Evaporite karst in Italy: a review

Authors

Jo De Waele, University of BolognaFollow
Leonardo Piccini, University of FlorenceFollow
Andrea Columbu, University of MelbourneFollow
Giuliana Madonia, University of PalermoFollow
Marco Vattano, University of PalermoFollow
Chiara Calligaris, Trieste UniversityFollow
Ilenia D’Angeli, University of BolognaFollow
Mario Parise, Università "Aldo Moro"Follow
Mauro Chiesi, Società Speleologica ItalianaFollow
Michele Sivelli, Società Speleologica ItalianaFollow
Bartolomeo Vigna, Polytechnic University of TurinFollow
Luca Zini, Trieste UniversityFollow
Veronica Chiarini, University of BolognaFollow
Francesco Sauro, University of BolognaFollow
Russell Drysdale, University of MelbourneFollow
Paolo Forti, University of BolognaFollow

Highlights

• Geology of Italian gypsum karst is described
• Main surface morphologies in these gypsum areas is illustrated
• Caves in gypsum are described
• Carbonate speleothems in these evaporite caves are important palaeoclimate archives
• Gypsum areas are often subjected to different kinds of hazards

Abstract

Although outcropping rarely in Italy, evaporite (gypsum and anhydrite) karst has been described in detail since the early 20^th century. Gypsum caves are now known from almost all Italian regions, but are mainly localised along the northern border of the Apennine chain (Emilia Romagna and Marche), Calabria, and Sicily, where the major outcrops occur. Recently, important caves have also been discovered in the underground gypsum mines in Piedmont. During the late 80s and 90s several multidisciplinary studies were carried out in many gypsum areas, resulting in a comprehensive overview, promoting further research in these special karst regions. More recent and detailed studies focused on the gypsum areas of Emilia-Romagna and Sicily. Sinkholes related to Permian-Triassic gypsum have been studied in Friuli Venezia Giulia. This article reviews the state of the art regarding different aspects of evaporite karst in Italy focusing on the main new results.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5038/1827-806X.46.2.2107

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License

Recommended Citation

De Waele, Jo; Leonardo Piccini; Andrea Columbu; Giuliana Madonia; Marco Vattano; Chiara Calligaris; Ilenia D’Angeli; Mario Parise; Mauro Chiesi; Michele Sivelli; Bartolomeo Vigna; Luca Zini; Veronica Chiarini; Francesco Sauro; Russell Drysdale; and Paolo Forti. 2017. Evaporite karst in Italy: a review. International Journal of Speleology, 46: 137-168.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/ijs/vol46/iss2/3