One Century of the Croatian Geological Survey

<p>Croatian Geological Survey is the successor of the Geological Commission for the Kingdoms of Croatia and Slavonia founded in 1909. The Commission was established thanks to efforts and merits of Dragutin Gorjanović-Kramberger, world-famous scientist. During its hundred-year existence, the Commission/Survey played an crucial role in the development of geology in Croatia, primarily in the production of geological maps in different scales and for different purposes, but also in applying the geological science in practice, e.g., in water resource exploration, landslide prevention and mitigation, exploitation of mineral resources, environmental protection, and construction of infrastructural objects.</p><p> </p><p>Key words: Croatian Geological Survey, Geological Commission, Dragutin Gorjanović-Kramberger, geological map.</p

Middle Triassic basaltic pyroclastic rocks from the Mt. Medvednica ophiolitic mélange (NW Croatia): petrology, geochemistry and tectono-magmatic setting

Hectometric blocks of Middle Triassic mafic pyroclastic rocks, represented by volcanic agglomerates/breccias and lapilli tuffs, form part of the ophiolitic mélange of Mt. Medvednica, situated in the southwestern segment of the Zagorje-Mid-Transdanubian Zone. These rocks share petrochemical characteristics with pyroclastic derivatives of alkali, within-plate basaltic lavas of Mts. Medvednica, Samoborska Gora, and Kalnik, indicating the occurrence of explosive events preceding the dominant effusive submarine volcanism during the Middle Triassic (Illyrian-Fassanian?) stages. The formation of these pre-ophiolitic pyroclastics is associated with an intracontinental rift setting and reflects melts derived from an OIB-type enriched mantle plume source. These pyroclastics represent uncontaminated melts that erupted through a highly thinned continental crust. In geodynamic terms, the formation of pyroclastites occurred during the Late Anisian-Early Ladinian along the continental margin of Palaeotethys through the proto back-arc rifting of continental lithosphere (Adria Plate), leading to the formation of the Maliak/Balkan Neotethys Rift, in the emerging northwestern segment of Neotethys. The investigated pyroclastic rocks of Mt. Medvednica document the extension in an evolved intracontinental rift basin, which immediately preceded the generation of the initial Neotethyan oceanic lithosphere during the Upper Triassic

Stoljeće Hrvatskoga geološkog instituta

Croatian Geological Survey is the successor of the Geological Commission for the Kingdoms of Croatia and Slavonia founded in 1909. The Commission was established thanks to efforts and merits of Dragutin Gorjanović-Kramberger, world-famous scientist. During its hundred-year existence, the Commission/Survey played an crucial role in the development of geology in Croatia, primarily in the production of geological maps in different scales and for different purposes, but also in applying the geological science in practice, e.g., in water resource exploration, landslide prevention and mitigation, exploitation of mineral resources, environmental protection, and construction of infrastructural objects. Key words: Croatian Geological Survey, Geological Commission, Dragutin Gorjanović-Kramberger, geological map.Hrvatski geološki institut sljednik je Geologijskog povjerenstva za Kraljevine Hrvatsku i Slavoniju, koje je osnovano 1909. godine. Povjerenstvo je osnovano nastojanjem i zaslugom Dragutina Gorjanović-Krambergera, našeg svjetski poznatog znanstvenika. Stoljeće djelovanja Povjerenstva – Instituta ima nezaobilaznu ulogu u razvoju geološke struke u Republici Hrvatskoj, ponajprije izradom geoloških karata različitih mjerila i namjena, ali i primjenom geološke znanosti u praksi, kao npr. istraživanja za vodoopskrbu, sanaciju klizišta, mineralne sirovine, zaštitu okoliša i infrastrukturne objekte.Ključne riječi: Hrvatski geološki institut, Geologijsko povjerenstvo, Dragutin Gorjanović-Kramberger, geološka kart

Comparison of urban and rural soils based on speciation of heavy metals by BCR sequential extraction procedure: A case study in the historical and industrial city of Sisak, Croatia

Within the framework of the pan-European project “URban GEochemistry (URGE) in Europe – Soil, children, health”, pedological and geochemical investigations of the soils of the city of Sisak and its adjacent surroundings were carried out, and three urban and two rural soil profiles were examined. The mineralogical composition and concentration of selected potentially toxic elements (PTEs) Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in the soil were determined. The Community Reference Bureau of Reference (BCR) sequential extraction procedure (SEP) of these PTEs was undertaken and the potential risk to human health and the environment was assessed. The concentrations of Cr and Ni are generally similar in urban and rural soil profiles, while the concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn in soil horizons/layers are higher in urban profiles. The extracted fractions of PTEs gave the following general distribution: in urban soil profiles residual (RES) > reducible (ORG) or oxidisable (FEMN) > exchangeable (CARB), except for Cu where ORG > RES > FEMN > CARB, while in rural soil profiles RES > FEMN or ORG > CARB, except for Pb where FEMN > RES or ORG > CARB. The differences between soils in urban and rural profiles depend mainly on the historical land use, i.e. on the duration and intensity of anthropogenic influences on the soil and, to a lesser extent, on the geogenic origin of the parent material and the pedogenic processes. The studied elements in the urban soil profiles are predominantly of anthropogenic origin, indicating a possible influence of the ancient settlements of Segestica and Siscia and of heavy industry in the 20th century. The anthropogenic influences on the rural profiles are low and geogenic influences dominate. Risks to the environment were assessed in the soil profiles based on PTE concentrations in the CARB fraction and the sum of the CARB, ORG and FEMN fractions from BCR SEP. All calculated risks to human health and the environment were rated as no-risk, very low risk and low risk

PEDOLOGICAL, GEOLOGICAL AND GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LOCATIONS INCLUDED IN THE PROJECT OF GEOCHEMICHAL MAPPING OF AGRICULTURAL SOILS AND GRAZING LAND SOILS IN CROATIA

Pan-Europski projekt geokemijskog kartiranja poljoprivrednih tala i pašnjaka – GEMAS (GEochemical Mapping of Agricultural Soils and grazing land soils), pokrenut je 2007. godine uz sudjelovanje 35 europskih Geoloških službi, a pod vodstvom EuroGeoSurveys-Geochemistry Expert Group (EGS). U R. Hrvatskoj je u izvedbi projekta kao nositelj sudjelovao Hrvatski geološki institut - Hrvatska geološka služba (HGI-CGS), kao stalna članica EGS-a, te kao suradnik Zavod za pedologiju Agronomskog fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, uz financijsku potporu Ministarstva znanosti, obrazovanja i športa. Svrha ovog rada je prikazati pedološke, geološke i geokemijske značajke tla lokacija uključenih u GEMAS projekt. Metodologija terenskog rada definirana je usuglašenim uputama EuroGeoSurveys Geokemijske ekspertne grupe. Uzorkovanje je provedeno po unaprijed definiranoj pravilnoj kvadratnoj mreži 50x50km2 sa slobodom izbora lokacije uzorkovanja unutar kvadrata. Na teritoriju R. Hrvatske uzeto je 58 kompozitnih uzoraka od čega 29 na oraničnim površinama, a 29 na trajnim travnatim površinama. Dubina uzorkovanja za poljoprivredno tlo bila je 0-20 cm, a za travnate površine 0-10 cm. Radi utvrđivanja sistematske pripadnosti tala dodatno su uzimani uzorci iz pedoloških profila (8 lokacija) i iz sondažnih bušotina. Kemijske analize svih uzoraka s projekta napravljene su u ACME Analytical Laboratories, Vancouver (Kanada). Analizirana frakcija bila je <2 mm, a uzorci su pripremani u zlatotopci. Analitičke tehnike bile su ICP-AES i ICP-MS. Pedološka analiza uzoraka napravljena je prema standardnim metodama, odnosno odgovarajućim HRN ISO normama u laboratoriju Zavoda za pedologiju na Agronomskom fakultetu u Zagrebu, gdje su utvrđena osnovna fizikalna i kemijska svojstva tla. Podloga većine uzetih uzoraka izgrađena je od karbonatnih stijena jure, krede i paleogena, dok su tercijarne i kvartarne klastične naslage druge po zastupljenosti. Srednja koncentracija 10 potencijalno toksičnih elemenata (As, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb i Zn) veća je u tlima na travnatim površinama za razliku od poljoprivrednih tala. Poljoprivredna tla pokazuju veće koncentracije makroelemenata K, Ca, Mg i P. Na 8 reprezentativnih lokacija otvoreni su pedološki profili i analizom je utvrđeno da se na tim lokacijama javlja 6 tipova tla od kojih tri tipa pripadaju odjelu automorfnih, a tri odjelu hidromorfnih tala. Na preostalim lokacijama utvrđeno je 13 tipova tala, odnosno veći broj njihovih nižih jedinica. Od toga, 9 tipova tala pripada odjelu automorfnih tala, a četiri tipa tla odjelu hidromorfnih tala.Pan-European project of “Geochemical Mapping of Agricultural Soils and Grazing Lands“ (GEMAS) was launched in 2007., with the participation of 35 European Geological Surveys, and under the leadership of EuroGeoSurveys - Geochemistry Expert Group (EGS_GEG). The project in the Republic of Croatia was carried out by the Croatian Geological Survey (HGI-CGS) and the Department of Soil Science at the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Zagreb with the financial support from the Ministry of science, education and sports. The purpose of this study was to present the pedological, geological and geochemical characteristics of soils from the locations included in the GEMAS project. The methodology of field work is defined by the agreed guidelines of the EuroGeoSurveys Geochemistry expert group. Sampling was conducted at a pre-defined regular square network 50x50 km2, with freedom of choosing sampling locations within the square. On the territory of the Republic of Croatia, 58 composite samples were taken, 29 of which on arable land, and 29 on permanent grassland. The depth of sampling for agricultural soil was 0-20 cm, and for the grassland soil 0-10 cm. In order to determine the systematic affiliation of soils, further samples were taken from soil profiles (8 sites) and from auger holes. Chemical analysis of samples was done in the ACME Analytical Laboratories, Vancouver (Canada). Analysed fraction was <2 mm, and samples were prepared in aqua regia. Analytical techniques were ICP-AES and ICP-MS. Soil analysis of samples was made according to the standard methods and relevant HRN ISO standards in the laboratory of the Soil Science Department at the Faculty of Agriculture in Zagreb, where the basic physical and chemical soil properties were determined. The parent material for soil of most samples is built of carbonate rocks from Jurassic, Cretaceous and Paleogene, while the Tertiary and Quaternary clastic sediments are second in abundance. The mean concentration of 10 potentially toxic trace elements (As, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb and Zn) was higher in soils on grassland, as opposed to agricultural soils. Agricultural soils showed higher concentrations of major elements K, Ca, Mg and P. In 8 representative locations soil profiles were opened, and the analysis showed that 6 soil types occur at these locations, three of which belong to the automorphic soil division, and three to the hydromorphic soil division. At the remaining sites, 13 soil types were found, including many of their lower units. Nine of these soil types belong to the automorphic division, and four to the hydromorphic division

Evaluation of the potential value of the F1H and F2H Diatomaceous earth formulations as grain protectants against Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae): Poster

An insecticidal efficacy of two newly developed grain protectant formulations were assessed against lesser grain borer Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) on wheat and corn after 6 months period of. Tested formulations, marked as F1H and F2H, based on inert dust, laurel leaves, lavender essential oil, corn oil, silica gel (both F1H and F2H) and pyrethrin (only F2H) were tested at six doses (from 100 ppm to 600 ppm) depending on formulation and type of grain. The appropriate weights of each formulation, were added seperately to plastic containers containing 10 kg of wheat or corn. An initial population of 200 adults of R. dominica were added into each container and left under natural environmental conditions for up to 6 months. A commercial diatomaceous earth (DE) insecticide, Celatom® Mn 51, was used for the comparison of the results, in addition to the untreated control. After six months, both formulations showed higher insecticidal effect than DE Mn 51 in corn and in wheat. Furthermore, the initial population of R. dominica, introduced in wheat was suppressed almost completely, with only 0.7%-5.3% live adults found, depending on formulations and dose. The order of efficacy was F1H&gt;F2H&gt;DE Mn 51. Similar suppression of the initial population was recorded in corn, where F2H was slightly more effective than F1H with 2.0%-10.6% and 4.1%-9.5% live adults found, respectively. At the same time, in the treatments with DE Mn 51 there were 4.7%-74.7% and 33.4%-56.1% live adults in wheat and corn, respectively.An insecticidal efficacy of two newly developed grain protectant formulations were assessed against lesser grain borer Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) on wheat and corn after 6 months period of. Tested formulations, marked as F1H and F2H, based on inert dust, laurel leaves, lavender essential oil, corn oil, silica gel (both F1H and F2H) and pyrethrin (only F2H) were tested at six doses (from 100 ppm to 600 ppm) depending on formulation and type of grain. The appropriate weights of each formulation, were added seperately to plastic containers containing 10 kg of wheat or corn. An initial population of 200 adults of R. dominica were added into each container and left under natural environmental conditions for up to 6 months. A commercial diatomaceous earth (DE) insecticide, Celatom® Mn 51, was used for the comparison of the results, in addition to the untreated control. After six months, both formulations showed higher insecticidal effect than DE Mn 51 in corn and in wheat. Furthermore, the initial population of R. dominica, introduced in wheat was suppressed almost completely, with only 0.7%-5.3% live adults found, depending on formulations and dose. The order of efficacy was F1H&gt;F2H&gt;DE Mn 51. Similar suppression of the initial population was recorded in corn, where F2H was slightly more effective than F1H with 2.0%-10.6% and 4.1%-9.5% live adults found, respectively. At the same time, in the treatments with DE Mn 51 there were 4.7%-74.7% and 33.4%-56.1% live adults in wheat and corn, respectively

Characteristics and Classification of Three Urban Soils in the Sisak City, Croatia

Many soil classification systems (including Croatian Soil Classification - CSC) do not treat urban (technogenic) soils adequately. Moreover, in different parts the world, different names for similar urban soils are often used. All this hampers effective management of these increasingly important soils. The main aim was to classify three typical Sisak City soils according to CSC and international WRB system. Additional aim was to assess soil contamination by heavy metals. In two soil profiles pedogenetic A horizon was formed. Hence, according to CSC, we classified these soils as Rendzinas and not Technogenic soils. Given that CSC does not include a subtype of Rendzina on deposited land material, it was proposed. In one profile, topsoil organic matter accumulated mainly due to human activity, so it was classified according to CSC as a Deposol on land material. Since CSC offers no criteria for further systematization of Deposols, we proposed some. According to WRB, two soils were systemized as Technosols, but one was not. Namely, since one soil did not contain enough artefacts to qualify as a Technosol, it was classified as a complex (buried) soil (Regosol over Retisol). However, qualifier Relocatic could be used to indicate dominant human influence on this profile. Compared with CSC, WRB was more suitable for classifying these soils. Accordingly, CSC should be updated. According to the reference threshold for parks and recreational areas, heavy metals contents were below maximum allowed values in each soil. However, contents of some metals were over the threshold for agricultural soils

Croatian diatomites and their possible application as a natural insecticide

In recent decades, there has been an increase in the use of diatomaceous earth (DE) as a natural insecticide because of its low mammalian toxicity, worker safety, low risk of food residues and the occurrence of resistant insect populations associated with the use of chemical insecticides.Therefore there is potential for research into known but previously undescribed Croatian mid-Miocene marine diatomites from the perspective of their potential as proper DE that could be mixed with plant extracts as a new formulation for grain storage protection. The marine diatomites belong to the Paratethyan near shore environment, deposited in the upwelling zone during a mid-Miocene temperate climate. Palaeontological, mineral and geochemical analyses were done on ten promising marly sediments from 26 outcrops and one borehole from the North Croatian Basin. The most important ingredient of diatomaceous sediments is silica (biogenic opal-Aand SiO2 bound in other silicate minerals including quartz, clay minerals, micas, etc.). The amorphous silica content of the tested Croatian diatomites is relatively low (<50%) in comparison with the Celatom® MN 51 standard (medium to high efficient DE) (73.6%), nevertheless they show insome part even slightly better efficacy against insects. It seems that the enhanced content of smectite in diatomaceous sediments also influences increased absorption of DE. Based on palaeontological results, the most efficient diatomites from the Podsusedsko Dolje and Markuševec (Medvednica Mt.) consist of the mid-sized planktonic Coscinodiscus group of species whereThalassionema nitzschioides dominate and is positively correlated with their absorption. The usage of Boströms’ standard formula for getting opal-A from geochemical data was abandoned because of negative results and the modified Murdmaas’ formula for hemipelagic sediments was applied. Preliminary results on the aforementioned diatomite (as inert dusts) show good efficacy against tested insects Sitophilus oryzae (LINNAEUS), Tribolium castaneum (HERBST) and Rhyzopertha dominica (FABRICIUS).</p