Hydrodynamic and Geochemical Features of Metamorphic Carbonate Aquifers and Implications for Water Management: The Apuan Alps (NW Tuscany, Italy) Case Study

Doveri, Marco; Piccini, Leonardo; Menichini, Matia

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-77368-1_8

Cited by 10 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 31 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In an area of about 650 km 2 , the carbonate rock assemblages display very different structural and lithological traits. For this reason, they offer a wide variety of hydrogeological conditions displayed in many springs with very different hydrodynamics and hydro-chemical features [13]. The carbonate rocks contain important groundwater resources due to the high rainfall, and the high infiltration coefficient, that can reach 75% of total precipitation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…at Pisanino Mount, consists of both metamorphosed and non-metamorphosed carbonate rocks belonging to three different tectonic units (Figure 1). Apuan metamorphic unit is mainly represented by meta-dolostone, marble and dolomitic marble (about 115 km 2 as outcrops) and by cherty limestones (about 20 km 2 ) ( [13] and references therein). For these reasons, the Apuan Alps can be considered a relevant case-study area, where the impact of slurries produced by marble quarries on karst aquifers can be investigated in order to obtain an indication of general interest and worldwide application.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Marble Slurry’s Impact on Groundwater: The Case Study of the Apuan Alps Karst Aquifers

Piccini

Lorenzo

Costagliola

et al. 2019

Water

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Modern sawing techniques employed in ornamental stones’ exploitation produce large amounts of slurry that can be potentially diffused into the environment by runoff water. Slurry produced by limestone and marble quarrying can impact local karst aquifers, negatively affecting the groundwater quality and generating a remarkable environmental and economic damage. A very representative case-study is that of the Apuan Alps (north-western Tuscany, Italy) because of the intensive marble quarrying activity. The Apuan Alps region extends over about 650 km2; it hosts several quarries, known all over the world for the quality of the marble extracted, and a karst aquifer producing about 70,000 m3/day of high-quality water used directly for domestic purposes almost without treatments. In addition, Apuan Alps are an extraordinary area of natural and cultural heritage hosting many caves (about 1200), karst springs and geosites of international and national interest. During intense rain events, carbonate slurry systematically reaches the karst springs, making them temporarily unsuitable for domestic uses. In addition, the deterioration of the water quality threatens all the hypogean fauna living in the caves. This paper provides preliminary insights of the hydrological and biological indicators that can offer information about the impact of the marble quarrying activities on groundwater resources, karst habitats and their biodiversity.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Marble Slurry’s Impact on Groundwater: The Case Study of the Apuan Alps Karst Aquifers

Piccini

Lorenzo

Costagliola

et al. 2019

Water

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The exceptions are the main aquifers of the region, which are hosted within the metamorphic dolostones and limestones of the Apuan Alps ("Grezzoni" and "Carrara Marbles" Fms.). The latter are drained by more than 80 springs with flow rates ranging from 10 to 1600 L/s on average [12,46]. Other remarkable aquifer systems include gypsum rock masses in the Emilian Apennines [47] and the limestone and cherty limestone of the Tuscan Nappe [45].…”

Section: Climatic Geological and Hydrogeological Setting Of The Studmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As a result, shallow groundwater develops and feeds a huge number of low-yield springs where the local groundwater tables cross the land surfaces. These springs are poorly mineralized and their mean annual discharges range between less than 1 L/s and tens L/s [43,46,49], showing remarkable variation during the year. In fact, flow rates closely follow the rainfall distribution during the year, with the maximum in spring (April-May) and the minimum flow rates in summer to the beginning of autumn (September-October).…”

Section: Climatic Geological and Hydrogeological Setting Of The Studmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimating the Isotopic Altitude Gradient for Hydrogeological Studies in Mountainous Areas: Are the Low-Yield Springs Suitable? Insights from the Northern Apennines of Italy

Tazioli

Cervi²,

Doveri

et al. 2019

Water

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Several prior studies investigated the use of stable isotopes of water in hydrogeological applications, most on a local scale and often involving the isotopic gradient (evaluated by exploiting the so-called altitude effect), calculated on the basis of rainwater isotopes. A few times, this gradient has been obtained using the stable isotopic contents of low-yield springs in a limited time series. Despite the fact that this method has been recognized by the hydrogeological community, marked differences have been observed with respect to the mean stable isotopes content of groundwater and rainwater. The present investigation compares the stable isotopic signatures of 23 low-yield springs discharging along two transects from the Tyrrhenian sea to the Po Plain of Italy, evaluates the different isotopic gradients and assesses their distribution in relation to some climatic and topographic conditions. Stable isotopes of water show that groundwater in the study area is recharged by precipitation and that the precipitation regime in the eastern portion of the study area is strongly controlled by a shadow effect caused by the Alps chain on the air masses from central Europe. Stable isotopes (in particular the δ18O and deuterium excess (d-excess) contents together with the obtained isotopic gradients) allow us to identify in the study area an opposite oriented orographic effect and a different provenance of the air masses. When the windward slope is located on the Tyrrhenian side, the precipitation shows a predominant oceanic origin; when the windward slope moves to the Adriatic side, the precipitation is characterized by a continental origin. The main results of this study confirm the usefulness of low-yield springs and the need for a highly detailed survey-scale hydrological investigation in the mountainous context.

show abstract

Hydrodynamics of karst aquifers in metamorphic carbonate rocks: results from spring monitoring in the Apuan Alps (Tuscany, Italy)

Piccini

Nannoni

Poggetti³

2022

Hydrogeol J

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

During the last 40 years, extensive research has characterized the hydrogeology of many karst aquifers, as they are important water resources. Despite that, a systematic investigation on metamorphic karst aquifers is still lacking. The present study investigates the functioning of marble karst aquifers by means of spring hydrological monitoring, coupled with storm-hydrograph, thermograph, and chemograph (HTC) analysis and lag time analysis. Renara and Equi springs (Apuan Alps, Italy) were selected for this investigation. These springs drain catchments that have different degrees of structural complexity. Piston flow is the common hydrodynamic response of Renara spring to infiltration. Strong dilution effects were observed only during the heaviest rainfall events. Prolonged dry conditions after a sustained recharge phase showed the delayed arrival of infiltration water about a month later. Equi spring has a more complex behaviour due to its wider and more hydrologically heterogeneous catchment but the comparison of HTC graphs during the winter dry phase helped to recognize the differential contributions of proximal and distal sectors. Both springs show a rapid discharge increase in response to impulse infiltrative events. Conversely, water temperature and specific electrical conductivity increase only slightly during floods, indicating limited chemical and thermal exchanges between the rock and the water stored in these aquifers. The hydrodynamic behaviour of these karst springs suggests that the Apuan metamorphic aquifers are characterized by the predominance of conduit porosity over fissure and matrix porosities. This is explained by a reduced interstitial porosity and fracturing of the metamorphic carbonate rocks.

show abstract

Hydrodynamic and Geochemical Features of Metamorphic Carbonate Aquifers and Implications for Water Management: The Apuan Alps (NW Tuscany, Italy) Case Study

Cited by 10 publications

References 31 publications

Marble Slurry’s Impact on Groundwater: The Case Study of the Apuan Alps Karst Aquifers

Marble Slurry’s Impact on Groundwater: The Case Study of the Apuan Alps Karst Aquifers

Estimating the Isotopic Altitude Gradient for Hydrogeological Studies in Mountainous Areas: Are the Low-Yield Springs Suitable? Insights from the Northern Apennines of Italy

Hydrodynamics of karst aquifers in metamorphic carbonate rocks: results from spring monitoring in the Apuan Alps (Tuscany, Italy)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About