The Strandja Massif (Sakar-Strandja Zone) forms an important link between the Balkan Zone (external Balkanides) of Bulgaria, which is commonly correlated with the Variscan orogen in Central Europe, and the Western Pontides of Turkey. The Bulgarian part of the massif is composed of a metamorphic basement (various granite gneisses, paragneisses, and schists) traditionally interpreted as having Precambrian age, Triassic-Jurassic metasedimentary cover, and Upper Cretaceous volcanosedimentary sequences. The basement is intruded by large granitic plutons of Variscan age that are widespread mostly across Turkish territory. New LA-ICP-MS data support the suggestion of Variscan granitoid magmatism in the studied area but do not confirm the presence of Precambrian rocks. Furthermore, two stages of magmatism are determined in relation to the Variscan metamorphism and deformation. The first one (301.9 ± 1.1 Ma) is represented by strongly deformed metagranites and thus is interpreted as syntectonic, while the second one is relatively younger (293.5 ± 1.7 Ma) and postmetamorphic.

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The only example and reference of Ptolemaic Alexandrian tombs, with clear integrations of Egyptian-style scenes and decorations, is considered an endangered archaeological site due to different coastal environmental risks in Alexandria and the absence of maintenance. Anfushi’s Necropolis is located near the western harbour (Island of Pharos) and dates back to the 2nd century BC. Sea level rises, earthquakes, flooding, storminess, variations in temperature, rainfall, and wind are the factors that have the largest effect on the destruction and decay of Anfushi’s Necropolis building materials. This paper’s main objectives were to characterize this necropolis’s building materials and assess its durability problems and risks regarding the coastal environment. Additionally, the vector mapping of its architectural and structural elements was applied for documentation and recording purposes for the necropolis. To achieve these aims, field (recording and photographs), desk (engineering drawing and mapping), and laboratory works (X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, binocular microscopy, polarizing microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy) were carried out. The results confirmed the probabilistic risk of sea level rises and its impact on the submergence of Anfushi’s Necropolis. The structural deficiencies of the tombs were caused by the effect of earthquake tremors along with anthropogenic factors. In addition, chemical and microscopic investigations showed that salt weathering (halite and gypsum) induced the decay of the building materials.

North-northeast of the village of Ilinden (Southern Pirin Mnt.) three eclogite boudins were separated on the geological map in scale 1:50 000 (Sarov, 2010). The rocks belong to the Slasten lithotectonic unit. The mineral assemblage and mineral chemistry do not allow these rocks to be classified as eclogites. They can be considered as eclogite-like ones, formed by postmagmatic-metasomatic alteration of the host rocks. Based on LA-ICP-MS sphene U-Pb dating, eclogite-like rocks yield a Late Jurassic age (160±19 Ma).