Danica Srećković-Batoćanin

The influence of building materials on salt formation in rural environments

Blocks of limestone and sandstone used in walls of the Manasija Monastery complex showed damage caused by the efflorescence and subflorescence of different salts in a low-pollution rural environment. In addition to common salts such as thenardite, thermonatrite, trona and gypsum, a small amount of eugsterite and darapskite was also present. Although these sodium and sodium–calcium salts formed where cement mortar was used for repairs, the lithological type and chemical composition of the substrate also had an influence on the development of distinct salts. The interaction between limestone and sandstone (substrates) and a solution rich in sodium (without calcium) was successfully simulated in the laboratory. The presence of gypsum and sodium–calcium sulphate, as experimental products, solely on the limestones indicated that, in addition to the cement-mortar solution, part of the calcium required for the formation of calcium and double sodium–calcium salts could occur from this substrate.

Petrology of plagiogranite from Sjenica, Dinaridic Ophiolite Belt (southwestern Serbia)

Petrology of plagiogranite from Sjenica, Dinaridic Ophiolite Belt (southwestern Serbia) The Sjenica plagiogranite occurs in the southern part of the Dinaridic Ophiolite Belt, 5 km northwest of Sjenica. The main minerals are albite with strongly altered biotite (replaced with chlorite), with occasional amphibole (magnesio hornblende to tschermakite) and quartz. An enclave of fine-grained granitic rocks with garnet grains was noted too. Secondary minerals are calcite and chlorite (daphnite). Major, trace and REE geochemistry coupled with field observations support a model by which the Sjenica plagiogranite could be formed by fractional crystallization of mantle origin mafic magma in a supra-subduction zone setting. Occurrences of calcite and chlorite nests in the Sjenica plagiogranites revealed that these rocks underwent hydrothermal alteration due to intensive sea water circulation in a sub-sea-floor environment.

VOLCANISM OF HOT SPOTS ON THE RÉUNION AS THE EXAMPLE

Reunion (French: La Reunion, formerly: Īle Bourbon) is beside the Mauritius the largest and the youngest island on the Mascarene Plateau in the Indian Ocean. The island is of volcanic origin, formed through volcanic activity initiated by deeply settled “hot spot” inside the Earth’s mantle. It was formed within the last 2 million years from lava effusions whose volume is up to now nearly 75,000 km 3 . Only 3% of its volume is emergent and the total height from the sea floor is 6,500 m. The island is about 40 km in width with about 800,000 inhabitants. The capital city is St Denis. The nature of the island is impressive: active volcano, mountains above 3,000 m in height and deep canyon, frequently exceeding 2,000 m in depth. Since 2010, about 40% of its area is announced a National park and a UNESCO World Heritage site.