Geoheritage Values and Environmental Issues of Derelict Mines: Examples from the Sulfide Mines of Gromolo and Petronio Valleys (Eastern Liguria, Italy)

Abstract

Derelict mining districts represent anthropogenically influenced landscapes that are often characterized by important geological, ecological, environmental, industrial, cultural, and archeological values. Nevertheless, after mining activities cease, several environmental problems are left behind, associated with soil and water pollution, hydrogeological instability, subsidence, ecosystem damages, and landscape degradation or devastation. In this article we present a case study focused on a sulfide mining district (Petronio and Gromolo valleys, Genova) located on the ophiolitic sequences of the Northern Apennines (Eastern Liguria, Italy), with the aim of applying a GIS (Geographic Information System)-based model for the complete census of derelict mines and for the assessment of their geoheritage and geotourist values, potential risks, and environmental impact. All information has been integrated to produce a multicriteria approach for the evaluation of hazards and/or critical issues and geoheritage values. Based on the results obtained in this pilot area, an integrated cultural and touristic route has been proposed, which combines several points of interest (POIs) chosen within an area of about 8 km2.

Assessment of Geotourism Values and Ecological Status of Mines in Kopaonik Mountain (Serbia)

“…The second method relates to the evaluation of the parameter from which the total value of environmental issues is derived. The estimation model used was performed according to the methodology used by Marescotti et al [77] on the example of the sulfur mines of the Gromolo and Petronio valleys of Eastern Liguria in Italy. The reason for choosing this methodology stems from the subject matter of this study, and the research concerns evaluation of critical issues (CI) and positive values (PV).…”

“…This is a form of strategic environmental impact assessment that indicates the need to encourage future specialized experimental research. For this research, based on the criteria according to the methodology applied [77], was assigned a numerical value for each question, qualitative and quantitative research. The sum of these partial values determined the overall score.…”

Transforming Brownfields as Tourism Destinations and Their Sustainability on the Example of Slovakia

“…As stated in the theoretical background section, this research is not exclusively methodologically based on the works mentioned above. Theoretical and methodological procedures and results from research on mining brownfields and their secondary use applications for purposes other than tourism (e.g., [10,15,[28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38]), although also those concerning mining tourism or tourism in general, were used (e.g., the recent works [6,[39][40][41]; for more details, see the theoretical background section). Based on the study of the abovementioned studies, we conducted a search of the latest studies on the The heuristics of the information database, specifically the critical content analysis of literary sources [21][22][23] focused on brownfields in general (e.g., [5,[7][8][9][12][13][14]16,18,[24][25][26][27]), was the basis of the research in and elaboration of mining brownfields secondary use in (mining) tourism.…”

Post-mining Remnants and Revitalization

“…Historic structures of this type are very attractive, and therefore, a significant growth of interest is observed in using them as mining heritage objects in tourism (Conesa et al 2008;Gligor and Tămaş 2009;Zhang et al 2011;Marescotti et al 2018;Baczyńska et al 2017Baczyńska et al , 2018. Obviously, such objects must be first adapted to serve particular functions.…”