Kaistrenko, Victor M., Willis, Pascal, Razjigaeva, Nadezhda G.
et al.
On October 4(5), 1994, one of the strongest tsunamigenic earthquakes in the history of the Southern
Kuril Islands occurred, which was accompanied by large-scale tectonic manifestations. Intense shaking led to the
collapse of the entire infrastructure on Shikotan and Kunashir Islands; 11 people died. The tsunami that followed
the earthquake reached a height of about 10 m on the ocean side of Shikotan Island and was recorded along the
entire coast of the Pacific Ocean. Generally, the study of the manifestations of this event had been carried out
since October 1994 and ended in 1997 with the publication of extensive reviews. For the first time, the data on
the specific effects on the ocean surface (seaquake) that accompanied this earthquake have been collected and
systematized. In the following years, the interest in this extraordinary event initiated further research. At the same
time, the study of the deposits of the tsunami of October 4(5), 1994, in the general context of study of ancient
tsunami (paleotsunami) deposits in this region came to the fore. These studies allowed us to obtain estimates of
the "preservation"/ "erasure" of the traces of this tsunami and more ancient events on the coast of the Southern
Kuril Islands. Some important data presented in this review are being published for the first time.
Introduction. Upper Cretaceous deposits are widespread on the northwestern shelf of the Black Sea. They were discovered by drilling 35 wells on 18 areas and are considered promising for hydrocarbons. In these deposits, the Shmidtivske (Maastrichtian) gas field was discovered, and non-industrial gas inflows were observed in the Golitsynske and Odeska fields, in the Karkinitska, Flangova and Shtileva areas, as well as numerous oil and gas shows. The success of further geological prospecting and exploration works depends on a reliable stratigraphic framework of sedimentary strata promising for hydrocarbons.
Materials and methods. We analyzed the drilling materials of 35 deep wells that exposed Upper Cretaceous sediments of the northwestern shelf of the Black Sea and 14 wells of the adjacent land, the latest seismic data and the results of previous geological and geophysical studies in the region, our own developments and generalizations, as well as information on the geological structure of the study area obtained from the reports on the implementation of research work on geological study of the subsoil, which are stored in the State Research and Production Enterprise “Geoinform of Ukraine”. The reference wells were selected as those whose sections were the most informative for stratigraphic constructions based on a set of geological factors (paleontological determinations of fossil fauna groups to establish the relative geological age of rocks, lithological description of stone material, geophysical surveys of wells, etc. To distinguish local stratigraphic units in the Cenomanian, Turonian, Coniacian and Santonian sediments, we used the sections of wells located on the adjacent land, namely: well Myrnivska-1, well Krasnoperekopska-2, well Henicheska-5 and well Borysivska-3. They characterize the same conditions of sedimentation of the marine basin, respectively, during each of the listed ages within the South Ukrainian monocline. Main research methods: bio-lithostratigraphic, lithological and geophysical.
Results. For this purpose, a revision of the local stratigraphic units of the Upper Cretaceous deposits of the Ukrainian sector of the northwestern shelf of the Black Sea was carried out using a set of methods on a geophysical basis (logging), taking into account the results of regional seismic studies, paleontological determinations of the geological age of rocks, literary and stock materials in the Cretaceous section of the northwestern shelf Black Sea. These stratons were included in the stratigraphic scheme of 2013, as well as those highlighted by the authors of the article in 2015. Based on the results of the research, local stratigraphic subdivisions of Formations rank were distinguished: Semyhatkivska, Partizanska, Ryftova, Hamburtsevska, Bezimenna and Kornilovska for Cenomanian deposits; Myrnivska, Borysivska – Turonian-Coniacian deposits; Selskogo, Borysivska, Fedorovska, Nyzhnodniprovska and Pivnichnoarabatska – Santonian deposits; Selskogo and Zmiina – Campanian deposits; Selskogo – Maastrichtian deposits. Turonian-Santonian sediments, represented by andesite and diabase porphyrites with layers of sandstones and found in the well Illichivska-2 well in the depth interval of 1200-1745 m, are distinguished as part of a layer of sandstones, diabase porphyrites and limestones according to [2].
Сonclusions. The proposed stratons will be included in the new stratigraphic scheme of the Cretaceous deposits of the northwestern shelf of the Black Sea.
The article describes the variability of the name system of Perm Old Believers — former peasants of the Stroganov Perm estate living in Middle Prikamye in the early 20th c., that ostensibly belonged to the Chasovennye confession. The research is based on the Perm Old Believers’ metric books of 1908–1917 from the Bogorodskaya, Vasilyevskaya, Stryapuninskaya and Malo-Zagarskaya communities, featuring the naming records made by Old Believers’ mentors. The database under study consists of 1082 names including duplicates and variants of names (as distinct from Believers’ and Orthodox name forms due to phonetic, morphological, and other transformations) that are the main object of the research. The variety of personal name forms is explained by the Old Russian principle of permissible variability of personal names in the Old Believers’ community. Another reason for the variability is the diversity of the Old Believers’ culture as such, embracing many confessions, communities, and traditions. The main research method was stratigraphic analysis, i.e., comparing Old Believers’ names with the names from sources of the earlier periods. This one showcases the consistency of naming tradition with the anthroponymy that was in use before the schism. The age of historical sources and types of transformations in groups of names determine the chronological layers within the name system. It was also established that the variability was reinforced by the preservation of the old “pre-Nikonite” (Menaions, Synaxaria) books which the Perm Old Believers used for naming. The preservation of the ancient name forms, particularly the relict forms with extra-short ъ/ь became possible due to the preserved tradition of special Old Believers’ singing (so-called, Khomovy Chant), in which ъ/ь are sung as syllabic ones, respectively о/е. It has also been revealed that the variability of personal names is partly caused by the peculiarities of the North Russian dialects.
<p>Seismic signals produced by wind turbines can have an
adverse effect on seismological measurements up to distances of several
kilometres. Based on numerical simulations of the emitted seismic wave field,
we study the effectivity of seismic borehole installations as a way to
reduce the incoming noise. We analyse the signal amplitude as a function of
sensor depth and investigate effects of seismic velocities, damping
parameters and geological layering in the subsurface. Our numerical
approach is validated by real data from borehole installations affected by
wind turbines. We demonstrate that a seismic borehole installation with an
adequate depth can effectively reduce the impact of seismic noise from wind
turbines in comparison to surface installations. Therefore, placing the
seismometer at greater depth represents a potentially effective measure to
improve or retain the quality of the recordings at a seismic station.
However, the advantages of the borehole decrease significantly with
increasing signal wavelength.</p>
Davide Attolini, Francesco Ciani, Maria Angela Guido
et al.
This research focuses on the recent pollen image of several vegetation types in NW Italy. In 201 arboreal, shrubby, and herbaceous plant populations, pollen samples were taken from moss polsters, and the corresponding vegetation was recorded using the phytosociological method. Since studies on recent pollen rain in the Mediterranean mountains and coast are rare, this research aims to provide new data and tools to better interpret fossil pollen spectra. Pollen analysis provided data for the comparison between surface spectra and vegetation. Davis indices, fidelity, dispersion, and the relation with vegetation data were calculated for each taxon, and PCA was carried out. Most vegetation types are identifiable through the taxa dominating the pollen spectra, as frequently happens in woodlands (e.g., beech woods, chestnut woods, etc.). Characterizing shrubland and certain tree-dominated vegetation types (e.g., <i>Larix</i> forests) through pollen data is more complex. In this regard, Davis indices are particularly useful for identifying pollen/plant association, over- and underrepresentation of pollen, and taxa indicating vegetation types. Pollen threshold values were calculated which allow the assessment of the local presence of a plant. Overall, the achieved results partially confirm those of previous research carried out in the region, greatly expanding the comparisons between several different plant communities and the database in view of future sharing through the EMPD.
Abstract New seismic reflection data collected and processed as part of early career scientist training at sea and in classroom projects fill gaps in seismic coverage of the Cascadia subduction zone and provide new insights into anomalous subduction behavior and mass wasting along the south‐central Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) between 42°20’N and 44°15’N. The data reveal at least six distinct buried horizons of folded and faulted sediments similar to strata recently interpreted to result from in situ deformation induced by the load imposed by a large blocky mass transport deposit known as the 44°N slide. Although our results support prior studies indicating that the south‐central CSZ has experienced large slope instabilities, they indicate that the slides were more frequent but volumetrically smaller than previously thought. Similar strata have not been observed elsewhere beneath the abyssal plain adjacent to the Cascadia subduction zone. The structure of the deformation front along this segment is also indistinct, in contrast to the clear frontal faults outboard of folded trench strata observed immediately to the north and south (and generally throughout the rest of Cascadia). We attribute the anomalous nature of this segment of the margin to past subduction of shallow and rough seafloor, which resulted in greater uplift of the forearc than elsewhere along the margin. A consequence of this postulated history would be the shedding of older, more consolidated blocks onto the Juan de Fuca plate, resulting in the observed distinctive stratigraphy offshore southern Oregon.
The aim of this paper, starting from the analysis of the assemblage and stratigraphy of the unburned rooms, is to analyse the possible discard and disuse processes during the planned and gradual abandonment at Erimi-Laonin tou Porakou (Cyprus). Scholars note how the decision to leave objects when a place is abandoned depends on multiple factors, from functional reasons to ritual practices. At Erimi some markers suggest a possible intentional closure treatment of parts of the site in which it is possible to recognise a mix of functional and symbolic abandonment behaviours.
Alexander H. Weinhart, Sepp Kipfstuhl, Maria Hörhold
et al.
The occurrence of snowpack features has been used in the past to classify environmental regimes on the polar ice sheets. Among these features are thin crusts with high density, which contribute to firn stratigraphy and can have significant impact on firn ventilation as well as on remotely inferred properties like accumulation rate or surface mass balance. The importance of crusts in polar snowpack has been acknowledged, but nonetheless little is known about their large-scale distribution. From snow profiles measured by means of microfocus X-ray computer tomography we created a unique dataset showing the spatial distribution of crusts in snow on the East Antarctic Plateau as well as in northern Greenland including a measure for their local variability. With this method, we are able to find also weak and oblique crusts, to count their frequency of occurrence and to measure the high-resolution density. Crusts are local features with a small spatial extent in the range of tens of meters. From several profiles per sampling site we are able to show a decreasing number of crusts in surface snow along a traverse on the East Antarctic Plateau. Combining samples from Antarctica and Greenland with a wide range of annual accumulation rate, we find a positive correlation (R2 = 0.89) between the logarithmic accumulation rate and crusts per annual layer in surface snow. By counting crusts in two Antarctic firn cores, we can show the preservation of crusts with depth and discuss their temporal variability as well as the sensitivity to accumulation rate. In local applications we test the robustness of crusts as a seasonal proxy in comparison to chemical records like impurities or stable water isotopes. While in regions with high accumulation rates the occurrence of crusts shows signs of seasonality, in low accumulation areas dating of the snowpack should be done using a combination of volumetric and stratigraphic elements. Our data can bring new insights for the study of firn permeability, improving of remote sensing signals or the development of new proxies in snow and firn core research.
<p>In this work we have performed a detailed study of
vectors to ore to a representative volcanic-rock-hosted replacive volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS)
deposit located in the northern Iberian Pyrite Belt (Spain), the Aguas
Teñidas deposit. The investigated vectors include the following: (1) mineralogical
zoning, (2) host sequence characterization and mineralized unit
identification based on whole rock geochemistry discrimination diagrams, (3)
study of the characteristics and behaviour of whole rock geochemical
anomalies around the ore (e.g. alteration-related compositional changes,
characteristics and extent of geochemical halos of indicative elements such
as Cu, Zn, Pb, Sb, Tl, and Ba around the deposit), and (4) application of
portable X-ray fluorescence (p-XRF) analysis to the detection of the
previous vectors.</p>
<p>In the footwall, a concentric cone-shaped hydrothermal alteration zone
bearing the stockwork passes laterally, from core to edge, from quartz (only
local) to chlorite–quartz, sericite–chlorite–quartz, and sericite–quartz
alteration zones. The hydrothermal alteration is also found in the hanging
wall despite being tectonically allochthonous to the orebody: a proximal
sericite alteration zone is followed by a more distal albite-rich one. Whole rock
major elements show an increase in alteration indexes (e.g. AI, CCPI)
towards the mineralization, a general SiO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> enrichment, and FeO
enrichment as well as K<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>O and Na<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>O depletion towards the centre of the
hydrothermal system, with MgO showing a less systematic behaviour. K<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>O
and Na<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>O leached from the centre of the system are transported and
deposited in more external areas. Copper, Pb, and Zn produce proximal
anomalies around mineralized areas, with the more mobile Sb, Tl, and Ba
generating wider halos. Whereas Sb and Tl halos form around all mineralized
areas, Ba anomalies are restricted to areas around the massive sulfide
body. Our results show that proposed vectors, or adaptations designed to
overcome p-XRF limitations, can be confidently used by analysing unprepared
hand specimens, including the external rough curved surface of drill cores.</p>
<p>The data presented in this work are not only applicable to VMS exploration
in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, but on a broader scale they will also contribute to improving our
general understanding of vectors to ore in replacive-type VMS deposits.</p>
<p>Folds associated with inverted extensional faults are
important exploration targets in many basins across our planet. A common
cause for failure to trap hydrocarbons in inversion structures is crestal
breaching or erosion of top seal. The likelihood of failure increases as the
intensity of inversion grows. Inversion also decreases the amount of
overburden, which can adversely affect maturation of source rocks within the
underlying syn-extensional stratigraphic section. However, many rift basins
are multi-phase in origin, and in some cases the various syn-rift and
post-rift events are separated by multiple phases of shortening. When an
inversion event is followed by a later phase of extension and subsidence,
new top seals can be deposited and hydrocarbon maturation enhanced or
reinitiated. These more complex rift histories can result in intra-basinal
folds that have higher chances of success than single-phase
inversion-related targets. In other basins, repeated inversion events can
occur without significant intervening extension. This can also produce more
complicated hydrocarbon maturation histories and trap geometries. Multiple
phases of rifting and inversion affected numerous basins in North Africa and
the Black Sea region and produced some structures that are now prolific
hydrocarbon producing fields and others that failed. Understanding a
basin's sequence of extensional and contractional events and the resulting
complex interactions is essential to formulating successful exploration
strategies in these settings.</p>
Introduction
The studied area is situated 15 km away from the southwest of Maimeh at the western part of Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic arc. This zone is a part of the Zagros orogenic belt formed due to the subduction of the Neo-Tethyan oceanic crust under the Central Iran block. The magmatic activity in the Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic arc has begun in Eocene (Alavi, 2004) and continued until Quaternary (Ghasemi and Talbot, 2006). In the middle part of the studied area, several outcrops of the post-Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks with basaltic to andesitic composition have been seen (Vahdati Daneshmand, 2006). Until now, no petrological and geochemical data about these rocks are present. Therefore, in this study, petrographic and the geochemical features of these rocks are discussed in detail. This study aims to reveal a better understanding of the petrology and petrogenesis of volcanic rocks in the southeast of Maimeh and the middle part of the Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic arc as a part of the Zagros orogenic belt.
Materials and methods
To reach the goal of the research, after collecting basic information using geological maps and works done in the study area, all volcanic outcrops systematically sampled, and more than 50 fresh samples were chosen and studied. Afterward, seven samples were chosen for geochemical analyses by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) at the ACME Laboratories, Vancouver, Canada. The results of chemical analyses are listed in table 1.
Discussion
Based on the field observations, the volcanic rocks have basaltic to andesitic composition with plagioclase, clinopyroxene, olivine, amphibole, biotite, and opaque microphenocrysts. Clinopyroxene (probably augite) is the main minerals as phenocrysts and small mineral in the groundmass. Olivine phenocryst has undergone limited alteration to iddingsite and amphiboles show burned margin. Opacitization in amphibole occurs due to a decrease in water pressure with magma rising or as a result of the increase in temperature (Plechov et al., 2008). These rocks have microlithic porphyry, glomeroporphyry and vesicular textures. According to geochemical analysis, intermediate rocks have calc-alkaline nature and basalt is alkaline. They display enrichment in LILEs (Rb, Ba, K, Sr, U, and Th) relative to HFSEs (especially Nb, Ti, and P) and coherent REE patterns characterized by enrichment in LREEs relative to HREEs without negative Eu anomaly. These features are characteristics of subduction-related magmatism (Woodhead et al., 1993). U and Th enrichment may be due to crustal contamination (Kuscu and Geneli, 2010) or the addition of pelagic sediments and/or altered oceanic crust to the source of magma (Fan et al., 2003). The tectonic discrimination diagrams show an active continental arc setting for these rocks. Geochemical evidence shows that the volcanic rocks were originated from low degree partial melting (<0.1) of the enriched mantle with Cpx- garnet lherzolitic composition in 80 km depth. Mantle enrichment is due to the addition of aqueous fluids derived from dehydration of the subducted oceanic crust. It seems that the continuous subduction of cooled oceanic crust into the mantle along with convergence between Arabia and Central Iran plates led to low degree partial melting of the mantle and producing alkaline magmas. The ascending parental magma was differentiated and undergone AFC processes until rising from the crust. In these processes, the alkaline basalt under the influence of fractional crystallization and crustal contamination turned into intermediate compositions of calc-alkaline andesite. It seems that these rocks were formed from the subduction of Neo-Tethyan oceanic crust under the Iranian microplate in an arc magmatic zone.
Results
The post-Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks in the southeast of Maimeh is situated in the western part of Urumied-Dokhtar magmatic arc and includes most basic to intermediate associations. The rocks have the porphyritic texture with basalt to andesite composition and are characterized by alkaline to calc-alkaline affinity and enrichment in LIL elements (Rb, Ba, Th, U and …) relative to HFSE with negative Ti and Nb anomalies and highly differentiated pattern of rare earth elements, as evident in spider diagrams normalized to primitive mantle and chondrite. The significant features are mainly a result of subduction-related magmatism. Tectonomagmatic diagrams suggest an arc-related tectonic setting for these rocks. Based on the geochemical evidence, the volcanic rocks originated from low degrees (>1) partial melting of a garnet- lherzolitic mantle source that enriched by slab-derived fluids. The magma has undergone AFC processes during ascending and alkaline affinity changed to calc-alkaline nature. The volcanic rocks occurred as a result of the subduction of the Neo-Tethyan oceanic crust beneath the Central Iran microplate.
References
Alavi, M., 2004. Regional stratigraphy of the Zagros fold-thrust belt of Iran and its proforeland evolution. American Journal of Science, 304(1): 1–20. http://doi.org/10.2475/ajs.304.1.1
Fan, W.M., Guo, F., Wang, Y.J. and Lin, G. 2003. Late Mesozoic calc-alkaline volcanism of post-orogenic extension in the northern Da Hinggan Mountains, northeastern China. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 121(1–2): 115–135. http://doi.org/10.1016/S0377-0273(02)00415-8
Ghasemi, A. and Tabatabaei Manesh, S.M. 2015. Geochemistry and petrogenesis of Ghohroud igneous complex (Urumieh–Dokhtar zone): Evidence for Neotethyan subduction during the Neogene. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 8(11): 9599–9623. http://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-015-1883-7
Kuscu, G.G. and Geneli, F., 2010. Review of post collisional volcanism in the Central Anatolian volcanic province (Turkey), with special reference to the Tepekoy volcanic complex. International Journal of Earth Sciences, 99(3): 593–621. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-008-0402-4
Plechov, P.Y., Tsai, A.E., Shcherbakov, V.D. and Dirksen, O.V., 2008. Opacitization conditions of hornblende in Bezymyannyi volcano andesites (March 30, 1956 eruption). Petrology, 16(1): 19–35. http://doi.org/ 10.1134/S0869591108010025
Vahdati Daneshmand, F., 2006. Geological map of Maimeh, Scale 1:100000, Sheet No. 6256. Geological Survey of Iran. Tehran, Iran.
Woodhead, J., Eggins, S. and Gamble, J., 1993. High field strength and transition element systematics in island arc and back-arc basin basalts: Evidence for multi-phase melt extraction and a depleted mantle wedge. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 114(4): 491–504. https://doi.org/10.1016/0012-821X(93)90078-N
<p>Measurements of seismic velocity as a function of depth
are generally restricted to borehole locations and are therefore sparse in
the world's oceans. Consequently, in the absence of measurements or suitable
seismic data, studies requiring knowledge of seismic velocities often obtain
these from simple empirical relationships. However, empirically derived
velocities may be inaccurate, as they are typically limited to certain
geological settings, and other parameters potentially influencing seismic
velocities, such as depth to basement, crustal age, or heat flow, are not
taken into account. Here, we present a machine learning approach to predict
the overall trend of seismic P-wave velocity (<span class="inline-formula"><i>v</i><sub>p</sub></span>) as a function of
depth (<span class="inline-formula"><i>z</i></span>) for any marine location. Based on a training dataset consisting of
<span class="inline-formula"><i>v</i><sub>p</sub>(<i>z</i>)</span> data from 333 boreholes and 38 geological and spatial predictors
obtained from publicly available global datasets, a prediction model was
created using the random forests method. In 60 % of the tested locations,
the predicted seismic velocities were superior to those calculated
empirically. The results indicate a promising potential for global
prediction of <span class="inline-formula"><i>v</i><sub>p</sub>(<i>z</i>)</span> data, which will allow the improvement of geophysical
models in areas lacking first-hand velocity data.</p>
Tisova jama (-235 m) je na gori Beljanici (Karpato-Balkanidi) v Vzhodni Srbiji. Vhod vanjo se odpira v dnu udornice (180 × 160 m), pod katero je podzemeljska dvorana z do sedaj največjo znano površino (11 374 m2 ) in prostornino (približno 170 000 m3 ) med jamami v Srbiji. Tako velikost si je mogoče razložiti s prisotnostjo močnega podzemeljskega toka v nedostopnih delih jame. Odnašanje gradiva je porušilo stabilnost kamnine pod vrtačo, kar je povzročilo podiranje in poglabljanje vrtače.
The cave Tisova Jama (-235 m) is located on Beljanica Mountain (Carpatho-Balkanides, Eastern Serbia). Its entrance pit is situated at the bottom of a great collapse doline (dimensions 180 x 160 m), below which there is a chamber with the greatest surface (11 374 m2) and volume (approx. 170 000 m3) so far known among Serbian caves. Such dimensions can be explained by the presence of a strong underground stream in the unreachable part of the cave. Removal of the material disrupts the stability of the rock below the doline, which leads to breakdown and deepening of the doline.
Asphinctites tenuiplicatus [M] and Polysphinctites secundus [m] from the Asphinctites tenuiplicatus Zone (Early Bathonian), are usually considered as a sexual dimorphic pair, although authors describe them as separate species. We used statistical methods to test the sexual dimorphic correspondence between those morphospecies, based on a rather large sample of well-preserved macro- and microconchs derived from a single horizon of calcareous concretions in the Polish Jura. Our results indicate that both dimorphs or sexes have identical ontogeny up to a critical diameter, from which they diverge towards the characteristic morphology and sculpture of each dimorph. Thus, both dimorphs are described as a single species: Polysphinctites tenuiplicatus [M and m]. After review of the several nominal species usually assigned to the genera Asphinctites and Polysphinctites throughout their stratigraphic and biogeographic range in the Early Bathonian of the Tethys, it is concluded that they actually correspond to only two species of a single lineage. The corresponding name for the lineage should be Polysphinctites (= Asphinctites as a junior synonym).
Peatlands are common in montane areas above 1,000 m in New Guinea and become extensive above 3,000 m in the subalpine zone. In the montane mires, swamp forests and grass or sedge fens predominate on swampy valley bottoms. These mires may be 4–8 m in depth and up to 30,000 years in age. In Papua New Guinea (PNG) there is about 2,250 km^2^ of montane peatland, and Papua Province (the Indonesian western half of the island) probably contains much more. Above 3,000 m, peat soils form under blanket bog on slopes as well as on valley floors. Vegetation types include cushion bog, grass bog and sedge fen. Typical peat depths are 0.5‒1 m on slopes, but valley floors and hollows contain up to 10 m of peat. The estimated total extent of mountain peatland is 14,800 km^2^ with 5,965 km^2^ in PNG and about 8,800 km^2^ in Papua Province. The stratigraphy, age structure and vegetation histories of 45 peatland or organic limnic sites above 750 m have been investigated since 1965. These record major vegetation shifts at 28,000, 17,000‒14,000 and 9,000 years ago and a variable history of human disturbance from 14,000 years ago with extensive clearance by the mid-Holocene at some sites. While montane peatlands were important agricultural centres in the Holocene, the introduction of new dryland crops has resulted in the abandonment of some peatlands in the last few centuries. Despite several decades of research, detailed knowledge of the mountain peatlands is poor and this is an obstacle to scientific management.