Geology Today最新文献

Ancient cultures have frequently made use of stone surfaces to carve and engrave symbols, letters and messages for others. These petroglyphs usually have a lasting character and are frequently preserved well beyond the survival of the culture that produced the petroglyphs. In this article, we focus on the written and pictorial testimony of the pre-Hispanic era of the island of El Hierro (Canary Islands, Spain), which exploited a series of volcanic rock features to create a written testimony of their presence and their way of life. This specific cultural heritage has been adapted to the specific geological features on the island and the emerging stone masonry skill of the aboriginal culture of the original islanders, creating a unique and lasting record of their ability to use geological elements for cultural development.

Outdoor activities including trekking and hiking are commonly undertaken in mountains and in other environments where bedrock surfaces or bedrock-controlled landforms are present and where users can enjoy the fresh air and the physical landscape. Information boards and leaflets are often used by scientists and environmental managers in these environments to communicate geoscience issues to the general public along hiking and trekking trails. Rock climbing sites are also prime locations where rock surfaces are exposed and where specific user groups interact with the physical landscape. Here, we describe the relationship between rock climbing and the nature of rock outcrops and the opportunity that this affords for more innovative ways of communicating geoscience information to a physically active and engaged public. As such, rock climbing sites can be considered geoheritage sites, where they represent sites of importance for people and communities (cultural heritage) as well as for their geological and educational value (geological heritage). The characteristics of rock climbing sites as geoheritage sites are discussed in this feature, as are the potential threats to the integrity of these sites.

Every year, tens of millions of cycling enthusiasts watch and read about the Tour de France, one of the largest sports events of the year. For hours on end, they wait in anticipation of the climax of the race, and these hours are filled by commentators and journalists with background information about riders, the course, history, cuisine, culture and architecture. Little do they realize that every day the peloton is actually setting out on a beautiful excursion through what is one of the most geologically and geographically diverse regions in the world. The Geo-Sports project provides journalists, readers, and viewers with accessible excursion guides, in written and video format, on websites and social media. In this article, we explain the rationale and background of the project, and we hope you will join us in lifting the veil to expose the beauty of the natural world and its role in our society.

Peridotites are a group within the category of ultramafic rocks. These are usually dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium, poor in silica and lacking feldspars. Earth's mantle, which makes up 83 percent by volume and 67 percent by weight of the planet, consists largely of peridotite, which, although relatively sparse at the surface, therefore, is Earth's most abundant rock type. Unfortunately, the mantle, which lies on average at >7 km under the oceans and >35 km under the continents, is not directly accessible for observation and our information comes largely from seismic studies, inclusions in volcanic rocks and sections of the ocean floor which have been tectonically emplaced into the crust: the ophiolite complexes and abyssal peridotites of the oceans. Such rocks also occur when mafic minerals, such as olivine, pyroxene and spinel, accumulate in magma chambers. An unusual occurrence of ultramafic rocks is the lava called komatiite, representing ultramafic liquids, which are largely restricted to Precambrian environments.

As a result of several factors including overpopulation of the Earth and the ever-expanding search for groundwater resources, land subsidence is slowly becoming a global challenge. In fact, a 2021 study of 41 countries around the globe demonstrated the severity of the problem. However, land subsidence in Iran is accompanied by other issues which further complicate the problem.

Building stones demand our attention, from the simplest stone hut to the finest palace. Those of Manchester in northwest England have received deserved attention, but those of nearby Salford less so. This short stroll through Salford, close to the city's university, demonstrates some of the geological gems that have hitherto been largely ignored.

Civilization has always relied on geological materials and it would not exist as we know it without the use of minerals. For the foreseeable future, minerals will remain fundamentally important commodities. As technology changes, so does the demand for different mineral commodities. For example, as we enter the era of the battery revolution, expedited by vehicle electrification and a reduction in the burning of traditional fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas), demand for minerals used in battery technologies is predicted to increase significantly. In 2022 alone, the global mining industry had a value of over 2000 billion US dollars. Where such huge amounts of money are involved, it is unsurprising that criminal activity follows. Criminal activity in the mining, minerals and metals industries includes illegal mining and smuggling, theft (including adulteration and substitution), illegal trade in conflict minerals, fakes, fraud and environmental crime (e.g. pollution, contamination and degradation of the land, air and water). In this article, we provide an overview of the types of criminal activities associated with geological materials and the potential role of forensic geologists in mitigating the associated risks.

Forensic geoscientists assist with the investigation of locating and characterizing suspected illegal activities and provide evidence for criminal or civil courts of law. Geoforensic search in terrestrial environments can be challenging, depending on the item(s) of interest that are being looked for, the available search teams, the equipment deployed and the search area(s) itself. This article briefly details the current efforts that geoscientists are making to assist these terrestrial investigations, and provides some relevant case studies and discusses future developments.