YEARBOOK GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF ESTONIA F. R. Kreutzwaldi 5 44314 Rakvere Telephone: (+372) 630 2333 E-mail: [email protected] ISSN 2733-3337 © Eesti Geoloogiateenistus 2021 2 Foreword . 3 About GSE . 5 Cooperation . 6 Human resource development . 9 Fieldwork areas 2020 . 12 GEOLOGICAL MAPPING AND GEOLOGICAL DATA Coring – a major milestone in subsurface investigations in Estonia . 13 Coring projects for geological investigations at the GSE in 2020 . 15 Distribution, extraction, and exploitation of construction minerals in Pärnu county . 17 Mineral resources, geophysical anomalies, and Kärdla Crater in Hiiumaa . .22 Geological mapping in Pärnu County . .26 Opening year of the digital Geological Archive . .29 HYDROGEOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY Status of Estonian groundwater bodies in 2014–2019 . 31 Salinisation of groundwater in Ida-Viru County . .35 Groundwater survey of Kukruse waste rock heap . .37 The quality of groundwater and surface water in areas with a high proportion of agricultural land . .39 Transient 3D modelling of 18O concentrations with the MODFLOW-2005 and MT3DMS codes in a regional-scale aquifer system: an example from the Estonian Artesian Basin . .42 Radon research in insuffi ciently studied municipalities: Keila and Võru towns, Rõuge, Setomaa, Võru, and Ruhnu rural municipalities . .46 GroundEco – joint management of groundwater dependent ecosystems in transboundary Gauja–Koiva river basin . .50 MARINE GEOLOGY Coastal monitoring in 2019-2020 . .53 Geophysical surveys of fairways . .56 Environmental status of seabed sediments in the Baltic Sea . .58 The strait of Suur väin between the Estonian mainland and the Muhu Island overlies a complex bedrock valley . 60 Foreword 2020 has been an unusual year that none of us is likely to soon forget. The world has changed, people’s needs and expecta- tions have changed, and the focus is shifting increasingly to resource effi ciency and environmental protection. In order for the green transition to bring economic benefits to Estonia while also safeguarding the environment, and to give our citi- zens confidence in the future, the Geological Survey of Esto- nia (GSE) must contribute to the collection and publication of science-based and fact-based data. Sirli Sipp Kulli Director of the Geological Survey of Estonia In the development of our young organisa- the field of geology. Based on the needs tion, the GSE’s third year of operation has and expectations of these parties as well as been comparable to a marathon check- public authorities we have been preparing point, where we took a look around us to an updated development plan for the GSE see whether we have the right competen- for the next five years, which is now nearly cies and are moving in the right direction complete. and at the right pace to restart our coun- try’s economy. We have received a great deal of support from our universities and we look forward At the beginning of the year, there were to the fruits that our ongoing collaboration changes in the GSE’s management. Now projects will bear in the coming years. In our team has expanded and strategic, for- addition to seeing the fact-based research ward-looking goals have been established results that will be produced, we hope to with greater clarity. recruit highly educated geologists for our team from among university graduates. I am extremely pleased that, despite the re- strictions resulting from the Covid-19 pan- We have laid a foundation of knowledge demic, we have managed to establish close and skills and are improving it in order to and open bilateral contacts with both local support the launch of various projects of governments and companies operating in importance to the state, including off shore EESTI GEOLOOGIATEENISTUS 2020 3 and onshore wind farms, solar farms, a fixed By an emotionally diffi cult decision, but one link with Saaremaa, etc. We assessed the in accordance with the objectives of the on- security of supply of construction miner- going state reform, we resolved to merge als in Rapla County and Pärnu County and the GSE’s laboratory with and transfer the restarted the investigation, interrupted 30 related expertise, gained over decades, to years ago, of major state-owned mineral the Estonian Environmental Research Cen- resources, such as phosphorite and grap- tre. With this, we ensured a better price– tolitic argillite. Furthermore, we launched quality ratio of lab services for both the in- the relocation of our tremendous common stitution itself and businesses, as well as the treasure – the tens of kilometres worth of opportunity for the staff to apply their skills drill cores collected around 80 years ago – in an accredited laboratory. In order to fulfill to modern facilities at Arbavere. our main tasks, we focus on raising geolog- ical competence and involving experts in Concerning one of our key resources, order to make our best contribution to the groundwater, we prepared hydrogeolog- development of the country’s economy in ical maps and maps of the level of protec- the conditions of the green deal. tion of the groundwater in Hiiu County and Rapla County. In addition, last year, our hy- This yearbook provides an interesting drogeologists participated outstandingly overview of our most important projects in several international projects, setting a in 2020 and their results, and also takes a shining example for our other departments. brief look at the future. It contains articles on everything from groundwater surveys, Growing pressure for the exploitation of seabed surveys, and coastal monitoring coastal areas in Estonia has increased the to geological investigations. We hope that need for reliable base data and knowledge. you enjoy the comprehensive articles and The new coastal monitoring methodology the wonderful information and images con- and its further use will allow us to obtain tained therein, and that they provide you more reliable data for the spatial planning with a full overview of the GSE’s activities. and protection of marine and coastal areas and for the mapping of risks. Meanwhile, the completed survey of shipping lanes has provided the Maritime Administration with updated information for dredging projects. Happy reading! 4 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF ESTONIA 2020 About Geological Survey of Estonia State Budget 2018 2019 2020 Labour costs 1 300 000,00 € 1 400 000,00 € 1 400 000,00 € Management costs 729 815,00 € 1 356 000,00 € 1 084 176,00 € Investments 271 000,00 € 450 000,00 € 375 000,00 € (including Arbavere development) Total 2 300 815,00 € 3 206 000,00 € 2 856 176,00 € Staff Reflection from society (Emor AS survey 14.05-20.05.2020) The average age is 41 years. Should the impact of using geological resources Gender ratio to the environment, economy and social sphere be more investigated in Estonia? 50% Female 68% The impact as a whole should 50% Male be more investigated 16% Don’t know Length of service in the institution (GSE started operating on 01.01.2018) 14% Current study results are suffi cient 2% The impact as a whole can be less investigated 60% Up to 3 years How well are you aware of the fields that the 29% Up to 2 years Geological Survey of Estonia deals with 11% Less than 1 year 65% Rather aware Level of education 18% Rather not aware 17% Not sure 64% MA 21% PhD 15% BA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF ESTONIA 2020 5 ResTA information day (In collabroration with TalTech and TÜ). Photo Sirli Sipp Kulli. Cooperation The key question in geological surveying has always been of the Geological Survey of Estonia. The where and how much to research. Today more emphasis is help of the rural municipality governments also put on how to research and what happens after the re- in informing the population was essential in search. Cooperation between researchers, scientists and de- places where the drilling work was carried cision-makers is becoming more and more important to find out. Information was available on the web- answers. The needs of undertakings and the local community sites of the rural municipalities and longer cannot be ignored. explanatory articles were published in local newspapers. Information on the progress of A good example of cooperation from 2020 drilling work was also available on the web- was the construction of boreholes in co- operation with the local governments in site of GSE. The few problems that arose Virumaa. The objectives of research, the were related to the state of the local roads siting of boreholes and the technical side of and were solved quickly. Local governments drilling needed to be explained. The unions have continued interest in the results of the of Lääne-Viru and Ida-Viru County Munic- research and we will definitely introduce the ipalities responded positively to the plans results once they are published. 6 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF ESTONIA 2020 We will continue to cooperate with other state agencies. Many surveys have been conducted based on the state agencies’ need to use adequate information to make informed decisions. Examples from 2020 include the survey of fairways at the re- quest of the Estonian Maritime Adminis- tration (now Transport Administration), and at the request of the Ministry of the Environment, the assessment of the sta- tus of groundwater bodies, the seashore monitoring and soil radiation monitoring, and the assessment of security of supply of construction minerals in Pärnu County. Cooperation with state agencies will also continue in 2021. Issues related to the use of land in existing and prospective depos- its have become more apparent. Particular focus is on the prospects of the supply of construction minerals, especially in Harju County. Developers have taken an inter- est in the geological conditions of the pro- posed areas for off shore wind farms. The Defence Forces have also expressed an interest in using geological information for their needs.