On 26-30 May 2026, the Baltic crystalline basement geological meeting and the Baltic Basement Spring School, Arbavere 2026, took place at the University of Tartu and the Arbavere Research Center (Estonia).
The event was attended by geologists from universities, geological surveys and scientific institutions of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Australia. The meeting discussed the latest research directions in the geology, petrology, geochemistry and geochronology of the crystalline basement, as well as the possibilities of further international cooperation in the Baltic region.
This was the second such meeting of Baltic crystalline basement researchers. Discussions were about the next meeting, which is scheduled to be held in Lithuania in 2027.
The Baltic Basement Spring School programme included lectures and practical sessions led by scientists and specialists from geological services of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The Nature Research Centre was represented by Dr. Gražina Skridlaitė and Dr. Laurynas Šiliauskas, who gave lectures on the geology of the Baltic basement and U-Pb geochronology of zircons and conducted practical sessions on well core description and geochemical data analysis using GCDkit software.
Doctoral student Olga Demina presented three poster presentations, which discussed the results of research on the petrology, hydrothermal processes, accessory mineral geochemistry and geochronology of Precambrian granitoids of southern Lithuania.
The programme also included a visit to the Estonian Mining Museum and the Kohtla-Nõmme slate mine, where participants learned about the region’s geological heritage and mining history.
The event became an important platform to exchange the latest research results, strengthen cooperation between geologists in the Baltic region, and plan joint future projects.
