BookPDF Available

The First 100 IUGS Geological Heritage Sites

Authors:
... For instance, the geosite of the Vajont Landslide could be examined: in the Vajont Valley, in Northern Italy, a massive landslide occurred in 1963. It is a geosite of international relevance, characterized on the one hand by the geomorphologic interest due to the exposition of the sliding surface and of the crown, that can be linked to a scientific value for the landslide study; on the other hand by the historical and educational interest for the significance of that event in the history of the region, giving cultural and educational values (Hilario et al., 2022). For the purposes of our study, we consider the geosites in the field as areas in which geoheritage occur, and all of the reviewed definitions allow to link the geosites to the geoheritage. ...
Article
Full-text available
While geoheritage and geodiversity have been well defined in the literature, the multiplicity of definitions given to these two concepts makes it difficult to establish an unambiguous relationship between them. Basing on semantic-ontological studies, this study aims to reduce this ambiguity within the concepts by investigating the relationship between the geodiversity richness and the presence of geoheritage, and discussing whether the areas with the greatest geodiversity are the ones with the most relevant geoheritage, thus questioning the potential use of the geodiversity index map. Upon a strong theoretical framework, a quantitative geodiversity index map was created for the Alagna Valsesia municipality, within the Sesia Val Grande UNESCO Global Geopark (Italian Western Alps). Then, 25 geosites were identified and mapped in the same area. Notably, the exploration into the correlation between geodiversity and geoheritage on the field shows that in our study area there is no spatial correlation between the geodiversity class and the number of geosites, proving that some geosites may occur in areas of low geodiversity and the greatest geodiversity are not the ones with the most relevant geoheritage. Moreover, all the non-parametric regression models tested are not significant, indicating that there is no predictable relationship between geodiversity and geoheritage in Alagna Valsesia (NW Alps). For that reason, our work highlights that although the quantitative geodiversity map can have an important role for geoconservation and within biodiversity studies, it could not be a strong tool for geosites recognition and tourism promotion, while for this purpose should be better use a qualitative geodiversity map. Finally, the potential use of the geodiversity map depends on the purpose of the study and the approach used to produce it. For a comprehensive geoconservation and geoheritage promotion strategy, the two approaches (qualitative and quantitative) may be complementary.
... Os últimos marcos da atual década que corroboram a importância e o constante progresso da referida ciência são: a proposição em 2020 da Resolução 074 da IUCN sobre "áreas-chave do patrimônio geológico", em complemento ao programa já existente das "áreas-chave" da biodiversidade; no mesmo ano a publicação do manual "Diretrizes para a geoconservação em áreas protegidas" pela IUCN (Crofts et al., 2020); IGCP lança abertura de projetos em patrimônio geológico, em 2021; aprovação e estabelecimento do 1º Dia Internacional da Geodiversidade, em 2022; e por último, em outubro de 2022 a publicação do livro com os "100 Primeiros Sítios do Patrimônio Geológico da IUGS" (Brilha, 2022;Crofts et al., 2020;Hilario et al., 2022). ...
Thesis
Full-text available
The success of geoconservation requires different sequential stages from basic research to management by administrations, sometimes including public participation. The lack of tradition in geoconservation methods in nature conservation policies and less focus on approaches to monitoring geological sites are challenges for the development of techniques to assess natural and anthropic degradation. The mapping of geological sites and periodic analysis of their conservation status are essential for effective management. The application of non-destructive and portable characterization techniques, such as ultrasonic wave propagation, colorimetry, roughness, hardness and contact angle of the water droplet with the surface, as well as new technologies such as remotely piloted aircraft, show potential for monitoring the degradation of geoheritage. By applying the different techniques to four case studies in Portugal Mainland (1- Natural Monument of Dinosaur Footprints Galinha Quarry; 2- Vale de Meios Ichnite Deposit; 3- Peniche Peninsula; and, 4- Ponta da Piedade), it was possible to establish that digital models generate quantitative and qualitative results that are ideal for understanding degradation, both with laboratory specimens and in the field. The collection of approximately 34,000 data, combined with the theoretical study, generated a methodological proposal for monitoring geological sites defined by four essential steps: 1-definition of factors that threaten geological elements; 2-line up of degradation indicators; 3-selection of measurable parameters; and, 4-measurement techniques for the parameters. It is important to classify the threats into chemical, physical, climatic, biological and anthropic factors. In these context, the methodology's approach relies on multi-scale analysis and multi-temporal series in order to identify real problems (threats) and conserve, enabling the monitoring method to be reproduced and applied to other case studies in different realities, facilitating the development of integrated management in geoconservation. It is noticeable that the lithotypes located on the coast show greater degradation in this study, evidenced by the carbonate rocks of Peniche Peninsula (Ponta do Trovão GSSP) and loss of geoforms at Ponta da Piedade. The most conserved geosite is Galinha Quarry, which in addition to the greater resistance of the lithotype, micritic limestone, also has management measures in place.
... and Points (GSSP) declared by IUGS (García-Cortés et al. 2017) among them. Spain also has three entries in the First 100 IUGS Geological Heritage Sites book (Hilario et al. 2022). ...
Article
A synthesis of the current state of geoconservation in Spain and an identification of the key associations and entities that develop is presented. We also provide an historical review with references for the main publications on the subject to date. In addition, new and updated information on the current status of geoconservation in the country is also presented including a report on the main geoconservation actions in Spain, from the development of inventories at various spatial scales and the geological heritage and geodiversity management carried out for various types of protected areas, to the legislation derived from environmental, cultural and land planning approaches. We also analyse the evolution of the activities of the Commission on Geological Heritage of the Spanish Geological Society (CPG-SGE) as a case study that can provide a somewhat biased but significant view of the development of geoconservation in Spain. Novel lines of work that are being carried out are also additionally presented, such as the monitoring of geosites or recording the traditional knowledge and uses of geodiversity in Spain. As we present here, Spain has made very significant advances in the field of geoconservation over the last fifty years and hence could be considered as a reference for the development and implementation of the concept at a national scale. However, there is still a long way to go as we continue to develop the discipline in the years to come.
Article
Full-text available
The amethyst and agate geodes from the Los Catalanes Gemmological District in Uruguay represent one of the main deposits of its kind worldwide. The geometry of the deposit is horizontal, with an irregular distribution of amethyst geodes within the upper level of the basalt lava flows and shows strong variations in their abundance, as well as quality, geometry, and shape. Reliable exploration guides are scarce, and the limited knowledge of the geological parameters controlling its occurrence makes exploration unpredictable, leading to inaccurate reserve estimation. Based on cutting-edge methods including nucleation-assisted microthermometry of one-phase fluid inclusions and determination of triple oxygen isotope in silicates and carbonates, as well as analysis of geode-hosted water and groundwater, we estimate the crystallisation temperatures in the range between 15 and 60 °C. These low temperatures point to amethyst crystallisation after the emplacement of the complete basalt pile. The mineralising fluid shows isotopic signatures consistent with meteoric water and very low salinities from pure water up to rarely over 3 wt% NaCl-eq., likely sourced from the groundwater hosted in the aquifers in the basaltic sequence and underlying units. Based on the insights provided by the new data, we propose the combination of open- and closed-system crystallisation inside pre-existing cavities due to the episodic infiltration of meteoric water in a rather stable geological context.
Article
Full-text available
Virtual reality is a technological development that, among others, has revolutionized Earth sciences. Its advantages include an opportunity to examine places otherwise difficult or impossible to access and it may also become an important component of education, fostering a better understanding of processes and landforms, geohazard awareness, and an appreciation of geoheritage. This paper reports on the GeoVT project, which aims to create a platform to build and disseminate Virtual Field Trips (VFTs) focused on geomorphology, natural hazards associated with geomorphological processes, and geoheritage sites. To put the GeoVT project in context, an overview of applications of VR in geosciences is provided. This paper subsequently proceeds with a presentation of the project and the GeoVT Authoring application, which is an innovative platform designed to help teachers and students, followed by brief presentations of a number of VFTs developed within the project. They address themes such as fluvial landforms and valley development, coastal landforms, evidence of past glaciation, coastal erosion, wildfire effects, mud volcanoes, and landslides.
Article
Full-text available
The rock glaciers of the Swiss National Park were the first in the world where in-situ measurements of surface displacement were undertaken, starting with the pioneering work of Chaix in 1918. Our research is focused on the four rock glaciers described by Chaix, bridging the historical data gap that existed between their early 20th-century measurements and the most recent observations. Through the application of photogrammetric techniques, we geomorphologically analyze the spatiotemporal evolution of rock glaciers in the region, and disentangle the interplay with their adjacent glaciers. We show that these rock glaciers are in different phases of degradation with a general trend of deceleration and loss of volume. Our findings reveal historical kinematic changes influenced by the hydrological contributions of adjacent glaciers, which were closely connected since the Little Ice Age but are now severely degraded. The observed hydrological control, suggests that ongoing climate-induced glacier degradation will likely result in a future scenario with limited new accelerations. Instead, a steady water flow from adjacent glaciers may sustain a gradual secondary creep, progressively slowing as permafrost degradation continues, driven by predicted warming and dry climatic conditions in the Alps.
Article
The Italian geosites had been inventoried since the first 2000s with the aim of knowing the geoheritage of the Peninsula. Information collected on the basis of published data was stored in a database. Today the inventory is a geodatabase which is published on the ISPRA website, the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research. This includes the Geological Survey of Italy. Consultation is free and all the information collected about each geosite is available. A map is also available to search geosites in a chosen area. Data coming from the first phase of the Italian Geosite Project has been reviewed, and guidelines have been produced to guide the still ongoing process. The inventory is a useful tool for territorial planning at different levels, from local projects to national activities, both naturalistic (protected areas) and for land use. Currently, geoheritage is not protected in Italy by national law, but some regional laws have been approved to protect and enhance the regional geological heritage, waiting, perhaps, for a European law.
Article
Full-text available
The Messel Pit World Heritage site and the surrounding Global Geopark Bergstrasse-Odenwald share the same promotional approach: the conservation and communication of our geological and natural, as well as cultural, heritage to the public. Regarding the territory and outreach, the Messel Pit is a single locality, based on UNESCO´s definition, and is focused on Outstanding Universal Value. As in the case of all other World Heritage sites, protection, conservation and the safeguarding of the geological heritage for future generations, as well as public outreach activities, are core remits. On the other hand, the Global Geopark Bergstrasse-Odenwald acts as a regional promotional platform with a wide range of local and regional partners. In this context, communication and cooperation as well as geo-educational activities are fundamental tasks, as they are indeed in any other Global Geopark. These tasks are also the basis of the cooperation with the Messel Pit and the resulting benefits are obvious – since 2003 there has been a continuously increasing number of visitors, regional and internationally, benefiting the World Heritage site and the Global Geopark and thus the local communities throughout the region. For all a win-win-situation by collaboration and exchange.
Article
Full-text available
On the southwest cape of the Congo craton, a subtropical carbonate bank the size of Greenland was heavily glaciated during two Cryogenian panglacial episodes spaced 10–20 Myr apart. In NW Namibia, the bank underwent crustal stretching with resultant Aegean Sea-type topography during the older and longer Sturtian glaciation (717–661 Ma). This is indicated by angular discordance between glacial and preglacial strata and diamictites sourced from all older units, including crystalline basement. In contrast, the bank was flat-topped and underwent broad thermal subsidence during Marinoan glaciation (646 ± 5–635 Ma), attested by stratal parallellism and diamictites sourced from ≤100 m stratigraphic depth. However, ≥2.0 km of relief existed on the Marinoan continental slope, where most glacial erosion and accumulation occurred. The average rates of Marinoan erosion (2.55–6.80 m/Myr, n = 190) and accumulation (2.65–7.07 m/Myr, n = 211) are indistinguishable, implying that the location in a continental promontory did not bias erosion over accumulation. The average accumulation rates for the Sturtian and Marinoan, scaled for different averaging times, including Marinoan uncertainty, are 3.95–4.93 m/Myr (n = 183) and 2.65–7.07 m/Myr (n = 190), respectively, suggesting that a Marinoan glacioeustatic coastal escarpment substituted for rift-related Sturtian basin-and-range topography. These slow rates, comparable to long-term pre-Quaternary accumulation rates on existing abyssal plains, reconcile glacial sedimentology with the feeble hydrologic cycle of snowball Earth.
Article
Full-text available
Se ha actualizado mediante trabajo de campo, pruebas de datación y revisión de bibliografía existente el mapa geológico del Área Metropolitana de San Salvador a una escala 1:50000. Esto ha permitido categorizar cuerpos y depósitos volcánicos acorde a avances recientes en litoestratigrafía y mapeo geológico. El mapa geológico sigue la litoestratigrafía básica de las formaciones de Bálsamo, Cuscatlán y San Salvador. Los miembros de la Formación Bálsamo (Mioceno Superior - Plioceno) representan los restos de volcanes extensos de composición andesítica/basáltica con flujos de lava y complejos epiclásticos de rocas volcánicas. La Formación Cuscatlán (Plioceno-Pleistoceno) comprende ignimbritas silícicas, tobas, así como rocas epiclásticas relacionadas, además de rocas efusivas andesíticas/basálticas contemporáneas. La Formación de San Salvador (Pleistoceno Superior- Holoceno) incluye productos recientes del estratovolcán San Salvador y de la caldera de Ilopango. La cartografía geológica ayuda a comprender las mejores condiciones para el cuido de los recursos naturales y la sostenibilidad.
Book
Published in 1842, this important monograph by Charles Darwin (1809–82) formed the first part of a trilogy of geological studies based on observations made during the celebrated second voyage of the Beagle. Influenced by Charles Lyell's Principles of Geology, Darwin drew in particular on data from the survey of the Keeling Islands in the Indian Ocean to support his theory that subsidence of the ocean floor can account for the formation of coral atolls. He first presented his findings in a paper for the Geological Society of London in 1837, but a heavy workload and illness delayed the appearance of this elegantly argued and illustrated study. For this and his work on barnacles, Darwin would receive the Royal Society's royal medal in 1853. The other studies in the trilogy, Geological Observations on the Volcanic Islands (1844) and Geological Observations on South America (1846), are also reissued in this series.
Article
Fossil woods are rather scarce in Lower Gondwana. A large percentage of woods so far reported belong to Raniganj or equivalent formations. The two new species of wood reported here also originate in the Raniganj Formation. Lepekhina’s circumscription of the genus Araucarioxylon is not accepted as it overlaps the diagnosis of the genus Dadoxylon. Her assignment of D. brandlingii (Lindley & Hutton) Endlicher as lectogenotype of Dadoxylon is not acceptable because the correct type species is D. withamii (Lindley & Hutton) Endlicher. Zalesskioxylon zambesiensis Maithy has been re-investigated and found to be conspecific with Australoxylon teixeirae Marguerier. The genera Parapalaeoxylon Prasad and Kamthioxylon Mahabale & Vagyani are probably superfluous.
Article
The rudist bivalve family Antillocaprinidae Mac Gillavry is revised following a study of nearly all available material in museum collections. Based on differences in their myocardinal arrangements, three subfamilies are recognized: the Titanosarcolitinae nov. subfam., the Antillocaprininae Mac Gillavry, and the Parasarcolitinae nov. subfam. Fifteen genera are described, of which ten are new: Eosarcolites nov. gen., Caenosarcolites nov. gen., Clinocaprina nov. gen., Rotacaprina nov. gen., Rudicaprina nov. gen., Stellacaprina nov. gen., Oligosarcolites nov. gen., Polysarcolites nov. gen., Alencasteria nov. gen., and Sawkinsonia nov. gen. Genera, which are placed in monophyletic radiations, are differentiated on minor differences in myocardinal arrangements, morphotype, and presence or absence of tubes. Six new species are described: Eosarcolites radiatus nov. gen., nov. sp., Caenosarcolites scholaris nov. gen., nov. sp., Rudicaprina planus nov. gen., nov. sp., Sawkinsonia maldonensis nov. gen., nov. sp., Alencasteria macrotubularis nov. gen., nov. sp., and Stellacaprina gunteri nov. gen., nov. sp. Cladistic analysis was performed on selected genera from the Caprinoidea, justifing the division of the Antillocaprinidae into three subfamilies, although extensive paraphyletic groupings exist in the lower part of the strict consensus tree. Weighting myocardinal characters produces a strict consensus tree largely consistent with current subfamily- and family-rank taxonomy, and is consistent with the order of appearance of taxa in the fossil record. The Antillocaprinidae show a major evolutionary radiation reaching a first peak in the middle Campanian, a decline in the late Campanian, and a second peak just before the rudist extinction at the end of the Cretaceous.
Article
In the Central Andes, large (> 500 km²) and long-lived (1–5 Ma) volcanic clusters (LVCs) are less explored and their eruptive history and magmatic regimes less understood than smaller, short-lived (<0.5 Ma), individual stratocones. The Chachani-large volcanic cluster (C-LVC) sizeable volume (c. 290 km³) consists of twelve edifices forming the 1.06–0.64 Ma group of stratovolcanoes and the 0.46–0.05 Ma group of domes coulees and block-lava flow fields. Both groups overlie pre-Chachani lavas and tuffs 1.02–1.27 Ma, and together they have buried large nested craters or a caldera associated with the c. 1.62–1.66 Ma Arequipa Airport ignimbrite. The C-LVC evolved from: (i) homogeneous compositions of the pre-Chachani and Chachani basal eruptive units to (ii) relatively wide compositional variations (53–67 wt% SiO2) between mafic andesite and dacite at moderate eruptive rates (0.27–0.41 km³/ka) for the ‘Old Edifice’ group, and finally to (iii) narrower (57–64 wt% SiO2) andesitic compositions coinciding with extrusive activity at 2.5 times lower eruptive rates (0.12–0.15 km³/ka) for the ‘Young Edifice’ group. The large compositional variations in the Old Edifice group are related to strongly contrasting resident and recharge magma compositions of hybridized lavas. In contrast, the narrow compositional range and lower eruption rate during the second half of the C-LVC eruptive history represent a trend towards more homogeneous, andesitic magma composition with time. Mineral texture and compositional studies provide evidence for disequilibrium and magma mixing in the C-LVC shallow (5–20 km depth range) magma reservoirs. These temporal changes in magma composition document that the transcrustal magma systems of the C-LVC evolved and matured with time by a combination of processes: fractional crystallization, crustal contamination and magma mixing/mingling with variable rates of mafic recharge. This resulted in a shift in time to a steady state, monotonous (andesite) regime as a result of coupling between compositional parameters and thermal conditions, density constraints, and the viscosity/crystallinity of erupted magmas.