadequate funding of its geological exploration activities. Revision of scholarly sources indicate that for ASM, gold prospecting is done using visual features that signify zones of mineralization. Such features comprise soil and lithological indicators, geo-biotic indicators, indicator minerals, pathfinder elements and associate minerals. Others include physical features and mine vestiges. Imminent research on ASM rests upon studying scientific inter-relationships of such techniques and suitable mechanisms of financing activities related to geological exploration, an inordinate barrier to smart productivity of ASM.
One of the key tasks in ensuring national security is the ability of the state and society to recognise and effectively assess the conditions for disasters, and to prevent them from threatening the sustainable development of the country. The Kyrgyz Republic is highly vulnerable to the influence of climate change, which in turn affects the frequency and intensity of disasters. The Kyrgyz Republic is exposed to almost all types of geological and man-made hazards, including earthquakes, landslides, debris flows, flash floods, outbursts of mountain lakes, dam failures, avalanches, droughts, extreme temperature, epidemics and releases of hazardous substances. Analysis of information on existing risks and their control systems used to reduce their negative impact makes it possible to assess the degree of probability, the expected consequences of threats, determine the degree of risk, the adaptive potential of communities and select appropriate protective measures. Therefore, this study is conducted to assess the hazard, vulnerability and exposure of Suzak district (Jalal-Abad oblast) in order to quantify the risk of the study area using multi-parameter holistic assessment with field collecting of primary data and utilizing Index-based Risk Assessment approach based on applying INFORM Risk model. Collected data was used to downscale subnational INFORM Risk model for municipal and district level using a multi-layered structure. A risk score is calculated by combining 72 indicators that measure three main dimensions: hazard & exposure, vulnerability, and lack of coping capacity. These findings provide an opportunity to develop a more effective disaster risk management at the local and national levels, by prioritizing relevant actions and investments for municipalities – districts which are demonstrated relatively highest risk scores. Also, the possibility of applying localized risk assessment procedures provides an opportunity to obtain more accurate sub-national (district/oblast based) and national levels with effective assessing dynamics of risk.
