Northeast Hungary Research Articles

Radon variations in a Hungarian village

A steady radon exhalation is assumed in most publications. In a village of North-East Hungary, however, high radon concentrations have been measured, differing strongly in neighbouring houses and varying in time, due to the interplay of geochemical phenomena.

Allozyme variation in Parnassius mnemosyne (L.) (Lepidoptera) populations in North-East Hungary: variation within a subspecies group.

Allozyme polymorphism was studied in 11 Parnassius mnemosyne (Linnaeus, 1758) populations in North-East Hungary. Significant departures from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were observed in several cases due to heterozygote deficiency. Genetic variability did not display geographical pattern; the level of genetic differentiation was similar between adjacent populations and between populations originating from different geographical regions. Even a completely isolated population was not differentiated markedly from the others. Thus, genetic drift can be expected as the main evolutionary force acting in the populations.

Peculiar radon spot in Hungary

For the public, indoor radon is the main source of exposure from ionizing radiation. Radon gas originates from the radioactive decay chain of uranium deposited in rocks or in building materials. In the reviews mostly a rather steady radon exhalation has been assumed. In a village of North-East Hungary, however, high radon concentrations have been measured, differing strongly in neighbouring houses and varying in time, due to the interplay of several geochemical phenomena.

A Dél-Dunántúl területfejlesztési koncepciójának alapelemei

South Transdanubia is less developed and copes with more problems than the Middle and Northern part of Transdanubia. However, the crisis is not as extreme as in North East Hungary, and there is more hope for a better outcome than in regions in deeper crisis. Therefore, we need a comprehensive programme for the region. At the same time it is obvious that significant results cannot be achieved without co-operation based resolution and without the existence of suitable institutions and resources.lt was a promising sign in the planning and implementation of the programme that the various actors of the region did not expect development to be fostered by the sate only, but they themselves were eager to contribute. At the very beginning, many of these actors were drawn into the preparations of the programme. Also, the process of planning the concept proved quite significant in regard of regional integration a necessary element for development. Often, the process of planning also served as the framework within which interests were asserted.A further sign anticipating the success of the programme was that several organisations of several types and levels contributed to the implementation with information, co-operation and also with financial resources.Parallel to the completion of the concept, and because of the lack of a regional middle level, the South Transdanubian Foundation for Regional Development was established by the counties of Baranya, Somogy, Tolna and Zala. In the advisory board of this institution there are representatives of the government, but there are also representatives of the local governments, politicians, universities and the scientific and economic organisations of the region. These public funds may be the forerunner of the regional development board that has been recommended in the draft of the regional development bill now under negotiation.On the basis of these promising signs, the government decided that South Transdanubia would be the next major region for which it would prepare a development concept. The regional development concept was included in the 1994 government programme. The new government did not reinforce this task as specifically labelled one. The Ministry of the Environment and Regional Development, which is responsible for this task, based upon preliminary inquiries and from its poor resources for planning, ordered from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Centre for Regional Studies the preparation of an economy and competition based development concept.The paper summarises basic elements of the regional development concept, including priorities, programmes and institutional organisation of implementation.

Optimal tiling of heterogeneous images

Abstract A novel information theoretical approach has been developed, implemented and tested to approximate large, heterogeneous images with maps of varying spatial resolution and predefinedcomplexity. The goal of the approximation is the derivation of units in the spatial domain rather than determining classes in the attribute (spectral) domain. The proposed procedure is a regular, hierarchical tiling. The value of each tile is the local mean and the parti tion leads to a map represented by a region quadtree with minimum Kullback-divergence from the original image. Kullback-divergence is a non-parametric measure of dissimilarity of two spatial distributions and is applied here because of several advantageous properties. This tiling procedure can be also viewed as data compression, and it optimizes information loss under constraint on the spatial arrangement and number of tiles. The methodology is illustrated by the sampling design of an environmental soil mapping project of the salt-affected rangeland in Hortobagy, north-east Hungary.

High radon activity in northeast Hungary

A seismologically active geological overthrust zone produces enhanced CO2, H2S, CH4 and Rn exhalation in a village of the Mátra mountain. This recently discovered phenomenon results in a radon activity density above 1 kBq/m3 in the air of living rooms of several houses. The rocks are not rich in uranium, the soil exhalation is still intensive, but it varies in space and time, therefore a rather detailed radon mapping of the village in different seasons is reported here, not so much to clarify the geophysical situation but to know the doses affecting the population. Radon insulation is not yet common in this region. Expensive insulation methods seem to work, but more economical ways of satisfying the needs of the population must be found. Radon awareness of the population helps in avoiding panic, and with appropriate life style it enables them to suppress radon concentration in their environment.

Regional multimedia geochemical exploration for Au in the Tokaj mountains, northeast Hungary

A regional geochemical exploration for Au was conducted in the Tokaj Mountains, northeast Hungary. The bedrock of the area consists mainly of Miocene rhyolitic and andesitic lavas and tuffs. Veintype epithermal Ag and Au mineralization could be expected on the basis of earlier precious metal mining and studied ore mineral showings and metasomatic alteration of the area. The main objective of the survey was to select targets for more detailed investigations by modern cost effective means. The area is well suited for a regional-scale survey because the soil is composed mainly of transported and moderately mixed material of colluvium and alluvium, and thus one sample represents the composition of a large area. Mountainou areas, like the Tokaj Mts are also well suited for stream sediment and heavy mineral concentrate sampling. Four sampling media were used simultaneously in an area of 800 km 2 subdivided into 207 catchment cells: (1) stream sediment; (2) soil; (3) rock fragments; and (4) heavy mineral concentrates. All the samples were composites of at least three subsamples. The samples were analysed using optical emission spectrometry, absorption spectrophotometry and inductively coupled plasma spectrophotometry. Different methods of statistical treatment of the results were applied for discrimination and delineation of anomalies as well as for determining the paragenetic associations of the elements. Numerous mono- and multi-element maps were constructed. More complex maps were based on additive, multiplicative and similarity methods. In order to reveal all possible anomalies and to combine all useful information, so-called anomaly-additive patch maps were prepared based on the element association Ag Au As Sb (Pb). Multi-element data of multimedia sampling could be summed up in this way, thereby providing general anomaly indices and classification of the sampling cells according to their prospective importance. As a result, for future Au prospecting, four promising targets were recommended, one of which is the environments of the exhausted Telkiba´nya Au Ag deposit. Each sampling medium improved the comprehension of the geochemical landscape and all the media, except rock fragments, seem to be homogenous enough to represent regional geochemistry. The most suitable andthe most cost effective medium appeared to be the soil, but to improve the reliance, simultaneous use of at least two media is recommended.

Magnetic fabric and strain in Miocene volcanics in the southern margin of the Bükk Mountains, Hungary

The magnetic anisotropy of two Miocene volcanic horizons south of the Bükk Mountains, northeast Hungary, was investigated (28 geographically distributed sites, over 400 samples). The horizons contain rocks from ignimbrites to porous tuffs. Microscopic and rock magnetic investigations showed that the main carrier of anisotropy is multidomain maghemite with varying composition. The complex magnetic fabric was separated into deformational and flow fabric in the upper horizon. This was carried out by monitoring the distribution of minimum susceptibility directions supposed to be elongated towards intermediates as a response to compressional strain. Jelínek's tensor statistics were used in the computations. Filtering out the effects of volcanic flow and compaction, north-south striking horizontal compressional strain was determined for the upper horizon in the geographic system. Owing to the lack of elongated distribution of minima, the characteristic intermediate susceptibility directions were taken as markers of strain directions in the lower horizon (WNW-ESE and NNE-SSW in the geographic system). The strain directions showed correlation with compressional stress orientations observed by microtectonics, thus a homogeneous stress-strain field was supposed within the area investigated. The tectonic component of the strain can be determined by taking the respective paleomagnetic declination rotations as the rotational components of the deformation.

Chlorite crystallinity: an empirical approach and correlation with illite crystallinity, coal rank and mineral facies as exemplified by Palaeozoic and Mesozoic rocks of northeast Hungary

Abstract Fairly strong (r= 0.75–0.85) positive linear correlations were found between crystallinity indices (peak widths) measured on the first two basal reflections of chlorite and those of illite–muscovite in <2‐μm fractions of a representative shale–slate–phyllite series from Palaeozoic and Mesozoic formations of northeast Hungary. The metamorphic grade ranges from late or deep diagenesis through anchizone to epizone conditions. Chlorite crystallinity values measured on air‐dried and ethylene‐glycol‐solvated samples suggest that the effects of expandable interlayers are negligable, especially in the higher grade (∼temperature) part of the series. However, the greater scattering of crystallinity values for the chlorite 001 reflection compared to those of the 002 reflection may be related to the effects of minor amounts of interlayered and/or discrete smectite and/or vermiculite. With increasing metamorphic grade and advancing equilibrium recrystallization, the chlorite compositions in different samples become more homogenous. No correlation exists between crystallinity and changes in chlorite composition as estimated from the intensity ratios of basal reflections. Hence an increase of domain size and a decrease of lattice distortion with increasing grade (∼temperature) may be decisive factors affecting chlorite crystallinity.Chlorite crystallinity can be applied as a reliable regional, statistical technique complementary with, or instead of, the illite crystallinity method. The illite and chlorite crystallinity scales used here are related to Kübler's epi‐, anchi‐ and diagenetic zones and correlated with coal rank, conodont colour alteration and mineral facies data. As the effects of the detrital white mica can be observed even in the <2‐μm fractions of anchizonal metapelites, the anchizone boundaries determined solely on the base of ‘fixed’illite crystallinity values may vary with amounts of detrital and newly formed muscovite–illite. Hence a complex approach utilizing more than one method for determination of grade is preferred for petrogenetic purposes, even if relationships between crystallinity scales, coal rank and mineral facies also vary strongly in different tectonic settings and lithologies.

The distribution and provenance of archaeological obsidian in central and eastern Europe

The sources of archaeological obsidian in central and eastern Europe are briefly described and analyses of 48 samples from 10 of these sources in northeast Hungary and southeast Slovakia are reported. Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis was used to determine 16 trace elements and two major elements. Principal Components Analysis supported by Discriminant Analysis showed seven analytical groups in these data. A total of 270 pieces of archaeological obsidian were assigned by Discriminant Analysis to three of the Carpathian source groups defined, the remaining four source groups not being represented in the archaeological record. The three source groups used are: (1) Szöllöske and Málá Toron̆a in Slovakia (designated group Carpathian 1); (2) Csepegö Forrás, Tolcsva area, Olaszliszka and Erdöbénye in Hungary (Carpathian 2a); and (3) Erdöbénye (Carpathian 2b). Carpathian 2a and 2b type obsidians are both found at the re-deposited source of Erdöbénye. Carpathian obsidian was used most widely in Hungary, Slovakia and Romania, and also reached south to the Danube in Yugoslavia, west to Moravia, Austria and to the Adriatic near Trieste, and north to Poland. Carpathian 2a obsidian was used in the Aurignacian period, Carpathian 1 in the Gravettian and Mesolithic, and Carpathian 1, 2a and 2b in the Neolithic, when Carpathian 1 predominated and obsidian use was at its most intensive. Only Carpathian I type has been identified in the Copper and Bronze Ages. There is no evidence at present for any overlap between the Carpathian obsidian distribution and the distributions of the Near Eastern or Aegean sources, but there is an overlap with Mediterranean obsidian at the Neolithic site of Grotta Tartaruga in northeast Italy where Liparian and Carpathian 1 material were identified. The distribution of obsidian from the Carpathian sources is considered in terms of linear supply routes. Based on limited available evidence the supply zone is significantly smaller and the rate of fall-off with distance slightly lower than that reported for Near Eastern obsidians.

Ages of Charcoal Samples of Geomorphologic Interest in Northeast Hungary

There are extended wind-blown sand territories in the northeastern part of the Great Hungarian Plain. Wind-blown sand migration periods were distineuished by means of radiocarbon age determination of charcoal samples found in the same type of a thin soil layer of chernozem character in different sand dune exposures. The ages of the samples were determined by proportional counter, and are around 12 000 years BP. This thin fossil soil layer, which is regionally spread in the northeast Hungarian wind-blown sand areas, presents a chronological mark between the blown sand forms evolved in the last glacial period and in the Holocene.