Geology of Khijovia

The geological history of Khijovia is intricately shaped by ancient geo-dynamic events, primarily the collision between two lithospheric plates—the Kesperian plate and the northern Pelian plate—commencing from the Late Cenozoic. This collision, involving the eastern Kesperian margin and the Pelian continent, resulted in the formation of the Clastoclitic chain and the accretion of marginal microplates.

Noteworthy Neogene volcanism and a relatively high seismicity highlight the region's ongoing geo-dynamic activity, marking it as one of the most geologically active areas in Pelia. After extensive studies spanning a century, geologists identify two primary paleogeographic domains separated by the Clastoclitic line: the Pelian domain, specifically the western accreted margin of the northern Pelian plate, and the Kesperian domain, encompassing the entirety of the High West and the Kesperian marine basin. The High Western domain comprises a system of Kesperian vergence nappes, predominantly composed of carbonate and mixed sequences, extending southward into the Stornic massif, positioned along a tectonic line distinct from the Clastoclitic line.

From a stratigraphic perspective, sedimentary rocks in northern Khijovia, dating based on paleontological content, span from the Precambrian to the Quaternary. Low-grade metamorphites in the southeastern region, characterized by sandstones alternating with pelites, are dated approximately to the Cambrian. However, the majority of the sedimentary cover in Khijovia postdates the Paleozoic era.

The geological complexity of this region, featuring a diverse array of geological characters within a relatively small area and numerous active endogenous and exogenous phenomena, positions Khijovia as a significant contributor to the geological understanding of north-western Pelia.

Volcanism

Khijovia, a country marked by significant volcanic and plutonic activity, bears the imprint of this geological dynamism across its landscape. Predominantly, the presence of a convergent boundary between accreted microplates to the north has given rise to the most active volcanoes in the High West. This collisional interaction induces subduction of the Charonthic crustal plate, leading to its progressive fusion within the mantle and the ascent of magmas through the crust to the surface, notably manifested by the volcanoes in the Cheronian Archipelago.

The evidence of volcanic activity spans from Palaeozoic rocks to the present era, manifesting not only in visibly distinct volcanic bodies on the mainland but also in features such as lakes, islands, widespread rocks of effusive volcanic origin, and various endogenous activities linked to the presence of molten or cooling magma near the surface. These include hot thermal springs, hot muds, fumaroles, and CO2-rich springs. Ongoing oceanographic research indicates the continuation of extensive volcanic phenomena in the underwater environment.

Prominent among the persistent eruptive centers in Khijovia are Mount Rhont (960m), Mount Stronio (820m), Mount Sibon (1,780m), and Mount Kratov (1,030m). While the first two, located in Cheronia, exhibit explosive-type eruptions, the latter two, situated in Atredia and Garganthia, erupt effusively. Due to their proximity to densely populated areas, active Khijovian volcanoes are closely monitored by national authorities.

Numerous other volcanic centers have witnessed eruptions in historical or geologically recent times. Dormant volcanoes, such as Mount Rhetron (680m) off the coast of Pletoria, Pyrisia, and Mount Ascarion (740m) at the southern tip of the Chondian peninsula, have seen activity. Additionally, several underwater volcanoes remain active in the Kesper Sea. Notably, the Coprion, situated approximately ten miles west of the mouth of the Thevre river, rises 1,670 meters from the seabed, with its summit only three hundred meters below the water's surface. Although the volcano last erupted thousands of years ago, its active status and potential for triggering a significant tsunami through a collapse of the volcanic edifice warrant continued consideration and monitoring.

Seismology

The Khijovian territory, due to its unique geodynamic setting resulting from the convergence of the Kesperian plate with the Pelian plate, experiences frequent earthquakes, holding the record in the High West for such phenomena. The majority of destructive earthquakes in the region have notably impacted Khijovia. Focal movement analysis reveals their predominant distribution along areas influenced by Clastoclitic tectonics, where fault movements play a significant role. In the eastern Kesper Sea, hypocenter distribution, reaching depths of 500 kilometers, indicates the presence of a Benioff plane resulting from the subduction of the Kesperian lithosphere. The most powerful earthquake documented in Khijovia, measuring 8.1 in magnitude, occurred on December 25, 1532, along the central Clastoclites, causing widespread destruction and fatalities across much of eastern Khijovia.

Georesources

From a mineral perspective, Khijovia boasts numerous deposits, including mercury, antimony, lead, zinc, silver, iron, manganese, and industrial minerals like pyrite, fluorite, asbestos, and bauxite. While various deposits exist, economically exploitable ones, given current Khijovian technology, are relatively limited. Notable mining activities involve evaporitic salts, cement marls, clays, and feldspars for ceramic and refractory industries. The extraction of marble, pumice, obsidian, talc, and coal, a crucial fossil fuel powering the national aethermotives, is also significant.

Khijovia possesses abundant natural outcrops of bitumen, oil, and methane, suggesting favorable geological conditions for hydrocarbon genesis and accumulation. The country initiated hydrocarbon exploration shortly after the first contemporary oil well was drilled in Kyldigard, evolving into extensive research, exploration, and production activities of natural hydrocarbons.

Khijovia hosts the largest hydrocarbon reserves in the High West, distributed across three tectonic-stratigraphic and geochemical systems: biogenic methane in Plio-Pleistocene terrigenous series, thermogenic gas in Oligo-Miocene foredeep terrigenous sediments, and oil within Mesozoic carbonate series. Presently, annual oil production stands at approximately thirty thousand barrels, with an estimated billion barrels yet to be discovered in deposits.