Hydrothermal Landscapes of Sicily: A Study of Their Mythological and Archaeological Dimensions

While ecclesiastic and state authorities in Europe largely abolished medieval cults of saints because of their “heterodoxy,” late-imperial and modern Chinese Catholic communities in Shanxi still promulgate local cults dedicated to women and men who are believed to have performed posthumous miracles or who represent heroic virtue. Although constrained beneath the scrutiny of imperial, ecclesial, and modern political ideas of “orthodoxy” and “heterodoxy,” two Shanxi Catholic villages, Dongergou and Liangquandao (Liuhecun), have managed to preserve and promote Sister Maria Assunta Pallotta and Father Wang Shiwei as contemporary versions of traditional local cults. One of the manifest characteristics of these two Chinese Catholic local cults is how they have been transformed by traditional Daoist cults and have successfully survived in a liminal space between “orthodox” and “heterodox.” Relying on archival materials from the former Taiyuan Catholic Diocese Archive, records held in Roman archives, and oral testimonies, intricate patterns of accommodation and resistance to political and church authorities can be discerned as means for these remote Catholic villages to construct identity and cultivate social cohesion.

This appendix of the book A Local History of Greek Polytheism: Gods, People, and the Land of Aigina, 800-400 BCE presents a quick chronological overview of the main evidence for the Aiginetan cult practice, highlighting the 5th century BCE. The book presents a synchronic analysis of the Aiginetan system of cults. It traces the historical development of Aiginetan religious structures. The book deploys a contextual perspective and reviews regional and panhellenic religious interactions. It provides a resource on the Aiginetan deities, local cults, and the religious practices of Aiginetans in the Archaic and Classical periods.Keywords: Aiginetan cult practice; Aiginetan deities; Aiginetan religious structures; Archaic period; Classical period; Greek polytheism; panhellenic religious interactions

Analysis of diverse geologic, geophysical, and geochemical data shows that six of eight extensive lineament systems delineated in Landsat images of Nevada are morphologic and tonal expressions of three broad structural zones. The lineament systems defined in this report are the Walker Lane, Rye Patch, Midas, Pancake Range, Warm Springs, Timpahute, Pahranagat, and Northern Nevada Rift. The three structural zones are the Walker Lane structural zone, the Humboldt structural zone, and the Southern Nevada structural zone. The northwest-trending Walker Lane structural zone, which includes the Walker Lane lineament system, is 150 to 200 km wide and is marked by northwest-oriented faults, a broad belt of high-frequency aeromagnetic anomalies, and concentrations of volcanic rocks 34 to 6 m.y. old. The northwest-trending Rye Patch lineament system may mark the northeast boundary of this structural zone, and is characterized by stratigraphic discontinuities, alignment of aeromagnetic anomalies, and contrasting aeromagnetic anomaly patterns on opposing sides. Northern Nevada is dominated by the northeast-trending, 150 to 200-km wide Humboldt structural zone which is marked by the Midas lineament system, northeast-oriented faults, broad gravity anomalies, and the Battle Mountain heat-flow high; this zone appears to extend into central Montana. The Humboldt structural zone is transected by the Northern Nevada Rift lineament system, which is partly defined by a relatively narrow belt of north-northwest-trending basaltic dikes that produce a series of pronounced aeromagnetic highs. The east-trending, 150 to 175-km wide Southern Nevada structural zone includes the Pancake Range, Warm Springs, and Timpahute lineament systems; this zone is marked by disruption and termination of ranges, stratigraphic discontinuities, east- to east-northeast-trending faults, and an easterly grain in the aeromagnetic and gravity patterns. The other lineament system in southern Nevada, the northeast-trending Pahranagat, may lie within a poorly defined southward extension of a broad structural zone defined in Utah by a belt of volcanic rocks 34 to 0 m.y. old, stratigraphic discontinuities, coincidence with three extensive gravity lineaments, and a belt of aeromagnetic anomalies. This paper proposes that the lineament systems, except for the Northern Nevada Rift lineament system, are conjugate shears formed during and after middle Miocene extension of the Great Basin; these lineament systems probably reflect only the most recent movement along broad crustal zones, which may be of pre-Miocene age. The three documented structural zones and possibly one including the Pahranagat lineament system may reflect transition zones between the central Great Basin, where 30% extension has been documented, and the adjacent regions that responded differently to spreading since middle Miocene time. The Humboldt structural zone appears to be especially important for geothermal and mineral exploration in Nevada because of the presence of the Battle Mountain heat-flow high and a high concentration of metal districts within this zone in Nevada.

Geothermal springs are natural geological phenomena that occur throughout the world, and South Africa (SA) is endowed with several springs of this nature. Most of the geothermal springs in SA (31%) are found in Limpopo Province. Assessment of geochemistry of Siloam and Tshipise geothermal springs were undertaken during 2014 winter (May – July) and summer (October – December) seasons. Water samples were collected from the springs and stored at low temperatures (+/- 4°C) for analysis of hydrochemical parameters and acidification was carried out before trace metals analyses. The results show that Siloam and Tshipise geothermal springs water are not suitable for drinking due to high pH, high fluoride concentrations and some metals such as Hg, Ni and Pb. Various index methods such as Sodium Percentage (SP), Sodium Absorption Ration (SAR), Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC), Permeability Index (PI), Kelly’s index (KR) and Electrical Conductivity (EC) were used to evaluate groundwater quality for irrigation and most of the index has a similar result. Hence, the spring water is suitable for irrigation purposes. The water type is Na-Cl in both seasons for both site except for Siloam in winter having Na-HCO3. There were slight variations in the hydrochemical compositions of geothermal spring water, although they were not significant (p>0.05). However, there were significant differences in mean trace elements concentrations in geothermal spring water in summer compared to winter season (p<0.1) for both Siloam and Tshipise springs. This can be attributed to the rainfall in summer which aids in more dissociation of rock particles and the release of more trace elements. Variations in mean trace elements concentrations could also be linked to the differences in fundamental changes in water chemistry from deep sources of the geothermal springs. It has thus been established and/or inferred that the dominant processes controlling the geothermal water are geothermal gradient, silicate weathering, mineral dissolution, cation exchange and inverse cation exchange.

Geothermal springs are natural geological phenomena that occur throughout the world. South Africa is blessed with several springs of this nature. Limpopo province contains 31% of all geothermal springs in the country. The springs are classified according to the residing mountain: Soutpansberg, Waterberg and Drakensberg. This study focused on the geothermal springs within the Soutpansberg region; that is, Mphephu, Siloam, Sagole and Tshipise. The study was aimed at assessing the occurrence and potential health risk associated with drinking water from geothermal springs within Soutpansberg. Geothermal springs and boreholes were sampled for a period of 12 months (May 2017–May 2018) to accommodate two major seasons in the study areas. The physicochemical and trace metal compositions of the geothermal springs and boreholes (tepid and hot) were analyzed using ion chromatography (IC) (Dionex Model DX 500) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). Trace metal concentrations of the geothermal springs and boreholes were within permissible drinking water guidelines by the South African National Standards (SANS) and World Health Organisation (WHO), with exception of mercury (Hg), which is high in summer season. The bioaccumulation from regular consumption could, however, result in negative effects. Pearson’s correlation revealed that there is a direct relationship between temperature and pH, and some of the trace metals (V, Zn, Hg, Pb). This implies dissolution of minerals (rock-water interaction) under slightly high temperature. Multivariate statistics further elucidate the relationship and possible sources of the trace metals. Therefore, it can be inferred that the rock-water interaction is the main geochemical process governing the release of trace metals in groundwater. Hazard Index values for both children and adults were higher than 1, and this implies that the communities are at high risk of non-cancer health effects. Further, As, Cr and Cd were found to be the highest contributors to the potential cancer risk in the study areas, with children having a higher risk than adults. Therefore, there is a need for clinical/epidemiological study, and regular monitoring and control measures, to verify actual prevalence of cancer and protect human health, particularly the children, within the study areas.

Sabalan Mountain (northwest Iran) witnessed intense volcanic activity during the Cenozoic (Plio-Pleistocene). The result of this manifests itself in the conical geometry of the Sabalan stratovolcano and ahigh hydrothermal gradient around it, which can be detected by geological phenomena such as hot springs, smoke gases and steam outlet pores. The high hydrothermal slope and upward migration of hot water in this area have caused extensive alteration zones in the host rocks. A mineralogical study of alteration zones in thewells drilled in the Moyil Valley to the northwest of Sabalan Mountain has revealed the presence of phyllic, argillic, calcitic and propylitic alterations in volcanic rocks (trachyandesite) and alteration phyllic and propylitic ones in monzonite rocks. In chondrite-normalised rare-earth-element diagrams, trachyandesite rocks exhibit an HREEs enrichment when compared to MREEs and LREEs in propylitic and calcitic alteration zones. This result can be explained by the acidic nature of hydrothermal fluids containing complex ions such as (SO-2, Cl-). The (La/Yb)cn, (La/Sm)cn and (Tb/Yb)cn ratios for argillic, phyllic, propylitic and calcitic alteration zones have revealed that they are higher in fresh rocks compared to altered rocks, suggesting the enrichment of HREEs in comparison to LREEs and MREEs. The anomalies of Eu do not change remarkably in the argillic and propylitic alteration zones of trachyandesite rocks; apparently, alteration hadno effect on them. Such behaviour reflects the presence of gold cations in Eu+3 formed at temperatures below 250°C. Eu anomalies increased in propylitic alteration zones in monzonite rocks and calciticand phyllic alteration zones in trachyandesiterocks.

Hydrogen sulfide and cardiovascular disease: Doubts, clues, and interpretation difficulties from studies in geothermal areas

Evaluation and Geopark Perspective of the Geoheritage Resources in Chiang Mai Area, Northern Thailand

Geological phenomena have a strong visual presence in the landscape of the Chilean Andes. Volcanoes, thermal springs, earthquakes and geysers arise from an active geology. From the start of the 20th century, engineers and geologists have imagined transforming the heat of groundwater reservoirs into electricity. However, its use as electric power at a national scale remains an unfinished promise. Inspired by the anthropology of energy and infrastructures, Martín Fonck delves into the promises of geothermal energy and their abandonment in the Chilean Andes.

Community identity is understood as a multilevel systemic construct formed as a result of a person's awareness of belonging to a certain community and subjective attitude to this belonging based on a strong emotional connection and inclusion in one's inner world and perception of the norms and values of the community as one's own, which is manifested in the behavioural practices of representatives of certain communities (a citizen of the state, a resident of a certain territorial community, a representative of a certain property, or linguistic and cultural community, etc.). A community is defined on the basis of the common interests of its members, common actions, place, territory, common practices, and circumstances. The key feature of defining a community and distinguishing it from a social group is the subjective importance of belonging to it for the community members. In the context of emergency situations and social transformations, such as the Russian-Ukrainian war, there is a reconstruction, a special way and unique configurations of interaction between community identities, including territorial ones: local, regional, national, global; linguistic, cultural, ethnic, civic, religious, etc. Interaction between these identities occurs in such a way that some become more dominant, manifested, actualised, and they, in turn, can suppress others, enter into competitive interaction with them, or, conversely, highlight, emphasise others, or at least coexist harmoniously. A shared identity can be spontaneously actualised or de-actualised during emergencies. However, it is often based on pre-existing identities and values in society. In times of war, there is a tendency for society to consolidate around a common, clearly defined enemy, a common problem, a common misfortune, a common future, a leader, a territory, etc., through the actualisation of certain community identities. Therewith, this creates threats of internal confrontation, which makes Ukrainian society, to a certain extent, vulnerable and susceptible to the actions of hostile propaganda. The formulated provisions can serve as a basis for developing practical recommendations for local and state authorities, which will help to strengthen the consolidation of society and overcome the consequences of polarisation and socio-political confrontation. This will ultimately have a positive impact on the national security of the country

In recent years,from cultural and ecological construction to urban identity and branding in the context of recreation industry has become an important research topic. The systematic literature review method is adopted to review 656 journal articles originated from China Knowledge Network (CNKI). The research review is conducted in terms of overall research characteristics, highly cited literature, theoretical foundations, existing problems, and research methods. The results of the literature analysis are systematically elaborated from the foundation of the recreation and culture tourism industry and related theories, domestic culture and ecology to the culture and ecology of Dongtang Town, historical and cultural analysis of the recreation and culture tourism brand, the current situation and problems of construction, and the analysis of the construction of hot springs recreation and culture industry. The study found that the development mode of "recreation" will continue to develop rapidly, and the development of recreation tourism will intensify. The development of Liaoning Dongtang Hot Spring Town needs to make full use of its original hot spring resources, perfectly integrate with the recreation industry, and shape a hot spring recreation brand with a sense of identity and belonging.

The objectives of this research were: to study the linkage of tourism routes using community identity and logistics management systems to support being a tourist attraction in Chawang District; 2. to know the guidelines for developing sustainable tourism programs; 3. to know the guidelines for developing sustainable tourism, and 4. to develop an information system for reserving tourism programs and distributing community products to online marketing. This research was mixed method research using a questionnaire on tourists traveling in Chawang District, a total of 400 people, and a semi-structured interview form from people in the government and private sectors, people in the community, and entrepreneurs in the area. Descriptive data analysis was performed with the statistical distribution of frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and the Pearson correlation coefficient The research results showed that 1. Chawang District has natural beauty and is popular with tourists such as Khao Soon, waterfalls, and hot springs. Importantly, the people of Chawang District have a lot of faith in Phor Than Klai who has a silver tongue. At the same time, a variety of community products show the community identity of the Chawang people. There is either processing of agricultural products or learning from local wisdom to obtain community products or interesting local food. Another recommendation is the charm of the community that impresses tourists and the general public contains the faith and traditions of Chawang District. The results of the study of the level of demand of tourists who provide tourism logistics services in the Chawang district revealed that tourists have the highest demand in terms of financial flow with a need to pay for goods/services via credit/debit card or pay for goods/services via QR Code with a mobile application, followed by information flow: tourists have demands to have a map, a pamphlet for traveling and want to know travel information to various tourist attractions, and physical flow: tourists want safety in the accommodation and the community, respectively. 2. Sustainable Tourism Program in Chawang District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province found that the program with the highest value was Program 1 (One day trip) Religious Tour, and Program 2 (One day trip) Agricultural and Natural Tour. 3. Tourists who have an opinion on the potential of the tourist attraction in 6 aspects: physical characteristics, quality and environmental protection, economic and social aspects, arts and culture, nature, and agriculture and management showed that the overall was at a high level. 4. Designing a reservation system for tourism programs and distributing community products to online marketing in Chawang District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, have outstanding features for designing a database and linking relevant information, showing the coordinates of tourist attractions, and tourist routes by using information management cycle theory and improving the quality of service on the website to support tourism.

In this chapter, we argue that through relational research experiences with colleagues and participants, researchers are in a shared process of curriculum making and identity-making. Through reflections on a key shared experience, we demonstrate that in the liminal space of our work together, we have begun to shape our community identity-making to tell a story of ourselves as researchers within that community. In our work together, we have come to understand the ways that research contexts shape the ways we engage in research and the identities we compose as researchers. We suggest that as researchers, we meet in borderlands to engage in relational inquiry with participants and our colleagues. Similarly to Anzaldua, we understand the borderlands as liminal spaces between our respective worlds of research where we come together to compose new stories about ourselves as researchers and the research in which we engage. We attend to the places of tension as they emerge as opportunities to understand more deeply ourselves as researchers and as co-participants in a relational research experience. In doing so, we attend also to our shared responsibilities to each other in an ongoing research relationship. In the borderlands, we meet to tell a new story about who we are and who we are becoming in all our complexity. In this examination of the research community, we have grown into together, we define parameters and processes that resonate with our individual identities as researchers as well as our communal identities within a supportive research community.

Background: This study explores the eschatological dimensions embedded in the veneration of Maharsi Markandeya at Pura Pucak Payogan Bali, particularly through the interpretation of his samādhi (spiritual absorption) as a culmination of sacred life and transcendence. The aim is to analyze how the notion of moksha (liberation) is ritualized, spatialized, and narrated through cultic practices and collective memory within Balinese Hindu communities. Previous studies on Balinese religiosity have primarily focused on ritual systems, ancestral worship, and temple networks, but little attention has been paid to eschatological interpretations of samādhi shrines as sites of spiritual transcendence. Methods: This article adopts a qualitative approach using ethnographic fieldwork, textual interpretation of Hindu philosophical sources (particularly Vedānta and Yoga Sūtra), and spatial-symbolic analysis of the temple architecture and rituals associated with Pura Pucak Payogan. Findings: The findings reveal that Maharsi Markandeya’s samādhi is perceived not merely as a memorial site but as an eschatological axis where the duality between life and death dissolves. This perception is enacted through pilgrimage practices, offerings, and narratives that position the site as a symbolic gateway to liberation. The integration of eschatological doctrine into living religious practices reflects a dynamic fusion of textual philosophy and local ontology. Conclusions: The study concludes that Pura Pucak Payogan functions as a liminal sacred space encoding the ideal of divine union, and that the cult of Maharsi Markandeya offers a living model of eschatological embodiment in the Hindu-Balinese tradition. Novelty/Originality of this article: The novelty of this study lies in its interdisciplinary interpretation of samādhi as an eschatological site and in highlighting the fusion of theological vision with ritual practice in contemporary Balinese spirituality.

This article on the history of neighbourhoods ( para) of colonial Calcutta considers the processes through which this peculiar spatial unit emerged in the colonial city, where community identities were fostered as well as contested. Seen as a place, a secured, stable location which helped in forming the community in an alien atmosphere, the para was a liminal space, neither a purely affective unit nor an administrative category, and neither a purely public or private domain. Borrowing liberally from each register to generate a unique spatial experience, paras were at the same time deeply exclusionary and also starkly patriarchal zones. The article brings forth these various strands in the history of the neighbourhood to enrich the understanding of colonial urbanism, Bengali society and culture.