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The PROPERocK project focuses on investigating the petrographic, paleontological, and geophysical properties of sedimentary rocks in the Pannonian Basin System. This region is considered one of the most significant in Europe for mineral resources and geothermal potential. A key challenge in studying these rock sequences is their heterogeneous distribution, which is caused by rapid temporal and spatial changes in the sedimentary environment during the Neogene period. Such variability poses challenges for effective correlation and a thorough understanding of the region’s geology.

The project aims to determine the geophysical properties of various aquifer-bearing Neogene sedimentary rock types, such as sandstones and their variants, as well as different limestone types, to improve understanding of these rocks’ hydrogeological and geothermal potential in the region. The project will apply multidisciplinary methods, including sedimentology, geophysics, paleontology, geochemistry, mineralogy, and thermogeology, to the same set of samples. Analysing properties such as mineral composition, texture, porosity, permeability, thermal conductivity, and diffusivity within identical samples will enable correlation and interpretation of these characteristics. Furthermore, the project will enable comparisons of rock properties, sedimentary environments, and the timing of sediment deposition. This knowledge will contribute to a better understanding of variability in rock properties and support establishing the comparability and transferability of sedimentary sequences to other regions.