International geological significance of the potential Al-Medina volcanic UNESCO Global Geopark Project in Saudi Arabia revealed from multi-satellite remote sensing data

UNESCO Global Geoparks should be of international geological significance in terms of their scientific quality, rarity, aesthetic appeal and tourism value. At least nine Cenozoic volcanic fields are developed in the western Saudi Arabia, with a total area of 180,000 km2. In this paper, the geological and geomorphological features of these volcanic fields induced by the expansion of the Red Sea are interpreted and displayed using multi-source satellite images, such as Landsat-8 OLI (Operational Land Imager) and Gaofen-2 data. Our results show that the Al-Medina volcanic field (AMVF) has great prospects as the aspiring volcanic Geopark in Saudi Arabia. This study indicates that: (1) AMVF has international geoscientific significance and rare natural attribute because the volcanic fields are induced by the rising mantle plume and rare examples of white volcanoes comprised mainly from felsic rock; (2) AMVF has abundant volcanic landscapes, including completely preserved cones and craters and multi-phase lava flows from different eruption stages, which have great aesthetic appreciation and tourism values to attract the general public; (3) AMVF is close to the second holy city of Islam-Medina, which has convenient transportation and is suitable to develop tourism to promote the development of the local economy; (4) AMVF had erupted repeatedly (the latest eruption was in 1256 AD), establishment of the UNESCO Global Geopark Project can not only prevent potential geological hazard risks to the people living in Medina city from future volcanic eruption events, but also provide better protection and conservation to geoheritage sites being damaged by human activities, for example setting protected boundaries of AMVF to avoid the destruction of volcanic landscape integrity caused by urban expansion.

Geological, Biological, Cultural And Local Wisdom Heritage A Key Element Of Mersing Geopark Development

The district of Mersing is bestowed with many national and international geological heritage sites dated since 350 million years ago. The high biodiversity and uniqueness of the local culture complements the geoheritage of the area. Thus, the National Geopark Committee has chosen Mersing as a territory to be developed as a geopark. Mersing Geopark development efforts were initiated in 2017 through the Mersing Geopark Scientific and Development Committee. The entire Mersing district of 6,371 square kilometers, including the marine areas right up to the Aur Archipelago is identified as the geopark area. The geoheritage here has been identified as 22 geosites, which cover land and island areas. Important flora and fauna have also been identified as being within the protected areas. The unique and preserved traditions of life, art and culture add to the value of this geopark. Several key elements were introduced to prepare Mersing Geopark before being evaluated as a national geopark candidate in December 2018, namely governance of the geopark - management based on ‘co-management’ mechanism, nature conservation – community, community economy through geotourism activities, and public education. Many programmes and activities have been carried out to face future plans for Mersing to become a UNESCO Global Geopark. Geopark enhances natural and cultural heritage resources through integrated development, geotourism development to increase income, preservation of heritage sites and empowerment of local communities to foster a strong sense of pride and belonging to a place.

PROFESSOR YA. V. SAMOILOV: CONTRIBUTION TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF PALEOBIOCHEMISTRY, THE DOCTRINE OF BIOLITHS AND AGRONOMIC ORES. TO THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH

Yakov Vladimirovich Samoilov (1870-1925) - a large and original mineralogist, geologist, paleobiogeochemist of the early 20th century, one of the first students of V.I. Vernadsky at Moscow University, a talented teacher, professor at Moscow University, Moscow Agricultural Institute, Novoaleksandriysky Institute of Agriculture and Forestry. As a mineralogist he worked in the Urals, in Central Russia, in the Donetsk basin. Head of a large-scale program for the study of phosphorites in European Russia, founder and first director of the Scientific Institute for Fertilizers, an active participant in several international geological congresses. Developed the doctrine of biolites and agronomic ores. He made an original contribution to the substantiation of paleobiochemistry, sedimentology and lithology. I'M IN. Samoilov was one of the first scientists to pay attention to the study of the mineralogy of sedimentary deposits. Organizer and head of a large-scale program for studying phosphorite deposits in European Russia with the aim of using phosphorus fertilizers in agriculture. Organizer of the Public Committee and the Scientific Institute for Fertilizers (now the Ya.V. Samoilov Scientific Institute for Fertilizers and Insectofungisides), an active participant in the organization of research in mineralogy and geochemistry at the Institute of Applied Mineralogy and the Floating Marine Scientific Institute, chairman of a number of commissions at the Supreme Council of the National Economy of the USSR, a consultant State Planning Committee of the USSR. All his life he was in close communication with V.I. Vernadsky.