The prediction of landslides and other events associated with slope movement is a very serious issue in many national parks around the world. This article deals with the territory of the Malá Studená Dolina (Little Cold Valley, High Tatras National Park—Slovakia), where there are extensive talus cones, through which seasonally heavy hiking trails lead. In the last few years particularly, there have been frequent falls and landslides in the mountainous environment, which also caused several fatal injuries in 2018. For the above reasons, efforts are being made to develop a methodology for monitoring the changes of the talus cones in this specific alpine area, to determine the size, speed, and character of the morphological changes of the soil. Non-contact methods of mass data collection (laser scanning with Leica P40 and aerial photogrammetry with unmanned aerial system (UAS) DJI Phantom 4 Pro) have been used. The results of these measurements were compared and the overall suitability of both methods for measurement in such terrain evaluated. The standard deviation of the difference of surface determination (represented by the point cloud) is about 0.03 m. As such accuracy is sufficient for the purpose of monitoring talus cones and the use of UAS is easier and associated with lower risk of damage of expensive equipment, we conclude that this method is more suitable for mapping and for repeated monitoring of such terrain. The properties of the outputs of the individual measurement methods, the degree of measurement difficulty and specific measurement conditions in the mountainous terrain, as well as the economy of the individual methods, are discussed in detail.

A frequently recurring problem in the extraction of mineral resources (especially heterogeneous mineral resources) is the rapid operative determination of the extracted quantity of raw material in a surface quarry. This paper deals with testing and analyzing the possibility of using unconventional methods such as digital close-range photogrammetry and terrestrial laser scanning in the process of determining the bulk density of raw material under in situ conditions. A model example of a heterogeneous deposit is the perlite deposit Lehôtka pod Brehmi (Slovakia). Classical laboratory methods for determining bulk density were used to verify the results of the in situ method of bulk density determination. Two large-scale samples (probes) with an approximate volume of 7 m³ and 9 m³ were realized in situ. 6 point samples (LITH) were taken for laboratory determination. By terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) measurement from 2 scanning stations, point clouds with approximately 163,000/143,000 points were obtained for each probe. For Structure-from-Motion (SfM) photogrammetry, 49/55 images were acquired for both probes, with final point clouds containing approximately 155,000/141,000 points. Subsequently, the bulk densities of the bulk samples were determined by the calculation from in situ measurements by TLS and SfM photogrammetry. Comparison of results of the field in situ measurements (1841 kg∙m⁻³) and laboratory measurements (1756 kg∙m⁻³) showed only a 4.5% difference in results between the two methods for determining the density of heterogeneous raw materials, confirming the accuracy of the used in situ methods. For the determination of the loosening coefficient, the material from both large-scale samples was transferred on a horizontal surface. Their volumes were determined by TLS. The loosening coefficient for the raw material of 1.38 was calculated from the resulting values.

The article presents the first description of a complete and continuous series from berthierite to garavellite sulphosalts in the Western Carpathians. Berthierite is a common main or accessory phase of Sb mineralizations in the Western Carpathians, and occurs at many localities and ore deposits as well. On the other side, garavellite or Bi-rich berthierite is a relatively rare accessory phase. The highest Bi content in garavellite reaches up to 38.04 wt. % which represents 0.90 apfu, and its crystallochemical formula can be written as Fe_0.97Sb_1.07Bi_0.90S_3.98. Raman band shifts were observed in the isomorphic berthierite–garavellite series. Garavellite occurs in the younger stages of sulphidic mineralization, and associates with tetrahedrite, berthierite, Bi-chalcostibite, Sb-bismuthinite, Bi-stibnite, ullmanite and cinnabarite. It creates irregular grains and veinlets in pre-existing tetrahedrite, or forms myrmekite intergrowths with chalcopyrite in tetrahedrite. Bi content in chalcostibite is up to 0.20 apfu. Besides the tetrahedrite, pre-existing sulphosalts are the members of the tintinaite–kobellite series, Bi-jamesonite and bournonite. The Sb/(Sb+Bi) ratio of minerals of the tintinaite–kobellite series varies from 0.37 to 0.80. The maximum content of Bi in jamesonite is up to 1.22 apfu. A vertical zonation at the ore vein body (mining levels 6 / 180 a.s.l., 8 / 80 a.s.l., 10 / 20 b.s.l.) is represented by the Sb decrease along with the Bi increase with increasing depth. Bi content continuously decreases during the older ore mineralization stage and Sb increases at the younger mineralization stage. Both of the stages have been enriched by Sb as well.

The Pannonian basin is a major geothermal heat system in Central Europe. Its peripheral basin, the East Slovakian basin, is an example of a geothermal structure with a linear, directed heat flow ranging from 90 to 100 mW/m² from west to east. However, the use of the geothermal source is limited by several critical tectono-geologic factors: (a) Tectonics, and the associated disintegration of the aquifer block by multiple deformations during the pre-Paleogene, mainly Miocene, period. The main discontinuities of NW-SE and N-S direction negatively affect the permeability of the aquifer environment. For utilization, minor NE-SW dilatation open fractures are important, which have been developed by sinistral transtension on N–S faults and accelerated normal movements to the southeast. (b) Hydrogeologically, the geothermal structure is accommodated by three water types, namely, Na-HCO₃ with 10.9 g·L⁻¹ mineralization (in the north), the Ca-Mg-HCO₃ with 0.5–4.5 g·L⁻¹ mineralization (in the west), and Na-Cl water type containing 26.8–33.4 g·L⁻¹ mineralization (in the southwest). The chemical composition of the water is influenced by the Middle Triassic dolomite aquifer, as well as by infiltration of saline solutions and meteoric waters along with open fractures/faults. (c) Geothermally anomalous heat flow of 123–129 °C with 170 L/s total flow near the Slanské vchy volcanic chain seems to be the perspective for heat production.

The exploration of the geothermal potential of a geological unit has multiple aspects. The most important elements are the geological structure, the hydrogeological conditions, and heat flow. The analysis of the above-mentioned elements attempts to help maximize the use of a geothermal aquifer’s potential. When choosing the most appropriate geophysical method, it is important to consider various factors, such as basic structural parameters as well as the total cost of exploration. This is especially true for low-thermal areas. Comparison of multi-geophysical exploration methods used in the study of the carbonate aquifer of the Humenné Unit identified the advantages and weaknesses of each method. The Humenné Unit is the north basement unit of the Eastern Slovak Basin (with a heat flow value ranging from 100 to 125 mW·m⁻²), which is part of the Pannonian Basin (with a high heat flow ranging from 50 to 130 mW·m⁻²). The calculation of the geothermal potential was based on the results of several methods. Some important geophysical survey methods resulted in: (a) deep seismic cross-sections which clarified the position and overall internal structure of the aquifer (b) gravimetric measurements in the form of a map of the Complete Bouguer Anomalies (calculated for density 2.67 g·cm⁻³) which confirmed the presence of structural elevations and depressions. These elevations and depressions intensified the water yield, heat flow and raised the overall temperature (c) the use of geoelectric resistivity profiling, which is a fast and cheap method, but is limited by depth. The similar resistivities ρ: 80–360 Ωm of carbonates and andesites was a serious problem. The specific heat-energy potential has a wide range of 0.337–19.533 GJ/m². The highest values above 15 GJ/m² are reached in areas where the temperature on the surface of the Triassic carbonates exceeds 90 °C.