1st Day: THE CORINTH CANAL The Corinth Gulf is one of the geological research hotspots since the ‘90s with hundreds of publications from tens of research groups worldwide. It forms a major fieldtrip destination for several universities with emphasis on structural geology, earthquake geology, geological mapping, sedimentology, Quaternary Geology, geodesy and geoarchaeology. The Corinth Gulf is one of the fastest extending regions in global scale with rates up to 20mm/yr. Strain is released predominantly through strong often catastrophic earthquakes that occur in one of the many predominantly E-W trending active normal faults. Indeed, there have been 11 earthquakes with magnitudes > Ms 6.0 in the last c. 100 years and some of them like the 1981 earthquake sequence have generated primary surface ruptures extending for tens of km and up to 1.5m high. The basin is underfilled with sediments with its deepest point at 800 m water depth towards its centre. The southern margin is constantly uplifting with rates as high as 1.5mm/yr so that Plio-Pleistocene marine sediments, numerous marine terraces even spectacular paleodelta of the Gulf are now uplifted up to 1200m elevation. All the above, mark the Corinth Gulf as a spectacular geological laboratory, ideal for research and educational purposes.

The 6 km long famous Corinth Canal despite being an amazing feat of engineering, since it was constructed 120 year ago, it’s also a geology field trip favourite because it is basically a mega-trench. More than 40 faults can be identified some of them offsetting the entire sedimentary column, whereas others are confined within the lower sediments. The Corinth Isthmus graben is located between the south-dipping Loutraki Fault and the north dipping Kechriaie Fault. The Corinth canal is visible crossing the Isthmus of Corinth. Ancient Corinth was a major naval force, a major trade centre and exporter of black-figure pottery to city states from 600 BC. It rivaled Athens in wealth, based on the Isthmian traffic and trade. This trade was facilitated by the two main ports of the town; the Kechriaie port located in the Saronikos Gulf and the Lechaion port located in the Corinth Gulf. Ships were transported overland between both harbors through Diolkos a limestone paved trackway approximately 8km long. Kechriaie (or Kechries, in modern Greek : Κεχριές) is also famous because Apostle Paul visited the harbor at least three times having a prolonged stay during his third visit and mentioned it twice to his epistles to the Corinthians. The submerged harbor and the temple of Isis that are now up to 2 m below sea level indicate that seismic activity, has led to the subsidence of the coastline since ancient times. The fluctuations and evolution of benthic foraminiferal assemblages have been documented in detail within a borehole from the tectonically active area at the eastern part of Corinth Isthmus (Papanikolaou et al., 2015; Pallikarakis et al., 2017). Through detailed lithological descriptions, quantitative analyses of foraminiferal fauna, and magnetic susceptibility measurements, the paleoenvironment within the borehole was described. The vertical stacking pattern of the depositional facies, as described, indicated a constant succession of deepening and shallowing depositional paleoenvironments. Calcareous nannofossil findings documented the presence of E. huxleyi (NN21a biozone), indicating that sediments are younger than MIS 8 and have been deposited during highstands at least since MIS 7. Based on the glacioeustatic sealevel changes, along with the measured uplift rate of the area, it is suggested that not only MIS 7, but also the MIS 5.5 highstand, is determined in the eastern part of the Corinth Isthmus sedimentary sequence, while the presence of MIS 6.5 is not excluded.

2nd Day. METHANA VOLCANIC PENINSULA is located at the Western Saronic Gulf, approximately 163 km away from Athens, covering an area of 50Km2. Today, Methana is well situated for family, religious and health tourism. It is ideal for hiking trips in beautiful paths between the hills, interesting for the unique flora and fauna and offers plenty of Byzantine churches and small chapels. It is a traditional site for hot baths and health spas.

It is part of the South Aegean Volcanic Arc, in the close proximity of three other volcanoes a sunken volcanic center (Pausanias volcano) northeast of Methana, Aegina and Poros. It is a composite andesite-dacite volcano that has developed numerous monogenetic vents (more than 30), over a surface of ~ 42km2 . The peninsula is located in the highly active tectonic area of the Saronic Gulf, which is dominated by a set of E-W normal faults and by NE-SW strike-slip faults and cross-cut by a myriad of smaller faults. The locations of the volcanic vents tend to coincide with the fault systems.

At least 14 distinct eruptions can be identified, 3 of which were explosive. Effusive activity sometimes occurred from multiple vents during the same event. The extruded volumes are moderate for lava flows, in the range of 0.1-0.9 km3. Explosive activity emplaced pumice deposits with thicknesses of up to 3 m, and relatively small volumes: ~ 0.01 km3.

The volcanic stratigraphy of Methana has been documented on the “Geological Map 1:25000 of Methana” (Dietrich et al. 1996) and revised by Pe-Piper and Piper (2013).

The ages of the volcanic activity are poorly constrained. For simplicity, the units are marked from I (oldest) to XIV (youngest). Based on erosive surfaces and terrace features, the volcanic activity has been separated in 4 major episodes:

Events I and II: the so-called “volcanic socle”, dated at 3.5 ± 0.9 Ma, covers the Mesozoic basement and Lower Pliocene marine marls (nannoplankton NN15 ∼ 4.2 Ma). It is marked by an explosive eruption and by a series of domes and lava flows extruded all over the peninsula. Events III – XI (with random dates between 1.4±0.3 and 0.6 ± 0.2 Ma): marked by two explosive eruptions (VI and VIII) and by a series of lava flows and domes. Limited hydrothermal activity is associated with this stage of volcanic activity. Events XII-XIII with ages of 0.34 and 0.29 Ma: lava flows and domes extruded from vents developed on N-S (XII) and E-W (XIII) directions. The eruptions are probably closely related to tectonic activity and the development of faults/fractures. Event XIV: the youngest eruption, the Mavri Petra lava flow complex, which has erupted in historical times ~ 250 BP towards in the NW corner of the peninsula.

An extensive geochemical survey on the fluids released by the volcanic/geothermal system of Methana was undertaken. Characterization of the gases was made on the basis of the chemical and isotopie (He and C) analysis of 14 samples. CO2 soil gas concentration and fluxes were measured on the whole peninsula at more than 100 sampling sites.

Meteora, located in central Greece near the town of Kalambaka, is a geological and cultural marvel that uniquely blends natural wonder with human history. Geologically, the towering rock pillars were formed over 60 million years ago during the Paleogene period, when a river delta deposited layers of sandstone and conglomerate. Tectonic activity and continuous erosion by wind and water sculpted these vertical cliffs, some rising over 400 meters, into their present form. Archaeological findings in the surrounding caves, such as Theopetra Cave, indicate human presence dating back over 50,000 years, making the area one of the oldest continuously inhabited regions in Greece. During the Byzantine era, starting in the 14th century, Orthodox Christian monks established monasteries atop the nearly inaccessible peaks as a retreat from political turmoil and invasions. These monasteries, built with remarkable skill and persistence, became centers of spiritual life, art, and scholarship. Meteora today is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, celebrated for its rare combination of geological grandeur and deep archaeological and religious significance.

Delphi, nestled on the slopes of Mount Parnassus in central Greece, was one of the most important religious and cultural centers of the ancient Greek world. Known as the sanctuary of Apollo, it was believed to be the omphalos—the navel of the world—where heaven and earth met. The site is most famous for the Oracle of Delphi, where the Pythia, a priestess of Apollo, delivered cryptic prophecies that influenced major political and military decisions across the Greek world. Archaeologically, Delphi is rich with remains including the Temple of Apollo, the theater, the treasuries of various city-states, and the stadium used for the Pythian Games. These structures reflect the site's religious significance and its role as a hub of artistic and athletic excellence. Geologically, Delphi lies on a fault line, and some theories suggest that natural gases emitted from underground fissures may have contributed to the trance-like state of the oracle. Today, Delphi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offering a compelling glimpse into the spiritual, political, and intellectual life of ancient Greece.

There will be a 2-day (1-night) field trip right after the conference on 13 and 14 November 2025. The excursion will help you discover the famous Lavrion mines in Attica (50 km south of Athens), which was the main metallogenic district during Antiquity, providing metals at the basis of the hegemony of the city of Athens over the Mediterranean world in the 5^th and 4^th centuries BC. This trip is not just about exploring the geological features of the Lavreotiki area, but also about immersing yourself in the unique experiences and sensations these landscapes, geology, mineralogy, and archeological sites that the Attica Riviera have to offer.

13 November: On the initial day of the post-conference field trip, we will explore the geological and tectonic framework of Lavreotiki UNESCO Global Geopark. Our itinerary includes a tour from Porto Ennia through Thorikos, and finally to Plaka, from the east to west across the area. It provides opportunities to examine and discuss the Western Cycladic Detachment system at the Porto Ennia locality, which played a major role in the exhumation of metamorphic core complexes in the Cyclades, emplacement of magmas and ore deposition during the Late Miocene. The morning will be also be dedicated to exploring one of several granitoid sills/dikes exposed in the Lavrion area at the coastal Tombolo geosite, which is a scenic area at the footwall of the detachment, admiring also spectacular geomorphological features. The trip will also include a visit to the Thorikos area, which represents the site of earliest mining activity in Lavreotiki, at about 3000-3500 years BC. Ore extraction took place from prehistoric mines following specific lithologies and brittle structures along and beneath the detachment fault. The rest of the day will be spent around Plaka village, the second most important mining centre in Lavreotiki. Plaka represents an intrusion-related system and includes five distinct mineralization styles, occurring close to each other, a feature very rarely observed elsewhere in the world. We will visit the porphyry-style mineralization with potassic-, sodic-calcic, and phyllic alteration, associated with exoskarn and carbonate-hosted replacement mineralization, which were formed under ductile-brittle to brittle conditions. We will spend the evening and night in the city of Lavrion, renowned for its fish restaurants and nightlife.

14 November: On the second day, we will visit a unique geological wonder of the Lavreotiki UNESCO Global Geopark, the famous Mine “80” at Plaka area. This mine exploited bonanza-grade silver mineralization in the 20^th and 21^th centuries from typical epithermal style banded veins crosscutting metamorphic rocks. During the underground visit in Mine 80, we can also observe and discuss the famous sulfide-mineralized detachment outcrops and breccia-style mineralization hosting one of the REE- and Ga-richest ores in Greece. At noon, we will visit the Mineralogical Museum at Lavrion city and admire the mineral wealth of Lavreotiki, which contains about 750 different mineral species, the largest number in the world for a single locality, among them several type locality minerals. What truly captivates is the beauty of the Lavrion minerals: colorful crystals that can be observed both on the mountain's surface and in galleries adapted as a geotourism attraction. In the next visit, at the archeological site of Soureza Valley, we will learn about the ore processing methods during ancient times and discuss archeometallurgical problems. In the afternoon, we will see the impressive Poseidon Temple at Cape Sounion, one of the most spectacular landscapes in the Attica Riviera. The Temple reflects the wealth and prosperity of the Athenian State during the 5^th century BC. After that last visit of the trip, the bus will bring us back to Athens.

The Lavrion area offers a unique blend of disciplines, such as geology (tectonics, magmatism, ore deposition, geomorphology), mining, environmental management, and history, providing an enriching and unforgettable experience

Throughout the trip, we will be guided by five experts in their respective fields: Panagiotis Voudouris and Konstantinos Soukis from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Alexandre Tarantola from the University of Lorraine, Frank Hulek from the N.C.S.R. Demokritos, and Eugenia Moraiti from the Lavreotiki UNESCO Global Geopark. Their profound knowledge and insights will ensure a rich and enlightening field trip experience.

Please note that a participation fee is required to secure your spot. This fee covers all expenses, including bus transport, hotels, breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. The online registration for the field trip will open on 15 August 2025 (see the Important Dates section for more details).