The fragile Antarctic environment consists of a closely linked system of the lithosphere, atmosphere, cryosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere. Changes in this system have influenced global climate, oceanography and sea level for most of Cenozoic time. The geological history of this region therefore provides a special record of important interactions between the various components of the Earth System.

Apatites from the major types of mainly magmatic-hydrothermal mineral deposits (30 localities, mostly in British Columbia, Canada) together with apatites from carbonatites (29 intrusive complexes) and unmineralized rocks (11 localities) have been analyzed by electron microprobe and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Discriminant analysis using Mg, V, Mn, Sr, Y, La, Ce, Eu, Dy, Yb, Pb, Th, and U reveals that apatites from mineral deposits can be distinguished from apatites in carbonatites and unmineralized rocks. Apatites from mineral deposits are characterized by higher Ca and correspondingly lower total contents of trace elements that partition onto the Ca sites (rare earth elements (REEs), Y, Mn, Sr, Pb, Th, and U) than apatites from unmineralized rocks and carbonatites.

The study of geological characteristics of low-sulfidation epithermal deposits (LSED) elsewhere and in the Deseado Massif, and Fry analysis (point pattern analysis) of spatial distributions of LSED in the study area were carried out to determine geological controls on LSED that could be used as spatial evidences for predictive mapping of LSED potential on regional and district scales.

Many contemporary problems faced by Earth sciences and society are complex, for example, climate change, disaster risk, energy and water security, and preservation of oceans. Studies of these challenges require an interdisciplinary approach and common knowledge. This book contributes to closing the gap between Earth science disciplines and assists in utilisation of the growing amount of data from observations and experiments using modern techniques on data assimilation and inversions developed within the same/another discipline or across the disciplines. <...>