The trace fossil Tubulichnium rectum, probably produced by a soft-bodied wormlike animal, normally consists of a single tube lined with organic-rich pellets, which were stored as a food resource during periods of scarcity (ethological category: sequestrichnia). On a large sandstone bedding surface in the Eocene flysch of western Greece, this trace fossil occurs in fan-shaped clusters oriented almost perpendicular to the direction of sand transport within the host bed. This unusual configuration, documented here for the first time, is attributed to specific palaeoenvironmental conditions in this part of the deep-sea fan depositional system, where the periodic supply of organic matter and the prevailing current direction remained stable over extended periods. The formation of these clusters reflects an adaptive response to changes in flow direction. The near-perpendicular alignment of the tubes to the current may have reduced ventilation, thereby delaying the oxygenation of the stored organic matter within the pellets.

Rock-generated radiogenic heat is one of the key parameters in assessing geothermal potential. To calculate it accurately, it is necessary to know the K, U and Th contents of the rocks in a given region. We have compared measurements of these element concentrations using results obtained by three analytical methods: γ-ray spectrometry, pXRF spectrometry and ICP-MS/AES. The measurements were made on the same samples. By employing statistical methods used in analytical and clinical chemistry, it was quantitatively demonstrated that pXRF tends to overestimate, and γ-ray spectrometry may underestimate (though to a lesser extent), the concentrations of U and Th by comparison with ICP-MS/AES. The scale of over- and underestimation is the especially large for samples with low contents of these elements. These discrepancies, especially in the case of pXRF measurements, lead to significant differences in the calculated radiogenic heat results, which can be many times higher (by up to two orders of magnitude) than those calculated on the basis of instrumental chemistry analyses. It can be concluded that both γ-ray spectrometry and pXRF spectrometry may be used for analyses to determine radiogenic heat. However, while the former method may be a primary research technique for this task (replacing instrumental chemical techniques), the latter should be used more as a screening technique, and may require calibration based on local standard samples obtained from the study area.

This study analyses the impact of precipitation on groundwater level fluctuations and the activity of six landslides in the Polish Flysch Carpathians, using monitoring data from the Landslide Protection System project, including inclinometer measurements, rainfall records, and groundwater levels in colluvial deposits. Geodetic surveys of reference points installed on the landslides were also used to assess their activity. Selected measurement intervals were examined to identify rainfall conditions triggering landslide movement. Cumulative displacement curves revealed nearly continuous movement, with velocities ranging from 0.3 to 3 mm/month. Displacement values causing inclinometer column shearing varied from 38 mm (Witanowice) to 232 mm (Ruszelczyce), depending on shear zone thickness and rock plasticity. Acceleration typically occurred during prolonged rainfall, especially when monthly totals exceeded 100 mm. However, defining a precise rainfall threshold and timing of acceleration was difficult due to complex geological conditions, irregular precipitation patterns, and limited measurement frequency. The findings highlight the sensitivity of landslide activity to hydrological changes and emphasize the need for frequent, integrated monitoring to better understand and predict slope instability in flysch terrains.

Piast Castle in Legnica (SW Poland) is one of the largest preserved Late Romanesque secular residences in Europe. Constructed and remodelled between the late 12th and 17th centuries, the Castle and its chapel incorporate numerous sandstone architectural details, the provenance and petrographic characteristics of which have been insufficiently documented. We identify the lithological types and probable sources of these sandstones, and investigate their variability in relation to distinct construction phases. A total of 26 samples of historic building stone from Piast Castle and its adjacent chapel, representing the late Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance phases, were compared with 24 reference samples of the Cretaceous Quader Sandstones from the North Sudetic Synclinorium. The petrographic analyses encompassed optical microscopy with subsequent grain size distribution and modal analysis, complemented by scanning electron microscopy analyses on reference material. The results of the study indicate that two sandstone types from the North Sudetic Synclinorium were used in the construction of this heritage site: the Coniacian Upper Quader Sandstone and the Turonian Middle Quader Sandstone. This petrographic variability correlates with construction phases: late Romanesque details were carved from both lithological types, whereas Gothic and Renaissance elements predominantly used Upper Quader Sandstone. The findings provide new insights into medieval and early modern material procurement strategies in the Lower Silesia historical area and deliver a petrographic framework for conservation and restoration strategies.

The European Union, according to the European Green Deal, aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. Following this ruling, Poland plans to move to a low-carbon economy, which means progressive closure of Polish hard coal mines. In order to minimize the negative effect of this process on Polish society, we propose a method that supports management of coal deposits by assessing the dynamic resource base, which considers the economic value and cost of coalfields and helps in choosing the most viable exploitation plan. The method uses data extracted from geological and mining structure models to estimate the margin of exploitation of coalfields in multiple variants. The method then adjusts the results by geological and mining conditions including the nuisance factor, and uses it to estimate a variable discount rate and the net present value of each variant. This way, the resource base aligns with the JORC Code, which considers resources as mineable only if this can be done safely and profitably. The method allows for adjusting plans along with changing market conditions. In order to implement this method it is necessary to align Polish mining law with international standards and to deploy advanced digital tools, which may only be achieved by close cooperation between the state, geological administration, mining supervisory institutions and mining companies.

Low-temperature aquifer thermal energy storage (LT-ATES) is a growing heat management method in western and northern Europe, which enables underground storage of thermal energy utilizing groundwater. The Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute, in collaboration with the Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the AGH University of Science and Technology, jointly undertook a comprehensive investigation into the hydrogeological potential for deploying LT-ATES technology in Poland. The two-year project titled "Preliminary assessment of thermal energy storage potential in aquifers in Poland", enabled the evaluation of major usable aquifers based on LT-ATES boundary conditions specific to Poland. A number of hydraulic parameters were carefully assessed, including as most critical: depth to the top of the aquifer; potential yield from a single well; and groundwater velocity. Finally, the total area identified as suitable for LT-ATES in Poland is ~141,000 km², representing around 45% of the country's territory. A classification of LT-ATES potential based on the estimated heating and cooling capacities indicated that ~19% of Poland is suitable for large-scale ATES systems and another 20% of the country has conditions that may offer high capacities but their hydraulic regime is comparatively less favourable.

This study was prompted by the need to examine how well AI tools and large language models (LLMs) handle geological issues, particularly lithological issues, in languages other than English. The study aimed to evaluate the quality of responses in Polish generated by free versions of AI tools accessible to non-geologists with limited technological expertise. The survey, which was conducted between February and May 2025, involved people with a background in geology and students of geosciences, whose task was to evaluate each of the responses received. The lithology questions were the same for all respondents. The study involved using ChatGPT, Claude, DeepSeek AI, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Perplexity AI, and Qwen2.5. Respondents were most likely to use ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot and Perplexity. The assessment covered the factual accuracy of the responses, the reliability of the sources referenced, and the comprehensibility of the responses received. The study revealed that not all AI tools can process the Polish language effectively, and a lack of relevant publications in Polish hinders the improvement of response quality. It was shown that more complete and complex queries that delve deeper into substantive knowledge enable higher quality and more satisfactory results. These results indicate the need to adapt algorithms to regional scientific terminology specifics, which could enhance the quality, reliability and usefulness of the content.

The Jelenia Góra thermal system is related to deep groundwater flow along numerous fractures and faults, into the granite Karkonosze massif in the Sudetes. The Upper Carboniferous granite of the Karkonosze is an aquifer with main identified dislocations with NW-SE, NE–SW and NNE-SSW trends. Thermal waters occur in three explored deposits of Cieplice, Karpniki and Staniszów. In Cieplice, thermal waters flow out of 6 springs and 2 wells: C-1 and C-2. In Karpniki, waters are captured from KT-1 well, and in Staniszów –ST-1 well. The thermal waters are low-TDS waters of the Na-SO4-HCO3 or the Na-HCO3- SO4 type. They are deep circulation waters, whose flow time is over 10 thousand years, and their recharge area lies at a considerable distance from drainage zones. In contrast to more shallowly circulating cold waters, thermal waters are characterized by higher concentrations of the fluoride ion and metasilicic acid. An analysis of changes in the hydrodynamic parameters was conducted for exploited flowing wells C-1, KT-1 and the Basenowe Męskie spring. Correlations between the studied hydrodynamic parameters in the Cieplice and Karpniki intakes have a very similar character. What is characteristic is a strong, almost immediate and simultaneous response to extreme changes in exploitation conditions caused by deep drilling, hydrogeological surveying or by a change in water abstraction volume.