Extensional and transtensional tectonic deformation leads to the formation of fault-bounded sedimentary basins, which may be inverted by subsequent compressional or transpressional tectonic events. Examples of such inverted basins can be found around the globe, and an in-depth understanding of inversion processes is not only important from a scientific – structural geology and tectonics – point of view but also for unravelling trap structures that can play a role in resource exploration and underground storage. Analogue modellers have studied basin inversion processes since at least the 1980s, providing important insights into the dynamics involved, but have dedicated only limited attention to the topic over the past decade(s). This special issue therefore aims to spark a renewal of basin inversion modelling efforts, and we invite contributions focussing on a number of suggested key topics.

Next to advancing fundamental concepts in basin inversion through cutting-edge analogue modelling efforts, this special issue is also intended to promote and further establish analogue modelling as a quantitative method for studying tectonic processes and to bring together the international analogue modelling community (with full support from the EPOS Multi-scale Laboratories, MSL, network). We therefore urge authors not only to present novel modelling studies of basin inversion but also to actively discuss, establish, modernize and describe (lab) protocols and to include extensive background information on their modelling techniques. We furthermore encourage creating videos or poster presentations that can be shared online, broadcasting the magic and beauty of analogue modelling to the wider (Earth sciences) community and to the general public.

If you are interested in contributing to this special issue and would like to know more, please send us a message (email to: frank.zwaan@geo.unibe.ch).

Recent advances in acquisition design and fibre composition have led to an increasing number of fibre-optic sensing applications for both distributed and point sensor systems. In Earth sciences, these fibre-optic technologies are used to sample strain, temperature or chemicals in a great variety of environments such as boreholes, deep seas, at the surface and also in densely populated areas. In recent years, we have observed an explosion of pilot experiments leading to new applications and technological breakthroughs in many fields of Earth sciences.

The aim of this special issue is to gather and highlight different techniques, methods and applications these fibre-optic technologies offer to Earth sciences and to provide a broad perspective on recent and further developments (technical, numerical and methodological) in these new research fields. Contributions from all areas of applied geosciences (geochemistry, geophysics, geodesy, natural hazards, oceanography, soil science, geo-energy, civil and environmental engineering, volcanology, hydrology, glaciology, and many others) using fibre-optical cable sensing are welcome. We encourage including qualitative and quantitative case studies, embracing laboratory studies, large-scale field tests and modelling.

This issue is derived from the EGU Sharing Geosciences Online 2020’s session ERE5.4, entitled “State-of-the-art in mineral exploration”. The rationale behind this proposal is to bring together a number of articles aimed at exploring the current state and future prospects of mineral exploration, from different perspectives (e.g. remote sensing, geochemistry, geology, geophysics, modelling, mineralogy, structural geology).

Mineral resources are used in larger quantities than ever before in history, and are the basis of our modern society. The safe and sustainable supply of mineral resources is fostering a demand for innovative actions to cover the foreseeable future industry and human demands. Exploration is the first step in the mineral resources cycle. On the one hand, most of the giant deposits at shallow depths have been already explored and mined out and the industry is moving towards deeper and more complex mineral systems, which brings significant exploration challenges. On the other hand, the exploration sector needs time-saving, cost-effective, and, particularly in Europe, environmentally friendly and socially acceptable techniques to ensure sustainable access to mineral resources.

This special issue aims to bring together a meaningful collection of articles that will shape the mineral exploration for the 21st century. Articles can include, but are not limited to, the following topics: new methods of exploration; imaging; conceptual modelling and quantification of deposits and mineral systems; cost reduction in exploration; non-invasive exploration; environmentally sustainable exploration; integration of multidisciplinary methodologies and datasets; scale-up and replicability; industry–academia synergies; and FAIR data repositories.

This joint special issue between Solid Earth and Geoscience Communication aims to present the highlights of recent efforts of a global community of educators and researchers to develop virtual field activities to enhance student learning, research, and broader outreach. These resilient, non-traditional solutions to field-focused investigations ensure that students achieve intended learning outcomes and curricular requirements even when physical contact and travel are restricted. The special issue will ensure that the virtual field experiences initially developed as short-term solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic will become valuable longer-term resources that will increase the accessibility of field experiences for students and society.

We invite contributions that describe, discuss, and evaluate aspects of virtual field experiences, trips, and exercises, including but not limited to

• intended learning outcomes,
• methods employed in exercise design and construction,
• outreach and communication with wider society,
• how the field excursion enhances relevant previous research on the topic or location.

We have made special provisions to publish supplementary datasets that could include

• photographs, videos, and 3D models,
• geographical annotation files, such as Google Earth presentations and/or KML/KMZ files or ESRI shapefiles,
• educational materials, such as exercise descriptions, rubrics, background literature, etc.,
• links to datasets hosted in external repositories, preferably via a DOI, but if necessary as hyperlinks to material hosted on websites, such as the NAGT Teaching with Online Field Experiences site and V3Geo 3D models.

If you have other ideas, please do not hesitate to contact the special issue editors prior to submission to discuss whether they can be included.

Extensional and transtensional tectonic deformation leads to the formation of fault-bounded sedimentary basins, which may be inverted by subsequent compressional or transpressional tectonic events. Examples of such inverted basins can be found around the globe, and an in-depth understanding of inversion processes is not only important from a scientific – structural geology and tectonics – point of view but also for unravelling trap structures that can play a role in resource exploration and underground storage. Analogue modellers have studied basin inversion processes since at least the 1980s, providing important insights into the dynamics involved, but have dedicated only limited attention to the topic over the past decade(s). This special issue therefore aims to spark a renewal of basin inversion modelling efforts, and we invite contributions focussing on a number of suggested key topics.

Next to advancing fundamental concepts in basin inversion through cutting-edge analogue modelling efforts, this special issue is also intended to promote and further establish analogue modelling as a quantitative method for studying tectonic processes and to bring together the international analogue modelling community (with full support from the EPOS Multi-scale Laboratories, MSL, network). We therefore urge authors not only to present novel modelling studies of basin inversion but also to actively discuss, establish, modernize and describe (lab) protocols and to include extensive background information on their modelling techniques. We furthermore encourage creating videos or poster presentations that can be shared online, broadcasting the magic and beauty of analogue modelling to the wider (Earth sciences) community and to the general public.

If you are interested in contributing to this special issue and would like to know more, please send us a message (email to: frank.zwaan@geo.unibe.ch).

This joint special issue between Solid Earth and Geoscience Communication aims to present the highlights of recent efforts of a global community of educators and researchers to develop virtual field activities to enhance student learning, research, and broader outreach. These resilient, non-traditional solutions to field-focused investigations ensure that students achieve intended learning outcomes and curricular requirements even when physical contact and travel are restricted. The special issue will ensure that the virtual field experiences initially developed as short-term solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic will become valuable longer-term resources that will increase the accessibility of field experiences for students and society.

We invite contributions that describe, discuss, and evaluate aspects of virtual field experiences, trips, and exercises, including but not limited to

• intended learning outcomes,
• methods employed in exercise design and construction,
• outreach and communication with wider society,
• how the field excursion enhances relevant previous research on the topic or location.

We have made special provisions to publish supplementary datasets that could include

• photographs, videos, and 3D models,
• geographical annotation files, such as Google Earth presentations and/or KML/KMZ files or ESRI shapefiles,
• educational materials, such as exercise descriptions, rubrics, background literature, etc.,
• links to datasets hosted in external repositories, preferably via a DOI, but if necessary as hyperlinks to material hosted on websites, such as the NAGT Teaching with Online Field Experiences site and V3Geo 3D models.

If you have other ideas, please do not hesitate to contact the special issue editors prior to submission to discuss whether they can be included.

This issue is derived from the EGU Sharing Geosciences Online 2020’s session ERE5.4, entitled “State-of-the-art in mineral exploration”. The rationale behind this proposal is to bring together a number of articles aimed at exploring the current state and future prospects of mineral exploration, from different perspectives (e.g. remote sensing, geochemistry, geology, geophysics, modelling, mineralogy, structural geology).

Mineral resources are used in larger quantities than ever before in history, and are the basis of our modern society. The safe and sustainable supply of mineral resources is fostering a demand for innovative actions to cover the foreseeable future industry and human demands. Exploration is the first step in the mineral resources cycle. On the one hand, most of the giant deposits at shallow depths have been already explored and mined out and the industry is moving towards deeper and more complex mineral systems, which brings significant exploration challenges. On the other hand, the exploration sector needs time-saving, cost-effective, and, particularly in Europe, environmentally friendly and socially acceptable techniques to ensure sustainable access to mineral resources.

This special issue aims to bring together a meaningful collection of articles that will shape the mineral exploration for the 21st century. Articles can include, but are not limited to, the following topics: new methods of exploration; imaging; conceptual modelling and quantification of deposits and mineral systems; cost reduction in exploration; non-invasive exploration; environmentally sustainable exploration; integration of multidisciplinary methodologies and datasets; scale-up and replicability; industry–academia synergies; and FAIR data repositories.

Recent advances in acquisition design and fibre composition have led to an increasing number of fibre-optic sensing applications for both distributed and point sensor systems. In Earth sciences, these fibre-optic technologies are used to sample strain, temperature or chemicals in a great variety of environments such as boreholes, deep seas, at the surface and also in densely populated areas. In recent years, we have observed an explosion of pilot experiments leading to new applications and technological breakthroughs in many fields of Earth sciences.

The aim of this special issue is to gather and highlight different techniques, methods and applications these fibre-optic technologies offer to Earth sciences and to provide a broad perspective on recent and further developments (technical, numerical and methodological) in these new research fields. Contributions from all areas of applied geosciences (geochemistry, geophysics, geodesy, natural hazards, oceanography, soil science, geo-energy, civil and environmental engineering, volcanology, hydrology, glaciology, and many others) using fibre-optical cable sensing are welcome. We encourage including qualitative and quantitative case studies, embracing laboratory studies, large-scale field tests and modelling.