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It is essential to identify marbles' petrographic and geochemical characteristics to determine the palaeo-environmental settings where their carbonate protoliths formed. The petrogenesis of massive Gimo marbles in the Gole area, Kurdistan Region of northeast Iraq, was investigated in this study through a combination of field mapping, petrographic, and geochemical techniques. Petrographic examination of these marbles reveals that mineral compositions are similar in all samples, with both homeoblastic and mosaic textures occurring, in addition to opaque grains that provide evidence of mineralization. Geochemical analyses show that the average calcium carbonate content of the marble is 94.96%; hence, the marble is lithologically characterized as a pure calcite marble. In most samples, the silica content was below 2 wt.%, with high values related to quartz veinlets. A range of geochemical indices and Post-Archean Australian Shale (PAAS–normalized rare earth element (REE) patterns) suggest that the limestone protolith was deposited in a shallow, near-shore marine environment on a continental margin, with very low input of detrital material. The negative Ce anomalies indicate that the protoliths of the Gimo marbles were carbonate rocks of a sedimentary origin.

The Middle to Late Eocene Mangahewa Formation in the Taranaki Basin has been evaluated for its petroleum system (source potential and reservoir qualities). The Mangahewa Formation is generally interpreted as an alternating marginal to shallow marine environment, with lithologies consisting of sandstone, siltstone, mudstone and bitumonius coal. The pyrolysis results show very good source rock generative potential with total organic carbon content of 0.8-90.02 wt. % and hydrogen index values in the range of 54- 491 mg HC/g TOC, with a predominance of oil- and/or gas-prone, mixed Type II-III kerogen. Organic petrographical data reveal that the humic nature of coals being rich in perhydrous vitrinite whereas shales are rich in alginite and bituminite desplaying frequent of migrabitumens. Biomarker analysis suggests predominantly terrigenous origin, whereas pyrolysis Tmax data (414–447°C) and other maturity indicators such as biomarkers and vitrinite reflectance indicates immature and mature samples. Petrographic analyses show that the occurrence of compaction and cementation is succeeded by leaching of feldspars and dissolution of calcite cement. The reservoir samples exhibit largely good reservoir quality with porosity being the dominant feature. The average porosity value is 15.7%, with 21.4% average water saturation. The source and reservoir units are part of a complete petroleum system of the Mangahewa Formation, with the overlying Turi Formation seal rock. The petroleum processes of maturation, generation, and migration which started since Lower Miocene (18.8 Ma) have been recorded in many stratigraphic traps within the Mangahewa Formation or other faulted structural traps due to migration. The generation process is expected to continue to the present day as the source continues to attain maturity while it does not yet reach the peak generation.

The karst bauxites of the Parnassos-Ghiona Unit (Greece) are hosted within Upper Jurassic to Late Cretaceous carbonate rocks. Three bauxite horizons are intercalated within shallow water limestones. They are named B1, B2 and B3 from bottom to top. In this study we present the characteristics of the B3 horizon (Cenomanian-Turonian) sampled in Agia Anna, Variani and Shila 1 underground mines. The bauxite ore has a prevailing oolitic texture. Diaspore, boehmite, hematite and goethite are the major mineral components of the analyzed samples. Kaolinite, rutile and anatase are common minor phases. Pyrite occurs in a small number of samples. Ilmenite, rutile, chromite, zircon, baddeleyite and serpentine are common detrital minerals. Authigenic minor minerals are mostly represented by REE-phosphates, barite, and gypsum. The presence of pyrite and diaspore suggests that after a first stage of additional in situ weathering and bauxitization, the deposits were affected by early diagenetic reducing conditions (allowing the formation of pyrite) and significant diagenesis, resulting in diaspore formation. This three-stages genesis is reflected in complex correlations between major, minor and trace elements. The occurrence of detrital chromite and serpentine in the bauxite reflects mafic parental rocks. The mafic component likely originated from the ophiolite suites exposed in the vicinity of the Parnassos-Ghiona bauxites.

Upper Jurassic Naokelekan Formation, being part of the intercepted strata of the well-known Miran oilfield in Kurdistan region of Northern Iraq, has been previously extensively evaluated as a potential/effective source rock, mainly by means of organic geochemistry. In the present study, a total of 60 samples were collected from four Naokelekan Fm. outcrops, those of Banik, Galy-Derash, Barsarin and Dwawa, in order to conduct organic petrographical study and organic geochemical assessment, including both biomarker and Rock-Eval analyses. The average recorded TOC content for Banik, Galy-Derash, Barsarin and Dwawa section is considerable to very high, corresponding to values of 27.5, 9.0, 3.5 and 5.2 wt%, respectively, with the highest values representing the notably organic-rich bottom part of the Formation, known as “coal layer”. According to the petrographical analysis, solid migrabitumens comprise the predominant component for all the analysed samples, whereas the maceral groups of vitrinite, liptinite and/or inertinite showcase a minor to trace occurrence. In terms of organic geochemistry, each of the four sections of interest shows a different biomarker profile. Nevertheless, a number of calculated parameters related to kerogen type and depositional conditions, including the isoprenoids/n-alkanes ratios, suggest a mixed terrestrial-marine organic matter. Furthermore, as indicated by the Ro (%) measurements along with Rock-Eval parameters and the vitrinite reflectance equivalent based on aromatic compounds, the maturity level is marginally mature in the cases of Banik and Galy-Derash, whereas in the cases of Dwawa and Barsarin sections it is mature to post-mature. A synthesis of the organic petrography and geochemical appraisal applied in the present study, suggests that the reported solid hydrocarbons in Naokelekan Fm., particularly at its basal layers are non-indigenous/migrated and the precursor organic matter was deposited in a marine environment, under oscillating conditions ranging from euxinic to well‑oxygenated. Accordingly, the organic features of the notably bitumen-rich “coal-bed” fit the profile of a reservoir and/or migration path., This research was supported by the University of Patras, Greece, the University of Soran, KRG-Iraq, INCAR, Spain, as well as from EU Erasmus + Programme.

Self-heating of coal waste is a major problem in the leading coal-producing and consuming countries, independent of the recent or past coal exploitation history. The phenomenon of self-heating is dependent on many factors such as the properties of organic matter (maceral composition and rank), moisture and pyrite content, climate effects, and storage conditions (shape of the dump or compaction of the coal waste). Once deposited, coal waste undergoes oxidation, which can lead to self-heating with the overall temperatures exceeding 1000 °C. During these self-heating processes, both organic and mineral matter undergo oxidative and thermal alterations, being influenced, among others, by the rate of heating as well as by the access of air and moisture. The morphological features of organic matter in coal waste at microscopic scale reflect the thermal conditions within the waste dump. Since 2008, several exercises designed to establish a petrographic classification system of oxidatively- and thermally-altered morphological forms of organic particles present in self-heated coal waste dumps have been carried out within the Self-heating of Coal and Coal Waste Working Group (Self-Heating WG), in Commission III of the International Committee for Coal and Organic Petrology (ICCP). Based on the degree of oxidative and thermal alteration, all assessed organic particles were divided into unaltered particles (huminite, vitrinite, liptinite, and inertinite macerals), altered particles, and newly formed particles (pyrolytic carbon, bitumen, chars, graphite, and coke). Altered particles were further divided according to their optical properties (porous, massive; isotropic, anisotropic). For altered particles the following specific features were distinguished: fractures, fissures, cracks; brighter rims; darker rims; plasticised edges; bands; devolatilisation pores; paler in colour particles. The final petrographic classification of oxidatively- and thermally-altered morphological forms of organic particles in coal waste dumps was established as a result of the successively performed Round Robin Exercises 2008–2017. The selected criteria and categories proved the high performance of the analysts characterised by a minor bias. The proposed petrographic classification system based on petrographic methods represents a useful way to characterize the undesirable phenomena occurring in coal waste dumps. Microscopic analyses and application of the petrographic classification system for organic particles affected by self-heating in coal waste offers the identification, documentation and monitoring of coal waste oxidation, self-ignition and combustion processes. It also enables a selection and application of appropriate measures to delay or even prevent undesired environmental impacts. The established classification system may assist in the air quality monitoring and assessment of burning waste dump sites and, thus, provide a relevant support in the environmental management of the disposal sites related to coal mining. The classification system can provide an important instrument for environmental protection agencies to increase the effectiveness of measures applied in fire hazard combating. The proposed classification of oxidatively- and thermally-altered morphological forms of organic particles in coal waste dumps can be applied on self-heating coal waste or mining dumps research, being a useful tool for coal waste managements performed by environmental agencies responsible for the landfill managements and monitoring of waste dumps., The samples used for preparation of the Round Robin Exercises within the Self-heating Working Group of the ICCP were obtained within the framework of the grants 2011/03/B/ST10/06331 and N307 016 32/0493 acquired by Magdalena Misz-Kennan from the National Center of Science, Poland. The research work conducted by Jolanta Kus within the Self-heating Working Group of the ICCP was supported and is published with the permission of the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Hannover, Germany.

In this article, we report the discovery of a gossanite-type hematite and magnetite ore associated with sulfide mineralization in the Rayat area of NE Iraq. Detailed petrographic, mineralogical, and geochemical data define the features of the gossanite and the associated sulfide-rich rocks, providing an assessment of the mineralization and its relation to hydrothermal, microbial and alteration processes. The identified gossanite-like rocks are interpreted as part of a specific submarine gossan formed on the sulfide-rich serpentinite. In the uppermost part of the studied sequence, jasperite lithofacies occur, within which millimeter-thick layered iron oxide-silica alternations are also visible and comparable to the banded iron formation (BIF). Below the jasperite, an oxidized mineralized zone (OMZ) developed, representing gossanite that is exceptionally rich in iron oxides (up to 70%), chlorite, and quartz with some minor spinel content. The lowermost part of the studied sequence is the sulfide-rich reduced mineralized zone (RMZ) composed of silica, pyrite, chalcopyrite, pentlandite, Ni-chlorite, and siderite. The transition zone (TZ), approximately 1 m thick, between the OMZ and RMZ, contains chlorite, Fe-oxides, quartz, and partially altered sulfide minerals. The potential economic significance of the ore body in addition to Fe is the silver-nickel (Ag-Ni) and cobalt (Co) mineralization, with an average Ag concentration of 5.09 wt% per sulfide grain, which occurs as an exsolution phase within the sulfidic-cherts lithofacies. The Ni concentration ranged from 363 to 4,000 mg/kg, while that of Co ranged from 90 to 441 mg/kg, depending on the lithofacies. A thin lensoid coaly bed associated with the ore body, attributable to the Ophiolitic Melange, provides some initial clues for the epigenetic thermotectonic evolution of the studied strata. The overall data suggest that the Rayat gossanite, jasperite, and the underlying sulfide-rich zone were formed near the seafloor through a combination of initial hydrothermal alteration of serpentinites, which provided the sulfides, accompanied by the sedimentary deposition of Fe-Si-exhalatives along with the olistostromatic brecciated facies in the upper section, and the subsequent seafloor oxidation/weathering effects along microbial iron uptake. The discovery of gossanite and sulfides in the Rayat area, along with the already known chromitite deposits in the contiguous areas, highlights NE Iraq as a potential mineral-rich domain.

This paper investigates an alternative use of sterile aggregate materials which may arise from various construction applications in conjunction with other low-cost mineral raw materials to remediate the acid mine drainage phenomenon. This study is based on the combination of unprocessed mineral raw materials, as well as on the basic concept of the cyclic economy where the conversion of a waste into a raw material for another application can be achieved. In this study, in order to examine the remediation, in lab scale, of the drainage waste water of Agios Philippos mine, an experimental electrically continuous flow-driven forced device was constructed, enriching the research gap relative to this type of remediation approach. Through this experimental device, the use of certain mixes of mineral raw materials (serpentinite, andesite, magnesite, peat, and biochar) was studied. Our results focus on the impact of the studied mineral raw materials and especially on their synergy on the water purification potential under continuous water flow operation. Using the new 7-day experimental electrically continuous flow-driven forced device with certain mixes of mineral raw materials, the increase of pH values from 3.00 to 6.82 was achieved. Moreover, with use of the experimental device, the removal of toxic load was achieved, and more specifically the concentration of Fe was decreased from 6149 to 1300 ppb, Cu from 8847 to 35 ppb, and Zn from 285,458 to 50,000 ppb.

This paper investigates an alternative use of sterile aggregate materials which may arise from various construction applications in conjunction with other low-cost mineral raw materials to remediate the acid mine drainage phenomenon. This study is based on the combination of unprocessed mineral raw materials as well as on the basic concept of the cyclic economy where the conversion of a waste into a raw material for another application can be achieved. In this way, the value of mineral raw materials can be prolonged for as long as possible, waste generation and exploitation of natural resources are minimized and resources are kept as far as possible within the existing economy. In this study, an electrically continuous flow driven forced device proposed and demonstrated for the remediation of waste water in lab-scale by using certain mixes of mineral raw materials (serpentinite, andesite, magnesite, peat and biochar). Our results focus on the impact of the studied mineral raw materials and especially on their synergy on the water purification potential under continuous water flow operation. Using the proposed 7-day experimental electrically continuous flow driven forced device with the certain mixes of mineral raw materials, the increase of pH values from 3.00 to 6.82 as well as significant removal of Fe, Cu and Zn was achieved.

An interlaboratory study (ILS) was conducted to test reproducibility of vitrinite and solid bitumen reflectance measurements in six mudrock samples from United States unconventional source-rock reservoir petroleum systems. Samples selected from the Marcellus, Haynesville, Eagle Ford, Barnett, Bakken and Woodford are representative of resource plays currently under exploitation in North America. All samples are from marine depositional environments, are thermally mature (T >445 °C) and have moderate to high organic matter content (2.9–11.6 wt% TOC). Their organic matter is dominated by solid bitumen, which contains intraparticle nano-porosity. Visual evaluation of organic nano-porosity (pore sizes < 100 nm) via SEM suggests that intraparticle organic nano-pores are most abundant in dry gas maturity samples and less abundant at lower wet gas/condensate and peak oil maturities. Samples were distributed to ILS participants in forty laboratories in the Americas, Europe, Africa and Australia; thirty-seven independent sets of results were received. Mean vitrinite reflectance (VR) values from all ILS participants range from 0.90 to 1.83% whereas mean solid bitumen reflectance (BR) values range from 0.85 to 2.04% (no outlying values excluded), confirming the thermally mature nature of all six samples. Using multiple statistical approaches to eliminate outlying values, we evaluated reproducibility limit R, the maximum difference between valid mean reflectance results obtained on the same sample by different operators in different laboratories using different instruments. Removal of outlying values where the individual signed multiple of standard deviation was >1.0 produced lowest R values, generally ≤0.5% (absolute reflectance), similar to a prior ILS for similar samples. Other traditional approaches to outlier removal (outside mean ± 1.5*interquartile range and outside F10 to F90 percentile range) also produced similar R values. Standard deviation values < 0.15*(VR or BR) reduce R and should be a requirement of dispersed organic matter reflectance analysis. After outlier removal, R values were 0.1%–0.2% for peak oil thermal maturity, about 0.3% for wet gas/condensate maturity and 0.4%–0.5% for dry gas maturity. That is, these R values represent the uncertainty (in absolute reflectance) that users of vitrinite and solid bitumen reflectance data should assign to any one individual reported mean reflectance value from a similar thermal maturity mudrock sample. R values of this magnitude indicate a need for further standardization of reflectance measurement of dispersed organic matter. Furthermore, these R values quantify realistic interlaboratory measurement dispersion for a difficult but critically important analytical technique necessary for thermal maturity determination in the source-rock reservoirs of unconventional petroleum systems., This research was funded by the USGS Energy Resources Program.

This paper investigates the interrelationships between the engineering properties of igneous aggregate rocks from Greece with the aid of the R-mode factor analysis. The collected samples represent mafic and ultramafic rocks from the ophiolite complexes of Gerania, Guevgueli, Veria-Naousa, and Edessa as well as intermediate-acidic rocks from the surrounding areas of the complexes. Factor analysis verifies the important interdependences among the engineering parameters like physical, mechanical, geometrical, and physicochemical properties by giving statistical significance. Variations of the petrographic characteristics of the investigated rocks influence their engineering properties as well as the interdependence among them. Factor 1, which is the most representative one (~36% of the total variance), shows interdependences between certain physical, mechanical, physicochemical properties such as total porosity (nt) with moisture content (w), nt with the Los Abrasion value (LA), and the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) with point load index Is(50). Additionally, the second factor (~27% of the total data variability) correlates physical properties such as w, nt, physicochemical properties such as the methylene blue test (MBF), mechanical properties such as UCS, Is(50), and loss on ignition (LOI), which highlights the effect of mineralogy on these properties. Lastly, Factor 3 (~14% of the total data variability) expresses the interdependence of the flakiness index (IF), which is an elongation index (IE) relative to their alteration (LOI).

In this study, the features of fly ashes originating from industrial-scale high volatile bituminous coal combustion and co-combustion of coal with 10% admixture of alternative fuel SRF (solid recovered fuel) are presented, with emphasis on the organic petrographical characteristics. The organic petrographical and mineralogical data are co-evaluated with geochemical data, with the aim to provide a full classification of the studied fly ashes, as well as base information toward any potential application of this waste material, according to the recycling economy principles. By applying organic petrographical methods, the assignment of the carbon-rich residuals to the respective feed fuel, either coal or SRF, can be achieved. The obtained quantitative evaluation provides useful information regarding the combustion conditions in the stoker boiler. The analyzed fly ashes contain significant C-residuals, mostly in the form of fused, dense, and anisotropic particles, while the enrichment in sooty particles is caused due to the addition of SRF fuel. In conjunction with the moderate-low content of potential hazardous elements, the features of the contained C-residual phases suggest that these fly ashes could possibly be the subject of further studies for their applicability as soil improvements.

The aim of this study is to assess the type, thermal maturity and the petroleum generation potential of the Upper Jurassic Naokelekan Formation, occurring across the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, by applying organic petrographical methods and Rock-Eval analysis. The Rock-Eval data would indicate the presence of kerogen types III, IV and II as the main constituents. However, the qualitative petrographical evaluation revealed that the main organic constituents are solid hydrocarbons, in the form of microgranular migrabitumens, with minor amounts of pyrobitumens. These secondary particles have affected the results of the Rock-Eval analysis and would have led to misinterpretation of organic matter typification based on pyrolysis results only. The combined results of petrography and pyrolysis indicate an active petroleum system within the Upper Jurassic sequence, where hydrocarbons are generated and reservoired within suitable lithologies.

A new system for the microscopic classification of fly-ash components has been developed by the Fly-Ash Working Group, Commission III of the ICCP and is presented herein. The studied fly-ashes were obtained from the combustion of single coals of varied rank, coal blends, and coals blended with other fuels (biomass, petroleum coke), in different operating conditions and by means of different technologies. Microscopic images of the fly-ash samples were used to test the optical criteria proposed for classifying the fly-ash components. The classification system developed is based on a small number of microscopic criteria, subdivided into six independent levels or categories, three of which are directed at whole particle identification on the basis of nature, origin and type of fly-ash particle, while the other three levels are directed at the smaller section identification on the basis of character, structure and optical texture of unburned carbons. To classify the inorganic components of the fly-ash, the criterion proposed is composition in terms of metallic/non-metallic character. To establish the classification criteria the petrographers involved in the work performed three successive round robins. Evaluation of the results by using firstly descriptive statistics and then the criteria and parameters employed by the ICCP in their accreditation programs indicated that the classification of the fly-ash components was accurate and that there was only a minor bias. The main conclusion of this study was that the proposed criteria are valuable for identifying, and classifying fly-ash components and for describing the optical properties of fly-ash particles.

The deposition of sapropels in the eastern Mediterranean Sea is thought to occur during intervals of intensified African monsoon and increased precipitation in the Mediterranean borderlands. Speleothem and pollen records, however, reveal conflicting evidence for a Mediterranean-wide precipitation increase, suggesting that seasonal changes in the hydrological regime may be important. Using a multiproxy record, we present the first independent evidence for seasonality of precipitation during the early Last Interglacial (ca. 130–119 ka) from the Tenaghi Philippon peatland in northeast Greece. During the early part of the interglacial, mineralogical, macrofossil, and pollen records from the same core show a shift from mire to lacustrine conditions simultaneous with an expansion of sclerophyllous vegetation and the presence of acicular aragonite, indicating the onset of highly evaporative summer conditions. This indicates enhanced seasonality of precipitation and reconciles the apparent incongruity between Mediterranean pollen and speleothem records. It also provides evidence for significantly increased winter precipitation coeval with the deposition of sapropel S5, one of the most prominent sapropels of the Pleistocene. We suggest that in addition to the summer African monsoon component, increased winter precipitation from the northern Mediterranean borderlands may have contributed to maintaining reduced surface-water salinities in the Mediterranean Sea over the entire year.

Ο τυρφώνας της Αγουλινίτσας σχηματίστηκε στη δυτική ακτή της ομώνυμης λίμνης, η οποία αποξηράνθηκε το 1969, εξαιτίας της αυξανόμενης ζήτησης για καλλιεργήσιμες εκτάσεις. Η παρούσα μελέτη αποτελεί μια πρώτη προσπάθεια για τη διερεύνηση των συνθηκών που επικρατούσαν κατά την τυρφογένεση. Για τις ανάγκες της μελέτης πραγματοποιήθηκαν διατρήματα μικρού βάθους, καθώς και προσδιορισμοί των φυσικών, χημικών ιδιοτήτων της τύρφης, και των ορυκτολογικών συστατικών της. Η υψηλή περιεκτικότητα σε τέφρα και οι υψηλές τιμές του pH υποδηλώνουν πως η τύρφη σχηματίστηκε κάτω από αλκαλικές συνθήκες, ενώ οι υψηλές τιμές της ηλεκτρικής αγωγιμότητας υποδηλώνουν έντονη τροφοδοσία με διαλυμένα στερεά. Στην τύρφη προσδιορίστηκαν αργιλικά ορυκτά, χαλαζίας, ασβεστίτης, αλίτης, συλβίτης και σιδηροπυρίτης. Η κατανομή των παραπάνω ορυκτών με το βάθος υποδηλώνει την επικράτηση συνθηκών γλυκού νερού κατά το μεγαλύτερο διάστημα απόθεσης της τύρφης στο κεντρικό τμήμα της περιοχής, ενώ στο νότιο τμήμα η επίδραση της θάλασσας ήταν πιο έντονη και οι συνθήκες χαρακτηρίζονται ως ελαφρά υφάλμυρες. Συμπερασματικά ο τυρφώνας της Αγουλινίτσας μπορεί να χαρακτηριστεί ως ένας τυρφώνας που σχηματίστηκε πίσω από αμμώδεις φραγμούς. Παρόμοιες συνθήκες κυριαρχούσαν ήδη από το Νεογενές, στις δυτικές ακτές της Πελοποννήσου και ευνόησαν τη γένεση λιγνιτικών κοιτασμάτων στην ευρύτερη περιοχή, The Agoulinitsa peatland formed on the western shore of the homonymous lake, which was drained in 1969 because of the emerging demand for agricultural land. This study is a preliminary attempt to determine the conditions that prevailed during peat formation. Shallow cores were obtained from the peatland and initial physical, chemical and mineralogical analyses were carried out. High ash yield and pH values indicate that peat accumulated under alkaline conditions with periods of high clastic material influx, while high electric conductivity values indicate increased influx of dissolved solids into the mire. The mineral matter consists mainly of clay minerals, quartz, calcite, halite, sylvite and pyrite. The distribution of these minerals with depth indicates that fresh-water conditions prevailed for a long period during peat accumulation at the central part of the peatland, whereas the sea-water influence was more intense to the south establishing slightly brackish conditions. All data suggest that the Agoulinitsa peatland was developed as a back-barrier mire formed at the southwestern part of the Agoulinitsa Lake, and hence it can be considered as a modern analogue of the Neogene lignite deposits occurring along the west coast of Péloponnèse

Summarization: Twenty-eight samples of peat, peaty lignites and lignites (of both matrix and xylite-rich lithotypes) and subbituminous coals have been physically activated by pyrolysis. The results show that the surface area of the activated coal samples increases substantially and the higher the carbon content of the samples the higher the surface area. The adsorption capacity of the activated coals for NO, SO2, C3H6 and a mixture of light hydrocarbons (CH4, C2H6, C3H8 and C4H10) at various temperatures was measured on selected samples. The result shows a positive correlation between the surface area and the gas adsorption. In contrast, the gas adsorption is inversely correlated with the temperature. The maximum recorded adsorption values are: NO = 8.22 × 10− 5 mol/g at 35 °C; SO2 = 38.65 × 10− 5 mol/g at 60 °C; C3H6 = 38.9 × 10− 5 mol/g at 35 °C; and light hydrocarbons = 19.24 × 10− 5 mol/g at 35 °C. Adsorption of C3H6 cannot be correlated with either NO or SO2. However, there is a significant positive correlation between NO and SO2 adsorptions. The long chain hydrocarbons are preferentially adsorbed on activated lignites as compared to the short chain hydrocarbons. The results also suggest a positive correlation between surface area and the content of telohuminite maceral sub-group above the level of 45%. Presented on: International Journal of Coal Geology

Since the first pollen analyses from core material in the 1960s, the limnotelmatic sequence of Tenaghi Philippon, located within the subsurface of the Drama Basin of NE Greece, has been recognized as an exceptional archive of terrestrial climate and ecosystem dynamics for the Quaternary in Europe. The polleniferous sequence covers the last ~ 1.35 Ma continuously, spanning at least 19 consecutive glacial-interglacial cycles. Analyses of Tenaghi Philippon as based on the drillcores from the 1960s were restricted to a millennial-scale resolution. Because the original cores have deteriorated, the archive’s potential for analyzing abrupt (i. e., centennial- to decadal-scale) climate and ecosystem change has long remained unexplored. Therefore new drilling campaigns were carried out in 2005 and 2009 to recover the 0–60 m and 50–200 m depth intervals of the archive, respectively. The new cores (recovery: 97.8 and 99.0%, respectively) allow characterization of the evolution of abrupt climate and ecosystem variability across the full range of climatic boundary conditions realized during the late obliquity-dominated ʻ41-ka worldʼ and the eccentricity-dominated ʻ100-ka worldʼ. The resulting climate data will also assist paleoanthropologists in resolving the dispersal dynamics of archaic and modern humans into Eurasia. In light of these new research initiatives, and because much of the previous literature on Tenaghi Philippon is from sources that are partially difficult to access, we here provide a review of the geological evolution of the Tenaghi Philippon archive, its present-day environmental conditions and its exploration history. We further give a synopsis of recent work based on the new cores and discuss the perspectives for future studies.

7 páginas, 2 figuras, 7 tablas., The Philippi peat, NE Greece, constitutes one of the largest fossil fuel deposits in the Balkans and its potential use for power generation cannot be ruled out in the future. In this study, the concentrations of 43 trace elements (Ag, As, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Dy, Er, Eu, Ga, Gd, Ge, Hf, Ho, La, Li, Mo, Nb, Nd, Ni, Pb, Pr, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sm, Sn, Sr, Ta, Tb, Th, U, V, W, Y, Yb, Zn, and Zr) in the 550 °C peat ashes are determined and related to the concentrations in the bulk peat, to evaluate the behavior of each element during combustion. Mineralogical analysis of the chemically oxidized peat samples revealed that clay minerals, feldspars, quartz, gypsum, and calcite are the dominant mineral phases. The behavior of the trace elements during combustion depends significantly on this mineral composition that, in turn, depends on the depositional conditions during peat accumulation., This work was funded through the Greek-Spanish Bilateral Agreement for Scientific Research, which is gratefully acknowledged.

Στην παρούσα εργασία παρουσιάζεται ο Κώδικας για την Ανακοίνωση Κοιτασματολογικών Ερευνών, Γεωλογικών και Οικονομικοτεχνικών Απολήψιμων Αποθεμάτων της Αυστραλίας (JORC), όπως αυτός αναθεωρήθηκε το 2012. Συζητούνται συνοπτικά οι Αρχές που διέπουν τον Κώδικα, οι Ορισμοί που πρέπει να υιοθετούνται στις Δημόσιες Ανακοινώσεις, καθώς και η έννοια του Αρμόδιου Μελετητή (Competent Person), με παράλληλη αναφορά σε παραδείγματα απαιτήσεων του Κανονισμού. Παρουσιάζεται επίσης μια συνοπτική σύγκριση με το αντίστοιχο Παν-Ευρωπαϊκό Πρότυπο Ανακοινώσεων (PERC), όπως αυτό δημοσιεύθηκε στις 15 Μαρτίου 2013. Στην Ελλάδα δεν υπάρχει ακόμα σε εφαρμογή Κανονιστικό Πλαίσιο για τη Δημόσια Ανακοίνωση Κοιτασματολογικών Ερευνών και Αποθεμάτων, αν και το πρότυπο PERC πιθανόν να αποτελέσει το Εθνικό Κανονιστικό Πλαίσιο. Σκοπό της εργασίας αποτελεί η έναρξη συζήτησης ανάμεσα στους γεωλόγους και μηχανικούς για τις ευκαιρίες αλλά και τις προκλήσεις, που θα επιφέρει ένα τέτοιο Κανονιστικό Πλαίσιο., A revised version of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves commonly called the JORC Code was released in Australia in December 2012. This paper provides a summary of the principles that guide the Code, and the definitions therein, as well as the rationality behind adopting the Code as a Public Reporting tool. Brief examples of reporting requirements are also discussed. Additionally, references and a general comparison to the Pan-European Reserves & Resources Reporting Code (PERC standard) are presented. Although, in Greece there is no relevant Regulatory Framework in place yet or enforcement of any International Code, the adaptation of PERC is probably ahead, and hence this paper aims to open the discussion among geoscientists and mining engineers for the opportunities and the challenges that they will face.

Η Λίμνη Μουριά αποξηράνθηκε στα τέλη της δεκαετίας του 1960, λόγω των αυξημένων αναγκών για καλλιεργήσιμες εκτάσεις. Στην παρούσα μελέτη εξετάζονται τα ιζηματολογικά χαρακτηριστικά μίας μικρής έκτασης της πρώην λίμνης, στην οποία κατασκευάστηκε μία πιλοτική λίμνη. Οι ανώτεροι ορίζοντες (πάχους περίπου 3 m) αποτελούνται από λεπτόκοκκο υλικό ποτάμιας προέλευσης, που αποτέθηκε σε λιμναίο περιβάλλον, σχηματίζοντας το λιμνοθαλάσσιο πυθμένα που εκτείνεται σε όλη την περιοχή της αποξηραμένης λίμνης. Σε βάθος 3 m απαντάται στρώμα άμμου, το οποίο αποτέθηκε σε περιβάλλον υψηλής ενέργειας και αποτελεί το υπόβαθρο του λιμνοθαλάσσιου πυθμένα. Τα ιζήματα χαρακτηρίζονται πολύ έντονα αλκαλικά με υψηλή περιεκτικότητα σε διαλυμένα στερεά. Η υψηλή ικανότητα ιοντοανταλλαγής (CEC) οφείλεται αποκλειστικά στην παρουσία αργιλικών ορυκτών. Χαλαζίας, άστριοι, αργιλικά ορυκτά και ασβεστίτης είναι τα κύρια ορυκτολογικά συστατικά. Η ορυκτολογική και γεωχημικήσύσταση των ιζημάτων οφείλεται κυρίως στην αποσάθρωση των περιβαλλόντων σχηματισμών. Οι έντονα αλκαλικές συνθήκες (υψηλό pH), που επικρατούν στα ιζήματα της περιοχής, δρουν ανασταλτικά στην κινητικότητα των ιχνοστοιχείων. Απαιτείται συνεχής παρακολούθηση της χημικής σύστασης των ιζημάτων της πιλοτικής λίμνης, γιατί ενδεχόμενη μεταβολή των συνθηκών που επικρατούν σήμερα, θα διαταράξει την ισορροπία του συστήματος της πιλοτικής λίμνης προκαλώντας ενδεχόμενα αύξηση της κινητικότητας των ιχνοστοιχείων και αποδέσμευσή τους στο περιβάλλον., The Μouria Lake was drained for cultivation during late 1960’s. A 0.5-ha large pilot-scale wetland is now constructed in order to study the sedimentological lakerestoration aspects. The uppermost horizons (up to 3 m thick) consist of fine sediments (mud, silt, clay) of fluvial origin, deposited in a lacustrine environment and constituting the lagoonal bottom material, which extents all over the area ever covered by the original Mouria Lake. A sand layer (3 m beneath the current surface) constitutes the substrate of the lagoonal bottom revealing a higher energy deposition environment in comparison to the overlying fine sediments. High pH and electric conductivity values reveal strong alkaline environment and high content of dissolved solids, respectively. The sediments reveal high CEC, as a result of high clay minerals content. Other main mineral phases that occur include quartz, feldspars and calcite. The weathering of marginal rocks is the major factor controlling the mineralogical-geochemical composition of the sediments. The strong alkaline features of the sediments inhibit trace element mobilization. Continuous monitoring of the chemical composition is necessary in order to predict and prevent a possible mobilization of hazardous trace elements and the subsequent release to the environment.

The climatic perturbation at ca. 8.2 kyr B.P. is the strongest short-term climate anomaly within the Holocene. It is generally attributed to a meltwater-induced slowdown of the thermohaline circulation in the North Atlantic. Model simulations and available proxy data suggest that it was strongest in the high to middle latitudes around the North Atlantic. Based on new pollen data from Tenaghi Philippon, northeastern Greece, we provide evidence for a massive climate-induced turnover in terrestrial ecosystems of the Aegean region associated with the 8.2 kyr B.P. event. The reconstructed winter temperature decline of >4 °C is much stronger than suggested by model simulations and proxy data from more northern latitudes of Europe, although the latter provide a direct downstream response to a North Atlantic thermohaline circulation slowdown. We attribute this discrepancy to mesoclimatic effects; a stronger influence of the Siberian High during the 8.2 kyr B.P. event may have enhanced the katabatic air flow from the mountains bordering the study site via a larger, longer persisting snow cover. Our data demonstrate that high-amplitude temperature anomalies and increased seasonality connected to the 8.2 kyr B.P. event may also have occurred in the lower mid-latitudes, much farther south than previously thought. The magnitudes of these anomalies appear to have been strong enough to have seriously affected Neolithic settlers in the northeastern Mediterranean region.

7 páginas, 3 figuras, 2 tablas., The Drama basin is a typical intermontane basin (2,300 km2) in northern Greece filled with detrital and lacustrine sediments containing peat/lignite seams. In the southwestern part of the basin (Philippi sub-basin) peat accumulated practically until the present. Specific conductivity and pH, as well as contents of major ions and trace elements have been determined in 20 surface and shallow groundwater samples collected across the basin. Water composition reflects the dominance of carbonate rocks in the whole basin. Peat oxidation and mineralization contribute to poor element enrichment of the Philippi sub-basin surface water derived from both the organic and inorganic peat fractions. Anthropogenic activities (waste water effluents and rubbish dumps) increase Mn, P, B, and Br concentrations. Only Mn exceeds EC recommendations (50 µg/l) in some places. There is also a slight increase in Na+ and Cl- contents. Improving measures in the management of point pollution sources should be a priority to warrant the sustainable exploitation of water resources in the Drama basin., This work was funded through the Greek-Spanish Bilateral Agreement for Scientific Research.

With the present study it is intended to assess the depositional palaeoenvironment of the lower part of the Lignite-bearing Sequence in the Ptolemais Basin, and more specifically in the areas of Notio-Field and Tomeas-6 open pits. The sediments under study represent the seam between the Volcanic Tephra Layer and the Basal Marl, which constitute the roof and the floor, respectively. Coal-petrographic results showed that Huminite is the main macerai group (84-96%), while macérais from Liptinite and Inertinite groups display low values (

In the new classification (ICCP System 1994), the maceral group huminite has been revised from the previous classification (ICCP, 1971. Int. Handbook Coal Petr., suppl. to 2nd ed.) to accommodate the nomenclature to changes in the other maceral groups, especially the changes in the vitrinite classification (ICCP, 1998. The new vitrinite classification (ICCP System 1994). Fuel 77, 349–358.). The vitrinite and huminite systems have been correlated so that down to the level of sub-maceral groups, the two systems can be used in parallel. At the level of macerals and for finer classifications, the analyst now has, according to the nature of the coal and the purpose of the analysis, a choice of using either of the two classification systems for huminite and vitrinite. This is in accordance with the new ISO Coal Classification that covers low rank coals as well and allows for the simultaneous use of the huminite and vitrinite nomenclature for low rank coals.

Summarization: This study evaluates Greek peat and coal samples for applications in the agricultural/horticultural sector and assesses the suitability of a certain peat/coal either as soil conditioner or as raw material for manufacturing organic fertilizers. Twenty-six samples of different rank ranging from peat to subbituminous coal obtained from several Greek peat/coal deposits, were studied. The laboratory tests included: a) pH and electrical conductivity (EC) determinations, as well as proximate, ultimate and maceral analyses, in order to characterize the samples, b) major and trace element analyses of both the total and the easily exchangeable fractions (EEF), in order to assess the phytotoxicity effect, c) cation exchange capacity (CEC) determination in mixtures of the samples (5 wt.%) with a certain soil (95 wt.%), in order to evaluate the peat/coal impact, and d) the determination of the contents of humic substances (HS), as well as of carboxylic and phenolic groups. The majority of the samples reveal moderate to high ash yields (16–80 wt.%), a slightly acidic to neutral character and electrical conductivity ranging from 100–2500 μS/cm. Concerning the environmental impact of the sensitive trace elements, which might be leached, As, Mn, Ni and Sr show relatively strong mobilization in some samples, although severe impacts are not expected. The soil's CEC is generally improved, although it remains at moderate levels. The most interesting aspect is the humic acids content, which ranges between 9.6 and 52.2 wt.% on a dry basis, exceeding 25 wt.% for most of the samples. The obtained results enable an initial correlation among the different parameters and a rating of the samples according to their suitability for soil-amelioration agents. Presented on: International Journal of Coal Geology

Summarization: The Dahomey Basin, SW Nigeria, hosts a 3000-m-thick sedimentary succession of Cretaceous and Cenozoic age, of which the Turonian-Maastrichtian Afowo Formation includes sandstones, arkoses, shales, shelly limestones, unconsolidated sand, clay and most importantly, bituminous (tar) sand strata. Eighteen samples were picked up from outcrops exposed by streams and channels, and were examined applying sedimentological, mineralogical, petrographical, geochemical (inorganic and organic) and radiological techniques with the aim of assessing the origin and the thermal maturity of the organic facies. The samples represent mostly coarse-grained sands and subordinately shales, referred usually as ‘tar sands’; they consist of mainly quartz and kaolinite, with variable amounts of mixed clay layers of illite-montmorillonite, mica and pyrite, probably derived from weathering of the Migmatite Gneiss Complex exposed to the north of the basin; this can also explain the relative enrichment in the natural radionuclides 40K, 238U, 226Ra and 232Th for some samples, although the radioactivity falls within the range for world values for soils. The clastic material of Afowo Formation was deposited in a rather oxic shallow marine environment. The particulate organic matter of the bituminous sediments comprises solid hydrocarbons, coalified (huminite) and partially oxidized (inertinite) remnants of terrestrial plants, and minor amounts of both terrestrial and marine liptinite macerals. The random reflectance values of the indigenous huminite population ranges between 0.40 and 0.45% pointing to an immature stage for oil generation. The respective reflectance of the migrabitumens ranges from 0.49 to 0.59% corresponding to vitrinite equivalent reflectance values of 0.70–0.76% falling well within the oil window. This study concludes that the hydrocarbons contained in the Afowo Formation are upwards migrating from parts of the basin where Afowo Formation has subsided at depths corresponding well within the oil window; the source rock corresponds to the middle shale horizon, whereas the sandy horizons act as migration paths and/or reservoirs. Παρουσιάστηκε στο: Marine and Petroleum Geology