Projects / Programmes
Ground waters and geochemistry
January 1, 1999
- December 31, 2003
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 1.06.00 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Geology |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| P470 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Hydrogeology, geographical and geological engineering |
| P420 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Petrology, mineralogy, geochemistry |
| P305 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Environmental chemistry |
Researchers (20)
Organisations (1)
| no. |
Code |
Research organisation |
City |
Registration number |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
0215 |
Geological Survey of Slovenia |
Ljubljana |
5051410000 |
0 |
Abstract
The research program Ground waters and Geochemistry comprises various geologic disciplines (geochemistry, hydrogeology, mineralogy and petrology, sedimentology, regional and engineering geology) with the aim of better understanding geologic phenomena and their influence on Man in the environment. Special attention will be devoted to care for ground waters (drinking, thermal and mineral) quality and their available resources. Especially important is the synergetic effect of experts from various geologic disciplines cooperating in this common program.
The basic purpose of the program is to study and distinguish anthropogenic and natural influences on environment depending upon the geologic composition. Chemical and mineralogic composition, physical properties and structure of rocks and their weathering products influence various landscape properties: resistence to natural hazards, water supply, fertility of soils, vulnerability, seismic hazards, morphology, slopes stability and denudation resistance, and also toxicity, neutralization ability, and other properties.
The program is centered to (1) establishing the present state of chemical and physical properties of the geologic environment, (2) vulnerability and threats to environment owing to pollution from natural sources, and present and historical Man's activities, and (3) transfer of existing research methodologies and their further development in Slovenia by considering its peculiarities and geologic diversity. As to ground waters, special attention shall be paid to (a) mechanisms of groundwater flow in aquifers depending upon natural factors as aquifer hydrology and hydro geology, climate and vegetation, etc., (b) professional bases of groundwater use – in many instances groundwater exploitation is not balanced with hydro geologic potentials, (c) urban environment influence on quality and reserves of ground waters, (d) influences of waste (communal, special and radioactive) repositories, (e) hydro geologic basis of groundwater protection measures, and (f) methodology of groundwater investigations.
Research will be initially directed to environmentally more affected parts of Slovenia: active and abandoned mines, their processing plants and surroundings, urban and industrial areas, geomechanically unstable and flooding areas, waste dumps and surroundings (mine, communal, industrial), and elaboration of regional geochemical maps and maps of various affected environments.
Meaning of research program for science in broader (world) sense:
Program is concerned with studies of natural and anthropogenic processes on the Earth's surface. It will contribute to basic understanding of geologic environment and solve methodologic problems of applied research in environment protection and water supply. In spite of its small size, Slovenia is, owing to the extraordinary diversity of its geology, industrial development and dense population, unique for obtaining the mentioned scientific information that might be important also for many foreign countries. Especially intense is international cooperation in (1) geochemical mapping of Earth's surface (IUGS project »Global geochemical baselines«) by contributing to new principles of methodology for modern geochemical mapping on regional and detailed scales with the aim of establishing the present geochemical state, as well as to assess the pristine, precivilization state, and (2) research of tracing hydrology, dynamics of groundwater and geothermal aquifers. The members of the program team take part in the international project 8.SWT, and in team for modeling hydro geology of the Ljubljana area headed by the Danish hydraulic institute. Together with Austrian researchers the team studies hydro geology of Slovenian-Austrian border area.
Meaning of research program for Slovenia:
The program is a continuation of systematic theoretical studies of chemical and physical composition of Slovenia that are at the same time im...
Most important scientific results
Final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Final report
