In the 1987 palaeomagnetic study of the Kupferschiefer ore deposits in Poland by Jowett, Pearce, and Rydzewski, the reversed palaeomagnetic pole obtained for the ore-stage Rote Fäule oxide zone of 49.0°N, 157.2°E corresponded to a mid-Triassic age on the apparent polar wander path (APWP) calculated from contemporary databases. A late diagenetic origin for the Rote Fäule oxide zone, and thus the economic sulphides, was supported by geological evidence and by subsequent dating methods of palaeomagnetism, sulphides, and clays. In response to these results being challenged in a 2011 critical analysis, updated evidence from palaeomagnetic laboratories in Kiev and Utrecht/Milano showed that the 1987 Rote Fäule palaeopole lies directly on the newest APWPs. However, its actual age depends on applying ‘inclination shallowing corrections’ to the palaeopole and to the APWP. Although accurate shallowing corrections cannot be calculated retroactively, the corrected Rote Fäule palaeopole matches a Triassic age on corrected APWPs, just as the uncorrected pole does on the uncorrected 1987 APWP. The Rote Fäule palaeopole also closely matches palaeopoles from the Triassic Buntsandstein rocks in subsequent studies in Germany and Poland, supporting an ore genesis timing of Triassic or later.

The upper Badenian section of the Kudryntsi quarry (Ukrainian Carpathian Foreland Basin) consists of the Ternopil and Prut members of the Kosiv Formation. Its lower part was previously described by Gedl and Peryt (2011), and here we report a 5.3 m thick newly-exposed upper part of the section. Fifty-five species of benthic foraminifera and five species of planktonic foraminifera occur there. Benthic foraminifera are represented by both calcareous and agglutinated forms. Planktonic foraminifera occur in the whole of the succession studied. Five benthic foraminiferal assemblages are recognized: Assemblage VIII (Elphidium–Lobatula), Assemblage IX (Cibicidoides), Assemblage X (Uvigerina–Bulimina), Assemblage XI (Heterolepa) and Assemblage XII (Uvigerina–Bulimina–agglutinated). The foraminiferal record indicates deposition in a shallow subtidal environment of normal marine salinity and temperate waters followed by gradual deepening of the basin to >50 m. Analysis of foraminiferal assemblages indicates that bottom waters were highly oxygenated during deposition of the lower and middle parts of the interval studied. During deposition of the upper part of the sequence, the oxygenation of bottom water decreased, as indicated by a large decrease in the proportion of oxic species and an increase in dysoxic taxa.

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The Mosty site, located in an abandoned meander of the Bia3a Nida River (southern Poland) includes fluviogenic peat 1.54 m thick, with a record of palaeoclimatic changes since the Boreal phase (9258 cal BP). During exploitation of peat and sand, numerous subfossil tree trunks, mainly Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), were extracted from the deposits. Reconstruction of palaeoenvironmental changes on the basis of peat multiproxy analysis of lithology, plant tissues, pollen and non-pollen palynomorphs and geochemistry, together numerous radiocarbon dates and dendrochronological analysis of subfossil wood, indicates flood-derived clastic sediment input to the peatland at ~8.2 ka BP, at 6.8–5.3 ka BP, to lesser extent after 4.2 ka and ~2.8 ka BP, and since 1.522 ka BP. A sedimentary hiatus was probably related to the strong cooling and drying of the climate at ~4.2 ka, which caused a break in peat sedimentation. The oldest single pine tree trunks dated by 14C at 10,198–9757 and 9426–9128 cal yrs BP grew as pine forest on the Bia3a Nida floodplain before the beginning of accumulation of the Mosty peatland deposits. A younger, single subfossil tree trunk (2964–2632 cal BP) grew in bog pine woodland on the peatland (above the hiatus) and fell during climate deterioration at ~2.8 ka. On the basis of the wiggle matching method, two bog pine floating chronologies were developed for the periods 1360–1187 (modelled age cal BP) and 1158–976 (mod. cal BP). The pine dying-off phase coincided with a significant increase in climate humidity in the 5th and 6th centuries AD, which included several fluctuations. The pine floating chronologies indicate the occurrence of alternating germination and dying-off tree phases. The beginning of colonization of the peatland by bog pines occurred during climatic drying, whereas the tree dying-off phases (deforestation) in peatlands took place during the climate humidity growth.

We provide the first account of whole-rock geochemistry and U-Pb SHRIMP geochronology applied to the igneous rocks exposed in the Khasagt Mountains at the margin of the Zavkhan Terrane in Western Mongolia (Central Asian Orogenic Belt). The results show that the area experienced magmatic episodes in the Tonian Period of the Neoproterozoic: at 815–800 Ma recorded by the emplacement of granite, Q-monzonite and alkali gabbro, followed by a subsequent pulse of latibasalt lavas and subvolcanic dykes at 787–769 Ma. Subsequently, in the northern part of the Khasagt region, zircons from alkaline granites and volcanic rocks revealed an early Permian igneous episode at 276–268 Ma. Both late Tonian and early Permian events have been recorded in several terranes of the Mongolian Collage, facilitating more detailed correlation. Our study of the Khasagt Mountains highlights the significance of using multiple geochemical discriminators. These intrusive suites provide evidence of bimodal magmatism, with an alkaline signature (i.e. Nb/Yb >4), in both late Tonian and early Permian time, and also indicate other geochemical features such as high Th/U ratios in zircons, typical of an extension regime. These new investigations of the Khasagt igneous rocks have showed links to giant rift systems and global processes. The Tonian episode was related to an early stage of Rodinia rifting, and the Permian episode to the Central Asian intra-continental rift system.

This study explores lead (Pb) isotopic signatures in soils in the Old Copper Basin in SW Poland, an area influenced by centuries of copper mining and smelting. Previous observations showed that Pb distribution in these soils differs from distributions of other metallurgical contaminants such as Cu or Ni, suggesting additional sources of Pb. To address this, we conducted isotopic analyses of topsoil and subsoil samples, including EDTA-extractable fractions, as well as representative rocks and slags. Isotopic ratios (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁶Pb) were used to distinguish lithogenic, metallurgical, and atmospheric inputs. Subsoils displayed a wide isotopic range (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb = 1.183–1.234), commonly increasing with depth and consistent with local rocks and ore sources. Topsoils showed more uniform and less radiogenic values (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb = 1.172–1.193), forming a regionally consistent isotopic pattern that we define as the Lower Silesian Contemporary Pollution Signal (LSCPS). This signal is linked to long-range atmospheric deposition from industrial emissions. EDTA-leachable Pb in surface soils was isotopically less radiogenic than bulk ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb and similar to LSCPS Pb, indicating mobility of this anthropogenic fraction. Some topsoil profiles outside direct mining areas showed elevated Pb with isotopic ratios not related to local ores or slags, pointing to external atmospheric sources. These results emphasize the complex origin of Pb contamination in post-industrial landscapes and demonstrate the value of Pb isotope geochemistry in tracing overlapping pollution signals.

We investigate the fundamental conditions for the effective deployment of Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES), focusing on low-temperature applications (LT-ATES) in Poland, identifying opportunities and challenges associated with implementing this technology within national hydrogeological and institutional settings. This study builds upon the findings of the project “Preliminary assessment of thermal energy storage potential in aquifers in Poland” completed in 2024, which provided the first comprehensive evaluation of LT-ATES potential. Our analysis encompasses key technical and regulatory determinants of sustainable system operation, emphasizing the necessity of full groundwater re-injection and rigorous site selection to safeguard water quality and prevent interference with medicinal and thermal water resources. Operational performance may be enhanced through advanced control strategies and systematic well maintenance. A SWOT analysis is applied to assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats relevant to LT-ATES deployment in Poland. LT-ATES could play an important role in decarbonizing the national heating sector by supporting distributed systems, building clusters, and small district networks. The technology is increasingly recognized in strategic policy documents such as PEP2040 and the Geothermal Development Roadmap (2021). We conclude with policy recommendations to strengthen regulatory frameworks, increase awareness, and support nationwide implementation across Poland.