Geothermal exploration of Roccamonfina volcano, Italy

Watts, M. D.

doi:10.1016/0375-6505(87)90036-8

Cited by 27 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Lava flows and domes are highly permeable because of extensive permeability along cooling generated fractures. Likewise, breccias are highly permeable and in direct contact with the sedimentary basement (Watts 1987). Groundwater recharge into the system occurs along dip-slip faults through the lava domes (Capelli et al 1999).…”

Section: Hydrogeological Settingmentioning

confidence: 98%

Hydrogeochemistry of Roccamonfina volcano (Southern Italy)

Cuoco¹,

Verrengia²,

Francesco³

et al. 2009

Environ Earth Sci

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This is the first hydro-geochemical investigation carried out on the Roccamonfina Volcanic Complex groundwaters. The chemistry of Roccamonfina waters is defined by water-rock and water-rock-gas interactions. In fact, interactions between rocks of the first eruptive high-K formations and circulating groundwaters are recognized by high K concentrations. On the other hand, inverse concentration of calcium versus alkali metals is related to two different rock interactions occurring in different areas of the volcano: (a) within the caldera where groundwaters flow within latite and pyroclastic formations releasing calcium, and (b) similarly at the base of the volcano where groundwaters flowing from surrounding carbonates got strongly enriched in Ca. These geochemical processes are also associated with K (SE of caldera) and Mg/Ca (in sites located at the NE base of the volcano) decrease. Completely different dynamics occurs at Riardo groundwaters (SE). Here waters are the result of a mix between the Roccamonfina deep aquifer and the carbonate aquifer of the Riardo plain. Rich-CO 2 emissions make these waters strongly mineralized. Minor elements show a similar geochemical behavior of major ions and are crucial defining interactions processes. The evolution of Roccamonfina groundwaters is also evident along the simultaneous enrichment of Ba, Sr, and Ca. Ba increase is the result of deep local carbonate alteration enhanced by CO 2 emissions and, the lower Sr/Ca ratio, from 10 to 2 (ppb/ppm), is also due to the same process. In the light of our results the Roccamonfina aquifer can be schematically divided into two main reservoirs: (a) a superficial aquifer which basically follows the volcanic structure morphology and tectonics and (b) a deeper reservoir, originating within the oldest Roccamonfina volcano ultra potassic lavas and then flowing into the carbonate aquifers of the neighboring plain. Eventually, the chemistry of the Roccamonfina aquifer does not show any specific and visible pollution, contrary to what happens in the volcano surrounding plains. In fact, only 14% of the samples we collected (206) show a NO 3 content[30 mg/l. These sites are all located at the base of the volcano, near the plain.

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Section: Hydrogeological Settingmentioning

confidence: 98%

Hydrogeochemistry of Roccamonfina volcano (Southern Italy)

Cuoco¹,

Verrengia²,

Francesco³

et al. 2009

Environ Earth Sci

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“…1). It has recently been the subject of several papers regarding its volcanologic history (Giannetti 1979;Watts 1987;Ballini et al 1989a;Cole et al 1992;De Rita and Giordano 1996). Some of its pyroclastic deposits have attracted the attention of many authors interested in the mechanism of emplacement and chemical characteristics; these deposits are known as White Trachytic Tuff (WTT; Giannetti and Luhr 1983;Ballini et al 1989a, b;Valentine and Giannetti 1995;De Rita and Giordano 1996;De Rita et al, in press) or as Galluccio Tuff (Cole et al 1993) and have been dated between 300 ka (Giannetti and Luhr 1983) and 230 ka (Ballini et al 1990).…”

Section: Previous Studies and Geologic Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…200 km 2 ); (b) the total thickness never exceeds 10 m; (c) the average lithic content is approximately 30%; and (d) a reasonable value for the fine vitric ash loss is approximately 50% (Cole 1990). The volume estimation takes into account the volume of the ignimbrites in the summit depression (Watts 1987). The volumetric ratio between the lower subunits and the upper subunits is approximately 1 : 3.…”

Section: Wtt Cupamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Aramaki et al 1986), rather than groundwater, which is typically reflected by an increase in lithic content (e.g., Barberi et al 1989). The existence of a small lake at the summit of Roccamonfina Volcano is plausible, as the summit depression formed well before the WTT eruptions (De Rita and Giordano 1996), and also lacustrine sediments occur both in outcrop (Giannetti 1979) and in the subsurface (Watts 1987;Ballini et al 1989a). Furthermore, limited groundwater supply to the volcanic conduit at the onset of the eruptions is suggested by the lithic clast population, which consists almost entirely of lavas constituting the framework of Roccamonfina stratovolcano and indicates that the magma fragmentation level was confined mainly to shallow parts of the volcanic pile (ca.…”

Section: Influence Of Aquifers On Magma-water Interactionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Facies characteristics and magma-water interaction of the White Trachytic Tuffs (Roccamonfina Volcano, southern Italy)

Giordano

1998

Bulletin of Volcanology

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The Quaternary White Trachytic Tuffs Formation from Roccamonfina Volcano (southern Italy) comprises four non-welded, trachytic, pyroclastic sequences bounded by paleosols, each of which corresponds to small-to intermediate-volume explosive eruptions from central vents. From oldest to youngest they are: White Trachytic Tuff (WTT) Cupa, WTT Aulpi, WTT S. Clemente, and WTT Galluccio. The WTT Galluccio eruption was the largest and emplaced F 4 km 3 of magma. The internal stratigraphy of all four WTT eruptive units is a complex association of fallout, surge, and pyroclastic flow deposits. Each eruptive unit is organized into two facies associations, Facies Association A below Facies Association B. The emplacement of the two facies associations may have been separated by short time breaks allowing for limited reworking and erosion. Facies Association A consists of interbedded fallout deposits, surge deposits, and subordinate ignimbrites. This facies association involved the eruption of the most evolved trachytic magma, and pumice clasts are white and well vesiculated. The grain size coarsens upward in Facies Association A, with upward increases of dune bedform wavelengths and a decrease in the proportion of fine ash. These trends could reflect an increase in eruption column height from the onset of the eruption and possibly also in mass eruption rate. Facies Association B comprises massive ignimbrites that are progressively richer in lithic clast content. This association involved the eruption of more mafic magma, and pumice clasts are gray and poorly vesiculated. Facies Association B is interpreted to record the climax of the eruption. Phreatomagmatic deposits occur at different stratigraphic levels in the four WTT and have different facies characteristics. The de-posits reflect the style and degree of magma-water interaction and the local hydrogeology. Very finegrained, lithic-poor phreatomagmatic surge deposits found at the base of WTT Cupa and WTT Galluccio could record the interaction of the erupting magma with a lake that occupied the Roccamonfina summit depression. Renewed magma-water interaction later in the WTT Galluccio eruption is indicated by fine grained, lithic-bearing phreatomagmatic fall and surge deposits occurring at the top of Facies Association A. They could be interpreted to reflect shifts of the magma fragmentation level to highly transmissive, regional aquifers located beneath the Roccamonfina edifice, possibly heralding a caldera collapse event.

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“…55), which cut the Mesozoic-Cenozoic Apennine carbonatic sequences (e.g., Giordano et al, 1995;De Rita & Giordano, 1996). The volcanic succession lies on marine to continental sedimentary deposits that fill the NE-SW Garigliano graben (Watts, 1987;Giordano et al, 1995). The Roccamonfina Volcano is made up of lavas and pyroclastic rocks erupted in three main phases of activity (Fig.…”

Section: Day 2 (Continue): Roccamonfina Volcanomentioning

confidence: 99%