In questa breve nota vengono illustrati i processi e meccanismi che hanno portato alla formazione... more In questa breve nota vengono illustrati i processi e meccanismi che hanno portato alla formazione dei sistemi carsici nelle aree gessose di Brisighella e Rontana. La morfologia delle grotte indica una loro forte influenza strutturale ed una loro formazione abbastanza recente, almeno rispetto ad altre zone della Vena del Gesso, avvenuta probabilmente nell\u2019arco degli ultimi 20.000 anni. Le datazioni U/Th di alcune colate carbonatiche in alcune di queste grotte sembrano avvalorare questa ipotesi. Resti e frammenti di antiche grotte e colate (100 ka) sono state trovate nella parte alta dei rilievi e future datazioni potranno fornire ulteriori elementi
Karst in Sicily develops in both Messinian gypsum and Mesozoic or Tertiary limestone rocks. Caves... more Karst in Sicily develops in both Messinian gypsum and Mesozoic or Tertiary limestone rocks. Caves are also found in the basalts of Mount Etna. Except for some rare cases, until recently most caves developed in limestone were considered to be of epigenetic origin. The discovery of gypsum in some of these caves, and especially detailed morphological studies, have allowed defining a hypogenic origin for a dozen of caves up to now. In some of these, the hypogenic evidences are very clear, while others remain in doubt because of the widespread presence of well-developed condensation-corrosion morphologies not necessarily related to hydrothermal fluids. This paper reports the present knowledge of hypogenic caves in the Island of Sicily.
Santa Cesarea Terme in Salento is the only area in which hypogenic caves have been recognized in ... more Santa Cesarea Terme in Salento is the only area in which hypogenic caves have been recognized in the Apulia region. In this spa area, the rising of sulfidic thermal waters that mix with both recent fresh infiltration waters and coastal salt water has formed four active sulfuric acid speleogenesis (SAS) caves. These caves are characterized by the typical set of sulfuric acid meso- and micromorphologies, and also by the presence of both gypsum and native sulfur. In all caves, biofilms are visible in the sulfidic thermal waters and on the cave walls.
Caves are largely unknown environments, hosting in their peculiar ecological niches a wide divers... more Caves are largely unknown environments, hosting in their peculiar ecological niches a wide diversity of extremophile microorganisms, highly specialized and adapted to the prohibitive conditions of caves (1). The role of cave biota in the formation of enigmatic structures occurring in underground environments, like vermiculations, is still largely unexplored (2). Vermiculations are thin, irregular and discontinuous deposits of incoherent particles, commonly found on the walls and ceilings of natural or artificial caves, worldwide (3). They show several kinds of morphology (dots, dendritic, hieroglyphic…), color (red, brown, grey, white) and size (4), and are considered “life hotspots”, representing a valuable focus for scientists and researchers in the field of cave microbiology. The aim of this study, funded by MIdA Foundation (Italy), was to investigate the microbiological and physico- chemical properties of vermiculations from Pertosa-Auletta Cave (Campania, southern Italy), in order to clarify the mechanisms involved in their formation and to define the factors affecting their diversification. Indeed, the understanding of biodiversity and genesis of vermiculations is a key step toward the protection and conservation of these peculiar biosignatures. Vermiculations from Pertosa-Auletta Cave, abundant in all the galleries, showed a considerable variety of morphologies. Overall, X-ray diffraction analysis indicated calcite and quartz as the dominant minerals of the 15 vermiculations studied, whereas clay minerals were almost absent. Elemental analysis showed wide variations in C, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, N, Na, Ni, P, S, Ti, V, and Zn concentrations among vermiculations. Applying the most innovative techniques in molecular biology, only Prokaryotes were observed. In particular, 16S rRNA gene-specific next generation sequencing analysis showed that Proteobacteria (48.0%) was the most abundant phylum in the Bacteria domain, followed by Acidobacteria (11.6%), Actinobacteria (7.1%), Nitrospirae (5.8%), Firmicutes (4.3%), Planctomycetes (3.2%), Chloroflexi (1.9%), and Gemmatimonadetes (1.1%). Archaea (0.1%) and a significant percentage of unclassified microorganisms (13.1%) were also observed. Clustering analysis suggested that microbial communities dwelling in the deposits partially influence their morphologies, likely mainly dependent on physico-chemical factors. Confocal laser scanning and field emission scanning electron microscopy confirmed the presence of active microbial mats, suggesting they may have an important role in the formation of vermiculations, throughout a number of processes, like production of organic matter, precipitation of secondary minerals (e.g. biogenic calcite), enhancement of sediment trapping and binding, etching or pitting of the host rock. 1) K. Tomczyk-Żak, U. Zielenkiewicz (2016) Geomicrobiology J., 33, 1-20 2) A. Bini, M. Cavalli Gori, S. Gori (1978) Int. J. Speleology, 10, 11-33 3) C.A. Hill, P. Forti (1997) Cave Minerals of the World. National Speleological Society, Ed. 2, 463 pp. 4) P. Parenzan (1961) Memoria Rassegna Speleologica Italiana, 5(2), 120-12
Introduction: The microbial diversity in the Su Bentu Cave (Sardinia, Italy) was investigated by ... more Introduction: The microbial diversity in the Su Bentu Cave (Sardinia, Italy) was investigated by means of Illumina MiSeq analysis. The hypogean environment is of great interest for astrobiological research as cave conditions may resemble those in extra-terrestrial regions. Furthermore, they hold high potential to identify novel, extremely adapted organisms to severely oligo-trophic habitats. However, the influence of human is not neglectable and in-depth investigations are needed to determine the impact of exploration on an otherwise mostly pristine ecosystem. The cave investigated in this study develops for several kilometres into the mountain, two hundred metres below the topographic surface and is characterized by a strong air circulation. Its structure is composed of huge passages carved in limestone where an ephemeral underground stream creates some lakes, close to which seven samples of visible calcite rafts, manganese deposits and moonmilk (a hydrated calcium carbonate speleo...
The microbiota associated with vermiculations from karst caves is largely unknown. Vermiculations... more The microbiota associated with vermiculations from karst caves is largely unknown. Vermiculations are enigmatic deposits forming worm-like patterns on cave walls all over the world. They represent a precious focus for geomicrobiological studies aimed at exploring both the microbial life of these ecosystems and the vermiculation genesis. This study comprises the first approach on the microbial communities thriving in Pertosa-Auletta Cave (southern Italy) vermiculations by next-generation sequencing. The most abundant phylum in vermiculations was Proteobacteria, followed by Acidobacteria > Actinobacteria > Nitrospirae > Firmicutes > Planctomycetes > Chloroflexi > Gemmatimonadetes > Bacteroidetes > Latescibacteria. Numerous less-represented taxonomic groups (< 1%), as well as unclassified ones, were also detected. From an ecological point of view, all the groups co-participate in the biogeochemical cycles in these underground environments, mediating oxidation...
Sulphuric acid speleogenesis (SAS) related to the upwelling of acid water enriched in H2S and CO2... more Sulphuric acid speleogenesis (SAS) related to the upwelling of acid water enriched in H2S and CO2 represents an unusual way of cave development. Since meteoric infiltration waters are not necessarily involved in speleogenesis, caves can form without the typical associated karst expressions (i.e. dolines) at the surface. The main mechanism of sulphuric acid dissolution is the oxidation of H2S (Jones et al., 2015) which can be amplified by bacterial mediation (Engel et al., 2004). In these conditions, carbonate dissolution associated with gypsum replacement, is generally believed to be faster than the normal epigenic one (De Waele et al., 2016). In Italy several SAS caves have been identified, but only few systems have been studied in detail: Frasassi and Acquasanta Terme (Marche)(Galdenzi et al., 2010), Monte Cucco (Umbria) (Galdenzi & Menichetti, 1995), and Montecchio (Tuscany) (Piccini et al., 2015). Other preliminary studies have been carried out in Calabria (Galdenzi, 2007) and S...
This work describes the geochemical and hydrogeological characteristics of Santa Cesarea Terme, a... more This work describes the geochemical and hydrogeological characteristics of Santa Cesarea Terme, an active sulfuric acid speleogenetic system located along the Adriatic coastline (Apulia, southern Italy). It represents a very peculiar site, where rising thermal and acidic waters mix with seawater creating undersaturated solutions with respect to CaCO3, able to dissolve and corrode limestone and create caves. The Santa Cesarea Terme system is composed of four caves: Fetida, Sulfurea, Gattulla, and Solfatara. Hypogene morphologies and abundant deposits of native sulfur (especially in Gattulla Cave) and sulfate minerals are present in these caves. Fetida and Gattulla caves were investigated primarily because they are easily accessible throughout the whole year through artificial entrances, the other caves being reachable only from the sea. Geochemical analysis of water, monitoring of cave atmosphere, and measurement of the stable isotopes of S, O, and H helped to identify the main proce...
In questa breve nota vengono illustrati i processi e meccanismi che hanno portato alla formazione... more In questa breve nota vengono illustrati i processi e meccanismi che hanno portato alla formazione dei sistemi carsici nelle aree gessose di Brisighella e Rontana. La morfologia delle grotte indica una loro forte influenza strutturale ed una loro formazione abbastanza recente, almeno rispetto ad altre zone della Vena del Gesso, avvenuta probabilmente nell\u2019arco degli ultimi 20.000 anni. Le datazioni U/Th di alcune colate carbonatiche in alcune di queste grotte sembrano avvalorare questa ipotesi. Resti e frammenti di antiche grotte e colate (100 ka) sono state trovate nella parte alta dei rilievi e future datazioni potranno fornire ulteriori elementi
Karst in Sicily develops in both Messinian gypsum and Mesozoic or Tertiary limestone rocks. Caves... more Karst in Sicily develops in both Messinian gypsum and Mesozoic or Tertiary limestone rocks. Caves are also found in the basalts of Mount Etna. Except for some rare cases, until recently most caves developed in limestone were considered to be of epigenetic origin. The discovery of gypsum in some of these caves, and especially detailed morphological studies, have allowed defining a hypogenic origin for a dozen of caves up to now. In some of these, the hypogenic evidences are very clear, while others remain in doubt because of the widespread presence of well-developed condensation-corrosion morphologies not necessarily related to hydrothermal fluids. This paper reports the present knowledge of hypogenic caves in the Island of Sicily.
Santa Cesarea Terme in Salento is the only area in which hypogenic caves have been recognized in ... more Santa Cesarea Terme in Salento is the only area in which hypogenic caves have been recognized in the Apulia region. In this spa area, the rising of sulfidic thermal waters that mix with both recent fresh infiltration waters and coastal salt water has formed four active sulfuric acid speleogenesis (SAS) caves. These caves are characterized by the typical set of sulfuric acid meso- and micromorphologies, and also by the presence of both gypsum and native sulfur. In all caves, biofilms are visible in the sulfidic thermal waters and on the cave walls.
Caves are largely unknown environments, hosting in their peculiar ecological niches a wide divers... more Caves are largely unknown environments, hosting in their peculiar ecological niches a wide diversity of extremophile microorganisms, highly specialized and adapted to the prohibitive conditions of caves (1). The role of cave biota in the formation of enigmatic structures occurring in underground environments, like vermiculations, is still largely unexplored (2). Vermiculations are thin, irregular and discontinuous deposits of incoherent particles, commonly found on the walls and ceilings of natural or artificial caves, worldwide (3). They show several kinds of morphology (dots, dendritic, hieroglyphic…), color (red, brown, grey, white) and size (4), and are considered “life hotspots”, representing a valuable focus for scientists and researchers in the field of cave microbiology. The aim of this study, funded by MIdA Foundation (Italy), was to investigate the microbiological and physico- chemical properties of vermiculations from Pertosa-Auletta Cave (Campania, southern Italy), in order to clarify the mechanisms involved in their formation and to define the factors affecting their diversification. Indeed, the understanding of biodiversity and genesis of vermiculations is a key step toward the protection and conservation of these peculiar biosignatures. Vermiculations from Pertosa-Auletta Cave, abundant in all the galleries, showed a considerable variety of morphologies. Overall, X-ray diffraction analysis indicated calcite and quartz as the dominant minerals of the 15 vermiculations studied, whereas clay minerals were almost absent. Elemental analysis showed wide variations in C, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, N, Na, Ni, P, S, Ti, V, and Zn concentrations among vermiculations. Applying the most innovative techniques in molecular biology, only Prokaryotes were observed. In particular, 16S rRNA gene-specific next generation sequencing analysis showed that Proteobacteria (48.0%) was the most abundant phylum in the Bacteria domain, followed by Acidobacteria (11.6%), Actinobacteria (7.1%), Nitrospirae (5.8%), Firmicutes (4.3%), Planctomycetes (3.2%), Chloroflexi (1.9%), and Gemmatimonadetes (1.1%). Archaea (0.1%) and a significant percentage of unclassified microorganisms (13.1%) were also observed. Clustering analysis suggested that microbial communities dwelling in the deposits partially influence their morphologies, likely mainly dependent on physico-chemical factors. Confocal laser scanning and field emission scanning electron microscopy confirmed the presence of active microbial mats, suggesting they may have an important role in the formation of vermiculations, throughout a number of processes, like production of organic matter, precipitation of secondary minerals (e.g. biogenic calcite), enhancement of sediment trapping and binding, etching or pitting of the host rock. 1) K. Tomczyk-Żak, U. Zielenkiewicz (2016) Geomicrobiology J., 33, 1-20 2) A. Bini, M. Cavalli Gori, S. Gori (1978) Int. J. Speleology, 10, 11-33 3) C.A. Hill, P. Forti (1997) Cave Minerals of the World. National Speleological Society, Ed. 2, 463 pp. 4) P. Parenzan (1961) Memoria Rassegna Speleologica Italiana, 5(2), 120-12
Introduction: The microbial diversity in the Su Bentu Cave (Sardinia, Italy) was investigated by ... more Introduction: The microbial diversity in the Su Bentu Cave (Sardinia, Italy) was investigated by means of Illumina MiSeq analysis. The hypogean environment is of great interest for astrobiological research as cave conditions may resemble those in extra-terrestrial regions. Furthermore, they hold high potential to identify novel, extremely adapted organisms to severely oligo-trophic habitats. However, the influence of human is not neglectable and in-depth investigations are needed to determine the impact of exploration on an otherwise mostly pristine ecosystem. The cave investigated in this study develops for several kilometres into the mountain, two hundred metres below the topographic surface and is characterized by a strong air circulation. Its structure is composed of huge passages carved in limestone where an ephemeral underground stream creates some lakes, close to which seven samples of visible calcite rafts, manganese deposits and moonmilk (a hydrated calcium carbonate speleo...
The microbiota associated with vermiculations from karst caves is largely unknown. Vermiculations... more The microbiota associated with vermiculations from karst caves is largely unknown. Vermiculations are enigmatic deposits forming worm-like patterns on cave walls all over the world. They represent a precious focus for geomicrobiological studies aimed at exploring both the microbial life of these ecosystems and the vermiculation genesis. This study comprises the first approach on the microbial communities thriving in Pertosa-Auletta Cave (southern Italy) vermiculations by next-generation sequencing. The most abundant phylum in vermiculations was Proteobacteria, followed by Acidobacteria > Actinobacteria > Nitrospirae > Firmicutes > Planctomycetes > Chloroflexi > Gemmatimonadetes > Bacteroidetes > Latescibacteria. Numerous less-represented taxonomic groups (< 1%), as well as unclassified ones, were also detected. From an ecological point of view, all the groups co-participate in the biogeochemical cycles in these underground environments, mediating oxidation...
Sulphuric acid speleogenesis (SAS) related to the upwelling of acid water enriched in H2S and CO2... more Sulphuric acid speleogenesis (SAS) related to the upwelling of acid water enriched in H2S and CO2 represents an unusual way of cave development. Since meteoric infiltration waters are not necessarily involved in speleogenesis, caves can form without the typical associated karst expressions (i.e. dolines) at the surface. The main mechanism of sulphuric acid dissolution is the oxidation of H2S (Jones et al., 2015) which can be amplified by bacterial mediation (Engel et al., 2004). In these conditions, carbonate dissolution associated with gypsum replacement, is generally believed to be faster than the normal epigenic one (De Waele et al., 2016). In Italy several SAS caves have been identified, but only few systems have been studied in detail: Frasassi and Acquasanta Terme (Marche)(Galdenzi et al., 2010), Monte Cucco (Umbria) (Galdenzi & Menichetti, 1995), and Montecchio (Tuscany) (Piccini et al., 2015). Other preliminary studies have been carried out in Calabria (Galdenzi, 2007) and S...
This work describes the geochemical and hydrogeological characteristics of Santa Cesarea Terme, a... more This work describes the geochemical and hydrogeological characteristics of Santa Cesarea Terme, an active sulfuric acid speleogenetic system located along the Adriatic coastline (Apulia, southern Italy). It represents a very peculiar site, where rising thermal and acidic waters mix with seawater creating undersaturated solutions with respect to CaCO3, able to dissolve and corrode limestone and create caves. The Santa Cesarea Terme system is composed of four caves: Fetida, Sulfurea, Gattulla, and Solfatara. Hypogene morphologies and abundant deposits of native sulfur (especially in Gattulla Cave) and sulfate minerals are present in these caves. Fetida and Gattulla caves were investigated primarily because they are easily accessible throughout the whole year through artificial entrances, the other caves being reachable only from the sea. Geochemical analysis of water, monitoring of cave atmosphere, and measurement of the stable isotopes of S, O, and H helped to identify the main proce...
Uploads
Papers by Ilenia D'Angeli