Mineralogical and chemical analysis of the glacial deposits of the Petuniabukta region, laid down due to glacial advances occurring from the Billefjorden Stage to the Little Ice Age has been made. The deposits have substantial carbonate contents which, however, vary depending on rock types of which the bedrock is built up. The calcium ion is the main component of the sorption complex of the deposits under investigation. A proportion of other ions, including magnesium, sodium and potassium, is markedly lower. An increase in the magnesium, sodium and potassium ion contents of the sorption complex with age and a concurrent decline in calcium ions have been reported from glacial tills. The illite clay minerals prevail in glacial deposits occurring around Petuniabukta. Apart from them, there are large quantities of the chlorite and kaolinite clay minerals. The glacial deposits of Spitsbergen remain markedly richer in the chlorite group than glacial tills of Poland. Simultaneously, they contain markedly smaller amounts of minerals of the- smectite group and illite/smectite mixed-layer minerals. This is due to a fainter effect of the weathering processes on the glacial deposits of Spitsbergen, compared with the glacial tills of Poland.

Almus agates which are forms of nodules like egg-shaped are located in the Eocene aged Almus volcanics in Tokat (Turkey). These nodules are surprise eggs in spherical or oval form ranging from a few cm to 25–30 cm. It is thought that the most effective reason for the formation of the magnificent texture and color combinations of the agates in the region is the iron element. In thin section studies, agate formations are composed of length-slow zebraic chalcedony and quart zine. In addition, curved fossil like structures composed of iron oxide minerals offer visual richness.
The host rock in which the Almus agates are located is trachyte, which consists of sanidine, plagioclase microlites and small opaque minerals, in which microlithic porphyritic and flow (trachytic) texture are observed. As a result of the multipoint eds (field emission scanning electron microscope), it was determined that the quartz is composed of Si, O and Fe. The content of the iron element, which is thought to cause color, was observed in the range of ca 1–1.5 wt.%. According to XRF analysis results, in Almus agates, there is depletion of Fe2O3 content in fine crystalline regions (ca 1 wt.%) compared to coarse crystalline zones (ca 1.5 wt.%).
In order to determine the usability of Almus agates as gemstone, various cabochon shapes were made in Ümit Ulus Gemstone Processing workshop. It has been observed that these agates can be used for both collection and gemstone purposes due to their unique patterns and color compensation.

Post-industrial areas are economically attractive – property developers are often eager to build stylish lofts there. Unfortunately, however, contamination often persists in the soil of such “brownfield” sites for decades.

Antarctica is perceived as one of the most pristine environments on Earth, though increasing human activities and global climate change raise concerns about preserving the continent’s environmental quality. Limited in distribution, soils are particularly vulnerable to disturbances and pollution, yet lack of baseline studies limits our abilities to recognize and monitor adverse effects of environmental change. To improve the understanding of natural geochemical variability of soils, a survey was conducted in the fellfield environments of Edmonson Point (Victoria Land). Soil samples were analyzed for six major (Fe, Ca, Mg, Na, K and Ti) and 24 trace elements (As, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Ga, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sn, Sr, Tl, U, V, Y, Zn and Zr). Relationships among element concentrations in the samples and local bedrock were analyzed to identify their origin and similarities in geochemical cycles. Element concentrations in the soils were highly variable but generally within the lowest values reported elsewhere in Antarctica. Though values of Cd, Mn, Ni and Zn were relatively high, they are consistent with those in the local soil-forming rocks indicating an origin from natural sources rather than anthropogenic contamination. Chemical composition of soils vs. rocks pointed to alkali basalts as the lithogenic source of the soil matrix, but also indicated considerable alteration of elemental composition in the soil. Considering local environmental settings, the soil elemental content was likely affected by marine-derived inputs and very active hydrological processes which enhanced leaching and removal of mobilized elements. Both of these processes may be of particular importance within the context of global climate change as the predicted increases in temperature, water availability and length of the summer season would favor mineral weathering and increase geochemical mobility of elements.

Trace elements contained in rocks, especially those classified as potentially toxic elements (PTEs), can be largely harmful. Knowledge of the geochemical composition of waste is of great importance due to the potential possibility of contamination with these elements in the environment. The paper presents the geochemical characteristics of the sedimentary rocks from the Carboniferous coal-bearing series of the USCB. The present study used data for 120 samples from borehole WSx representing Zaleskie layers and Orzeskie layers within the Mudstone Series (Westphalian A, B). Major oxide concentrations (Al2O3, SiO2, Fe2O3, P2O5, K2O, MgO, CaO, Na2O, K2O, MnO, TiO2, Cr2O3, Ba) were obtained using an X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The concentration of potentially toxic elements (Be, Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Rb, Sr, Zr, Mo, Cd, Sn, Sb, Ba, W, Tl, Pb, Bi, Th, and U) was analyzed using inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry. As there are no relevant standards for the content of toxic elements in post-mining waste stored in dumps, the concentrations of elements were compared to their share in the Upper Continental Crust. Most elements, such as B, Sc, V, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Sb, W, Tl, Pb, Bi, Th, and U had higher mean concentrations than those of the Upper Continental Crust (UC). Concentrations of the analyzed toxic elements in the studied samples did not exceed permissible values for soils, therefore they are not a potential threat to the environment. The results of the Pearson correlation analysis showed differing relationships among the analyzed toxic elements in the studied samples.

A high content of fluorine was found in ornithogenic soils around penguin rookeries on King George Island. South Shetland Islands. Fluorine is inherent in 0.11% in krill (Euphausia superba). eaten by penguins. Fluorine content in penguins excreta increased approximately to 0.43%. and after decomposition and leaching to 1.03%. The concentration grew during mineralization of organic matter in guano (up to 2.2%). In a surface layer of guano fluorine occurred in apatite. A phosphatization was noted in a subsurface zone as the result of a reaction between guano leachates and weathered volcanic rocks. In the upper part of this zone near the large rookeries a fluorine occurred in minyulite (aluminium phosphate containing potassium and fluorine) and fluorine content here reached 3.5%. Sometimes fluorine was also bound with amorphous aluminium phosphate (up. to 2.0%). formed as a result of incongruently dissolving of minyulite in pure water.

Based on geochemical and biological investigations of a 6-m-long sediment core, a reconstruction of the environmental conditions in Charzykowskie Lake (northern Poland) is presented. The analyzed sediments consist of fine calcareous detritus gyttja interbedded by lake marl. The results of palynological analysis document the vegetation development around and in the studied lake and confirm the middle and late Holocene age of the sedimentation of the deposits. The identification of 22 taxa of subfossil Cladocera shows the biodiversity of the fauna and reflects the changes in the trophic and water level. The concentrations of various chemical elements suggest the origin of the sediments. Geochemical, including isotope, and biological data, made it possible to reconstruct the environmental conditions, as well as traces of human influence over the last ca. 6,200 years. Four stages of human impact have been documented by the pollen data. The first traces of human groups in the vicinity of Charzykowskie Lake are preserved in sediments from about 4,000 years ago. The human activity is poorly recorded in the Cladocera and in the geochemical compositions of the lake sediments, probably due to the size and depth of the lake and its isolation.

This article presents results of the analysis of 3 sediment cores taken from the bottom of Pomeranian Bay, southern Baltic Sea. These results are part of a larger project that aims to determine the characteristics and rate of the Atlantic marine ingression in the Pomeranian Bay area. The main geochemical elements and diatom assemblages from the cores were identified, revealing lacustrine sediments deposited during the time of Ancylus Lake and marine sediments deposited during the Littorina transgression. Distinct changes in the geochemical composition and diatom assemblages suggest that the Littorina transgression had a very large impact on the environment of Pomeranian Bay.

The paper was focused on the reconstruction of past-environmental conditions dynamics based on the geochemical characteristics of sediments filling kettle-hole located in the western part of the Kashubian Lakeland, North Poland). Stratigraphic variability of lithogeochemical constituents and a set of 13 elements (TOC, N, P, Na, Ca, Mg, K, Al, Fe, Mn, Cu, Ni, Zn) were applied for Holocene reconstruction of certain processes and conditions in the studied kettle-hole. The detailed geochemical analysis allowed us to identify 6 phases in its development: Masz-1 stage covering sedimentation of sedge-moss peat over melting dead ice at the turn of the Preboreal and Boreal periods; Masz-2 stage of the initial phase of lake development with deep-water sedimentation; Late Boreal and Atlantic stage Masz-3 related to sedimentation of lacustrine chalk; Subboreal stage Masz-4 representing the beginning of lake terrestrialization; Subatlantic stage Masz-5 of lowland bog, and Masz-6 stage covering final phase of peatland evolution due to human activity. Principle component analysis highlighted the importance of two major factors controlling the geochemical variability of the studied sediments. These are the varied origin of supplying water reflected in the sedimentation of organic-calcareous sediments (PC1), and oxidative-reduction conditions determined by water level fluctuations (PC2).

The organic carbon (OC)-rich, black shale succession of the Middle Triassic Bravaisberget Formation in Spitsbergen contains scattered dolomite-ankerite cement in coarser-grained beds and intervals. This cement shows growth-related compositional trend from non-ferroan dolomite (0–5 mol % FeCO3) through ferroan dolomite (5–10 mol % FeCO3) to ankerite (10–20 mol % FeCO3, up to 1.7 mol % MnCO3) that is manifested by zoned nature of composite carbonate crystals. The d13C (-7.3‰ to -1.8‰ VPDB) and d18O (-9.4‰ to -6.0‰ VPDB) values are typical for burial cements originated from mixed inorganic and organic carbonate sources. The dolomite-ankerite cement formed over a range of diagenetic and burial environments, from early post-sulphidic to early catagenic. It reflects evolution of intraformational, compaction-derived marine fluids that was affected by dissolution of biogenic carbonate, clay mineral and iron oxide transformations, and thermal decomposition of organic carbon (decarboxylation of organic acids, kerogen breakdown). These processes operated during Late Triassic and post-Triassic burial history over a temperature range from approx. 40°C to more than 100°C, and contributed to the final stage of cementation of the primary pore space of siltstone and sandstone beds and intervals in the OC-rich succession.

In the Polish sector of the Magura Nappe have long been known and exploited carbonate mineral waters, saturated

with carbon dioxide, known as the “shchava (szczawa)”. These waters occur mainly in the Krynica Subunit

of the Magura Nappe, between the Dunajec and Poprad rivers, close to the Pieniny Klippen Belt (PKB). The

origin of these waters is still not clear, this applies to both “volcanic” and “metamorphic” hypotheses. Bearing

in mind the case found in the Szczawa tectonic window and our geological and geochemical studies we suggest

that the origin of the carbon dioxide may be linked with the thermal/pressure alteration of organic matter of the

Oligocene deposits from the Grybów Unit. These deposits, exposed in several tectonic windows of the Magura

Nappe, are characterized by the presence of highly matured organic matter – the origin of the hydrocarbon accumulations.

This is supported by the present-day state of organic geochemistry studies of the Carpathian oil and

gas bed rocks. In our opinion origin of the carbon-dioxide was related to the southern, deep buried periphery of

the Carpathian Oil and Gas Province. The present day distribution of the carbonated mineral water springs has

been related to the post-orogenic uplift and erosion of the Outer (flysch) Carpathians.

The research was conducted at the Kwiatków site,1 in the Koło Basin (Central Poland). It included a fragment of a low terrace and the valley floor of the Warta river valley. The archaeological investigation documented over 100 wells that archaeological material indicates are associated with the Przeworsk culture. Geomorphological, lithological and geochemical studies were carried out at the archaeological sites and their surroundings. Selected for the presentation were two wells whose fillings were carefully tested and subjected to geochemical and lithological analyses. The wells showed a slightly different content of artifacts, as well as differences in their grain-size distributions, the structure of their filling deposits, and their geochemistry. This allows us to conclude that the two wells were used differently, but also probably about a different course for how each well was filled after the end of its operation.

Geological carbon dioxide storing should be carried out with the assumption that there are no leakages from the storage sites. However, regardless of whether the gas which is injected in leaks from the storage site or not, the carbon dioxide stored will influence the environment. In a tight storage site the carbon dioxide injected in will dissolve in the reservoir liquids (groundwater and oil) and react with the rocks of the storage formation. Dissolving CO2 in underground water will result in the change of its pH and chemism. The reactions with the rock matrix of the storage site will not only trigger changes in its mineralogical composition, but also in the petrophysical parameters, because of the precipitation and dissolution of minerals. A leakage of CO2 from its storage site can trigger off changes in the composition of soil air and groundwater, influence the development of plants, and in case of sudden and large leaks it will pose a threat for people and animals. Carbon dioxide can cause deterioration of the quality of drinking waters related to the rise in their mineralization (hardness) and the mobilization of heavymetals' cations. A higher content of this gas in soil leads to a greater acidity and negatively affects plants. A carbon dioxide concentration of ca. 20-30% is a critical value for plants above which they start to die. The influence of high concentrations of carbon dioxide on the human organism depends on the concentration of gas, exposure time and physiological factors. CO2 content in the air of up to 1.5% does not provoke any side effects in people. A concentration of over 3% has a number of negative effects, such as: higher respiratory rate, breathing difficulties, headaches, loss of consciousness. Concentrations higher than 30% lead to death after a few minutes. Underground microorganisms and fungi have a good tolerance to elevated and high concentrations of carbon dioxide. Among animals the best resistance is found in invertebrates, some rodents and birds.

This paper presents an interpretation of sedimentologic, paleomagnetic, and geochemical data collected in the Upper Kimmeridgian–Valanginian carbonates of the Giewont series (Giewont and Mały Giewont sections, High-Tatric succession, Western Tatra Mountains, Poland). The studied succession provides insight into the sedimentary conditions prevailing in the South Tatric Ridge (Tatricum), a submarine elevation located between the Zliechov Basin (Fatricum) and the Vahic (=South Penninic) Ocean. The sedimentary sequence includes micrites, pseudonodular limestones, cyanoid packstones, lithoclastic packstone, and encrinites. The results are discussed with regards to their significance for detrital input, paleoclimate, and paleoproductivity, which in turn are considered in the context of both local and regional paleoenvironmental trends and events. The greatest depositional depths during the latest Kimmeridgian–earliest Tithonian are documented by the occurrence of pseudonodular limestones. A Tithonian shallowing trend is demonstrated via the increasing size and roundness of cyanoids, while the final (?)emergence and erosion in the South Tatric Ridge is documented by earliest Cretaceous disconformities. This process might have been related to both falling sea-level during the major eustatic regressive cycle and tectonic uplift caused by the mutually related (re)activation in the Neotethyan Collision Belt and rifting in the Ligurian-Penninic-Vahic Oceans. The highest lithogenic influx (although still low; max 0.5% of Al content) during the Late Kimmeridgian is considered as associated with relatively humid climate conditions, whereas a subsequent decreasing trend is thought to result from aridification during the latest Kimmeridgian–earliest Tithonian. Ultimately, deposition in the High-Tatric zone was affected by both large-scale environmental perturbations characteristic of the latest Jurassic (climate changes, variations in seawater pH, monsoonal upwelling, lithogenic input, etc.), as well as local sedimentary controls, predominantly the oxygenation state of bottom waters and tectonic movements.

Supplementary Material 1

Geochemical studies of CO₂-rich therapeutic waters in the Sudetes have provided new data on a wide range of trace elements, going beyond standard chemical analyses of such waters. A consistent set of physicochemical data obtained using the same analytical methods was subjected to statistical analyses, including hierarchical clustering, factor analysis and nonparametric tests (Kruskal-Wallis, Tau Kendall), to reveal geochemical relationships between physicochemical and chemical parameters in the waters, and their relationships with the aquifer lithology. Distinct differences in the composition of waters found in crystalline rocks (mainly gneisses and mica schists) and sedimentary rocks were identified. The wide range of elements can be associated with the hydrolysis of silicate minerals, including alkali and alkali earth metals (Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Be) and (mostly) transition elements (Fe, Mn, Zn, Co, W, Mg). Carbonate equilibria are the next important factor as it determines the aggressiveness of the water towards the minerals of aquifer rocks and affects the concentrations of numerous solutes. The probable common origin of chlorides, bromides and sulphates together with Li, Na, Sr may be related to the relict saline component of deep circulating waters, a hypothesis that requires further investigations.

The main goal of the presented research was to investigate spatial distribution of surface sediments and to recognize relationships between chemical composition of water and sediments in a coastal Lake Sarbsko (northern Poland). The Lake Sarbsko is a freshwater basin. The water column is well oxygenated and waters exhibit only minor spatial variability of chemical composition indicating rapid and good mixing. Surface sediments of Lake Sarbsko are strongly diversified with respect to chemical composition. The sediments of Lake Sarbsko are characterized by elevated content of terrigenous silica indicating enhanced input of clastic material from the watershed and/or increased dynamics of the lake waters. Moreover, SiO2ter is strongly negatively correlated with SiO2biog, organic matter and element contents, which argues for diluting effect of the former towards authigenic components of sediments. Basically, terrigenous silica (quartz) content is highest in the lake shores and declines towards the lake center. Biogenic silica, organic matter and most of elements display reversed tendency. CaCO3 was encountered in three isolated areas, where it co-occurs with FeS. It is anticipated that precipitation of calcite in Lake Sarbsko resulted from postdepositional processes. Spatial distribution of Fe, Mn, Ca, Mg, Na and K in Lake Sarbsko is also governed by their geochemical affinities to organic matter (Fe), Fe/Mn oxides (Fe, Mn), sulphides (Fe), clay minerals (Na, K, Mg, Mn) and carbonates (Ca, Mn).