Conturines Cave (Dolomites, northern Italy) opens at 2775 m a.s.l. at the headwall of a former glacial cirque, some 700-800 m above the modern treeline. The approximately 200 m long cave comprises a single ascending paleophreatic conduit. Large parts of the cave floor are mantled by an extensive flowstone (locally up to 3.5 m), and a few prominent stalagmites are present in the inner part of the passage, where the flowstone deposition initiated. All major speleothems are presently inactive, partially corroded, and fractured. The hydrological catchment is a narrow ridge devoid of vegetation and soil, and present-day drip waters are undersaturated with respect to calcite. Several drill cores covering the entire stratigraphy of the flowstone were obtained along the gallery. Multi-proxy analyses of the two longest cores, drilled similar to 5 m apart, show excellent replication and record several magnetic polarity reversals. U-Pb dating indicates that speleothem deposition began in the Late Miocene or earliest Pliocene (at ca. 5.80 +/- 0.24 to 5.38 +/- 0.24 Ma) and continued intermittently until 1.82 +/- 0.17 Ma, making this the oldest radiometrically dated speleothem in the Alps. The main phase of flowstone deposition occurred before 4.21 +/- 0.22 Ma and coincided with the formation of tall stalagmites. Fluorescent lamination and pollen grains preserved within the flowstone suggest a soil-covered catchment area that supported vegetation dominated by pine, indicating that the cave was once located near the treeline. This uplifted, exceptionally old speleothem archive provides a rare window into Neogene environmental conditions in the Southern Alps.

Stream sediments integrate the geochemical and mineralogical signals of entire drainage basins, reflecting both bedrock lithology and anthropogenic inputs. This study applies knowledge-driven Sequential Binary Partitions (SBPs) of isometric log-ratio (ilr)-transformed data to unravel relationships among geochemistry, mineralogy, and mass-specific magnetic susceptibility (chi), with an approach tested on a representative river basin (i.e., Ombrone Grossetano River Basin, Southern Tuscany, Italy), lithologically diverse and impacted by past mining activities. The method aims to improve the understanding of natural and anthropogenic influences on sediment composition. Geochemical data (X-ray fluorescence) were transformed through ilr-balances, whereas mineralogical compositions (X-ray diffraction), lithological information, and chi measurements were used to support the interpretation of sediment sources. Strong correlations between ilr-balances and mineral phases confirm that the geochemical signals reliably reflect sediment mineralogy and the basin's lithological variability. Comparisons between chi and ilr-balances detect localized anthropogenic inputs, notably Fe-enrichments linked to historical mining in a specific sub-basin (Farma-Merse). The combined use of compositional data analysis, mineralogical constraints and magnetic susceptibility provides a transferable framework to investigate sediment provenance and anthropogenic legacy in complex river systems. Beyond the case study, the results highlight the importance of considering whole-composition geochemical relationships to correctly interpret element distributions in fluvial sediments.

During the Early Medieval Ages, unusually strong and rapid geomagnetic field variations have been reported in several European regions; however, archeomagnetic data from Central Europe remain scarce. To help filling this gap, we present new archeointensity results from eight archeological sites in Germany, Austria and Poland, dated between 500 and 1200 AD. The investigated materials mainly consist of potsherds, together with two in situ baked clay structures that also provided archeodirectional information. Archeointensities were determined using the MT4 protocol, a Thellier-type technique including cooling-rate and anisotropy corrections. For two sites, the multispecimen domain-state-corrected paleointensity protocol was additionally applied. Rock magnetic experiments indicate that the main remanence carriers are low-coercivity magnetite and high-coercivity $\epsilon$-maghemite and hematite. The presence of these phases suggests incomplete transformation to hematite during firing. To further assess the archeointensity determinations, the Bias Corrected Estimation of Paleointensity (BiCEP) method was applied, particularly for specimens showing curved Arai plots. This analysis confirmed the reliability of the Thellier results for most investigated structures, whereas no reliable BiCEP outcome could be obtained for one structure from Chobienia (Poland). For four structures, the classical Arai plot evaluation agrees with the BiCEP results and, for one site, also with the independently obtained multispecimen results. In another case, the comparison between Thellier and BiCEP estimates allowed a more realistic assessment of intensity uncertainty. One site mean value ($\sim$50 & micro;T) around 600 AD yields a lower geomagnetic field intensity than other contemporaneous European records. Overall, the data suggest an increase in field intensity between 600 and 800 AD, with values becoming more consistent with previously published regional results after this period. However, given the relatively large uncertainties and the still limited number of available studies, additional archeointensity data from 500-800 AD are needed to determine whether the observed regional differences reflect genuine geomagnetic field heterogeneity during this period. Furthermore, new chronological constraints were obtained through archeomagnetic dating approaches applied to the two available full-vector records.

An integrated study including magnetostratigraphy, larger benthic foraminifera and calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy is presented herein. This work was performed in shallow marine siliciclastics rich in larger foraminifera, around the Ypresian/Lutetian boundary in the Esera valley (South-Central Pyrenees). Although the calcareous nannofossil content in the studied interval is low, not allowing a precise Y/L boundary to be recognised, the taxa found are enough to support the chronostratigraphic attribution. Data obtained in the Esera valley section has improved the knowledge of larger benthic foraminifera (Nummulites and Assilina) distribution through chron C21. SBZ 11 to SBZ 12 transition took place at the lowermost C21r, as shown in previous works. SBZ 12 assemblages extend into C21n, where the SBZ 12 to SBZ 13 boundary occurs. These data, obtained in shallow marine siliciclastic facies, with in situ fauna, results in a shift of the SBZ 12/SBZ 13 boundary to the Lower Lutetian, younger than previously believed. Accordingly, the Ypresian/Lutetian boundary occurs in SBZ 12.

An integrated study including magnetostratigraphy, larger benthic foraminifera and calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy is presented herein. This work was performed in shallow marine siliciclastics rich in larger foraminifera, around the Ypresian/Lutetian boundary in the Ésera valley (South-Central Pyrenees). Although the calcareous nannofossil content in the studied interval is low, not allowing a precise Y/L boundary to be recognised, the taxa found are enough to support the chronostratigraphic attribution. Data obtained in the Ésera valley section has improved the knowledge of larger benthic foraminifera (Nummulitesand Assilina) distribution through chron C21. SBZ 11 to SBZ 12 transition took place at the lowermost C21r, as shown in previous works. SBZ 12 assemblages extend into C21n, where the SBZ 12 to SBZ 13 boundary occurs. These data, obtained in shallow marine siliciclastic facies, with in situ fauna, results in a shift of the SBZ 12/SBZ 13 boundary to the Lower Lutetian, younger than previously believed. Accordingly, the Ypresian/Lutetian boundary occurs in SBZ 12.

The groundwater of the west Assiut and El-Minia districts was evaluated in this paper using geoelectrical, hydrogeochemical, and stable isotope (oxygen-18 and deuterium) studies. In the studied localities, 42 vertical electrical soundings (VES) were taken to evaluate groundwater potential, and the analysis, as well as collection, of 74 samples of Eocene groundwater was carried out. In accordance with the vertical electrical soundings' interpretation, there are four geoelectrical formations and two major water-bearing units that act as aquifers (Pleistocene and Eocene). To determine irrigation suitability, the sodium absorption ratio (SAR), electrical conductivity (EC), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), sodium percentage (Na %), magnesium hazard (MH), Kelley's ratio (KR), and permeability index (PI) were evaluated as irrigation quality parameters. The EC, Na %, and the diagram of the US salinity laboratory indicated that most of the collected samples of groundwater were suitable for irrigation, whereas the RSC and PI pointed out that all of the collected water samples were safe for irrigation. The oxygen and hydrogen isotope values in groundwater samples showed that the Eocene aquifer was recharged by both surface water and the Nubian aquifer.

The first paleontological surveys of the Mullu basin in the Somali Region (Figure 20.1A,B) were conducted by Yohannes Haile-Selassie and colleagues in 1997. They collected several isolated hominin teeth, preliminarily attributed to Australopithecus anamensis, and a few other large mammal remains in the Galili area in the southern Afar depression of Ethiopia (Haile-Selassie and Asfaw, 2000). Subsequently, between 2000 and 2009, the International Paleoanthropological Research Team consisting of Ethiopian, Austrian, American, Italian, and German anthropologists, paleontologists, and geologists recovered and catalogued more than 2000 vertebrate fossils from Galili sites (Figure 20.1C) during annual field seasons. Besides a number of fish, reptile, bird, and small mammal remains, a great variety of large mammal species, including primates, carnivores, proboscideans, perissodactyls, and artiodactyls have been found (Kullmer et al.

AbstractPliocene volcanic rocks from south-east Austria were paleomagnetically investigated. Samples were taken from 28 sites located on eight different volcanoes. Rock magnetic investigations revealed that magnetic carriers are Ti-rich or Ti-poor titanomagnetites with mainly pseudo-single-domain characteristics. Characteristic remanent magnetization directions were obtained from alternating field as well as from thermal demagnetization. Four localities give reversed directions agreeing with the expected direction from secular variation. Another four localities of the Klöch–Königsberg volcanic complex (3) and the Neuhaus volcano (1) have reversed directions with shallow inclinations and declinations of about 240° while the locality Steinberg yields a positive inclination of about 30° and 200° declination. These aberrant directions cannot be explained by local or regional tectonic movements. All virtual geomagnetic pole positions are located on the southern hemisphere. Four virtual geomagnetic poles lie close to the geographic pole, while all others are concentrated in a narrow longitude sector offshore South America (310°–355°) with low virtual geomagnetic pole latitudes ranging from − 15° to − 70°. The hypothesis that a transitional geomagnetic field configuration was recorded during the short volcanic activity of these five localities is supported by 9 paleointensity results and39Ar/40Ar dating. Virtual geomagnetic dipole moments range from 1.1 to 2.9·1022Am2for sites with low VGP latitudes below about 60° and from 3.0 to 9.3·1022Am2for sites with higher virtual geomagnetic pole latitudes. The new39Ar/40Ar ages of 2.51 ± 0.27 Ma for Klöch and 2.39 ± 0.03 Ma for Steinberg allow for the correlation of the Styrian transitional directions with cryptochron C2r.2r-1 of the geomagnetic polarity time scale.Graphic abstract

In this study we resolve the paleoclimatic variability and its impact onto human history over the MidHolocene in the Katarraktes Cave System, Northern Greece. The study area is one of the most important Early Bronze Age archaeological sites of the eastern Mediterranean and comprises a cave and an associate rockshelter, lying on the south flanks of the Krousovitis River canyon. We analyze a clastic sedimentary sequence preserved at the entrance of the Katarraktes Cave by combining sedimentological, mineralogical and geochemical data with magnetic parameter measurements and age constraints. Our results reveal that warm and wet climatic conditions prevail in the area during the Mid-Holocene that were interrupted by short-term cold and dry events. We show that the fluvial response to these climatic variations had a pronounced impact onto human activities, as continuous sedimentation by floodwaters within the cave until similar to 6600 BP prohibit early settlers from using the sheltered environment. However, high incision rates (similar to 1.5 mm/yr) of the Krousovitis River favored the use of the rockshelter during the Mid- to Late Holocene. Our study demonstrates that the interplay between climate and surface processes was the key factor that controlled human occupation in this important archaeological site.

The Tiber and the Arno river basins, represent the first (17,156 km2) and the second (8,228 km2) largest catchments in the peninsular Italy, respectively. The recent combined sampling (2017-2019) of river waters and sediments in the heterogeneous geological environment of the Apennines enables the assessment of the geochemical and mineralogical interaction between bedrock, river sediments and water. The mineralogical and geochemical composition of the stream sediments are related to the corresponding lithological composition of the hydrological catchment, thus assessing physical weathering within the river basins. On the other hand, chemical weathering is assessed by the analysis of hydrochemical data from the Arno and Tiber rivers and their main tributaries. Locally, anthropogenic processes overprint the natural signature and the magnetic properties of the sediments provide effective data to map those areas. The application of multivariate robust statistical techniques on the combined dataset evaluates the water-sediment interaction and their spatial properties in central Italy. The main goal of this research is to investigate how the linkage between surface waters and steam sediments chemistry can be influenced by catchment-specific properties (e.g. landscape attributes, anthropic impact and climate) through an effective comparative analysis between two of the most important Italian watersheds.

Summary Archaeomagnetic directions of one hundred and forty-one archaeological structures have been studied from 21 sites in Austria, 31 sites in Germany and one site in Switzerland. Characteristic remanent magnetisation directions obtained from alternating field and thermal demagnetisations provided 82 and 78 new or updated (12 and 10 per cent) directions of Austria and Germany, respectively. Nine of the directions are not reliable for certain reasons (e.g. displacement) while three of the features are not well dated. Apart from this some updated age information for the published databases is provided. Rock magnetic experiments revealed magnetite as main magnetic carrier of the remanences. The new data agree well with existing secular variation reference curves. The extended data set covers now the past 3500 years and a lot of progress were made to cover times BC with data. Here enhanced secular variation is observed manifested in declinations with values up to 70°. The new data will allow for recalculation of archaeomagnetic calibration curves for Central Europe from mid Bronze Age until today.

The knowledge of water contents within landfills is of high interest for waste management, since it has one of the strongest influences on biogas production (Rettenberger, 1992). At landfills where the gas production is decreasing due to a dried-out subsurface, attempts are made to restart or increase the production with a focused irrigation. During this irrigation, the water flow paths can be monitored. This contribution demonstrates the suitability of ERT (Electrical Resistivity Tomography) measurements for the monitoring of these water flow paths within the landfill. The investigated area is located in the northeastern part of Vienna at the Rautenweg landfill. Overall, four 2D ERT profiles, with a length of 170 m, 200 m and 250 m, respectively, were acquired. The time-lapse inversion results indicate, that if the conductivity difference between the subsurface and the introduced water is large enough, the spreading of the water in the subsurface can be traced very well.

Ferrous metals are a main recyclable waste fraction in Enhanced Landfill Mining (ELFM) projects. However, prior to mining, the metal content of municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills is unknown. We investigate if the metal content of MSW landfills can be estimated by inverse modeling of geophysical measurements as the magnetic properties of the subsurface are particularly sensitive to ferromagnetic metal enrichments. We conducted magnetic total-field measurements on a MSW landfill in Austria and estimated the bulk magnetic susceptibility (MS) of the subsurface by inverse modelling. For validation of the subsurface MS values, 32 drill-core samples from multiple locations and depths within the landfill were obtained and manually sorted into 12 waste fractions including ferrous metals (2.3 +/- 1.4 wt.%, 1 sigma). To investigate if bulk MS could be accurately predicted from inverse modeling when the exact composition of the waste is known, the MS of iron and other expected waste fractions were investigated in laboratory analysis using reference samples from waste treatment plants and another ELFM project. Laboratory analyses partly yielded significantly larger MS values for waste materials than those given for virgin materials in literature. The bulk MS for each sample from the ELFM project was computed using a weighted mean with respect to the waste composition derived from manual sorting. The bulk MS derived from inverse modelling of the field data (0.06 to 0.11 SI) exceeded the bulk MS derived from the material composition of waste samples and the MS values of reference samples (0.01 to 0.05 SI).

(1) Institute of Geology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria (gabriella.koltai@uibk.ac.at, christoph.spoetl@uibk.ac.at), (2) Department of Applied Geological Sciences and Geophysics, Montanuniversität Leoben, Leoben, Austria (robert.scholger@unileoben.ac.at ), (3) Institute of Botany, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany (maria.knipping@uni-hohenheim.de), (4) School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia (andrea.borsato@newcastle.edu.au), (5) Institute of Global Environmental Change, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China (cheng021@mail.xjtu.edu.cn ), (6) School of Earth Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia ( jdwood@unimelb.edu.au)

The structure of the Pyrenean Axial Zone laterally transitions from an imbricate thrust system to an antiformal stack displaying downward facing structures in its frontal part (the Nogueras zone). We carried out a paleomagnetic study through this structural transition to better constrain thrust kinematics and better define the factors controlling the occurrence of antiformal stacks. Triassic red beds unconformably overlying the Paleozoic basement were sampled across three main thrust sheets (the Nogueras zone, the Bielsa, and the Orri thrust sheets). From 31 new sites, two meaningful magnetizations were defined, both carried by hematite: (1) the primary magnetization, that unblocks at 660–685 °C and (2) an intermediate‐temperature, syn‐orogenic remagnetization. Paleomagnetic data indicate variable, clockwise vertical axis rotations, with mean, thrust‐scale values that range from 0 to +38°. They increase both from the base to the top of the stacked units and from west to east and display a thrust‐scale directional dispersion that is higher for the lower wavelength thrusts. Results evidence that increasing thrust displacements in the upper thrusts units are a key factor for the formation of antiformal stacks showing downward facing structures. Displacement gradients in the basement are transferred to cover units and can account for important rotations such as those registered by the Mesozoic‐Cenozoic units to the south of the study area.