Systematic overview of geological learning objectives and textbook contents for primary schools and gymnasiums

Teaching of geological contents in elementary school and gymnasiums has not yet been systematically addressed. Under the auspices of Slovenian Geological Society, members of the Task Group for the Popularization of Geology, have set themselves the goal of gaining insight into the teaching of geological contents in elementary schools and gymnasiums. Review also covered general matura examination as it represents the completion of secondary education. In order to provide an overview of the teaching of geological contents, we fist reviewed the subject curricula and the knowledge catalog for general matura subjects. We also reviewed valid textbooks and general matura exam questions. The extracted geological contents were classifid into six general geological content assemblages. All extracted geological content was evaluated according to Bloom's taxonomy, which, on the basis of structure, enables the recognition of the taxonomic complexity of learning objectives and knowledge tests. We also evaluated cross-curricular relationships. We have discovered that geological contents are taught in elementary school in obligatory subjects such as Society, Natural sciences and engineering, Natural sciences, Geography, Biology and in optional subject Environmental education. In gymnasiums geological contents are taught in the subjects Geography and Biology, where knowledge is also checked at general matura. Learning objectives and contents are mostly appropriately upgraded, but the content presented in textbooks is often insuffiient and professionally inadequate. There is also a lack of the important geological topics in the fild of formal education. For individual cross-curricular sections, we have made recommendations for promoters of science to contribute to a better understanding and the correct and professional content presentation in public. The presentation of geology in the textbooks is discrete, often professionally flwed, and the content is very limited. This research provies a starting point for starting the placement of updated and appropriate geological contents into formal education

Analysis of the geological control on the spatial distribution of potentially toxic concentrations of As and F- in groundwater on a Pan-European scale

The distribution of the high concentrations of arsenic (As) and fluoride (F-) in groundwater on a Pan-European scale could be explained by the geological European context (lithology and structural faults). To test this hypothesis, seventeen countries and eighteen geological survey organizations (GSOs) have participated in the dataset. The methodology has used the HydroGeoToxicity (HGT) and the Baseline Concentration (BLC) index. The results prove that most of the waters considered in this study are in good conditions for drinking water consumption, in terms of As and/or F- content. A low proportion of the analysed samples present HGT≥ 1 levels (4% and 7% for As and F-, respectively). The spatial distribution of the highest As and/or F- concentrations (via BLC values) has been analysed using GIS tools. The highest values are identified associated with fissured hard rock outcrops (crystalline rocks) or Cenozoic sedimentary zones, where basement fractures seems to have an obvious control on the distribution of maximum concentrations of these elements in groundwaters.This research was co-funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (GeoERA HOVER project) under grant agreement number 731166. D. Voutchkova, B. Hansen, and J. Schullehner were also supported by Innovation Fund Denmark (funding agreement number 8055- 00073B). N. Rman participation was supported by the Slovenian Research Agency, research program P1-0020 Groundwaters and Geochemistry. A. Felter, J. Cabalska and A. Mikołajczyk participation was supported by the Polish Ministry of Education and Science. E. Giménez-Forcada is grateful for the support received from the CIPROM/2021/032 Project. Valencian Government. University of Valencia (Spain)

How to use an educational sand-box model to enhance the knowledge groundwater dynamics

Forty-five adults, which do professionally not deal with geology or groundwaters, filled a voluntary questionnaire on groundwater dynamics in Slovenia. The survey pointed out that about a fifth to a quarter of them has a weak knowledge on this topic. Groundwater occurrence, production and pollution are quite well known, excluding a widely spread opinion on subsurface water veins and underground rivers and lakes (which are true only for karstic aquifers), but groundwater protection is much less known. It has turned out that the answers often base on the experience of the interviewee rather than on an understanding of a regional groundwater dynamics. Therefore, we believe that it is worth to start a systematic education on groundwaters not only for geologists but also for general public. The VO-KA company from Ljubljana has given an incentive for development of an educational sand-box model of the Ljubljansko polje aquifer, which will be used to spread knowledge on ground- and drinking water. The model of an inhomogeneous and anisotropic intergranular aquifer has predominately a two-dimensional water flow. It enables visualisation of natural features and anthropogenic on the quantity and quality state of the stored groundwater. It can be used to explain hydrogeological phenomena on various levels of knowledge, from simple visualisation to more complicated mathematical descriptions

Geologic characteristics of the educational trails at Ponikva

Tourist society for the care and improvement of a district Ponikva opened two tourist educational trails in2010: the Trail of Ponikva's Three Notable Inhabitants and the Karstic Water Educational Trail of Stanko Buser.The first describes mainly cultural-historical remarkableness of the area, but the spot at Šamec sand pit presentsalso Ponikva’s lithological composition with Govce layers, Lithotamnian and Šentjur limestone. The second trailpasses by the home of well-known geologist Prof. Dr. Stanko Buser, and explains connections between lithologicalcomposition, topography, karst features and inhabitant’s water supply. It points out dolines, dry valleys, sinkingstreams, karst springs and karst caves, and also presents so called {{tepih’, wells used to acquire drinking water

Geological workshop for primary schools

Systematical teaching of geology is (yet) not established in primary and secondary school in Slovenia. In primaryschool, geological topics are divided among numerous subjects and levels therefore they receive more attention onlyif alternative courses or geological circles are realized. With help of the Geological Survey of Slovenia we have beensuccessfully performing a geological workshop for primary school pupils aiming to popularize geology. With it pupilsare acquainted with methodologies for identification of rocks, minerals, fossils and properties of water

Mofettes in Slovenske gorice, Slovenia

Natural CO 2 springs and groundwater rich in free gas in Slovenia occur mainly in the Slovenske gorice hills. Within the frame of fildwork performed in 2014–2015 we investigated 11 springs: Ihovska slatina, Ivanjševska slatina, Lokavska slatina, Polička slatina, Radvenska slatina, Mofette Rihtarovci, mofettes Stavešinske Slepice, and Strmec, Ujterska slatina, Verjanska slatina and Žekš. The diameter of fie uncaptured springs can exceed 4 m, with depression depths of 2 m, but most are smaller. We elaborated bathymetric 3D models of these spring areas, marked degassing locations in a plan view, and evaluated the gas flx according to a subjective, visual fie-level scale. We also measured physicochemical parameters of the water. The observed phenomena were classifid among mofettes and mineral waters. Two are wet mofettes (Polička slatina and Slepice) and three dry mofettes (Rihtarovci, Strmec, mofette at Lokavska slatina). These constantly emit cold CO2, hold acid surface or meteoric water, and bare soil or changed vegetation may also be present. Mineral water consisting of more than 1 g/l of total dissolved solids surfaces at Ihovska, Ivanjševska and Radvenska slatina, and Žekš. It is rich in free CO 2, having a flx intensity of 2–4. Verjanska slatina and Ujterska slatina are neither mofettes nor mineral waters. The fist, like most others, may be a slatina, having more than 250 mg/l of free CO2 (CO2)g. We found no connection between the depth of the springs and the intensity of gas emissions

Chemical and isotopic composition of CO2-rich magnesium- sodium-bicarbonate-sulphate-type mineral waters from volcanoclastic aquifer in Rogaška Slatina, Slovenia

Bottled natural mineral waters from an andesitic aquifer in Slovenia are enriched in magnesium (1.1 g/l), sulphate (2.2 g/l) and dissolved inorganic carbon (204 g/l). We analysed major ions, trace elements, tritium activity, 14 C, d18 OH2O , d2 HH2O, d13 CDIC, gas composition and noble gases in six wells. In addition, 87 Sr/ /86 Sr, d34 SSO4 and d11 B were analysed here for the first time. Stable isotopes with d18 O = -11.97 to -10.30% and d2 H = -77.3 to -63.8 confirm meteoric origin. CO2 degassing is evident at three wells, causing the oxygen shift of about -1.3%. Tritium activity was detectable only in the shallowest well, where the freshwater component was dated to the 1960s. d13 CDIC in five waters is -1.78 to ? 1.33%, typical of carbonate dissolution. Radiocarbon is low, 1.03–5.16 pMC. Chemical correction with bicarbonate concentration and d13 C correction methods gave best mean residence times, slightly longer than previously published. Sulphate has d34 S 26.6–28.9% and d18 O 8.9–11.1% due to dissolution of evaporites in carbonate rocks. Boron at concentrations of 1.2–6.1 mg/l has two origins: d11 B = 11.3–16.4% from hydrothermal alteration and d11 B = 26.6–31.7% from carbonate dissolution. Strontium at concentrations of 0.5–22.0 mg/l has 87 Sr/ /86 Sr, indicating three sources: 0.7106 for Miocene clastic rocks, 0.7082 for Triassic carbonates and 0.7070 for Lower Oligocene andesitic rocks. CO 2 represents the majority of the dissolved ([ 98.84 vol%) and separated gas ([ 95.23 vol%). Methane is only found in two wells with a max. of 0.30 vol%. All waters show excess helium and 16–97% of mantlederived helium. Since all show subsurface degassing, the paleo-infiltration temperature could not be calculated

Geology of Planina pri Jezeru and its environs (Slovenia)

The article describes the results of detailed geological mapping of the wider environs of Planina pri Jezeru north of Bohinj. In the literature the Upper Triassic massive and bedded limestone, Jurassic limestone, Cretaceous clastic rocks and Pleistocene sediments have been reported in this area up to now. The article supplements existing lithostratigraphic information by defining exact locations of the Pleistocene sediments at Planina pri Jezeru and Planina v Lazu, and of Jurassic rocks. In Poljane a Neptunian dyke and bioclastic limestone, while north of Mizčna glava a flat-bedded microsparitic limestone were described for the first time.Correlation to the Triglav Lakes Valley Jurassic beds indicates equivalent facieses. Allochthon Cretaceous biocalcarenite and jasper situated east of Planina pri Jezeru are also described due to their importance for further glaciological studies. The results show that the recent lake Jezero na Planini pri Jezeru is formed due to the accumulation of Pleistocene glacial-lacustrine fine-grained sediment in till,deposited on the Dachstein limestone

Hydrogeochemical characterization of a warm spring system in a carbonate mountain range of the Eastern Julian Alps, Slovenia

The Alps represent an area where many deep groundwater circulations occur as thermal springs. In the Bled case study, the thermal water temperature, at it is discharged to the surface, is between 19–23 °C. In order to determine the extent (e.g., geometry) and the origin of the pronounced deep circulation system in the Bled area, chemical and isotopic measurements of waters from different hydrogeological systems were performed (e.g., surface water, thermal water, fresh groundwater). Hydrogeochemical methods were used to tie together the above-mentioned parameters. The results have shown that thermal outflow in Bled is determined by the presence of a deep-water circulation system, where the dissolution of carbonates minerals is the main hydrogeochemical process affecting chemical components of natural water flow. The correlation of the major ions suggests that the recharge area is represented by both limestone and dolomite rocks. Moreover, the results of δ$^{18}$O and δ$^2$H of all samples indicate that the recharge is mainly meteoric precipitation. The recharge altitude was estimated for two sampled fresh groundwater springs. The isotopic compositions of those two springs suggest the range from δ$^{18}$O = −8.68‰, δ$^2$H = −57.4‰ at an elevation of 629 m to δ$^{18}$O = −9.30‰, δ$^2$H = −60.1‰ at an elevation of 1216 m. The isotopic analysis has confirmed that the thermal water recharges from altitudes of 1282–1620 m a.s.l