Basic geological research

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Basic geological research forms the basis for understanding natural processes and phenomena, provides corresponding scientific explanations and enables the transfer of scientific findings into applied knowledge and projects.

That's why at GeoZS we are working to strengthen the position and importance of basic knowledge, to follow the principles of open science and to continuously increase the quality and visibility of scientific work.

Research programmes

The four research programmes are the basic framework for the implementation of scientific research:

1. Regional geology

2. Mineral

3. Groundwater and geochemistry

4. Dynamic Earth

The research equipment and information system for the implementation of research programmes is provided by Infrastructure programme.

Regional Geology

The main purpose of the programme is to continue basic geological research in Slovenia and to integrate it into the wider European context. The main objective of the basic geological research, presented in the form of modern GIS-based geological maps, profiles, 3D models and detailed specialist studies, is to understand the characteristics of the composition of the Slovenian territory. The detailed knowledge of these features allows reconstructions of the origin of the territory to be made, but even more important is the wide applicability of the results to the economy and spatial planning. Within the programme, several interlinked tasks are carried out, the common denominator of which is a regional approach to solving geological challenges.

Research focus:

  • addressing geological issues in selected regions of Slovenia,
  • regional surveys across Slovenia
  • Global research - the integration of Slovenian space into the wider geological space.

Programme Team Leader: dr Matevž Novak

Mineral raw materials

The scientific research area of the programme group covers research on mineral raw materials in their entire life cycle, from research on raw material carriers such as rocks and geological formations to research on individual deposits, research related to the extraction of raw materials, research related to the planning of sustainable supply and management of raw materials at local and national level, research on the environmental impacts of current and past extraction and processing of raw materials, recycling of mining waste and other topics related to mineral and energy raw materials. This is a wide range of research, also relevant for the functioning of the State, as a good knowledge of the raw material base and the possibilities for their exploitation is the basis for almost any sustainable and environmentally sound planning of raw material use.

Research focus:

  • lithological composition of all rock types in the Slovenian territory, their petrology, mineralogy and age,
  • Determining the genesis of sedimentary rocks and diagenetic processes in them (sedimentary environments and their dynamics),
  • rocks and unconsolidated sediments as sources of mineral raw materials (natural and technical stone - e.g. karst limestones, felsic sandstones, shales, gneisses and gneisses of the Pohorje, dolomites, and raw materials for the manufacturing industry - hornfels, lime, cement, etc.),
  • Organogenic sediments as an energy source (coal - Velenje basin, Posavje folds),
  • clays, phyllosilicates and tuffs,
  • Mesozoic limestones and dolomites (mainly Karavanke and western Slovenia),
  • clastic sedimentary rocks, mainly Tertiary in north-eastern Slovenia,
  • Metamorphic rocks along the Periadriatic suture,
  • Recent marine, lacustrine and fluvial sediments as objects of anthropogenic polarisation.

Head of the Programme Group: dr. Gorazd Žibret

Groundwater and geochemistry

The main objective of the programme is to analyse and understand the impact of anthropogenic activities on the environment in relation to the natural geological features. The focus is on all the phases occurring in this environment, but in particular on the solid and liquid phases. The chemical and mineral composition, physical properties and structure of soils, rocks and sediments, and their weathering products, are the factors that determine and control the various components of the environment: its response to natural hazards, water supply, fertility, vulnerability, seismic risk, topographic formation, slope stability and susceptibility to drift, as well as its toxicity or neutralising capacity.

Research focus:

  • determining the current state of the chemical and physical properties of the geological environment,
  • identifying the distribution and spatial pattern of groundwater,
  • Identifying vulnerability and threats to the environment from impacts of natural origin, current and historical anthropogenic activities (e.g. municipal, special and radioactive waste disposal sites, mines, human settlements),
  • establishing the technical baselines for groundwater use and the hydrogeological basis for groundwater protection and use,
  • transfer of existing research methodologies and their further development in the Slovenian space, taking into account its specificities and geological diversity.

Head of the Programme Group: doc. dr. Mateja Gosar

Dynamic Earth

The Dynamic Earth programme focuses on Earth's dynamic processes and the dynamic interactions between Earth's surface processes and tectonics. A multidisciplinary team of researchers focuses on active tectonics and earthquake geology, lateral mass movements and other surface processes linked to climate change. Through our research programme, we deepen and broaden our knowledge, which is particularly designed to address the challenges in environmental studies and geologically driven hazards. The new knowledge contributes to the support and operation of civil protection services to improve earthquake and landslide safety. 

Research focus:

  • research on the identification and characterisation of active geological structures,
  • research on quantifying the activity of geological structures,
  • research on seismic history and seismogenic sources to determine earthquake hazards,
  • research on Earth's surface processes under the influence of climate change,
  • research into the processes and dynamics of slope mass movement,
  • research into the triggering factors for the formation of slope mass movements.

Programme Team Leader: dr Mateja Jemec Auflič

Projects

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Events

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Second Consultation on the preparation of the National Research Programme on Critical Mineral Resources, 8 April 2025

The GeoZS is responsible for the preparation of the Proposal for a National Programme for the General Exploration of Critical Raw Materials and Critical Raw Materials Carrier Minerals (hereinafter referred to as the "NRP"), which all Member States are required to prepare by May 2025 in accordance with the provisions of the Regulation establishing a framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of...

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14th International Conference of the Association for the Study of Marble and Other Rocks in Antiquity, Ljubljana, 15-20 September 2025

The 14th International Conference of the Association for the Study of Marble and Other Rocks in Antiquity will take place in Ljubljana from 15 to 20 September. More about the conference: https://asmosia14.si/domov/

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27th Slovenian Geologists' Consultation, 4 April 2025

A consultation of Slovenian geologists will take place in Ljubljana on 4 April.More information: https://sites.google.com/geo.ntf.uni-lj.si/27-posvet-slovenskih-geologov

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International Conference IRTC25: From Raw Material Policies to Practice, 19-21 February 2025

The International Round Table on Materials Criticality (IRTC), an international expert conference on the exchange of knowledge on critical raw materials, will take place in Ljubljana from 19 to 21 February. The conference will present the latest research in this field, industry representatives will present examples of different practices in companies,...

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