Garnets (19 pieces) of Late Antique S-fibulae from the archaeological site at Lajh-Kranj (Slovenia) were analysed with Raman microspectroscopy to obtain their mineral characteristic, including inclusion assemblage. Most garnets were determined as almandines Type I of pyralspite solid solution series; however, three garnets showed a higher Mg, Mn and Ca contents and were determined as almandines Type II. Most significant Raman bands were determined in the range of 169–173 cm⁻¹ (T(X²⁺)), 346–352 cm⁻¹ (R(SiO₄)), 557–559 cm⁻¹ (ν₂), 633–637 cm⁻¹ (ν₄), 917–919 cm⁻¹ (ν₁), and 1042–1045 cm⁻¹ (ν₃). Shifting of certain Raman bands toward higher frequencies was the result of an increase of the Mg content in the garnet composition, which also indicates the presence of pyrope end member in solid garnet solutions. Inclusions of apatite, quartz, mica, magnetite, ilmenite, as well as inclusions with pleochroic or radiation halo and tension fissures (zircon), were found in most of the garnets. Rutile and sillimanite were found only in garnets with the highest pyrope content. Spherical inclusions were also observed in two garnets, which may indicate the presence of melt or gas residues. The determined inclusion assemblage indicates the formation of garnets during medium- to high-grade metamorphism of amphibolite or granulite facies. According to earlier investigations of the garnets from Late Antique jewellery, the investigated garnets are believed to originate from India.

The potential environmental impact of historical mining and ore processing on stream sediments and water was studied in a small siderite iron ore deposit with diverse sulfide mineral paragenesis. The main aim was to characterize solid carriers of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in stream sediments and mine waste, to understand their fate in fluvial systems. General mineralogy (X-ray powder diffraction) and individual solid PTE carriers (scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy) were correlated with the geochemical composition of stream sediments, mine waste, and stream waters (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry). Primary solid PTE carriers were pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, Hg-bearing sphalerite, galena, and siderite. Slightly alkaline and oxidizing conditions in stream water promoted the transformation of primary phases into secondary PTE carriers. Fe(Mn)-oxide/oxyhydroxides were major sinks for Pb, Zn, and As. Compared to background levels, Co (14.6 ± 2.1 mg/kg), Cu (30 ± 2.9 mg/kg), Ni (32.1 ± 2.9 mg/kg), Pb (64.5 ± 16.4 mg/kg), Zn (175.3 ± 22.5 mg/kg), As (81.1 ± 63.7 mg/kg), and Hg (2 ± 0.8 mg/kg) were elevated in mining area. Mine waste contained similar PTE carriers as stream sediments, but much higher PTE contents. Prevailingly low PTE concentrations in streams, with the exception of As (1.97 ± 2.4 µg/L) and Zn (4.5 ± 5.7 µg/L), indicate the stability of PTE carriers. Environmental effects were not significant, and additional monitoring is recommended.

This study present a standoff LIBS mine-wall scanner prototype, designed to provide autonomous mining machines with rapid elemental information on exposed rock faces, combines a 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser, a varifocal focusing system, coaxial collection optics, and a compact dual-spectrometer configuration to acquire elemental maps at distances of 1 to 3 m. Beyond the hardware itself, the paper details the acquisition software, the preprocessing and classification workflow used for LIBS hyperspectral cubes, and a multimodal validation strategy based on visible imaging, UV fluorescence imaging, and SEM-EDS. Field trials in the historic Mežica Pb-Zn ore mining district (Slovenia) show that the system can identify key ore-related elements such as Pb and Zn and recover mineralogical patterns consistent with independently interpreted mine-wall domains. These results highlight the potential of standoff LIBS to support selective mining and future integration into robotic mine-inspection platforms.

This study presents the development and characterization of a polymer-immobilized silver nanoparticle (AgNP) composite for potential application in water remediation and metal recycling. AgNPs were synthesized by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) using silver nitrate as a precursor and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a stabilizing agent, followed by incorporation into a sodium alginate matrix to form separable alginate/AgNP beads. The nanoparticles were characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), selected-area electron diffraction (SAED), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta-potential measurements. The AgNPs were predominantly spherical and crystalline, with a TEM observed average diameter of approximately 90 nm and most particles between 50 and 125 nm. A PVP surface layer of up to approximately 10 nm was observed. DLS measurements showed a hydrodynamic diameter of 159.6 nm. AgNP incorporation into the alginate matrix was confirmed by microscopy and elemental analysis. AgCl formation inside parts of the composite was observed, indicating chemical transformation of silver and the possibility of affected stability and performance due to interactions with the surrounding environment. The dried composite exhibited a low specific surface area of 0.05 m²/g and a pore size of approximately 2 nm, indicating limited accessible porosity. Results indicate a required further optimization of AgNP loading and alginate structure, with preliminary tests of microplastic (MP) interactions with alginate/AgNP beads showing a limited interaction under the tested conditions. The developed composite provides a basis for multifunctional water treatment materials targeting microbial, metallic, organic, and MP contaminants and subsequent metal recycling.