Nitrat je spoj dušika koji se javlja u prirodni te se pojavljuje u umjerenim koncentracijama u brojnim vodenim sustavima. Visoke koncentracije nitrata su posljedica antropogene aktivnosti. Visoke koncentracije nitrata pojavljuju se u aluvijalnom vodonosniku na području grada Varaždina. Područje istraživanja zahvaća slivna područja crpilišta 'Varaždin' i 'Vinokoščak'. Istraživanja koja su provedene na području istraživanja s obzirom na probleme nitrata, su ili iz hidrogeološkog ili poljoprivrednog gledišta. Na području istraživanja nikada nije provedeno sustavno interdisciplinarno istraživanje ponašanja i raspodjele nitrata u vodonosniku koje bi uključivalo različite istraživače iz različitih disciplina, te različite tehnike istraživanja denitrifikacijskih i nitrifikacijskih procesa u vodonosnom sustavu. Šest je glavnih ciljeva TRANITAL projekta: 1. Razviti multi-parameterski pristup za određivanje značajki aluvijalnog vodonosnika pomoću hidrauličkih, kemijskih, isotopnih i mikrobioloških pokazatelja 2. Odrediti ulogu površinskih voda na napajanje/dreniranje aluvijalnog vodonosnika i njihov utjecaj na koncentraciju dušika u aluvijalnom vodonosniku 3. Odrediti mineraloška i kemijska svojstva tla i njegov utjecaj na dušikov ciklus 4. Određivanje podrijetla nitrata i procesa koji mogu dovesti do poboljšanja kakvoće podzemne vode 5. Načiniti model toka podzemne vode i transporta nitrata u aluvijalnom vodonosniku 6. Prenijeti spoznaje o podrijetlu, ponašanju i transportu nitrata u aluvijalnom vodonosniku Glavni cilj TRANITAL projekta je osigurati znanstveno opravdani pristup i prijenos znanja između znanstvenika iz različitih disciplina koji će istraživati vodonosnike čija je kakvoća narušena zbog visokih koncentracija nitrata te prenijeti znanje upravi, planerima, vodnim grupacijama na lokalnoj i državnoj razini kako bi se osiguralo ekološko održivo upravljanje vodnim resursima i poljoprivrednom proizvodnjom.

Pannonian part of Croatia has favourable geothermal characteristics and natural thermal water springs emerge at two dozen localities, with temperatures up to 65 °C. These waters have been used for millennia, and in the past fifty years they are a basis for tourism and health care centres. As their water demand increased, higher quantities were abstracted. However, thermal springs are part of hydrothermal systems which include: recharge areas in the mountainous hinterlands of the springs; geothermal aquifers (mostly Mesozoic carbonate rocks) in which water resides and gets heated due to heat flow from the Earth; and discharge areas in places with favourable structural characteristics of higher permeability. The continuous functioning of such systems depends on a delicate balance between groundwater flow velocities, precipitation/dissolution processes and structural framework. In order to maintain that balance and use thermal water resources in a sustainable manner, a system-level understanding is required, and to that aim presented research is proposed. Multidisciplinary methodology (structural geology, hydrogeology, geothermal, hydrogeochemical and geophysical research and remote sensing) will be used to construct conceptual models of systems, perform 3D geological modelling, hydrogeological and thermal parametrisation of the geological units involved in the thermal fluid flow, and conduct numerical simulations of system functioning in undisturbed conditions and with different extraction scenarios. The methodology will be tested in three pilot areas in Croatia where thermal water is used. Having good conceptual and numerical models enables both the delineation and protection of recharge areas and the determination of sustainable pumping rates, which is the prerequisite for long-term sustainable utilisation of hydrothermal systems, currently not adequately addressed in Croatian regulatory framework. The increase in thermal water utilisation is foreseen by many European and Croatian strategic documents regulating energetics, tourism and environmental protection. Therefore, the HGI-CGS wants to establish a multidisciplinary group for hydrothermal systems research, which will contribute to responsible geothermal development in our country and be scientifically productive and competitive in calls of different funding mechanisms.

We aim to contribute to the European Green Deal, the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Horizon Europe objectives through the development of a Geological Service for Europe, which focuses on the planet itself: the earth beneath our feet. The subsurface holds indispensable resources for European industries and opportunities to decarbonise our economy, but also requires careful management to preserve a healthy and safe living environment for Europe’s citizens. Structurally addressing the EU dimension in geological services is needed because the scale of many societally and economically relevant geological features exceeds that of individual countries. Addressing transnational and continental-scale problems requires innovation, standardisation, harmonisation as well as a shared vision. We aim to build the Geological Service for Europe based on Europe’s best practices and implement the Service with the backing of the Union. Existing geological surveys, the national custodians of geological information, have amassed huge legacies of data and information that are difficult to merge. This project will continue the harmonisation and standardisation effort initiated in earlier projects. We aim to create joint services that can support acceleration of the energy and climate transitions, as well as a larger critical mass of intra-European cooperation through convergence of our research agendas, as key steps to increase the amount and quality of results we are aiming for. A common thread in this project is innovation in ways in which subsurface information is conceptualised, organised, visualised, delivered and translated to the needs of a wide range of audiences, and the methodologies to achieve this. Building on the groundwork laid in the GeoERA program, we will scale up and out, not only scientifically, but also in involving national stakeholders in the network, in order to create support and eventually obtain a mandate for a European Service on a permanent basis.

During middle Triassic, the area of western Paleotethys, specifically the Alpine-Dinaride-Carpathian System, experienced intensive magmatic activity along the carbonate platform margins. Accordingly, understanding the volcano-sedimentary successions is key knowledge to unveil the geodynamics. This project will, therefore, focus on area encompasses the mountain range of NW Croatia (Ivanščica Mt., Strahinjščica Mt., Kuna gora Mt., Desinić gora Mt., Ravna gora Mt., Žumberačka gora Mt.). The focus of this proposal is volcanic/volcaniclastic rocks interstratified within middle Triassic marine sedimentary sequences. We aim to study the volcano-sedimentary associations from the perspective of various geological sub-disciplines following a modern approach where we will integrate mineralogical, petrological, geochemical, paleontological, sedimentological, isotopic and structural data to illuminate the tectonic history of the area. Data will be acquired using multiple analytical methods and techniques along with the radiometric dating. Processing and synthesis of results will shed light on genesis, characterization and crystallization time of primary magmas. It will furthermore enable reconstruction of the geotectonic setting of the formation of the volcanic rocks and will provide insights into physico-chemical conditions of post-consolidation weathering and diagenetic processes. Sedimentological analyses will be performed in order to define depositional environments of volcano-sedimentary deposits, whereas biostratigraphic and isotopic data will constrain stratigraphic span of volcanic activity. Results will enable new inferences on the occurrences as well as modes, conditions, and time of formation of volcano-sedimentary successions. Such approach will eventually lead to chronological reconstruction of tectono-magmatic evolution during the inception of Mesozoic, which will serve as the framework for a new petrogenetic and sedimentological model for the middle Triassic.

MiningBrines offers an innovative training program to address Europe's strategic need for sustainable access to critical raw materials (CRM), energy gases (EG) and renewable energies. 19 Doctoral Candidates (DCs) will receive interdisciplinary training in geosciences, biogeochemistry, artificial intelligence (AI), and socio-economic analysis, equipping them with advanced skills in reservoir modeling, machine learning and biogeochemical processes. DCs will develop intuitive fluid chemistry modeling workflows and innovative multi-criteria intelligent decision support tools, preparing them to drive innovation in geothermal brine mining while collaborating with academic and industrial partners. MiningBrines introduces novel techniques to maximize geothermal multi-resource recovery while minimizing environmental impact. Key innovations include microbial-driven CRM recovery, customized modeling workflows, scalable AI models, and decision support tools that consider technological, economic, and societal aspects. These advances aim to reduce the environmental footprint of resource extraction and align with the sustainability goals of the EU Green Deal. MiningBrines supports the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act by combining CRM and EG recovery with renewable energy production and circular economy principles, reducing Europe's import dependency and strengthening resilience. In addition, MiningBrines emphasizes collaborative education to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals capable of transforming geothermal multi-resources into a key driver of Europe's green transition. The impact of MiningBrines goes beyond scientific advances, fostering a skilled workforce for academic and industrial sectors, while establishing Europe as a global leader in sustainable resource management. MiningBrines promotes public awareness of the multiple benefits of geothermal energy, setting a standard for green industrial practices and long-term strategic autonomy.