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The High Agri Valley (southern Italy) is one of the largest intermontane basin of the southern Apennines affected by intensive agricultural and industrial activities. The study of groundwater chemical features provides much important information useful in water resource management. In this study, hydrogeochemical investigations coupled with multivariate statistics, saturation indices, and stable isotope composition (δD and δ18O) were conducted in the High Agri Valley to determine the chemical composition of groundwater and to define the geogenic and anthropogenic influences on groundwater quality. Twenty-four sampling point ( including well and spring waters) have been examined. The isotopic data revealed that groundwater has a meteoric origin. Well waters, located on recent alluvial-lacustrine deposits in shallow porous aquifers at the valley floor, are influenced by seasonal rainfall events and show shallow circuits; conversely, spring waters from fissured and/or karstified aquifers are probably associated to deeper and longer hydrogeological circuits. The R -mode factor analysis shows that three factors explain 94% of the total variance, and F1 represents the combined effect of dolomite and silicate dissolution to explain most water chemistry. In addition, very low contents of trace elements were detected, and their distribution was principally related to natural input. Only two well waters, used for irrigation use, show critical issue for NO3- concentrations, whose values are linked to agricultural activities. Groundwater quality strongly affects the management of water resources, as well as their suitability for domestic, agricultural, and industrial uses. Overall, our results were considered fulfilling the requirements for the inorganic component of the Water Framework Directive and Italian legislation for drinking purposes. The water quality for irrigation is from “good to permissible” to “excellent to good” although salinity and relatively high content of Mg2+ can occasionally be critical.
M. Paternoster; R. Buccione; F. Canora; D. Buttitta; S. Panebianco; G. Rizzo; R. Sinisi; V. Summa; G. Mongelli. Hydrogeochemistry and Groundwater Quality Assessment in the High Agri Valley (Southern Italy). Geofluids 2021, 2021, 1 -15.
AMA StyleM. Paternoster, R. Buccione, F. Canora, D. Buttitta, S. Panebianco, G. Rizzo, R. Sinisi, V. Summa, G. Mongelli. Hydrogeochemistry and Groundwater Quality Assessment in the High Agri Valley (Southern Italy). Geofluids. 2021; 2021 ():1-15.
Chicago/Turabian StyleM. Paternoster; R. Buccione; F. Canora; D. Buttitta; S. Panebianco; G. Rizzo; R. Sinisi; V. Summa; G. Mongelli. 2021. "Hydrogeochemistry and Groundwater Quality Assessment in the High Agri Valley (Southern Italy)." Geofluids 2021, no. : 1-15.
A review of the compositional features of Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco phosphorites is proposed in order to assess and compare the paleoenvironmental conditions that promoted the deposit formation as well as provide information about their economic perspective in light of growing worldwide demand. Since these deposits share a very similar chemical and mineralogical composition, the attention was focused on the geochemistry of rare earth elements (REEs) and mostly on ΣREEs, Ce and Eu anomalies, and (La/Yb) and (La/Gd) normalized ratios. The REEs distributions reveal several differences between deposits from different locations, suggesting mostly that the Tunisian and Algerian phosphorites probably were part of the same depositional system. There, sub-reducing to sub-oxic conditions and a major REEs adsorption by early diagenesis were recorded. Conversely, in the Moroccan basins, sub-oxic to oxic environments and a minor diagenetic alteration occurred, which was likely due to a different seawater supply. Moreover, the drastic environmental changes associated to the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum event probably influenced the composition of Northern African phosphorites that accumulated the highest REEs amounts during that span of time. Based on the REEs concentrations, and considering the outlook coefficient of REE composition (Koutl) and the percentage of critical elements in ΣREEs (REEdef), the studied deposits can be considered as promising to highly promising REE ores and could represent a profitable alternative source for critical REEs.
Roberto Buccione; Rabah Kechiched; Giovanni Mongelli; Rosa Sinisi. REEs in the North Africa P-Bearing Deposits, Paleoenvironments, and Economic Perspectives: A Review. Minerals 2021, 11, 214 .
AMA StyleRoberto Buccione, Rabah Kechiched, Giovanni Mongelli, Rosa Sinisi. REEs in the North Africa P-Bearing Deposits, Paleoenvironments, and Economic Perspectives: A Review. Minerals. 2021; 11 (2):214.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRoberto Buccione; Rabah Kechiched; Giovanni Mongelli; Rosa Sinisi. 2021. "REEs in the North Africa P-Bearing Deposits, Paleoenvironments, and Economic Perspectives: A Review." Minerals 11, no. 2: 214.
The Pietra del Pertusillo fresh-water reservoir is located in the High Agri Valley (Basilicata region, Southern Italy). The present work represents a first comprehensive study about the mineralogy and the geochemistry of fluvial-lacustrine sediments and bedrock lithologies of this fresh-water reservoir catchment area. Lacustrine (15 samples), fluvial-lacustrine (14 samples) and local bedrock sediments (27 samples) have been sampled and mineralogical and geochemical analyses have been performed on the sampled sediments. The mineralogical assemblage is mainly composed of quartz and calcite and minor feldspars, muscovite, illite, chlorite, and interstratified clay minerals. The geochemistry reveals that major oxides are SiO2, Fe2O3, Al2O3, and CaO. Attention has been paid to the presence of potentially toxic chemical elements (heavy metals) within the sampled sediments. The heavy metals are mainly enriched in the fine fraction of lacustrine sediments since they are mostly absorbed in the clay fraction (<2 µm).
Geochemistry of fluvial-lacustrine and bedrock sediments revealed that, in some cases, several heavy metal elements like Cr, Co, Ni, Zn, As, Ni and Pb exceed some regulatory limits concerning their distribution in lake sediments. It should be noted that, in Italian legislation, there are no regulations concerning limit concentrations of heavy metals in fluvial and fluvio-lacustrine sediments and therefore, for lacustrine sediments, values related to aquatic environments are taken into account. The considered regulatory are the Canadian ISQG (Interim Freshwater Sediments Quality Guidelines) and the Italian D.M. 367/03 (Regulation on the setting of quality standards in the aquatic environment for dangerous substances).
Furthermore, enrichment factors (EFs) for heavy metals were calculated, assuming Ti as an immobile element, both with respect to UCC (Upper Continental Crust) and local bedrock composition. Local bedrock composition was calculated based on the average composition and weighted on the areal extension of the outcropping bedrock lithologies. Enrichment factors showed that heavy metals like Pb, Zn, and Co, in relation both on UCC and local bedrock, showed values of EFs >2, which corresponds to a moderate enrichment. Other heavy metals, in particular Cu and As, showed EFs >5, which corresponds to a significant enrichment.
This work aims to get a clear picture of the causes which control and influence heavy metals concentration as well as their distribution within sampled sediments. Finally, it would be appropriate to establish worldwide quality standards on all pollutants in different natural environments in order to obtain a homogeneous reference for all countries.
References:
Giocoli, A. , Stabile, T. A., Adurno, I., Perrone, A., Gallipoli, M. R., Gueguen, E., Norelli, E., Piscitelli, S., 2015. Geological and geophysical characterization of the southeastern side of the High Agri Valley (southern Apennines, Italy), Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci. 15, 315-323.
McLennan, S.M., Taylor, S.R., Hemming, S.R., 2006. Compostion differentiation and evolution of continental crust: constraints from sedimentary rocks and heat flow. In: Brown, M Rushmere T (eds) Evolution and differentiation of continental crust. Cambridge p 377.
Reimann, C., De Caritat, P., 2005. Distinguishing between natural and anthropogenic sources for elements in the environment: regional geochemical surveys versus enrichment factors, Science of the Total Environment 337(1-3), 91-107.
Roberto Buccione; Elisabetta Fortunato; Michele Paternoster; Giovanna Rizzo; Rosa Sinisi; Vito Summa; Giovanni Mongelli. Geochemistry and mineralogy of lacustrine and fluvio-lacustrine sediments: The case of the Pietra del Pertusillo fresh-water reservoir (Basilicata region, Southern Italy). 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleRoberto Buccione, Elisabetta Fortunato, Michele Paternoster, Giovanna Rizzo, Rosa Sinisi, Vito Summa, Giovanni Mongelli. Geochemistry and mineralogy of lacustrine and fluvio-lacustrine sediments: The case of the Pietra del Pertusillo fresh-water reservoir (Basilicata region, Southern Italy). . 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRoberto Buccione; Elisabetta Fortunato; Michele Paternoster; Giovanna Rizzo; Rosa Sinisi; Vito Summa; Giovanni Mongelli. 2020. "Geochemistry and mineralogy of lacustrine and fluvio-lacustrine sediments: The case of the Pietra del Pertusillo fresh-water reservoir (Basilicata region, Southern Italy)." , no. : 1.
A comprehensive study of the serpentinite and associated veins belonging to the Frido Unit in the Pollino Massif (southern Italy) is presented here with the aim to provide new constraints about the hydrothermal system hosted by the accretionary wedge of the southern Apennines. The studied serpentinites are from two different sites: Fosso Arcangelo and Pietrapica. In both sites, the rocks show mylonitic-cataclastic structures and pseudomorphic and patch textures and are traversing by pervasive carbonate and quartz-carbonate veins. The mineralogical assemblage of serpentinites consists of serpentine group minerals (with a predominance of lizardite), amphiboles, pyroxene, chlorite, titanite, magnetite, and talc. In some samples, hydro-garnet was also detected and documented here for the first time. As for cutting veins, different mineralogical compositions were observed in the two sites: calcite characterizes the veins from Fosso Arcangelo, whereas quartz and dolomite are the principal minerals of the Pietrapica veins infill, suggesting a different composition of mineralizing fluids. Stable isotopes of C and O also indicate such a different chemistry. In detail, samples from the Pietrapica site are characterized by δ13C fluctuations coupled with a δ18O shift documenting calcite formation in an open-system where mixing between deep and shallow fluids occurred. Conversely, δ13C and δ18O of the Fosso Arcangelo veins show a decarbonation trend, suggesting their developing in a closed-system at deeper crustal conditions. Precipitation temperature calculated for both sites indicates a similar range (80 °C to 120 °C), thus suggesting carbonate precipitation within the same thermal system.
Giovanna Rizzo; Maria Carmela Dichicco; Pedro Castiñeiras; Fausto Grassa; Salvatore Laurita; Michele Paternoster; Rosa Sinisi; Giovanni Mongelli. An Integrated Study of the Serpentinite-Hosted Hydrothermal System in the Pollino Massif (Southern Apennines, Italy). Minerals 2020, 10, 127 .
AMA StyleGiovanna Rizzo, Maria Carmela Dichicco, Pedro Castiñeiras, Fausto Grassa, Salvatore Laurita, Michele Paternoster, Rosa Sinisi, Giovanni Mongelli. An Integrated Study of the Serpentinite-Hosted Hydrothermal System in the Pollino Massif (Southern Apennines, Italy). Minerals. 2020; 10 (2):127.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiovanna Rizzo; Maria Carmela Dichicco; Pedro Castiñeiras; Fausto Grassa; Salvatore Laurita; Michele Paternoster; Rosa Sinisi; Giovanni Mongelli. 2020. "An Integrated Study of the Serpentinite-Hosted Hydrothermal System in the Pollino Massif (Southern Apennines, Italy)." Minerals 10, no. 2: 127.
This paper deals with petrography and mineralogy of serpentinitic rocks occurring in the Southern Apennines (Italy) with the aim to review the already available literature data and furnish new details on asbestos minerals present in the studied area. Two sites of Southern Italy were taken into account: the Pollino Massif, at the Calabrian-Lucanian border, and the surroundings of the Gimigliano and Mt. Reventino areas where serpentinites of Frido Unit are mainly exposed. Textural and mineralogical features of the studied rocks point to a similar composition for both sites including asbestos minerals such as chrysotile and tremolite-actinolite series mineral phases. Only in the Pollino Massif serpentinites edenite crystals have been detected as well; they are documented here for the first time. This amphibole forms as fibrous and/or prismatic crystals in aggregates associated with serpentine, pyroxene, and calcite. Metamorphism and/or metasomatic alteration of serpentinites are the most probable processes promoting the edenite formation in the Southern Apennine ophiolitic rocks.
Maria Carmela Dichicco; Michele Paternoster; Giovanna Rizzo; Rosa Sinisi. Mineralogical Asbestos Assessment in the Southern Apennines (Italy): A Review. Fibers 2019, 7, 24 .
AMA StyleMaria Carmela Dichicco, Michele Paternoster, Giovanna Rizzo, Rosa Sinisi. Mineralogical Asbestos Assessment in the Southern Apennines (Italy): A Review. Fibers. 2019; 7 (3):24.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaria Carmela Dichicco; Michele Paternoster; Giovanna Rizzo; Rosa Sinisi. 2019. "Mineralogical Asbestos Assessment in the Southern Apennines (Italy): A Review." Fibers 7, no. 3: 24.
In this study, the mineralogical and chemical compositions of bauxite from San Giovanni Rotondo (SGR) on the Gargano Promontory (northern Apulia, Italy) are presented and discussed with the aim of assessing the nature of its source material. Bauxite from the SGR, which is known as the “Montecatini mine”, was exploited intensively until the 1970s to recover alumina. As with most of the autochthonous peri-Mediterranean bauxites, the studied deposit is a karst bauxite with a massive, matrix-supported texture and an oolitic structure. Boehmite and hematite are the main mineral phases, and anatase, rutile, and kaolinite are present in lesser amounts along with detrital zircons and monazite grains. Calcite is abundant only in the deposit’s lower portion, triggering a significant dilution effect on trace element concentrations. However, with respect to the average crust and chondrite compositions, strong enrichments of trace metals (up to 10X Upper Continental Crust’s (UCC)) and rare earth elements (REEs, up to 800X chondrite) exist throughout the studied deposit. The distribution of REEs, the (La/Yb)N and Eu/Eu* ratios, and an Eu/Eu* versus Sm/Nd diagram have been used for determining the bauxite’s provenance. These geochemical proxies point to a parental material consisting of a mixture of distant magmatic and siliciclastic components.
Rosa Sinisi. Mineralogical and Geochemical Features of Cretaceous Bauxite from San Giovanni Rotondo (Apulia, Southern Italy): A Provenance Tool. Minerals 2018, 8, 567 .
AMA StyleRosa Sinisi. Mineralogical and Geochemical Features of Cretaceous Bauxite from San Giovanni Rotondo (Apulia, Southern Italy): A Provenance Tool. Minerals. 2018; 8 (12):567.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRosa Sinisi. 2018. "Mineralogical and Geochemical Features of Cretaceous Bauxite from San Giovanni Rotondo (Apulia, Southern Italy): A Provenance Tool." Minerals 8, no. 12: 567.
Worldwide studies have been done about the toxicity and carcinogenicity of asbestos minerals occurring in ophiolitic rocks. Inhalation of asbestos due to environmental exposure could cause malignant mesothelioma and lung cancers. In particular, the ophiolitic rocks in Tethyan realm represents a serious enivironmental concern due to both the presence of asbestos-like minerals and the large Cr abundance that is prone to solubilisation as CrVI. At the Pollino Geopark (southern Apennines, Italy), serpentinites-rich ophiolite rocks and sediments of the Frido Unit crop-out. In these rocks, tremolite, an asbestos-like mineral, is typically intergrown with fibrous antigorite and chrysotile. Tremolite shows acicular, friable, fibrous, and elongated habitus, can be easily released into the environment as a result of both natural processes and anthropogenic activities. In the analyzed rocks, tremolite is present mainly in veins as much as in the matrix and forms crowns around clinopyroxene porphyroclasts. The different analytical techniques showed the recognition of the amphibole-like minerals (actinolite and tremolite) that are the dominant phases, with a small percentage of Fe2+. The presence of Fe in the “ideal” tremolite asbestos could cause pathological effects for the human living in the Pollino Geopark. This study has several environmental relevant implications, including, for example, the realization of national health protecting programs and the mapping of natural sites characterized by the presence of asbestos minerals in Pollino Geopark and in others area where outcrop asbestos bearing ophiolitic rocks.
Maria Carmela Dichicco; Salvatore Laurita; Rosa Sinisi; Raimondo Battiloro; Giovanna Rizzo. Environmental and Health: The Importance of Tremolite Occurence in the Pollino Geopark (Southern Italy). Geosciences 2018, 8, 98 .
AMA StyleMaria Carmela Dichicco, Salvatore Laurita, Rosa Sinisi, Raimondo Battiloro, Giovanna Rizzo. Environmental and Health: The Importance of Tremolite Occurence in the Pollino Geopark (Southern Italy). Geosciences. 2018; 8 (3):98.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaria Carmela Dichicco; Salvatore Laurita; Rosa Sinisi; Raimondo Battiloro; Giovanna Rizzo. 2018. "Environmental and Health: The Importance of Tremolite Occurence in the Pollino Geopark (Southern Italy)." Geosciences 8, no. 3: 98.
In the northern sector of the Pollino massif (southern Apennines, Italy) well-exposed lens-shaped bodies of serpentinites and sediments of the Frido Unit belonging to the Liguride Complex crop-out. Most serpentinite rocks are cross-cut by carbonate and quartz-carbonate veins with different thickness. This study focuses on petrographic, mineralogical, geochemical, and isotopic analysis of the carbonate veins embedded in serpentinite rocks, collected at the Fosso Arcangelo site and at the Pietrapica quarry (Calabria-Lucanian boundary). The paragenesis of the carbonate veins from the Fosso Arcangelo site is dominantly made by calcite and aragonite with minor amount of rhodochrosite. In quartz-carbonate veins from Pietrapica quarry, dolomite, Mg-calcite, quartz, with minor ankerite were observed.The δ13CV-PDB isotope ratios of carbonates in the carbonate veins are in the range from +2.16‰ to -3.66‰ and corresponding δ18OV-SMOW values are between +15.02‰ and +21.53‰. The δ13CV-PDB values of carbonates in quartz-carbonate veins are in the range from -3.60‰ to -1.78‰ and the corresponding δ18OV-SMOW average value is around +21.3‰. The results suggest that the carbonate at both site occurredunder the same environmental conditions from crustal-derived andlow-moderate temperatures hydrothermal fluids having different chemical composition.
Maria Chiara Dichicco; Pedro Castiñeiras; Carmen Galindo Francisco; Laura González Acebrón; Fausto Grassa; Salvatore Laurita; Michele Paternoster; Giovanna Rizzo; Rosa Sinisi; Giovanni Mongelli. Genesis of carbonate-rich veins in the serpentinites at the Calabria-Lucania boundary (southern Apennines). Rendiconti Online della Società Geologica Italiana 2018, 44, 143 -149.
AMA StyleMaria Chiara Dichicco, Pedro Castiñeiras, Carmen Galindo Francisco, Laura González Acebrón, Fausto Grassa, Salvatore Laurita, Michele Paternoster, Giovanna Rizzo, Rosa Sinisi, Giovanni Mongelli. Genesis of carbonate-rich veins in the serpentinites at the Calabria-Lucania boundary (southern Apennines). Rendiconti Online della Società Geologica Italiana. 2018; 44 ():143-149.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaria Chiara Dichicco; Pedro Castiñeiras; Carmen Galindo Francisco; Laura González Acebrón; Fausto Grassa; Salvatore Laurita; Michele Paternoster; Giovanna Rizzo; Rosa Sinisi; Giovanni Mongelli. 2018. "Genesis of carbonate-rich veins in the serpentinites at the Calabria-Lucania boundary (southern Apennines)." Rendiconti Online della Società Geologica Italiana 44, no. : 143-149.
A massive Mn-bearing mineralization, extensively exploited until the 70s, locally occurs in the metasedimentary succession of the southern Apennines (at Mormanno site, Calabria-Lucania border, Italy). The mineralization mainly consists of three types distinguished by the relative percentages of the principal mineral phases: braunite,quartz,Mnoxi-hydroxides and Mn-rich epidote (piemontite). Petrographic observations revealed that the ore underwent medium- to high-grade metamorphism that was responsible of the growth of braunite at the expense of “primary” amorphous Mn oxi-hydroxides and quartz. During metamorphism, piemontite also formed where altered phyllosilicates are present in addition to braunite and quartz, suggesting that the aluminosilicates were source of Al necessary to the epidote crystallization. The most important geochemical features of the ore are high Mn contents (up to 71.6wt% of MnO), low concentrations of transitional elements (Co+Ni+Cu+Zn<0.1wt%), highBa(up to4455ppm)and variable total REEs (14.7<ΣREEs<329.7ppm) contents.These are the typica lcharacteristics of the ocean floor hydrothermal Mn deposits, similarly to what observed in braunite ores occurring in the Alps and northern Apennines. The high LREE/HREE fractionations and the negative Ce and Eu anomalies characterizing the studied ore, suggest the mineralizing fluid was formed by a mixing solution consisting of a Mn-rich hydrothermal fluid and sea water,which attained the ideal condition for the ore precipitation in a distal oceanic area, far from the submarine hydrothermal vent
Rosa Sinisi; Giovanni Mongelli; Francesco Perri; Giovanna Rizzo. The braunite (3Mn2O3·MnSiO3)-rich mineralization in the metasedimentary succession from southern Apennines (Italy): Genesis constraints. Ore Geology Reviews 2018, 94, 1 -11.
AMA StyleRosa Sinisi, Giovanni Mongelli, Francesco Perri, Giovanna Rizzo. The braunite (3Mn2O3·MnSiO3)-rich mineralization in the metasedimentary succession from southern Apennines (Italy): Genesis constraints. Ore Geology Reviews. 2018; 94 ():1-11.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRosa Sinisi; Giovanni Mongelli; Francesco Perri; Giovanna Rizzo. 2018. "The braunite (3Mn2O3·MnSiO3)-rich mineralization in the metasedimentary succession from southern Apennines (Italy): Genesis constraints." Ore Geology Reviews 94, no. : 1-11.
Bauxite is a residual rock, consisting mainly of a mixture of aluminium hydroxides, whose industrial significance\ud is primarily due to its profitably exploitable alumina contents. In the last decades, bauxite,\ud mainly karst bauxite, has been also considered as possible resource of a great number of economically\ud interesting elements including some critical metals such as rare earth elements, Sc, Co, Ni, and Nb. In this\ud study, we present results of univariate and multivariate (R-mode factor analysis) statistics performed on\ud a large data set including chemical composition of the principal Cretaceous karst bauxites from central\ud and southern Italy with the twofold aim to evaluate the inter-elemental relationship among major oxides\ud and critical metals, and describe factors affecting their distribution. Univariate statistics reveal that some\ud critical metals Co, Ni, and LREE, have a significant number of outliers. The Co-Ni relationship associated to\ud the outliers dataset suggests that Co is likely hosted in Ni-rich phases whereas Ce accumulation in authigenic\ud minerals, carbonate-fluoride and phosphate, is at the origin of LREE outliers. Multivariate R-mode\ud statistics, applied to the outliers-devoid database, instead demonstrate that in absence of specific mineralization\ud events, the distribution of most critical metals is controlled by Al-, Fe-, and Ti-oxi-hydroxides\ud and, to a lesser extent, by detrital phases. Among the critical metals, Cr and Y are the exceptions. Their\ud geochemical behaviour seems to be influenced primarily by their own chemical features that are responsible\ud for the mobility of Cr during bauxitization and for the decoupling of Y from the REEs
Giovanni Mongelli; Maria Boni; Giacomo Oggiano; Paola Mameli; Rosa Sinisi; Roberto Buccione; Nicola Mondillo. Critical metals distribution in Tethyan karst bauxite: The cretaceous Italian ores. Ore Geology Reviews 2017, 86, 526 -536.
AMA StyleGiovanni Mongelli, Maria Boni, Giacomo Oggiano, Paola Mameli, Rosa Sinisi, Roberto Buccione, Nicola Mondillo. Critical metals distribution in Tethyan karst bauxite: The cretaceous Italian ores. Ore Geology Reviews. 2017; 86 ():526-536.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiovanni Mongelli; Maria Boni; Giacomo Oggiano; Paola Mameli; Rosa Sinisi; Roberto Buccione; Nicola Mondillo. 2017. "Critical metals distribution in Tethyan karst bauxite: The cretaceous Italian ores." Ore Geology Reviews 86, no. : 526-536.
Asbestos is a term commonly used to refer to those silicate minerals that show a typical fibrous habitus and crystallize as separable fibres. For the past decade, considerable research has focused on the strong correlation between deadly diseases and the exposure to asbestos-like minerals present in different environmental matrices. These harmful minerals generally occur as naturally exposed friable fibres that can be easily released into the environment as a result of both natural processes and anthropogenic activities. At the Calabria-Lucania boundary (southern Italy), the intense spreading of the asbestos fibres is also a consequence of the cataclastic features of the serpentinite outcropping. Therefore, it is necessary to intensify the geo-environmental monitoring in this area. The identification of asbestiform minerals in serpentinites is generally brought about by techniques requiring sample preparation such as: Scanning Electron Microscopy- Energy Dispersion Spectrometry, Transmission Electron Microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, polarized light optical microscopy, and differential thermal analyses. In this work, we evaluate the use of mu-Raman spectroscopy, on both low and high wavenumbers, in identifying the different serpentine and amphibole minerals. The comparison between the mu-Raman spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction is also discussed based on analytical procedures and results. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
Maria Carmela Dichicco; Angela De Bonis; Giovanni Mongelli; Giovanna Rizzo; Rosa Sinisi. μ-Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction of asbestos' minerals for geo-environmental monitoring: The case of the southern Apennines natural sources. Applied Clay Science 2017, 141, 292 -299.
AMA StyleMaria Carmela Dichicco, Angela De Bonis, Giovanni Mongelli, Giovanna Rizzo, Rosa Sinisi. μ-Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction of asbestos' minerals for geo-environmental monitoring: The case of the southern Apennines natural sources. Applied Clay Science. 2017; 141 ():292-299.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaria Carmela Dichicco; Angela De Bonis; Giovanni Mongelli; Giovanna Rizzo; Rosa Sinisi. 2017. "μ-Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction of asbestos' minerals for geo-environmental monitoring: The case of the southern Apennines natural sources." Applied Clay Science 141, no. : 292-299.
This work focuses on two fault-controlled deposits, the Atella and Rapolla travertines, which are associated to high-angle extensional faults of the Bradano Trough, southern Apennines (Italy). The Atella travertine is along a NW-SE striking, deep-seated extensional fault, already described in literature, which crosscuts both Apulian carbonates and the overlying foredeep basin infill. The Rapolla travertine is on top of a NE-SW striking, shallow-seated fault, here described for the first time, which is interpreted as a tear fault associated to a shallow thrust displacing only the foredeep basin infill. The results of structural, sedimentological, mineralogical, and C and O isotope analyses are here reported and discussed to assess the provenance of mineralizing fluids, and to evaluate the control exerted by the aforementioned extensional faults on deep, mantle-derived and shallow, meteoric fluids. Sedimentological analysis is consistent with five lithofacies in the studied travertines, which likely formed in a typical lacustrine depositional environment. Mineralogical analysis show that travertines mainly consist of calcite, and minor quartz, feldspar and clay minerals, indicative of a terrigenous supply during travertine precipitation. The isotope signature of the two studied travertines shows a different provenance of the mineralizing fluids. At the Atella site, the δ13CPDB values range between + 5.2 and + 5.7‰ and the δ18OPDB values between − 9.0 and − 7.3‰, which are consistent with a mantle-derived CO2 component in the fluid. Differently, at the Rapolla site the δ13CPDB values vary from − 2.7 to + 1.5‰ and the δ18OPDB values from − 6.8 to − 5.4‰, suggesting a mixed CO2 source due to both biogenic-derived and mantle-derived fluids. The results of structural analyses conducted along the footwall fault damage zone exposed at the Rapolla site, exhibit that the whole damage zone, in which fractures and joints likely channeled the mixed fluids, acted as a distributed conduit for both fault-parallel and cross-fault fluid migration.
Rosa Sinisi; Angela Vita Petrullo; Fabrizio Agosta; Michele Paternoster; Claudia Belviso; Fausto Grassa. Contrasting fault fluids along high-angle faults: a case study from Southern Apennines (Italy). Tectonophysics 2016, 690, 206 -218.
AMA StyleRosa Sinisi, Angela Vita Petrullo, Fabrizio Agosta, Michele Paternoster, Claudia Belviso, Fausto Grassa. Contrasting fault fluids along high-angle faults: a case study from Southern Apennines (Italy). Tectonophysics. 2016; 690 ():206-218.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRosa Sinisi; Angela Vita Petrullo; Fabrizio Agosta; Michele Paternoster; Claudia Belviso; Fausto Grassa. 2016. "Contrasting fault fluids along high-angle faults: a case study from Southern Apennines (Italy)." Tectonophysics 690, no. : 206-218.
A comprehensive study of pebbles from the 'Salento-type' allochthnous bauxite deposit (Otranto, southern Italy), originally derived from a pristine Campanian bauxite, has been performed for evaluating: 1) the chemical fractionation and inter-elemental relationships, especially for critical elements, 2) the climatic conditions that promoted bauxite formation, and 3) the provenance of the protolith(s) using zircon age data and conservative elemental proxies. The study confirms the capability of bauxite to concentrate many elements defined as critical by the European Union report on critical raw materials. Sc, Co, Ga, and especially Cr, are enriched when compared with the UCC composition and assuming Nb is immobile. Other critical elements such as the REEs, with the exception of La, are moderately depleted. R-mode factor analysis suggests that most of the variance in our chemical dataset is explained by a factor with significant weightings for TiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, Sc, V, Nb, REEs, Pb and Th. This arises from climate effects affecting the distribution of the more abundant oxides and some trace elements, including the critical metals Nb and REEs. The texture of the pebbles is typical for Apulian karst bauxites and consists of sub-spheroidal ooids composed of boehmite and dispersed in a fine-grained matrix. The growth of the ooids, which formed under dry climate, was described in terms of fractal geometry. The average fractal dimension value of the ooids in the pebbles is close to that of the diffusion-limited aggregation models suggesting the ooid growth can be modelled using a molecular diffusion pattern, based on Fick's first law. The calculated time required for growth of the boehmite concretions is ~ 45 ÷ 310 ka. This finding is consistent with an intra-Campanian emersion event (74–76 Ma) that occurred during a dry and warm climatic stage. Since most of the karst bauxites worldwide have an ooidic texture, evaluation of the composition of concretions and the time required for their growth represents a powerful tool in reconstructing the palaeoenvironment. The zircon grains collected from the pebbles of the Salento-type karst bauxite define several concordant age populations. The youngest cluster, Early Cretaceous in age (99 ÷ 127.5 Ma), suggests that windborne particles from Cretaceous volcanics, possibly originating in the Carpatho-Balkan orogenic belts, provided material for further bauxitisation. The largest cluster (623 ÷ 689 Ma) is of Neoproterozoic age, predominately from the Late Ediacaran and Cryogenian p.p.. The 900–540 Ma Pan-African orogenic cycle was followed by continental-scale uplift and erosion, leading to the deposition of thick Cambrian–Ordovician siliciclastic sequences that represent the most widespread detrital sequence ever deposited on continental crust and that now cover large parts of North Africa. These Cambrian–Ordovician sandstones contain a large population of Neoproterozoic zircons of Cryogenian age. Neoproterozoic zircons also occur in the youngest (Silurian–Mesozoic) sandstones of the Saharan Metacraton. These sandstones also contain 1.0 Ga detrital zircons, suggesting as the oldest zircons found in the Salento-type bauxite pebbles (866 Ma and 941 Ma in age) are younger representatives of the zircon cluster present in this sandstone unit. These zircon age determinations suggest that the source material for the Salento-type bauxite pebbles was a combination of magmatic material from a distant source and clastic material derived from a continental margin (North Africa). This result concurs with the Eu/Eu* vs. Sm/Nd binary diagram, on which bauxite pebbles fall close to a mixing curve with andesite and cratonic sandstone end-members. As our results indicate that material was sourced from the North African continental margin, we suggest that a continental bridge separated oceanic domains in the Late Cretaceous of the Peri-Tethyan domain.
Giovanni Mongelli; Roberto Buccione; Erwan Gueguen; Antonio Langone; Rosa Sinisi. Geochemistry of the apulian allochthonous karst bauxite, Southern Italy: Distribution of critical elements and constraints on Late Cretaceous Peri-Tethyan palaeogeography. Ore Geology Reviews 2016, 77, 246 -259.
AMA StyleGiovanni Mongelli, Roberto Buccione, Erwan Gueguen, Antonio Langone, Rosa Sinisi. Geochemistry of the apulian allochthonous karst bauxite, Southern Italy: Distribution of critical elements and constraints on Late Cretaceous Peri-Tethyan palaeogeography. Ore Geology Reviews. 2016; 77 ():246-259.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiovanni Mongelli; Roberto Buccione; Erwan Gueguen; Antonio Langone; Rosa Sinisi. 2016. "Geochemistry of the apulian allochthonous karst bauxite, Southern Italy: Distribution of critical elements and constraints on Late Cretaceous Peri-Tethyan palaeogeography." Ore Geology Reviews 77, no. : 246-259.
During “Mineral CO2 sequestration” the CO2 is chemically stored in solid carbonates by the carbonations of minerals. The sequestration of CO2 is permanent and safe. Mineral carbonation is an exothermic reaction and occurs naturally in the subsurface as a result of fluid–rock interactions within serpentinite. In situ carbonation aims to promote these reactions by injecting CO2 into porous, subsurface geological formations. In the northern sector of the Pollino Massif (southern Italy) extensively occur serpentinites; they are the subject of a project devoted to their possible use for in situ geological sequestration of CO2
Maria Carmela Dichicco; Salvatore Laurita; Michele Paternoster; Giovanna Rizzo; Rosa Sinisi; Giovanni Mongelli. Serpentinite Carbonation for CO2 Sequestration in the Southern Apennines: Preliminary Study. Energy Procedia 2015, 76, 477 -486.
AMA StyleMaria Carmela Dichicco, Salvatore Laurita, Michele Paternoster, Giovanna Rizzo, Rosa Sinisi, Giovanni Mongelli. Serpentinite Carbonation for CO2 Sequestration in the Southern Apennines: Preliminary Study. Energy Procedia. 2015; 76 ():477-486.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaria Carmela Dichicco; Salvatore Laurita; Michele Paternoster; Giovanna Rizzo; Rosa Sinisi; Giovanni Mongelli. 2015. "Serpentinite Carbonation for CO2 Sequestration in the Southern Apennines: Preliminary Study." Energy Procedia 76, no. : 477-486.
Giovanni Mongelli; Roberto Buccione; Rosa Sinisi. Genesis of autochthonous and allochthonous Apulian karst bauxites (Southern Italy): Climate constraints. Sedimentary Geology 2015, 325, 168 -176.
AMA StyleGiovanni Mongelli, Roberto Buccione, Rosa Sinisi. Genesis of autochthonous and allochthonous Apulian karst bauxites (Southern Italy): Climate constraints. Sedimentary Geology. 2015; 325 ():168-176.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiovanni Mongelli; Roberto Buccione; Rosa Sinisi. 2015. "Genesis of autochthonous and allochthonous Apulian karst bauxites (Southern Italy): Climate constraints." Sedimentary Geology 325, no. : 168-176.
Giovanni Mongelli; Rosa Sinisi; Paola Mameli; Giacomo Oggiano. Ce anomalies and trace element distribution in Sardinian lithiophorite-rich Mn concretions. Journal of Geochemical Exploration 2015, 153, 88 -96.
AMA StyleGiovanni Mongelli, Rosa Sinisi, Paola Mameli, Giacomo Oggiano. Ce anomalies and trace element distribution in Sardinian lithiophorite-rich Mn concretions. Journal of Geochemical Exploration. 2015; 153 ():88-96.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiovanni Mongelli; Rosa Sinisi; Paola Mameli; Giacomo Oggiano. 2015. "Ce anomalies and trace element distribution in Sardinian lithiophorite-rich Mn concretions." Journal of Geochemical Exploration 153, no. : 88-96.
This study focuses on a Late Cretaceous karst bauxite deposit in the Murge area of the Apulia\ud district, southern Italy. The first analysis of the vertical distributions of a wide range of elements\ud (including REEs and selected trace elements) throughout the deposit was shown in order to identify\ud the processes determining element fractionation during the evolution of the bauxite.\ud The studied karst bauxite deposit exhibits an ooidal texture, is mineralogically homogeneous, contains\ud higher abundances of boehmite than of hematite, kaolinite, and anatase. The major element\ud composition of the bauxite is dominated by elevated concentrations of SiO2, TiO2, Al2O3, and Fe2O3,\ud and analyses of element mobility within the bauxite indicate that all elements except for Nb and Ni, and\ud to a lesser extent Cr, are depleted relative to the immobile element Ti. R-mode factor analysis revealed\ud a number of key findings: (i) some low-solubility elements (e.g., Zr, Th, Ti, V, Ga) were concentrated in\ud detrital zircon and monazite (Zr, Th), in anatase (Ti, V), and possibly in boehmite and hematite (Ga)\ud during the later stages of bauxitisation; (ii) Fe and Cr were concentrated during wet conditions,\ud whereas Al and Co accumulated during dry conditions; (iii) distributions of the light REEs (LREEs) and\ud the heavy REEs (HREEs) are controlled by the same processes, suggesting that little LREE/HREE\ud fractionation occurred during bauxite formation; and (iv) the behaviour of cerium is different from that\ud of the other REEs, and highly variable cerium anomalies are observed across the deposit, with three\ud characteristic Ce/Ce* maxima with values of >2. Parisite was the only authigenic cerium mineral\ud detected during this study. Thus, we propose a three-step model to explain the distribution of Ce:\ud cerianite is dissolved by cerium reduction, is transported by downward-moving meteoric water (per\ud descensum), and finally parisite is precipitated. This cycle was repeated several times in the Apulian\ud karst bauxite in response to Eh decreases under alkaline conditions, promoted by fluctuations in the\ud groundwater level.Finally, we used the value of the Eu anomaly to discuss the parental affinity or\ud protolith of the bauxite. The value of the Eu anomaly (min. Eu/Eu*=0.76, max. Eu/Eu*=0.89) indicates\ud that the bauxite was not derived from carbonates, but rather, that the majority of the bauxite was\ud influenced by intermediate to mafic magmatic sources. Eu/Eu* vs. Sm/Nd diagram suggests that the\ud parental material for the bauxite was derived from a combination of a distant magmatic source and\ud clastic material derived from a continental margin (northern Africa) to the south
G. Mongelli; Maria Boni; R. Buccione; Rosa Sinisi. Geochemistry of the Apulian karst bauxites (southern Italy): Chemical fractionation and parental affinities. Ore Geology Reviews 2014, 63, 9 -21.
AMA StyleG. Mongelli, Maria Boni, R. Buccione, Rosa Sinisi. Geochemistry of the Apulian karst bauxites (southern Italy): Chemical fractionation and parental affinities. Ore Geology Reviews. 2014; 63 ():9-21.
Chicago/Turabian StyleG. Mongelli; Maria Boni; R. Buccione; Rosa Sinisi. 2014. "Geochemistry of the Apulian karst bauxites (southern Italy): Chemical fractionation and parental affinities." Ore Geology Reviews 63, no. : 9-21.
Michele Paternoster; Rosa Sinisi; C. Mancusi; K. Pilat; A. Sabia; G. Mongelli. Natural versus anthropogenic influences on the chemical composition of bulk precipitation in the southern Apennines, Italy: A case study of the town of Potenza. Journal of Geochemical Exploration 2014, 145, 242 -249.
AMA StyleMichele Paternoster, Rosa Sinisi, C. Mancusi, K. Pilat, A. Sabia, G. Mongelli. Natural versus anthropogenic influences on the chemical composition of bulk precipitation in the southern Apennines, Italy: A case study of the town of Potenza. Journal of Geochemical Exploration. 2014; 145 ():242-249.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMichele Paternoster; Rosa Sinisi; C. Mancusi; K. Pilat; A. Sabia; G. Mongelli. 2014. "Natural versus anthropogenic influences on the chemical composition of bulk precipitation in the southern Apennines, Italy: A case study of the town of Potenza." Journal of Geochemical Exploration 145, no. : 242-249.
There is an increasing interest in the distribution of rare earth elements (REEs) within soils, primarily as these elements can be used to identify pedogenetic processes and because soils may be future sources for REE extraction, despite much attention should be paid to the protection and preservation of present soils. Here, we evaluate the processes that control the distribution of REEs in subsoil horizons developed over differing lithologies in an area of low anthropogenic contamination, allowing estimates of the importance of source rocks and weathering. Specifically, this study presents new data on the distribution of REEs and other trace elements, including transition and high-field-strength elements, in subsoils developed on both Quaternary silica-undersaturated volcanic rocks and Pliocene siliciclastic sedimentary rocks within the Mt. Vulture area of the southern Apennines in Italy. The subsoils in the Mt. Vulture area formed during moderate weathering (as classified using the chemical index of alteration) and contain an assemblage of secondary minerals that is dominated by trioctahedral illite with minor vermiculite. The REEs, high-field-strength elements, and transition metals have higher abundances in subsoils that developed from volcanic rocks, and pedogenesis caused the Mt. Vulture subsoils to have REE concentrations that are an order of magnitude higher than typical values for the upper continental crust. This result indicates that the distribution of REEs in soils is a valuable tool for mineral exploration. A statistical analysis of inter-elemental relationships indicates that REEs are concentrated in clay-rich fractions that also contain significant amounts of low-solubility elements such as Zr and Th, regardless of the parent rock. This suggests that low-solubility refractory minerals, such as zircon, play a significant role in controlling the distribution of REEs in soils. The values of (La/Yb)N and (Gd/Yb)N fractionation indices are dependent on the intensity of pedogenesis; soils in the study area have values that are higher than typical upper continental crust ratios, suggesting that soils, especially those that formed during interaction with near neutral to acidic organic-rich surface waters, may represent an important source of both light REEs and medium REEs (MREEs). In comparison, MREE/heavy REE fractionation in soils that form during moderate weathering may be affected by variations in parent rock lithologies, primarily as MREE-hosting minerals, such as pyroxenes, may control (La/Sm)N index values. Eu anomalies are thought to be the most effective provenance index for sediments, although the anomalies within the soils studied here are not related to the alteration of primary minerals, including feldspars, to clay phases. In some cases, Eu/Eu* values may have a weak correlation with elements hosted by heavy minerals, such as Zr; this indicates that the influence of mechanical sorting of clastic particles during sedimentary transport on the Eu/Eu* values of siliciclastic sediments needs to be considered carefully.
Giovanni Mongelli; Michele Paternoster; Giovanna Rizzo; Rosa Sinisi. Trace elements and REE fractionation in subsoils developed on sedimentary and volcanic rocks: case study of the Mt. Vulture area, southern Italy. International Journal of Earth Sciences 2014, 103, 1125 -1140.
AMA StyleGiovanni Mongelli, Michele Paternoster, Giovanna Rizzo, Rosa Sinisi. Trace elements and REE fractionation in subsoils developed on sedimentary and volcanic rocks: case study of the Mt. Vulture area, southern Italy. International Journal of Earth Sciences. 2014; 103 (4):1125-1140.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiovanni Mongelli; Michele Paternoster; Giovanna Rizzo; Rosa Sinisi. 2014. "Trace elements and REE fractionation in subsoils developed on sedimentary and volcanic rocks: case study of the Mt. Vulture area, southern Italy." International Journal of Earth Sciences 103, no. 4: 1125-1140.
Red beds deposits of Permian-Triassic basins of Sardinia (western Italy), where a wide\ud segment of the Variscan orogen is exposed, were studied. The basins were selected according\ud to their position within the structural zones of Variscan orogen, i.e. from the external to the\ud inner sectors of the chain. Detailed mineralogical, petrographical, and chemical analyses were\ud performed on shale and calcrete layers laying along the sedimentary sequences, to examine\ud their compositional features and stratigraphic variation. In this regard, enrichment factors\ud (F(e)) for major and trace elements (relative to the PAAS composition) were calculated and\ud discussed. Several geochemical proxies were also calculated and used to assess the\ud palaeoclimate conditions during the red beds deposition. The weathering indices (CIA and\ud CIW) accounted for more humid conditions in the basins of the axial zone relative to the\ud basins those of the foreland, which instead were characterized by an arid climate. However,\ud the presence of carbonates, albeit discontinuous, and the values of calcification, salinity, and\ud hydrolysis indices suggest that, in the axial zone, dry and hot periods also occurred.\ud Compositional data of the sedimentary records were correlated to the Sardinia geological\ud setting and significant information were obtained on the palaeoenvironment characterizing\ud the south-western Mesoeurope during Permian and Triassic. Al2O3-TiO2-Zr ternary plot and\ud Zr/Sc vs. Th/Sc diagram show that both sorting and sedimentary recycling affected the\ud studied basins. Precisely, our data lead us to suppose that a wide regional subsidence caused\ud both the recycling of uplifted Variscan rocks and the diagenetic K-metasomatism of Permian\ud sediments revealed by the A-CN-K diagram. Finally, a supply from upper continental source\ud has been suggested by the provenance proxies (such as (Gd/Yb)N and Eu/Eu*) and the La-Th-\ud Sc plot that also reflect the paucity of mafic rocks in feeding areas
Rosa Sinisi; Giovanni Mongelli; Paola Mameli; Giacomo Oggiano. Did the Variscan relief influence the Permian climate of Mesoeurope? Insights from geochemical and mineralogical proxies from Sardinia (Italy). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 2014, 396, 132 -154.
AMA StyleRosa Sinisi, Giovanni Mongelli, Paola Mameli, Giacomo Oggiano. Did the Variscan relief influence the Permian climate of Mesoeurope? Insights from geochemical and mineralogical proxies from Sardinia (Italy). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 2014; 396 ():132-154.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRosa Sinisi; Giovanni Mongelli; Paola Mameli; Giacomo Oggiano. 2014. "Did the Variscan relief influence the Permian climate of Mesoeurope? Insights from geochemical and mineralogical proxies from Sardinia (Italy)." Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 396, no. : 132-154.