The assessment of the geosites of Chelmos-Vouraikos UNESCO Global Geopark (UGGp) was carried out based on an established methodology for the evaluation of geoparks’ geosites. Such assessments should be used for sustainable development and geoconservation in geoparks. The selected methodology is based on a wider range of criteria concerning the overall value of each geosite, compared to other locations. Each criterion was scored and then three indices, Vedu, Vprot and Vedu were estimated for each geosite. The application of this methodology at Chelmos-Vouraikos UGGp has produced results which not only highlight the value of each geosite, but also provide ways for their utilization. The assessment of the 40 geosites of the geopark, identified geosites with high educational and touristic value (such as Portes–Triklia and the Cave of the Lakes), while geosites with increased protection-need value (the Tectonic Graben of Kalavryta) were also highlighted. Therefore, the assessment results will be used by the geopark to plan the effective management of the geosites based on their strengths and weaknesses, and which thus will promote the geopark and will contribute to the sustainable development of the local communities. The proposed methodology uses all possible criteria for its impartial application and despite a few minor problems that have been identified, it is considered appropriate for the assessment of geosites in Geoparks. The application of such evaluation methodologies is considered crucial for the development, protection and touristic promotion of geoparks.

In order to decipher the paleo-depositional environments, during the Late Jurassic to Early Eocene syn-rift stage, at the margins of the Ionian basin, two different areas with exposed long sequences have been selected, Kastos Island (external margin) and Araxos peninsula (internal margin), and were examined by means of microfacies analysis and biostratigraphy. On Kastos Island, based on lithological and sedimentological features, the following depositional environments have been recognized: an open marine/restricted environment prevailed during the Early Jurassic (“Pantokrator” limestones), changing upwards into deep-sea and slope environments during the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous (Vigla limestones). The Upper Cretaceous (Senonian limestones) is characterized by a slope environment, whereas during the Paleogene, deep-sea and toe of slope conditions prevailed. In Araxos peninsula, Lower Cretaceous deposits (“Vigla” limestones) were accumulated in a deep-sea environment; Upper Cretaceous ones (Senonian limestones) were deposited in slope or toe of slope conditions. Paleocene limestones correspond to a deep-sea environment. In Araxos peninsula, changes occurred during the Cretaceous, whereas on Kastos Island, they occurred during the Paleocene/Eocene, related to different stages of tectonic activity in the Ionian basin from east to west.

This study delves into the sedimentation mechanisms governing mud deposits in shallow marine and tidal environments, with a particular focus on elucidating the versatile therapeutic applications of these muds. This research provides valuable insights for optimizing the selection of mud as a cosmetic resource that can positively influence human health and well-being by utilizing a comprehensive analysis involving CaCO₃, TOC, grain size, and statistical parameters across six outcrops situated on the Kefalonia and Corfu islands. The research reveals that the CaCO₃ content of mud deposits on both islands is comparable. Despite the average value (26.71%) significantly exceeding the recommended value (10%) for optimal plasticity, no discernible impact on the mechanical behavior and plasticity of the clay was observed, rendering it a neutral quality criterion. Notably, the TOC content is higher on Corfu Island, suggesting its potential superiority for mud therapy. However, all samples exhibit a TOC content (<0.77%) considerably below the threshold required (2–5%) for material maturation in mud therapy. Consequently, an enrichment of samples with organic matter is imperative. The application of statistical parameters, analyzed through graphical methods, facilitated the creation of various bivariate diagrams, offering insights into the prevailing environmental conditions during deposition. Linear and multigroup discriminant analyses categorize two sediment types: a unimodal type, characterized by mud grain-size dominance, deposited in a shallow water environment, and a bi-modal type, featuring mud and sand content, deposited in a tidal-affected environment. This classification underscores the potential of shallow marine muds (Kefalonia Island) for therapeutic use, given their optimal grain size. In contrast, the tidal mud (Corfu Island), while also suitable for mud therapy, necessitates processing as a cosmetic product to minimize sand content, as coarser fractions may induce skin irritations or injuries.

The studied section, up to 10 m thick with 17 different carbonate beds, showed the interaction between a giant slide and the pre-existing normal faults during the upper Cretaceous time. There are three major points of consideration in the studied section: (1). The presence of two slump horizons, up to 1 m thick each, within the stratigraphic column, related to the basin floor instability, due to normal listric faults activity. (2). The presence of many normal, with listric geometry, faults, with an ESE–WNW direction, and mostly west-dipping. These faults acted during the sedimentation processes and produced the basin floor inclination for the slumping when still the sediments were unconsolidated. This tectonic activity seems to terminate in the upper part of the stratigraphic column. (3). After the development of the slumps and the normal faults’ activity, which produced a displacement of up to 30 cm, a new event was characterized in the region. The completely studied block probably rotated to the west and thus the instability of the sediments produced a giant slide, up to 7 m thick and with movement up to 0.9 m, cutting the pre-existing normal faults. The knowledge of the regional evolution, with extensional tectonics during the Jurassic to early Miocene periods, which was inverted to a compressional regime during the middle Miocene, as well as the presence of a major normal fault along the studied section with an NNW–SSE direction, suggested that the studied section was situated on the hanging wall of the above fault during the extensional regime.

This study investigates the depositional environments and soft sediment deformation within the Early Jurassic Ammonitico Rosso Formation in the External Ionian Basin (Western Greece), focusing on its biostratigraphy, sedimentology, and tectonic activity. This research provides new insights into the depositional environment of the Ammonitico Rosso Formation and its transitions with the underlying and overlying formations. Syn-rift tectonics at the time of deposition formed half-grabens, which influenced sedimentary processes and created conditions for seabed slumping. Detailed field mapping and microfacies analysis revealed two distinct depositional environments: deep-water to open-shelf settings and platform-margin reefs. The entire Ammonitico Rosso Formation is allochthonous, deposited as repetitive slices of little-disturbed stratified sediments capped by debrites near the toe of a complex submarine landslide. The presence of well-preserved fossils, such as planktonic and benthic foraminifera, Radiolaria (both Spumellaria and Nassellaria), and ammonites, allowed precise age determinations, suggesting that the first appearance of Globuligerina might predate previous records, occurring first in the Pliensbachian rather than the Toarcian. These findings contribute to the ongoing debate on the depth and conditions of Ammonitico Rosso deposition, supporting the hypothesis of a relatively deep, open-shelf environment influenced by slope instability.