Journal article
Evaporite karst in Italy: A review
J De Waele, L Piccini, A Columbu, G Madonia, M Vattano, C Calligaris, IM D’Angeli, M Parise, M Chiesi, M Sivelli, B Vigna, L Zini, V Chiarini, F Sauro, R Drysdale, P Forti
International Journal of Speleology | SOCIETA SPELEOLOGICA ITALIANA | Published : 2017
Abstract
Although outcropping rarely in Italy, evaporite (gypsum and anhydrite) karst has been described in detail since the early 20th 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 gyps..
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Funding Acknowledgements
This paper has been made possible thanks to the continuous interest of cavers in gypsum karst and caves, and their discoveries have enabled researchers to investigate their world in increasing detail. The caving clubs of the Federazione Speleologica Regionale dell'Emilia-Romagna, and in particular the Gruppo Speleologico Bolognese/Unione Speleologica Bolognese (GSB/USB), the Gruppo Ambientale Mezzanese (GAM), and Gruppo Speleologico Faentino are thanked for logistical and financial support. The authors thank the Sicilian cavers of the ANS Le Taddarite (Palermo), Speleo Club Ibleo (Ragusa), GS Kamicos (S. Angelo Muxaro) for the support during cave activity. The staff of the "Grotta di Santa Ninfa", "Grotta di Entella" and "Grotta di S. Angelo Muxaro" nature reserves are acknowledged for the collaboration and permissions in the protected areas. Danilo Demaria prepared the Acquafredda-Spipola Cave system drawing in Fig. 8. The map of gypsum outcrops in Italy (Fig. 1) is based on data from Fabrizio Galluzzo and Marco Pantaloni of the Geological Survey of Italy - ISPRA (Rome) and modified by Maria Luisa Garberi of the Statistical and Geographic Information Service of Emilia-Romagna Region. Historical data have been obtained from the library Centro di Documentazione Speleologica "F. Anelli" at University of Bologna. The detailed comments of three reviewers have helped improving the paper substantially.