Jul 2026· Journal of Oil and Gas Research Reviews· 0 citations
Abstract
This study reconstructs and compares two major mid-20th-century geological maps of the tectonically complex Zabadani
area (at a 1:50,000 scale) to assess their spatial and lithologic consistency. Modern GIS workflows allow for scanning,
georeferencing, digitizing, and harmonizing using a unique historical sheet legend by Louis Dubertret and Vladimir
Ponikarov. The results of the overlay analysis show that spatial differences accounting for about 20% of the study area
are located along the fuzzy boundaries between the Lower Cretaceous and Upper Jurassic sequences. While Dubertret’s
regional chronostratigraphic continuity, Ponikarov’s structural approach captures much more lithomechanical detail
and fault density. To address these inconsistencies, we applied zonal statistics on NASA’s EMIT Level 2B mineral-fraction
products (60 m resolution). Both maps show the regional carbonate platform. EMIT images show a diverse mineral
landscape at the subpixel scale, including halloysite, Clinochlore, hectorite, muscovite, and dickite. This hyperspectral
fingerprinting confirms Ponikarov’s more detailed stratigraphic subdivisions in a direct way. This integrated workflow
ultimately demonstrates that combining legacy cartography with advanced imaging spectroscopy effectively isolates
real ground-level mineralogical variations from cartographic artifacts, providing an empirical roadmap for future field
verification.
Geological mapping is essential for understanding the relationships among geomorphology, stratigraphy, lithology, and structural geology, which collectively control landscape evolution. This study aims to characterize the geomorphology, stratigraphy, structural geology, and geological evolution of the Rembang area and its surroundings in the North Serayu Zone, Central Java, Indonesia. The research employed an integrated qualitative and quantitative geological mapping approach combining field investigations, geomorphological analysis, stratigraphic interpretation, structural measurements, petrographic observations, Geographic Information System (GIS), and Digital Elevation Model (DEM-SRTM) analysis over a 16 km² study area. The results identified two principal geomorphological units, namely denudational hills (55%) and denudational plains (45%), characterized by dendritic to sub-dendritic drainage patterns controlled by lithological resistance and tectonic structures. Stratigraphically, the area consists of three major lithological units: Andesite Intrusion, Andesite Breccia, and Quaternary Alluvial Deposits, representing successive magmatic, volcanic, and surface depositional processes. Structural analysis revealed a dominant northwest-southeast tectonic trend expressed by joints and a dextral normal fault that significantly controls ridge alignment, valley orientation, and drainage development. Petrographic observations indicate porphyritic to aphanitic andesite composed predominantly of plagioclase, quartz, and biotite, confirming shallow intrusive magmatism. The reconstructed geological evolution suggests that the area experienced Pliocene magmatism, followed by Pleistocene volcanism, subsequent tectonic deformation, and ongoing Holocene denudation and fluvial sedimentation. These findings demonstrate that the present landscape represents the combined effects of lithological resistance, tectonic deformation, and prolonged denudational processes, providing valuable insights for regional geological interpretation, geohazard assessment, land-use planning, and geotourism development.
Agus Rochmat· International journal of res...· 0 citations
3D geological models provide digital representations of subsurface architecture and are increasingly applied in both academic research and industry. Their construction can follow implicit or explicit approaches, depending on data availability and final modelling applications. While 3D models based on subsurface data are traditionally employed in several fields of study, models derived from outcrop data are increasingly being developed. In this study, newly acquired geological mapping data from the Pasubio Massif (Southern Alps, northern Italy), covering an area of ~36 km² within the geographic extent of the CARG sheet 081 “Rovereto”, were used to develop and test an iterative explicit workflow for 3D geological modelling using Move software. The workflow is based on the construction of a structured grid of geological cross-sections, followed by the interpolation of stratigraphic horizons and fault surfaces through Ordinary Kriging. Field observations indicate that the lithostratigraphic units cropping out in the study area form a gently NW-dipping monoclinal structure, exhibit overall constant thicknesses and are affected by the Schio-Vicenza fault system. Model validation first involved a qualitative comparison between mapped geological boundaries and faults with those obtained from the intersection of the modelled surfaces with the topography (DEM), followed by thickness maps evaluation as an internal consistency check. Where inconsistencies emerged, cross-sections were refined and the model was iteratively updated until geological geometries and thickness trends became consistent with field-mapped evidence. A final quantitative assessment was then performed by analysing thickness deviations from mean unit thicknesses and by measuring the spatial overlap between mapped and model-interpolated geological boundaries and fault traces. Comparison between the preliminary and validated models, supported by thickness deviation statistics, indicates that most residual discrepancies are constrained within ±10–20% of expected thickness values. The results highlight the critical role of iterative validation in ensuring geologically robust 3D models, emphasising common sources of uncertainty in explicit geomodelling workflows. This study provides a methodological framework for producing reliable 3D geological models in data-poor regions, complementing the recently published ISPRA guidelines for the organisation and standardisation of model datasets and supporting future applications in academic research and regional or national geological surveys.
Niccolò Coccia, F. Carboni, M. Marini et al.· Italian Journal of Geoscienc...· 0 citations
Rock glaciers are critical indicators of periglacial environments and the spatial distribution of mountain permafrost. Given their complex deformation patterns and temporal variability, which may indicate progressive destabilization, a quantitative evaluation of their kinematic activity is critical from both climatological and geohazard perspectives. This study applies Persistent Scatterer Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PSInSAR) to Sentinel-1 radar imagery on both ascending and descending orbits, in order to detect and map moving areas (MA) within the Pirin Mountains (Bulgaria). The primary objective of this study is to update the existing rock glacier inventory (RoGI) by integrating high-resolution Line-of-Sight (LOS) velocity data in accordance with the latest international standards established by the Rock Glacier Inventories and Kinematics (RGIK) standing committee. A secondary objective is to investigate the spatial relationships between the identified moving areas (MAs) and other surrounding geomorphological features (e.g., talus slopes), hence providing a wider context for slope dynamics and landform evolution. The results identified MAs with PSInSAR-derived Line-of-Sight (LOS) velocities reaching up to 10 cm yr−1, which were subsequently classified according to RGIK kinematic categories. A substantial proportion of the detected moving areas occur outside mapped rock glacier boundaries and may reflect a range of geomorphological processes, including permafrost-related creep, talus creep, or other forms of slope deformation. The LOS velocity data were used to assess the activity status of 74 rock glacier units within the regional inventory, classifying 8 as transitional (velocity exceeding 1 cm yr−1) and 66 as relict. Furthermore, we analyse the spatial distribution of these moving areas in relation to primary topographic variables, such as elevation, aspect, and slope. The results highlight the influence of topographic control factors and rock glacier dynamics and provide new insights into the distribution of active periglacial landforms and terrain potentially affected by permafrost in the Balkan Peninsula under changing climatic conditions.
Flavius Sîrbu, V. Poncos, T. Strozzi et al.· Remote Sensing· 0 citations
This study presents a multidisciplinary investigation of the fluvial evolution of the northern meander of the Calore River at Cellarulo locality, near Benevento (southern Italy). The research integrates archaeological evidence, geological and geomorphological data, historical cartography, remote sensing imagery and geophysical surveys in a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment. Multi-temporal analysis of historical maps, aerial photographs and satellite images from 1824 to 2022 allowed the reconstruction of channel migration patterns and the identification of abandoned meanders and paleochannel traces. Stratigraphic data derived from boreholes revealed the presence of a channel of the Calore River dated at least in the Bronze Age (3900 years ago), abandoned in the nineteenth century. Geoelectrical investigations provided detailed information on subsurface resistivity anomalies, highlighting the presence of buried structures and possible ancient anthropogenic features located at shallow depths between 1 and 1.5 m. The combined interpretation of geomorphological, archaeological and geophysical data demonstrates significant data on the unveiling of an ancient river channel and its abandonment during the last 150 years, suggesting a strong interaction between natural fluvial dynamics and human occupation. The results confirm the effectiveness of an integrated multidisciplinary approach for reconstructing fluvial landscape evolution and for identifying buried archaeological and geomorphological features in complex floodplain environments.
Vincenzo Amato, M. Cozzolino, V. Gentile et al.· Remote Sensing· 0 citations
Fluvial terraces represent important geomorphological archives for reconstructing the effects of climatic fluctuations, tectonic activity, and base-level changes during Quaternary times. This study investigates the geomorphological and stratigraphic evolution of the Bradano, Basento, and Salandrella River systems within the Bradanic Foredeep of southern Italy, by means of field observations, geomorphological mapping, aerial-photo interpretation, and GIS analyses. Four relative morphostratigrafic orders of Pleistocene fluvial terraces (T1–T4) have been identified and correlated across the three drainage basins. No absolute ages are available for these surfaces. The terraced deposits consist of alternating sandy and conglomeratic bodies recording multiple episodes of incision and/or aggradation overlaying erosional surfaces developed on Pre-Quaternary bedrock. Morphometric analyses revealed significant differences in terrace elevation and relative height above the modern channels, among the three investigated basins. The Salandrella basin preserves some of the highest terraced remnants, a pattern compatible with a possible tectonic contribution related to its proximity to the Apennine mountain front. Conversely, the Basento and Bradano basins evidenced a greater influence of lithological conditions, sediment supply, and climate-controlled variations in fluvial dynamics. The results indicate that the evolution of the staircase fluvial terraces reflects the combined influence of glacio-eustatic sea-level fluctuations, Quaternary climatic oscillations, local geological controls, and a possible contribution from regional tectonic deformation. The regional correlation of terraced surfaces highlights the role of the external forcing in shaping landscape evolution, while local differences emphasize the importance of catchment-scale controls within the Bradanic Foredeep.
F. Olita, S. Giano, M. Bentivenga et al.· Water· 0 citations
Abstract. This study presents a high-resolution geomorphological analysis of river terraces along the urban corridor of the La Silla River (Monterrey Metropolitan Area, Mexico) using UAV-based LiDAR and photogrammetry, with a DJI Matrice 350 RTK equipped with a Zenmuse L2 sensor, generating dense point clouds, Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), and orthomosaics. These products allowed for the precise identification of three terrace levels (T1-T3), their geomorphometric attributes, and their lithological composition. The results reveal contrasting degrees of anthropogenic modification: while terrace 1 retains its natural morphology, terraces 2 and 3 show substantial alterations due to residential expansion, public infrastructure, and road construction, which alter the original geomorphological surfaces. Temporal satellite images also show the sensitivity of terrace geomorphology to extreme hydrometeorological phenomena, with cyclones such as Hanna (2020) and Alberto (2024) causing vegetation loss, surface restructuring, and local modification of terraces. Overall, UAV-LiDAR proved to be very effective for mapping terraces in restricted urban environments, providing essential details for monitoring, risk assessment, and sustainable management of urban rivers.
M. Pérez-Martínez, F. Yépez-Rincón, L. E. Arista Cázares et al.· ISPRS Annals of the Photogra...· 0 citations