Acta carsologica, XXIV (1995) 
THE FIRST CROATIAN GEOLOGICAL CONGRESS 
(OPATIJA, CROATIA) 
The First Croatian Geological Congress was held at Opatija between 
October 18 and 21, 1995. This congress was undoubtedly one of the more 
important parts of the celebration of both the 120th anniversary of geological 
studies at Zagreb University and the 85th anniversary of the Croatian 
Geological Society. 
The Congress organizers wished to gather the highest possible number of 
scientists and experts in geology and associated fields from Croatia and 
abroad, at their first congress in the Republic of Croatia. They succeeded, as 
in the Adriatic Hotel, where the participants stayed, more than 250 people 
gathered. The Karst Research Institute ZRC SAZU, Postojna contributed two 
active representatives. Most of the participants came from Croatia; some from 
Albania, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Slovenia, Hungary, Austria, Germany and 
Poland. 
Many well known geologists payed a part in creating this Congress, from 
M. Herak, to cite only one of the Honorary Committee, to D. Benček and M. 
Šparica, members of the Organizing Committee, and B. Biondic of the 
Scientific Committee. 
The fact that geological scientific knowledge represents the foundation for 
the entire life system within a certain area was one of the main Congress's 
lines. Further on it was emphasised that, without detailed knowledge of 
geological relations, nature protection, water safeguarding, and mineral re-
sources exploitation are practically impossible. This is why it was suggested to 
the participants that they demonstrate by their contributions the results of and 
the need for further development of the geological science. 
The program of the Congress included invited lectures, lectures by the 
participants, and exhibition of posters. Four excursions were organized during 
the congress; also several exhibitions, and various meetings, and round tables. 
The Congress itself was divided into four sections: 
l. stratigraphy, paleontology, sedimentology and tectonics; 
2. mineralogy, petrology, geochemistry, and mineral resources; 
3. hydrogeology, engineering geology, and informatics in geology; 
4. geology of hydrocarbons, and geophysical researches. 
The organizers arranged four excursions for the end of the Congress, all 
of them to Istria, from Rijeka in the east to Buzet in the north and Pula in 
the south. 
A stratigraphic excursion, led by I. Velic and colleagues was in western 
Istria between Rovinj and Kanfanar. Participants visited the carbonate layers 
of shallow-sea platforms from Upper Dogger to Medium Cretaceous. Within 
this period span, geologists distinguish three mega-sequences separated by two 
distinctive emmersions (land phases). 
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Reports 
The sedimentological excursion was organized by I. Tišljar and colleagues; 
it went to south-western Istria between Pazin, Rovinj and Banjole. The first 
part of the field visit was dedicated to cyclic shallow-sea carbonate sediments 
of Upper Titonian, Beriassian and Lower Aptian lagoon limestones and 
Albian trangressive carbonates. The second part of the visit took place on the 
rocks of Upper Albian and Lower Cenomanian. 
A. Gabric and colleagues presented in the next excursion the mineral 
resources of Istria. Stopping points were at the bauxite deposits, in the 
quarries of decorative stane and quarzite sands. 
The hydrogeological, engineering-geological and speleological excursion was 
prepared by B. Biondic and many research associates. It took place between 
Rijeka and Pazin. Participants met the problems related to water supply of 
Rijeka, to land-slides and to the road-tunnel under Učka. The final part was 
at the well-known cave Pazinska jama. 
Beside several co-organizers, the main organizers of the Congress were the 
Croatian Geological Society and the Institute of Geology from Zagreb; it was 
sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of 
Croatia. 
The lectures, abstracts of papers and the texts to posters, as well as the 
guide-book for all four excursions, were already published in special volumes 
before the Congress. The publications are very well edited and well produced 
which, without doubt, contributed to a successful congress. 
It was very pleasant to spend four days with the geologists of Croatia in 
an autumn Opatija and I support their wish that the Congress becomes 
traditional. 
Martin Knez 
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