Abstract Geodiversity and geosite assessments precede geoheritage and geotourism utilization. The process first determines the geodiversity value of an area (based on geoscientific attributions) and then the geotourism potential of the available sites. As a result, significant geosites can be identified, which are the bases for protection and tourism. During geosite assessment, scientific and infrastructural aspects are essential because spectacular sites and landscapes carrying intrinsic or visible values generate interest among tourists and professionals. In this study, a quantitative workflow to determine the geodiversity index over an area, evaluate geosites and monitor significant ones is presented. The study area is the Bakony–Balaton UNESCO Global Geopark, where no quantitative assessment was conducted previously. A GIS-based geodiversity analysis identified the most diverse areas which gave the basis for the geosite assessment done in a ‘geodiverse’ subregion of the geopark. The most important nine of the 75 identified potential geosites were chosen to examine the spatial variance of the assessment. By continuous monitoring, we got an image of what the visitors liked or did not like there. In this way, we were able to monitor the various opinions of geotourists to present unique development strategies for each of them. A connection between the location of geosites and the spatial distribution of geodiversity values was also determined by analysing and visualizing the connection between geodiversity and geosite assessment results.

We present data and models for the present-day stress and strain pattern in the Pannonian Basin and surrounding East Alpine–Dinaric orogens. Formation of the Pannonian Basin within the Alpine mountain belt started in the early Miocene, whereas its compressional reactivation has been taking place since late Pliocene–Quaternary time. Basin inversion is related to changes in the stress field from a state of tension during basin formation in the Miocene to a state of compression resulting from the convergence between the Adria microplate and the European plate. Seismicity indicates that deformation is mainly concentrated along Adria's boundaries where pure contraction (thrusting in Friuli and the southeastern Dinarides), often in combination with transform faulting (dextral transpression in the central Dinarides), is predominant. Tectonic stresses and deformation are transferred into the Pannonian Basin, resulting in a complex pattern of ongoing tectonic activity. From the margin of Adria toward the interior of the Pannonian Basin, the dominant style of deformation gradually changes from pure contraction, through transpression, to strike-slip faulting. Shortening in the basin system, documented by earthquake focal mechanisms, global positioning system (GPS) data, and the neotectonic habitat, has led to considerable seismotectonic activity and folding of the lithosphere. The state of recent stress and deformation in the Pannonian Basin is governed by the interaction of plate-boundary and intraplate forces, which include the counterclockwise rotation and N-NE–directed indentation of the Adria microplate (“Adria-push”) as the dominant source of compression, in combination with buoyancy forces associated with differential topography and lithospheric heterogeneities.

The completeness of an exploration project is of crucial importance for making a decision to start or to give up a mining investment, or to continue the exploration to get complementary information. The authors discuss this problem on the example of the Halimba bauxite deposit, Hungary. Two-hundred thirty-seven core drills were executed on a 14 ha area. Resource calculations were carried out in 12 subsequent stages by fuzzy arithmetic with the aim to quantify the uncertainties of ore tonnage and grade. Prior information and prior probabilities were applied to complete the exploration data. Their validity was checked by the subsequent stages. Ranges of influence for the main variables were calculated by geostatistical methods (variograms). Spatial variability and spatial continuity of the orebodies were mathematically evaluated. The authors found that there is no single “overall” value to express the completeness of a mineral exploration program, but the main geological, mining, and economic factors must be evaluated separately and ranked according to their importance. The reliability of the results can be quantified by the application of new “uncertainty-oriented” mathematical methods.