Hydrogen was first detected in the Bulqizë ophiolite massif (Albania) in 1992, and its origin remains uncertain, with hypotheses ranging from active serpentinization to the release of trapped, fossil H ₂ . To constrain the thickness of the ophiolite layer—a key parameter for evaluating hydrogen generation—we conducted a magnetotelluric survey using recording stations located both within and outside the massif. Data processing and subsequent 1D and 2D electrical resistivity models reveal a heterogeneous resistivity distribution, indicating a potential transition from unaltered to progressively serpentinized rocks. The ophiolite thickness is estimated at approximately 6,000 m, and thermal gradients suggest that temperatures may exceed 100°C at depth. These findings imply that regional water inputs could facilitate serpentinization and contribute to hydrogen production, providing important constraints on the geochemical processes occurring within the ophiolite.

Reliable preliminary assessment of stress redistribution and rock mass stability is a critical step in tunnel design, providing guidance before detailed numerical modeling and support design are undertaken. This study presents RockStressCalc, a Python-based computational framework that integrates classical elastic stress–displacement analysis with empirical rock mass strength evaluation for circular tunnels within a transparent analytical workflow. The tool combines Kirsch’s closed-form solution for stress redistribution around a circular opening under anisotropic in situ stress conditions with the generalized Hoek–Brown criterion to enable spatially resolved evaluation of elastic strength reserve. The framework assumes a homogeneous, isotropic, linear–elastic rock mass under plane strain conditions and introduces a Stability Factor as a stress-based indicator of proximity to initial yield. The analytical implementation is verified against finite-element simulations performed in Plaxis2D under equivalent elastic assumptions. The maximum stress difference at the excavation boundary remained below 10%, while displacement deviations were below approximately 4%. In addition, comparison between the analytical far-field Stability Factor and the numerical strength reduction multiplier demonstrated close agreement, confirming consistency between the analytical and finite-element formulations under uniform stress conditions. The results show that RockStressCalc provides a computationally efficient analytical baseline suitable for rapid parametric evaluation, sensitivity studies, educational use, and independent verification of numerical models in early-stage tunnel design. By emphasizing explicit coupling of stress redistribution and strength evaluation within a reproducible framework, rather than introducing new constitutive models, the proposed approach offers practical engineering value as a screening and benchmarking tool and provides a foundation for future probabilistic or extended tunnel stability analyses.