Dayas are shallow karst depressions that represent one of the most widespread surface landforms in arid karst environments, where present-day dry climatic conditions strongly limit karstification processes. This paper provides a comprehensive geomorphological analysis of dayas on the Nullarbor Plain in southern Australia, one of the world's largest exposed carbonate platforms and an ideal natural laboratory due to its tectonic stability and lack of orogenesis. Semi-automatic GIS-based detection and morphometric analysis were conducted across 11 representative study areas (300 km2 each), complemented by sedimentological analyses (grain-size distribution and XRD). In addition, a GIS-based assessment of water retention in inundated dayas following an extreme flood event in March 2024 was performed by comparing theoretical evaporation losses and observed changes in water volume, supported by meteorological data. Our results demonstrate that palaeotopography exerts a strong control on the spatial distribution and morphometric characteristics of dayas. Additionally, sedimentological analyses indicate a poorly permeable sediment infill resulting from aeolian and fluvial accumulation and reworking, which promotes prolonged surface-water retention within the depressions. Discrepancies between observed water-volume losses and theoretical evaporation indicate partial floodwater infiltration into the karst aquifer, suggesting that dayas may act as focused, event-based recharge features and are not solely relict landforms, but rare surface karst features that remain active under present arid conditions. These findings mark the first application of an integrated methodological approach to the study of dayas and yields new insights into their spatial evolution and geomorphological and hydrological significance on planar carbonate platforms such as the Nullarbor Plain, while offering a framework applicable to analogous arid karst regions worldwide.

This study evaluates the applicability of magnetic susceptibility (MS) as a rapid, cost-effective screening tool for identifying contamination in soils and coal ash landfill environments. The main objective was to assess whether MS can reliably reflect pollution patterns across sites with contrasting industrial legacies and to examine its relationship with geochemical and mineralogical indicators of contamination. Five sites with different industrial backgrounds were investigated, including two coal ash landfills, soils surrounding an ironworks, a steel plant, and soils near a former alumina factory. Magnetic susceptibility was measured on surface soil samples and compared with multi-element geochemical data, enrichment factors, and mineralogical composition. Statistical analyses were used to explore correlations between MS and individual elements, while combined datasets were used to identify anomalies and contamination hotspots. MS values varied considerably between the sites, reflecting differences in industrial influence, mineralogical composition, and geochemical properties. The highest MS values were measured at the Sisak site, in the immediate vicinity of an ironworks, where strong positive correlations were observed between MS and heavy metals such as Cr, V, Ti, Cd, and Pb. In contrast, soils near the Sulaimani steel plant and the former alumina factory Jadral showed lower MS responses despite their industrial past, indicating the influence of site-specific factors such as contaminant composition or soil mineralogy. The integration of MS data with enrichment factors and mineralogical composition enabled the identification of outliers and contamination hotspots. The results confirm that MS, in combination with geochemical and mineralogical data, provides valuable insights into pollution patterns, especially in complex industrial environments. However, the effectiveness of MS as a proxy for contamination was found to be highly site-specific and dependent on the mineralogical composition of both the contaminant source and the receiving environment. The findings support the use of MS as a complementary technique in large-scale environmental monitoring and assessment of contaminated sites.

This report examines ceramic technological choices during the transition from the late Roman period to the Early Middle Ages (c. 300-900 CE) in the southeastern Alps using a multi-method archaeometric approach. Fourteen samples of coarseware pottery-representing three primary fabric groups previously identified by optical microscopy-were analyzed with X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy. The purpose of the study was to confirm the validity of the petrographic fabric groups as well as provide further insight into steps of the cha & icirc;ne op & eacute;ratoire, such as raw material acquisition, clay preparation, and firing conditions. XRD and XRF results corroborated the mineralogical profile of fabric groups identified under the microscope and provided additional quantitative data on less visible components. SEM-EDS demonstrated that potters mostly gathered locally available illite-rich clays, adopted a low intervention approach to clay preparation, and, when tempering with calcite, utilized crushed limestone. FTIR and XRD indicated that higher-fired ceramics ( > 800 degrees C) occurred predominantly at late Roman and late antique upland settlements, as well as early medieval reoccupations of those sites, while early medieval lowland sites produced lower-fired ceramics (<800 degrees C). The overall pattern during this transition was one of technological diversification: late Roman ceramic production was highly standardized, while early medieval assemblages exhibited greater diversity of technical choices. Furthermore, early medieval reoccupations of late antique settlements showed greater technological continuity with Roman traditions than newly established lowland sites, suggesting differential transmission of craft knowledge during this period.

Revitalisation of contaminated brownfield sites is essential for sustainable development, particularly near sensitive ecological areas like Natura 2000 sites. The lagoon in Slovenia's Regional Park & Scaron;turmovci, an artificial wastewater convergence point created during hydroelectric construction, is a highly relevant example. This study integrates geochemical, mineralogical and isotopic analyses to identify sources and controlling mechanisms of contaminant distribution in lagoon sediments and assess their transfer to nearby agricultural soils during flooding events. Results indicate anaerobic conditions, with depth-related shifts in phosphorus, sulphur and redox-sensitive elements, such as rare earth elements (REE), arsenic (As), barium (Ba), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb) and vanadium (V), as well as fluctuations in pyrite-rich laminated layers, suggesting potential flood-driven remobilisation of trace elements. Lagoon sediments are highly contaminated with As (73 mg kg(-1)), Ba (247 mg kg(-1)), Pb (97 mg kg(-1)) and Zn (1118 mg kg(-1)), with elevated concentrations also observed in agricultural soil, all exceeding respective limit values of 20, 160, 85 and 200 mg kg(-1). Pollutant concentrations were highest near wastewater inflows and decreased with distance, with nitrogen isotopic patterns indicating partial nitrification and surface ammonium accumulation, reflecting intensive agricultural inputs in the area. High enrichment factor (EF > 20) and geoaccumulation index (I-geo > 3) values, in particular for As, Cd and Zn, indicated severe contamination and highlighted the urgent need for effective remediation strategies, including immobilisation using biochar or cement-based binders, as well as phytoremediation approaches.

Fluctuations in timber/treeline have largely been subjected to past climatic changes; but throughout the Holocene humans became one of the leading drivers of these changes. By understanding the reasons for timber/treeline changes, we retraced past climate variability and/or anthropogenic impact on the alpine environment. This study focussed on the sedimentary sequence of the Lake ‘Jezero v Ledvicah’ (Julian Alps, Slovenia), which is currently located at the treeline and covers the last ca. 6200 years. We used mineralogical and geochemical analyses to understand sedimentary changes in the lake and its catchment area. By combining this dataset with palynological data we tracked the causes of vegetation changes with a focus on human impact. Geological analyses indicate slow continuous and undisturbed sedimentation with a combined biogenic and detrital calcite input throughout the Holocene. High percentage of clay minerals indicate that they were eroded from the catchment bedrock and/or were brought to the catchment indirectly by wind. The palynological results indicate that area around the lake was forested around 6200–4300 cal. BP, with predominant occurrence of coniferous taxa. Infrequent but fairly continuous grazing indicators during this period suggest a human presence in the highlands. By 4300–1100 cal. BP, the human influence in the area increased, resulting in a gradual decrease in tree taxa. Since 1000 cal. BP relatively open landscape developed with increased grazing indicators suggesting a continuous use of highlands.

The evaporites in the Karawanke Mountains (northwestern Slovenia) are hosted in a structurally complex lithological sequence, intercalated between Carboniferous-Permian and Permo-Triassic rocks. These evaporites are primarily composed of gypsum, with minor amounts of anhydrite, dolomite, and barite-celestine. Geochemically, the evaporites are characterized by elevated Sr (2000-2700 mg kg(-1)) and low Ba (210-400 mg kg(-1)) contents, reflecting the contrasting solubility behaviors of these elements in low-temperature syngenetic environments. Thermal dehydration, induced by peak burial temperatures ranging from 190 to 260 degrees C facilitated the transformation of gypsum to anhydrite. Subsequent cooling below the anhydrite stability threshold enabled gradual rehydration, accounting for the coexistence of both minerals. Thermal alteration also mobilized trace elements from the evaporites, which precipitated as secondary celestine and barite through dissolution-reprecipitation mechanisms, producing compositionally zoned fracture infills. The observed zoning, transitioning from Ba-rich to Sr-rich endmembers, likely reflects shifts in temperature, solubility and the chemical reactivity of evaporite-derived brine. Sulfur isotope analyses reveal delta S-34 values of +11.8 to +13.7 parts per thousand for the evaporitic sulfates, showing minimal variation and only a small difference relative to coexisting sulfides. This small isotopic offset indicates nearly complete sulfate reduction under high-temperature conditions, consistent with thermal alteration inferred from burial temperatures. These geochemical and isotopic results put forward not only the thermal and diagenetic evolution of the Karawanke evaporites but also their broader significance as minor reservoirs of strontium, a critical element with growing industrial and technological importance.

V prispevku predstavljamo raziskavo izvora kamnin 21 odlomkov žrmelj, odkritih pri arheoloških raziskavah rimskega mesta Emona. Provenienca kamnin žrmelj nam da pomembne podatke o trgovini na dolge razdalje in o poteku trgovskih poti v rimskem času. Žrmlje – ročni mlini, sestavljeni iz dveh kamnov okrogle oblike, odprtine za pogonsko ročico na zgornjem kamnu in središčne osi – so se v rimskem času uporabljale predvsem za vsakodnevno mletje žit. V postopku raziskave so bili vzorci emonskih žrmelj pregledani z mineraloško-petrografskimi analizami. Rezultati kažejo, da so del analiziranih žrmelj v Emono pripeljali od daleč, kar dopolnjuje naše vedenje o trgovini na dolge razdalje in o poteku trgovskih poti čez emonski prostor. Del analiziranih žrmelj je lokalnega izvora. Sklepamo, da je bila odločitev tedanjih prebivalcev mesta, katere žrmlje kupiti, povezana s kakovostjo kamnine, iz katere so bile izdelane, in z njihovo ceno, na izbiro pa je v nekaterih primerih gotovo vplivala tudi lokalna tradicija.

Small mountain lakes are natural archives for understanding long-term natural and anthropogenic impact on the environment. This study focused on long-term (last ca. 13 000 years) vegetation changes and sedimentary processes in the catchment area of Lake Planina pri jezeru (1430 m a.s.l.) by using mineralogical, geochemical and palynological methods. Palynological results suggest that regional vegetation between 12 900 and 11 700 cal a bp was a herbaceous-forest tundra (Pinus, Artemisia, Poaceae). Climate warming at the beginning of the Holocene (ca. 11 700 cal a bp) caused the transition from a wetland (Cyperaceae) to an eutrophic lake with alternating anoxic (pyrite) and oxic conditions (gypsum). In addition, the surrounding area became forested (Picea, Larix, Ulmus). Fagus expanded at 10 200 cal a bp and Abies at 8200 cal a bp. Between 7500 and 4300 cal a bp, human impact on the environment was barely noticeable and mostly limited to grazing. During 4300-430 cal a bp human impact became more evident and gradually increased. The greatest influence was observed from 430 cal a bp onwards, when excessive exploitation of the surrounding area (logging and grazing) severely eutrophicated the lake.

Purpose Hypersaline environments are extremely vulnerable and important ecological niches. Because much knowledge has focused on the distribution of heavy metals in these areas, the detailed behavior of key major elements in hypersaline environments has not been elucidated in detail. This research aims to define the distribution, translocation pathways, and mobility patterns of the major elements in hypersaline sediments and halophytes. Materials and methods Samples of Sarcocornia fruticosa plants were collected from evaporation (ES) and crystallization (CA) sites in the Sečovlje Salina area (Republic of Slovenia). The major element contents were measured by digestion in HNO 3 then aqua regia and analyzed by ICP-MS for ultra-low detection limits. Rhizo-sediments from EA and CA were processed using sequential extraction analysis to determine the precise fractionation of Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, and Na. To determine the translocation patterns of individual major elements in S. fruticosa , two indices were calculated: bioconcentration (BCF) and translocation factor (TF). Differences and similarities between samples and elements were highlighted using Statistica VII and Grapher 8 statistical software and Ward’s method, respectively. Results and discussion The obtained results confirmed that halophyte plants take up large amounts of the essential micronutrient Na due to high salinity, and that macronutrients (Ca, Mg, P, and S) are intensively translocated from the roots to the upper parts of the plant. The overall trend in translocation signature for major elements, distinguished by BCF and TF factor calculations, emphasizes that root tissues accumulate a significant amount of major elements and that accumulation depends on individual major elements. It also showed that the major elements Ca, Mg, Na, P, and S are highly translocated within plants, while the mobility of Al, Fe, and K is limited. Conclusions Our results suggest that the major elements are vital macronutrients for halophytes, but their accumulation in the roots and further translocation within the plant depend on individual elements and their dynamics. The translocation pattern of the major elements can be justified as follows: Ca is an essential element for plant growth, maintenance, and membrane integrity; Mg is a specific component of chlorophyll; Na is present because of the hypersaline environment; P is a key component of plant metabolic processes; S represents an important component of enzymes and other key proteins; Al and Fe are preferentially accumulated in roots; and plant leaves are generally undersupplied with K. The presented results are of great importance for the general knowledge and use/application of halophytes in agriculture and biotechnology.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the use of disposable plastics, including medical masks, which have become a necessity in our daily lives. As these are often improperly disposed of, they represent an important potential source of microplastics in the environment. We prepared microplastics from polypropylene medical masks and characterised their size, shape, organic chemical leaching, and acute toxicity to the planktonic crustacean Daphnia magna. The three layers of the masks were separately milled and characterised. Each of the inner frontal, middle filtering, and outer layers yielded different types of microplastics: fibres were obtained from the inner and outer layer, but irregular fragments from the middle layer. The shape of the obtained microplastics differed from the initial fibrous structure of the intact medical mask layers, which indicates that the material is deformed during cryo-milling. The chemical compositions of plastics-associated chemicals also varied between the different layers. Typically, the inner layer contained more chemicals related to antimicrobial function and flavouring. The other two layers also contained antioxidants and their degradation products, plasticisers, cross-linking agents, antistatic agents, lubricants, and non-ionic surfactants. An acute study with D. magna showed that these microplastics do not cause immobility but do physically interact with the daphnids. Further long-term studies with these microplastics are needed using a suite of test organisms. Indeed, studies with other polypropylene microplastics have shown numerous adverse effects on other organisms at concentrations that have already been reported in the environment. Further efforts should be made to investigate the environmental hazards of polypropylene microplastics from medical masks and how to handle this new source of environmental burden.

Microplastics are very common contaminants in the environment. Despite increasing efforts to assess the effects of microplastics on soil organisms, there remains a lack of knowledge on how organisms respond to diverse types of microplastics after different exposure durations. In the present study, we investigated the immune response of the terrestrial crustacean Porcellio scaber exposed to the two most common microplastic particles in the environment: polyester fibres and tyre particles. We also tested two natural particles: wood dust and silica powder, with all treatments performed at 1.5% w/w. The response of P. scaber was evaluated at the level of the immune system, and also the biochemical, organism and population level, after different exposure durations (1, 2, 4, 7, 14, 21 days). These data reveal dynamic changes in the levels of some immune parameters shortly after exposure, with a gradual return to control values. The total number of haemocytes was significantly decreased after 4 days of exposure to tyre particles, while the proportion of different haemocyte types in the haemolymph was altered shortly after exposure to both polyester fibres and tyre particles. Moreover, 7 days of exposure to tyre particles resulted in increased superoxide dismutase activity in the haemolymph, while metabolic activity in whole woodlice (measured as electron transport system activity) was increased after exposure for 7, 14 and 21 days. In contrast, the natural particles did not elicit any significant changes in the measured parameters. Survival and feeding of P. scaber were not altered by exposure to the microplastics and natural particles in soil. Overall, this study defines a time-dependent transient immune response of P. scaber, which indicates that immune parameters represent sensitive biomarkers of exposure to microplastics. We discuss the importance of using natural particles in studies of microplastics exposure and their effects.

This study examined the provenance of stone tesserae from three Roman mosaics from Celje, Slovenia, using optical microscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Nine microfacies were distinguished. Miliolid limestones identified in the white tesserae, and mudstones/laminated wackestones in the black tesserae, suggest they originated from the Karst region. The sparry limestone in the yellow tesserae probably originates from the Mediterranean. The mudstone/wackestone with planktonic foraminifera in the red tesserae originates from an outcrop in southwestern Slovenia. Green tesserae tuffs are of local origin, whereas the white tuffs could originate from Italian Oligo-Miocene volcanism rhyolites.

An extensive study on using plant waste aqueous extracts as natural chemicals for in-situ synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO) on cotton is presented. Reducing agents were prepared from green tea leaves (GT), pomegranate peels (PG), and staghorn sumac leaves (SsL) and drupes (SsD), and the alkaline medium from discarded wood ash. Zinc acetate was found to be more appropriate precursor than zinc nitrate. Formation of ZnO on cotton was confirmed by energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). The inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and X-ray fluorescence results showed the highest amount of ZnO on cotton was formed using PG and SsL extracts, which was also confirmed with scanning electron microscopy and UV/visible spectroscopy. The ZnO-functionalised samples exhibited excellent UV-blocking ability and different wetting properties (hydrophilic or hydrophobic) depending on the reducing agent used due to their different total phenolic content. This study shows that by choosing the plant waste source as a reducing agent for ZnO formation directly on cotton, the properties of cotton can be designed to be hydrophilic or hydrophobic with excellent UV-blocking properties. The XRD results of ex-situ synthesis prove that the short reaction time enables the formation of ZnO.

The Bay of Koper is influenced by agricultural, urban, and port activities, therefore pollution from trace metals is a concern. A total of 20 sediment samples obtained from four 10-cm sediment cores were analyzed. Element concentration in the sediment of the bay was determined spatially and temporally from the recent surface to depth. The results were correlated with the composition and diversity of the benthic foraminiferal assemblages. Major element concentrations indicate natural lithogenic origin (which is also confirmed by mineralogical features). The benthic foraminiferal assemblages in sediment samples, although mainly composed of representatives of the Rotaliida, show moderate to high species diversity and are dominated by the pollution tolerant species Ammonia pakinsoniana , Haynesina sp., Valvulineria bradyana and the non-keel Elphidium sp. and subordinated by Ammonia tepida and Haynesina depressula . Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) on foraminiferal species and trace element concentrations shows a possible control of some potential toxic elements (i.e., Cu, Ni, Pb, Zr, Cr, As) on the diversity and taxonomic composition of foraminiferal assemblages. Nevertheless, foraminiferal diversity and dominance in the bay are related to sediment characteristics such as sediment grain size, and the amount of terrigenous inflow rather than to the element concentrations of sediments. This study evaluated ecological conditions by using the Foram-AMBi and EcoQS indices. The values of the Foram-AMBI index reflect the good to moderate quality of ecological conditions, whereas high to poor ecological statuses were interpreted by calculating EcoQS.

Over the last 30 years, the Cosserat continuum has gained an importance in the description of physical properties of tectonic faulting. Using the sine-Gordon equation we show that kink and antikink solitary wave solutions can be used to describe propagation of the couple-stresses through the faulted medium of the Earth’s crust. Recently it was established that the shear-traction exerted on the tectonic faults by the couple-stresses correlates with radon degassing. Degassing is estimated through atmospheric effects due to air ionization expressed in the form of the atmospheric chemical potential (ACP), thus providing a direct and measurable proof for the existence propagating couple-stresses in the Earth’s crust. The positive and negative correlation corresponds to different faulting mechanism and thickness of the Earth’s crust. Positive correlation is observed in the regions characterized by thin crust, as well as in the normal and strike-slip faulting regimes. The negative correlation is observed in the regions characterized by thick crust as well as in the reverse faulting regimes, and along very long transform faults. Using together the shear-traction modeling and ACP measurements, we can identify critical zones prone to the earthquake triggering and calculate the time-dependent probability for the future earthquakes.

The article discusses the possible use of kilns for the firing of pottery in western Slovenia during the Early Iron Age. In the absence of archaeologically attested kilns, their use in this area is studied based on indirect factors, i.e. the analysis of the vessel firing technique, and with the help of experiments from the field of experimental archaeology. The article strives to determine the reasons for the poor state of preservation of the kilns in the area in question. Samples from archaeological experiments and archaeological pottery were subjected to AMS measurements, petrographic and mineralogical analyses (X-ray diffraction), which revealed the importance of considering the soaking time as a criterion for observing the firing processes and use of single-chamber kilns for the firing of pottery, even if they have not yet been discovered.

In the Buchim porphyry copper deposit, we determined several representative rare mineral phases, comprising metals from the gold-palladium group as well as those from the bismuth-selenium (Cu-Bi-Se-Te-As) group. The bismuth-selenium rare mineral phases are represented by new rare mineral phases in the Buchim porphyry copper deposit, bismuthinite, galenobismutite, krupkaite, friedrichite, emplectite, laitakarite and native bismuth as well as mineral phases of gold-palladium, including gold and palladium with their elemental mixtures. It should be stressed that both types of rare mineral phases were determined in pyrite and chalcopyrite from major ore paragenesis in the Buchim deposit. The bismuth-selenium mineral phases were related to the major quartz-pyrite-chalcopyrite paragenesis, while the gold-palladium phases were related to a slightly higher temperature, oxido-sulphide parageneses such are magnetite-pyrite- chalcopyrite (Mt-Py-Cp) and pyrite-chalcopyrite (Py-Cp).

The present study characterizes mortars from Thanjavur Palace (Thanjavur, India) to illustrate ancient production methods and the raw materials used. The mineralogical-petrographic composition of mortars was determined using optical microscopy, supported by scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction. The chemical composition and organic content of the binder were also determined. The aggregate-binder ratio and particle size distribution of the mortars were investigated. Results showed that the composition of both the aggregate and binder varied between mortars. The aggregate consisted mainly of quartz, with small quantities of feldspar and individual grains of limestone and other lithic grains present. The majority of the mortars contained a lime binder, but kaolinite was also identified, indicating a clay binder. Kaolinite primarily occurred in bedding mortars rather than plaster mortars. All samples were in a deteriorated state due to the presence of gypsum and halite. Analysis of particle size distribution confirmed the size of the aggregates to range between 1.18 and 0.3 mm, showing that the aggregates must have been ground in order to allow for the dispersion of binders. Furthermore, biomolecules in the form of carbohydrates, proteins and fats, which could serve as natural admixtures to improve properties in both the fresh and hardened state, were identified in all mortar samples.

The occurrence of the PTEs contamination in the environment resulting from the point or diffuse sources increases with globalization and population growth. Anyway the benefits of home gardening for the physiological and physical well-being, as well as uncertainties regarding food supply chain in the case of Covid-19, the desire to use home-grown (local) food is increasing more and more. There is no information available on the PTE pollution of urban soils used for the food production in Slovenia. Therefore, the main goal of present study is the characterization of urban gardens and agricultural areas affected by flooded sediments. The total concentrations of PTEs in soil and sediment samples were ICP-MS. The concentrations of PTEs (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) exceeded the permissible limit values defined in Slovenian Official Gazette. To define the natural or artificial origin of PTEs, the mineralogical composition of the selected soils and sediments was determined. The results obtained in present study were correlated with the national background values measured in the upper soil horizon and showed elevated concentrations. In addition to the environmental issues, the social aspect of potential impacts of PTEs on human health and safety was investigated. The results show that despite the numerous local, national and international plans and measures, greater awareness of the general public is needed to understand the hazardous effects of PTEs and the need for appropriate management of contaminated soil in the case contaminated areas.