The formation of volcanic massive sulfide deposits, including Kuroko deposits and seafloor hydrothermal deposits, is caused by the mixing of circulating hydrothermal fluids originating from magmatic heat with seawater that has been introduced under the seafloor. The placement of intrusive rocks contributed by magma creates high-temperature reacting semiconformable alteration zones in the associated surrounding rocks. The directionality of the volcanic sequences and faults that resulted in the intrusive activity was structurally dominated by the main stress stretching system in the seafloor geosynclines or grabens. As a reaction between hydrothermal water and rock, circulating hydrothermal water altered in the rock below the seafloor surface, forming footwall alteration zones, which developed vertically in the higher permeable host rock. Ore precipitates composed of pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, barite, etc. are deposited at and below the seafloor surface. Comparison of seafloor mounds against network and veined stockwork zones in footwalls shows different temperature dependence of the solubility of chalcopyrite, sphalerite and galena. The vertical zoning from the copper-rich bottom to the zinc-rich top is due to the solubility of chalcopyrite and sphalerite during the cooling process and rapid sulfur saturation by bacterial activity. Distal products, which are plumes from the seafloor around volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits, have a protective function by covering the deposit and are also important in ore mineralogy because of their chemical characteristics (Eu, Tl, Mn, P, Ag, etc.) that indicate the halo of high-temperature hydrothermal plumes. Within the Wilson cycle, volcanic massive sulfide deposit formation is favored in environments of continental splitting (rifting) of oceanic and continental plates, oceanic expansion and subduction orogenic movements.

In some exploration cases, outcrops of Kuroko-bearing conglomerate volcanic clastic rocks were interpreted as distal products and aimed at finding the main body of volcanic massive sulfide deposits. In another case, observations of the mineralization of several hanging-wall alteration zones were used to identify the activities of the original volcanic massive sulfide deposit during its ore-forming phase. In the third case study, the precipitation environment of copper and zinc is discussed as a difference between mineralization on the volcanic front and on the back arc side in seafloor hydrothermal deposits in the Okinawa Trough area. As a final case, the mining districts of volcanic massive sulfide deposits globally are well known, however, like the South African case, it is expected that rifting, oceanic expansion and subduction stages exist outside the mining districts of volcanic massive sulfide deposits, where the formation system of mineralization is expected to arise.

The recent remarkable development of the information society has brought about a great change in the

literate society. Writing by Chinese ink with an inkstone has become almost obsoleted. However, inkstones are still

one of the Japanese traditional handicrafts that are loved and treasured by calligraphers, painters, citizens who enjoy

calligraphy, and arts and crafts enthusiasts. Until now, there has been limited about scientific research on traditional

Chinese terms and notations related to inkstones, the functions of inkstones, natural figures on the inkstones, etc.

We carried out preliminary petrological and mineralogical experiments of ink stones and reported its functional properties.

In addition, domestic ink stone was also reviewed and the production environment was examined. In order to inherit

the unique Japanese traditional craft techniques, further contributions from geology, petrology, and mineralogy are

expected, such as elucidation of precise texture of inkstone and identifying high quality inkstone stone resources.

The COVID-19 pandemic has continued still in this one year from September 2021 to August 2022, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine was added as the biggest topic. Compared with these topics, our topics in and by Japan are limited as follows: 1) a Canadian exploration companies drilled high-grade gold ores prospecting sited in northeastern Hokkaido, 2) a Japanese mining company drilled high-grade gold ore in eastern Canada with a Canadian exploration company, and 3) oil and gas was found at an offshore oil and gas field in Norway, and an onshore oil and gas field in Abu Dhabi.