An important mineralogical study has been conducted on the “mine caves” of Southwest Sardinia, Italy in the past two years (National Research Project COFIN 2001-2003). This research involved the Universities of Bologna, Modena and Cagliari and the IGEA (Geo-Environmental Projects) Society of Iglesias. The area is part of the "Geomining Park of Sardinia" recently instituted in a European framework "Mine caves" are natural cavities formed in contact with or within mineral deposits, sometimes developing far below the present topographical surface, and generally lacking a natural entrance. Their access is possible through artificial excavations such as mine shafts and tunnels. At present more than hundred mine caves are known in the area. Many specific morphological and mineralogical studies on speleothems from mine caves have been done in the past 20 years, but only recently these researches have been conducted in a much more organised manner. In some of these mine caves mineralogical and speleogenetical research has been performed comprising in situ analysis and observations (climatic and physical-chemical parameters) and sampling of minerals and speleothems. The morphological and mineralogical analysis allowed not only to enhance the knowledge, up to date relatively scarce, on these special depositional environments represented by mine caves, but also permitted to increase the mineralogenetical knowledge of some rare minerals (especially, but not only, phosphates and sulphates). A short overview of all these minerals is given together with some morphological and genetical observations. The scientific data obtained in this field of research will surely be of great practical use for the individuation of the most important areas of scientific and/or didactical interest inside the Geomining Park of Sardinia, areas which can be effectively protected and valorised. These researches will also be of immediate practical use for the definition of the territorial planning of the Geomining Park of Sardinia, allowing to identify both caves of great scientific interest that are extremely vulnerable and should therefore be adequately protected and eventually foreseen to become "scientific subterranean laboratories", and caves for which a didactic-tourist valorisation plan would be appropriate in the framework of a cultural development inside the Geomining Park. In the near future a Monography on the “mine caves” of Mount San Giovanni, the most representative karst area of the entire Iglesiente mining district, will be printed with the aim to be the starting point for the development of similar studies in other karst areas in mine districts outside Sardinia.
Mineralogy of mine caves in Sardinia (Italy) / De Waele J.; Forti P.. - STAMPA. - 1:(2008), pp. 306-311. (Intervento presentato al convegno 14th International Congress of Speleology della Union International de Spéléologie, più grande congresso internazionale sulla speleologia che si tiene ogni 4 anni. tenutosi a Kalamos, Grecia nel 21-28 Agosto 2005).
Mineralogy of mine caves in Sardinia (Italy).
DE WAELE, JO HILAIRE AGNES;FORTI, PAOLO
2008
Abstract
An important mineralogical study has been conducted on the “mine caves” of Southwest Sardinia, Italy in the past two years (National Research Project COFIN 2001-2003). This research involved the Universities of Bologna, Modena and Cagliari and the IGEA (Geo-Environmental Projects) Society of Iglesias. The area is part of the "Geomining Park of Sardinia" recently instituted in a European framework "Mine caves" are natural cavities formed in contact with or within mineral deposits, sometimes developing far below the present topographical surface, and generally lacking a natural entrance. Their access is possible through artificial excavations such as mine shafts and tunnels. At present more than hundred mine caves are known in the area. Many specific morphological and mineralogical studies on speleothems from mine caves have been done in the past 20 years, but only recently these researches have been conducted in a much more organised manner. In some of these mine caves mineralogical and speleogenetical research has been performed comprising in situ analysis and observations (climatic and physical-chemical parameters) and sampling of minerals and speleothems. The morphological and mineralogical analysis allowed not only to enhance the knowledge, up to date relatively scarce, on these special depositional environments represented by mine caves, but also permitted to increase the mineralogenetical knowledge of some rare minerals (especially, but not only, phosphates and sulphates). A short overview of all these minerals is given together with some morphological and genetical observations. The scientific data obtained in this field of research will surely be of great practical use for the individuation of the most important areas of scientific and/or didactical interest inside the Geomining Park of Sardinia, areas which can be effectively protected and valorised. These researches will also be of immediate practical use for the definition of the territorial planning of the Geomining Park of Sardinia, allowing to identify both caves of great scientific interest that are extremely vulnerable and should therefore be adequately protected and eventually foreseen to become "scientific subterranean laboratories", and caves for which a didactic-tourist valorisation plan would be appropriate in the framework of a cultural development inside the Geomining Park. In the near future a Monography on the “mine caves” of Mount San Giovanni, the most representative karst area of the entire Iglesiente mining district, will be printed with the aim to be the starting point for the development of similar studies in other karst areas in mine districts outside Sardinia.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
