Local Earth Research Articles

Preliminary Investigation on Local Solid Earth Tides Variations in Sumatra Island Using Ina-CORS GNSS Network

Abstract Solid earth tides refer to the periodic motion of the Earth’s crust caused by the gravitational forces of the Sun and Moon. In precise geodetic measurements, solid earth tides are a critical source of error that must be mitigated to achieve high accuracy. This study aims to observe variations in local solid earth tides during two significant time periods: when the Earth is at its closest point to the Sun (Perihelion) and at its farthest point (Aphelion). We used multi-day Kinematic Precise Point Positioning (KPPP) to process kinematic data, effectively eliminating discontinuities at day boundaries. Additionally, harmonic analysis with the least squares method was applied to extract tidal generation coefficients in three directions of motion. These coefficients were then compared with theoretical models of solid earth tides, focusing primarily on the largest tidal generation coefficients for amplitude and phase values to identify local variations. Our findings reveal that the lunar semidiurnal coefficient (M2) is the primary tide generator, exhibiting the highest energy percentage. Furthermore, during the Aphelion and Perihelion periods, our results showed no significant differences in tidal ranges at a 95 percent confidence level, indicating that the Sun’s influence on these tidal variations is minimal. Additionally, we compared the differences between observed M2 coefficients, and the theoretical model provided by the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) and found discrepancies that led to large tidal residuals, suggesting that local factors, such as geological features, are not fully captured by global models. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into understanding local solid earth tides on Sumatra Island.

Insecticidal efficacy of local diatomaceous earth compositions with different particle sizes against stored grain pests

In this study, the efficacy of a mixture of local diatomaceous earth (DE) with different diatomite compositions and particle sizes against stored-grain pests, Sitophilus oryzae L., 1763 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Tribolium confusum du Val, 1863 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), and Rhyzopertha dominica (F., 1792) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) adults was investigated in 2023 in the Entomology Laboratory of the Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, KSU. In biological tests, 500 and 1000 ppm concentrations (mg DE/kg wheat) of different particle sizes (≤ 20, 20-75, 75-150, and ≥ 150 µm) of DE mixture and original DE (≤ 250 µm) were applied to wheat. The highest mortality rate for all insect species tested at 500 ppm was obtained from DE treatments of ≤20 µm. At 1000 ppm, 100% mortality was observed for T. confusum and S. oryzae in almost all particle size DE-treatments, whereas no local DE treatments resulted in 100% mortality for R. dominica adults. Moreover, the greatest reduction in the number of F1 generation adults for S. oryzae and R. dominica was obtained in the DE treatment of ≤20 µm at 500 and 1000 ppm. In conclusion, local DE mixture treatments with ≤ 20 µm particle size were found to be highly effective in the control of stored-grain pests.

GINGER data analysis for seismology

Since several years, the ring laser gyroscope GINGERINO is operative inside the underground Gran Sasso laboratory. It monitors on a continuous basis the local Earth angular velocity in the horizontal plane. It provides unique information for geophysics in general, being one of the few top sensitivity angular velocity sensors. The present paper describes the analysis procedure developed for the data uploaded on the EIDA data base, suitable for seismological investigation in the frequency window 100 s up to 100 Hz. Typical errors and data quality will be discussed. This work is part of the data analysis tools under development for the GINGER project, a ring laser array, part of the UGSS (Underground Gran Sasso Seismology) multi components array at present in construction inside the Gran Sasso laboratory.

Towards Sustainable Material: Optimizing Geopolymer Mortar Formulations for 3D Printing: A Life Cycle Assessment Approach

Geopolymer-based concretes have been elaborated among others for their potential to lower the environmental impact of the construction sector. The rheology and workability of fresh geopolymers make them suitable for new applications such as 3D printing. In this paper, we aim to develop a potassium silicate- and metakaolin-based geopolymer mortar with sand and local earth additions suited for 3D printing and an environmental assessment framework for this material. The methodology aims at the optimization of both the granular skeleton and the geopolymer matrix for the development of a low-environmental-impact material suited for 3D printing. Using this approach, various metakaolin/earth geopolymer mortars are explored from a mechanical and environmental point of view. The environmental assessment of the lab-scale process shows an improvement for the climate change category but a degradation of other indicators, compared to Portland-cement-based concrete. Several promising options exist to further optimize the process and decrease its environmental impacts. This constitutes the main research perspective of this work.

A time-domain SGFD-FK hybrid method for 2D teleseismic elastic wave modeling and inversion

AbstractFull waveform inversion (FWI) has proved to be a reliable tool for high-resolution imaging of lithospheric structures at various depths down to the upper mantle. However, when the size of the model is large, the computational burden is significative and applications are restricted to low frequencies. To tackle this issue, we developed a new 2D time-domain hybrid method to simulate high-frequency teleseismic body waves propagating through a local heterogeneous elastic Earth model: The frequency-wavenumber (FK) integration method is coupled with the staggered grid finite difference method (SGFD). The FK method is used to compute the wavefield due to obliquely incident plane P and SV waves in a 1D multilayered half space that excites a local heterogeneous region. Inside this region, the velocity-stress staggered grid FD method (SGFD) is used to accurately deal with wave propagation in heterogeneous media. Spurious waves that might be generated at the boundaries of the local region are avoided using convolutional perfectly matched layers (CPML). This new hybrid method inherits the low-memory requirements of the FK method and the accuracy, efficiency and easy implementation of the SGFD. The new hybrid method is benchmarked against the analytical FK method for some canonical models and shows good agreement with analytical solutions. Subsequently, our modeling tool is incorporated into a full waveform inversion algorithm adapted for teleseismic configurations to invert the incident P wave and its coda. The inversion is carried out using a gradient approach that is efficiently implemented via the adjoint-state method. The results suggest that our hybrid method and FWI algorithm represent a valuable tool for 2D forward and inverse regional applications using teleseismic data sets.

Utilisation of local raw materials and mine waste to manufacture cement in the Northwest Territories, Canada

Currently, all the cement consumed in the Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada, is imported from other provinces (e.g. Alberta) by long-distance (∼1800 km) freight truck. Transporting cement over long distances not only raises its cost, but also results in a higher carbon footprint. Producing cement locally is therefore a potential low carbon and economic solution for the local industry. However, it is unknown if the local raw materials are suitable for cement manufacture, and there is a lack of a critical raw material – iron ore – for cement manufacturing. However, instead of iron ore, there are iron-rich tailings from a local rare earth element (REE) mine. Towards a low carbon and circular economy, the use of local raw materials (i.e. limestone, clay and gypsum) and mine waste (REE tailings) to manufacture cement in the NWT was explored and the first bag of cement in the history of the NWT was produced. Concrete samples made with the NWT cement achieved strength comparable to that of concrete based on commercial ordinary Portland cement. In addition, it was estimated that locally producing cement in the NWT has the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 3.0–61.7% as compared with importing cement from other provinces.

Toxic, Repellent, and Oviposition-Inhibiting Effects of Almina Diatomaceous Earth on Tetranychus urticae Koch, 1836 (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Tetranychus urticae Koch, 1836 (Acari: Tetranychidae) is one of the most important pests of agricultural fields worldwide. This study was carried out using the leaf disc method to determine whether local diatomaceous earth (Almina) has a toxic, repellent, and oviposition-inhibiting effect on T. urticae. Adult females of T. urticae were placed on leaf discs immersed in 10%, 5%, 2.5%, and 1.25% concentrations (w/v) of diatomaceous earth. Considering the mortality rates after 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours, respectively, the highest mortality rate was determined as 33.56% at 10% concentration. At the same concentrations, the highest repellent effects were found to be 64.54%, 42.10%, 20.35%, and 19.46% after 1 hour, respectively. Although the number of eggs laid by females increased over time at all concentrations, it was statistically less than the control at 10% and 5% concentrations. In light of the data obtained from this study, further studies are planned to increase the effectiveness of Almina diatomaceous earth by mixing it with botanical extracts or entomopathogens in the control of T. urticae.

Continental rift asymmetry and segmentation – contributions from the African plate

Prior to the mid-1980s, continental rifts were generally depicted as roughly symmetrical graben, with little complexity along the strike of the basin. In reality, most continental rifts originate as asymmetric, large-scale half graben that are strongly segmented along-strike. This basic architecture does not usually persist unaltered to the rift-to-drift transition but can commonly be observed in both failed continental rift systems and along the passive margins of oceanic plates where rifting succeeded. These geometric aspects of continental rifting have fundamental implications for both hydrocarbon exploration and understanding the causes and processes of continental rupture. Contributions to our understanding of rift asymmetry and segmentation have spanned the past seven decades and come from many settings around the world. However, Africa has played a key role in this undertaking, due to both the presence of well-exposed, active extensional basins in the Afro-Arabian rift system and numerous buried Mesozoic and early Cenozoic rift systems.The first well-documented examples of both rift asymmetry and along-strike segmentation occurred in the Gulf of Suez, northern Egypt, in the 1970s. These early ideas were greatly enhanced and expanded by later studies in both the Western and Eastern branches of the East Africa Rift, including field and refraction/reflection seismic work in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda during the 1980s and 1990s. Asymmetry and segmentation were recognized to be fundamental characteristics of both magmatic and amagmatic rifts, although important differences regarding scale and temporal evolution are evident. At smaller scales, hard-linkage of growing and interacting extensional faults was another key component of subsurface interpretation in the Gulf of Suez by the mid-1970s. Later, outcrop studies in East Africa, supported by subsurface seismic and well data, led to greatly improved models of syn-tectonic sedimentation in step with the advances in understanding of structural geometries. Most recently, concepts derived from the continental margins of other plate settings have been incorporated with the earlier African observations to produce new models of the tectonic evolution of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, which in turn has then influenced our overall understanding of the progression from continental to oceanic rifting. This is an ongoing topic of research and discussion that will certainly proceed for many years and require the collaboration of both the international scientific community and local African earth science expertise.

Rediscovering raw earth heritage of Champagne area (France): Cartography and typology of a specific adobe vernacular architecture

The building sector has a strong impact on the environment in terms of pollution, through its carbon footprint and waste generation. In this context, raw earth construction is experiencing a revival of interest in its ability to use a local, reusable, and low environmental impact material. Vernacular architecture reflects the evolution of particular know-how, which has been able to adapt to specific factors linked to a nearby environment. Champagne area is one of the last uninvestigated earth heritage territories in France, whereas it presents an original and rich rural, urban, and industrial earth architecture. To cartography raw earth heritage in the studied area and its surroundings, the various buildings and construction practices observed in the field were geolocated on a digital tablet using QGIS software. This work completes the partial inventory that had been started on Champagne territory and reveals local variations and other uses of raw earth never described in the national survey maps of earthen construction techniques. The presence of the adobe heritage corresponds quite well to the area of the chalky Champagne. We notice two different types of boundaries. A first type where adobe architectures are directly replaced by other building materials, and a second type where adobes are combined with and then replaced by other earth construction techniques (cob, wattle and daub). This reveals a dialogue between different constructive cultures. This survey seems to show a certain coherence as to the presence of adobes in the constructions regarding the geological substratum. Our work will allow to characterize the earth used, to valorize the excavated earth in this territory, as well as to raise awareness and promote local raw earth architecture. In addition, the discovery of the use of cob in the Seine valley reveals the richness of this heritage in this geographical sector.

Long Observation Window Reveals the Relationship between the Local Earth Magnetic Field and Acute Myocardial Infarction

A substantial body of research has demonstrated the relationships between cardiac arrhythmias and geomagnetic activity. In this work, the idea is centered on finding the relationship between the local magnetic field (LMF) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI). It is hypothesized and demonstrated via a series of statistical analyses that the relationship between the LMF and AMI is maintained over long-term observation windows. The data are collected from the two hospitals and one public institute of health in Lithuania from 2014 till 2019. The data are categorized into (1) daily average of the Schumann resonance for the local magnetic field measured by the Lithuanian magnetometer, which is used as the input variable; and (2) the total number of patients hospitalized in Lithuania per day with the diagnosis of AMI (the output variable). The data are classified both weekly as well as by gender. Following the data categorization and classification, the data were subjected to rigorous statistical analysis to determine the relationship between the input and output variables. This paper shows that only the beta and gamma (S-beta, S-gamma) frequency ranges of the Schumann resonances contribute to maintaining the long-term relationship between the LMF and AMI.

The effect of glass structure and local rare earth site symmetry on the optical properties of rare earth doped alkaline earth aluminosilicate glasses

The effect of glass structure and local rare earth site symmetry on the optical properties of rare earth doped alkaline earth aluminosilicate glasses

The role of zircon in hydrothermal heavy REE mineralisation: The case for unconformity-related ore deposits of north-west Australia

Zircon is hailed for its chemical and physical durability, but can undergo extensive chemical and structural modification due to radiation damage via the emission of alpha (α) particles, and subsequent low-temperature hydrothermal alteration. Here, we investigate Archean zircons from arkosic metasediments of the Browns Range Metamorphics (BRM) to evaluate their role in the formation of local unconformity-related heavy rare earth element (REE) ore deposits, within the Browns Range Dome, Western Australia. We determine that the heavy REE inventory of the BRM are primarily hosted in zircon, and that these zircons have a wide range of major element totals (77 to ~100 wt%, including low SiO2 and ZrO2 contents), and high and variable ‘non-formula’ components (U, Th, Y, REE, Nb, P, Al, Ca, Fe, Ti, F and OH− or H2O). Concentrations of Y + REE in some cases exceed 8 wt%. Extensive radiation damage (metamictisation) is confirmed by structural features including porous and amorphous domains, cavities, and voids. The lack of regional thermal events over an extended period likely prevented thermal annealing of these radiation-damaged zircons. Uptake of non-formula elements in metamict zircon, most likely during sedimentation in the late Archean, promoted further radiation damage, such that these grains remained highly susceptible to alteration by subsequent hydrothermal fluid circulation. We propose that the unconformity-related REE mineralisation was formed by saline fluids leaching Y + REE (and possibly P) from metamict zircon in the BRM, followed by ore mineral precipitation in fault zones near, and along the regional unconformity. More broadly, this model of ore formation may be relevant to other basin-hosted mineral systems, and could be used to guide exploration for unconformity-related REE deposits in Australia, and globally.

Assessing the suitability of local earth resources for use in clay barriers to protect historic masonry in Pompeii

This paper presents a case study for the testing of locally available resources selected to form a clay barrier. This is a promising technique for protecting historic masonry from ground moisture intrusion. There are several historical precedents for the use of calcareous, clayey soils to form moisture resilient barriers in architecture. More recently, specialised bentonite mixtures have arrived on the market. Assessment protocols for suitable barrier material will help establish general codes and the potential for this technique to make use of locally available resources, either in their raw state or in mixtures. In this project, a variety of different geo-materials are collected from around Pompeii to test their suitability for use in a barrier installation on a tomb in the archaeological site. The methodology consists of laboratory tests used in the assessment of barrier material for landfill engineering, and rapid tests used in earth construction. A mixture of a calcareous clay and a sand produced barrier material with suitable properties. The methodology can form the basis of assessments elsewhere, to further develop the potential of using locally available geo-resources for conservation and construction projects.

An Analysis Procedure for the Surviving Rural Architecture, Built with Raw Earth Mortars, in the Amatrice Area (Italy) as a Starting Point for the Development of Conservation Strategies

The contribution of this article is that it provides indications for the conservation of the surviving architecture in the Amatrice area, which was severely affected by the long seismic sequence between 2016 and 2017. The traditional construction technique was carefully studied during the safety works that were carried out in the villages from 2018 to 2020. From the studies conducted, it emerged that most of the historical building fabrics date to a post-seismic reconstruction phase of the seventeenth–eighteenth century. The masonry construction technique found on the site is homogeneous throughout the area and is based on the use of local sandstone and raw earth mortars. The mineralogical nature of the materials used for building was identified by means of specific diagnostic analyses as well as the production processes of the materials. An interpretation of the use of different materials and processes was provided by cross-referencing the analytical results with the existing data on the seismic history and on the geographical and geological characteristics of the territory; additionally, an interpretation of the development of the local historical construction techniques was provided as well. Defining conservation strategies for buildings that are still recoverable is an important objective that is aimed at safeguarding the material evidence of the local construction tradition. The same conservation strategies could be pre-emptively adopted in similar rural contexts.

Connecting hydrological modelling and forecasting from global to local scales: Perspectives from an international joint virtual workshop

AbstractThe unprecedented progress in ensemble hydro‐meteorological modelling and forecasting on a range of temporal and spatial scales, raises a variety of new challenges which formed the theme of the Joint Virtual Workshop, ‘Connecting global to local hydrological modelling and forecasting: challenges and scientific advances’. Held from 29 June to 1 July 2021, this workshop was co‐organised by the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), the Copernicus Emergency Management (CEMS) and Climate Change (C3S) Services, the Hydrological Ensemble Prediction EXperiment (HEPEX), and the Global Flood Partnership (GFP). This article aims to summarise the state‐of‐the‐art presented at the workshop and provide an early career perspective. Recent advances in hydrological modelling and forecasting, reflections on the use of forecasts for decision‐making across scales, and means to minimise new barriers to communication in the virtual format are also discussed. Thematic foci of the workshop included hydrological model development and skill assessment, uncertainty communication, forecasts for early action, co‐production of services and incorporation of local knowledge, Earth observation, and data assimilation. Connecting hydrological services to societal needs and local decision‐making through effective communication, capacity‐building and co‐production was identified as critical. Multidisciplinary collaborations emerged as crucial to effectively bring newly developed tools to practice.

Dynamic of the Earth crust vertical movements during the Holocene

This work is a complex of theoretical studies of the dynamics of local vertical earth's crust movements. The article proposes a method for separating local curves of sea level change into eustatic and tectonic components. The results of calculations of the dynamics of the local Mediterranean coast vertical movements in the Holocene using materials from geological studies are presented. The data of satellite measurements of the current tectonic movement velocities are presented. The calculated values and satellite measurements are compared.

Atomic-scale characterization of the precipitates in a Mg-Gd-Y-Zn-Mn alloy using scanning transmission electron microscopy

Precipitates are critical in strengthening Mg-Gd-Y-Zn-Mn alloys. However, lack of sufficient atomic-scale characterization restricts further understanding of the precipitates. Therefore, in the present study, precipitates in the as-cast, solution-annealed, and isothermally aged (200 °C) Mg-Gd-Y-Zn-Mn alloy have been comprehensively examined on the atomic scale by aberration-corrected (Cs) high-angle annular dark field-scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). When observed in the [0001]α direction in the early-aged alloy for 6 min, uneven local rare earth solute clusters in the form of βH and βZ phases suggest a transition from βH to βZ. In the peak-aged alloy for 16 h, Mn atoms are found to segregate into the γ′/long-period stacking ordered (LPSO) phase and β′ phase, participating in their formation. In the over-aged alloys for 200 h, γ″ phase is detected with enrichment of Mn, coexisting with the γ′ and β′ phases. Furthermore, β″-like structures are observed, which may be defective βM or β′T as a result of their overlapping, thus providing a possible explanation for the controversy regarding the existence of the β″ phase. Our findings serve as evidence that deepens the understanding of the precipitates in Mg-Gd-Y-Zn-Mn alloys at the atomic level.

Efficacy of Dust and Wettable Powder Formulation of Diatomaceous Earth (Detech®) in the Control of Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acari: Acaridae).

Simple SummaryAcaricidal efficacy of two Turkish diatomaceous earth (DE) formulations (Detech® WP95 and Detech® Dust) were applied on a concrete surface at five different concentrations at 25 ± 1 °C and 75 ± 5% RH. Mite mortalities were observed after 6- and 18-hour exposure periods dust and WP formulations, respectively. In conclusion, our laboratory tests indicated that both WP and dust formulations of local diatomaceous earth can cause 100% mortality in 24 h on average and can be a promising alternative to conventional chemical acaricides.Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acari: Acaridae) is a cosmopolite mite species commonly in found food and stored products. In this study, the acaricidal activity of two Turkish diatomaceous earth (DE) formulations (Detech® WP95 and Detech® Dust) were applied on a concrete surface at five different concentrations (1, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 g/m2) and dead individuals were counted at 11 different time intervals (1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, and 30 h) at a temperature of 25 ± 1 °C and 75 ± 5% relative humidity (RH). Mite mortalities were observed after 6- and 18-hour exposure periods at all concentrations of dust and wettable powder (WP) formulations, respectively. Specifically, 100% mortality for the WP formulation was achieved at the highest concentration of 10 g/m2 after 15 h of exposure and after 27 h and 30 h for the lowest concentration. In the case of dust formulation, mortalities were observed after 3 h of exposure at all concentrations except at 1 g/m2, while a 100% mortality rate was achieved after 21 h of exposure to all concentrations and after 18 h of exposure for 7.5 g/m2 and 10 g/m2. This study indicates that both WP and dust formulations of local diatomaceous earth can cause 100% mortality in 24 h on average and can be a promising alternative to conventional chemical acaricides.

Correlation between ST-elevation myocardial infarction, non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction and the local Earth’s magnetic field changes

Stronger oscillations in the local Earth magnetic field may have an impact on the course of ischemic heart disease. This effect is individual for every person and depends on the sex, age, living territory, season, capability to adjust to magnetic field fluctuations and health status. Individuals who already have cardiovascular disease are more sensitive to magnetic field fluctuations, therefore further research is needed to make conclusions. Aim: To identify correlations between changes in local Earth magnetic field frequencies and patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) cases per week, cases by sex per week and patients’ blood laboratory parameters (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and Troponin I level). Methods: A retrospective study of 1667 patients, who were admitted to the Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kaunas Clinics between 1st January and 31st December 2019 due to acute coronary syndrome (STEMI and NSTEMI), were included in the study. Local Earth's time varying magnetic field (TVMF) was measured by a magnetometer located in Baisogala, Lithuania. Data from the magnetometer was collected daily, and weekly averaged. We assessed the correlations between average weekly geomagnetic field strength in six different frequency ranges (Hz) and average number of STEMI and NSTEMI cases per week, cases by sex per week and patients’ blood laboratory parameters (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and Troponin I level). Results: The presence of a stronger magnetic field in the frequency range of 32-65 Hz was significantly related to the number of cases in the STEMI group during the winter season (r= 0.583, p= 0.036). Tendency towards a positive correlation was found during the winter in the men's group with STEMI in the high frequency range of 32-65 Hz. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level correlated positively in the winter STEMI group with the magnetic field in the 32-65 Hz range, and in the autumn STEMI group with the magnetic field in the frequency range of 0-7 Hz. Conclusion: Increased geomagnetic field strength in the high frequency range of 32-65 Hz is associated with a higher number of cases in the STEMI group.

Exchange interaction between localized magnetic moments and conduction-electrons in Er doped gold nanoparticles synthesized by laser ablation in water

In this work, we report a fundamental study on the exchange interaction between localized rare earth magnetic moments and conduction electrons of Er3+ diluted in Au metallic nanoparticles (NPs) produced by laser ablation in liquid. The study was carried out in Au1−xErx (x ≤ 0.026) bulk metallic alloys and NPs with a mean size of 20 nm. The samples were characterized by means of x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, magnetic susceptibility, and electron spin resonance (ESR) experiments. The obtained results showed that, despite the high temperature and being far away from chemical equilibrium throughout the laser ablation process, in the AuNPs, the Er3+ (J = 15/2) ground state of the crystal electric field split multiplet remains a Γ7 (g = 6.79) Kramers doublet with the expected g-shift and T-dependence of the ESR linewidth, preserving the general bulk properties and the cubic symmetry. In addition, the Au1−xErx NPs present narrow ESR residual linewidth suggesting homogeneous Er3+ doping and negligible strain distribution in the Au1−xErx NPs. This new methodology may certainly provide relevant insight into the study of the intrinsic physical properties of dilute rare earth metallic alloys at the nanometer scale seeking quantum size effects and motivates novel technological applications.