Metallogeny, exploitation and environmental impact of the Mt. Amiata mercury ore district (Southern Tuscany, Italy)

Rimondi, Valentina; Chiarantini, Laura; Lattanzi, Pierfranco; Benvenuti, Marco; Beutel, Marc W.; Colica, Antonella; Costagliola, Pilario; Benedetto, Francesco Di; Gabbani, G.; Gray, John Edward; Pandeli, Enrico; Pattelli, Giulia; Paolieri, Mario; Ruggieri, Giovanni

doi:10.3301/ijg.2015.02

Cited by 41 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 77 publications

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“…In the MAMD, the genesis of Hg deposits has been associated to the hydrothermal systems present in southern Tuscany during Pliocene-Quaternary, possibly with secondary enrichment during Pleistocene (Tanelli, 1983;Klemm and Neumann, 1984;Brogi and Fabbrini, 2009;Morteani et al, 2011;Gasparrini et al, 2013;Rimondi et al, 2015). Cinnabar was by far the prevalent mineral, while metacinnabar and native Hg were subordinate; accessory As sulfides (realgar and orpiment) were quite common.…”

Section: Overview Of Mining Activity and Contamination Problemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

From point source to diffuse source of contaminants: The example of mercury dispersion in the Paglia River (Central Italy)

Colica

Benvenuti

Chiarantini

et al. 2019

CATENA

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Fluvial sediments of the Paglia River, a tributary of Tiber River (Central Italy), are contaminated by mercury (Hg) as a consequence of past mining activity (1846-1981, with main production 1900-1970) in the Monte Amiata district (the 3rd largest Hg producer worldwide). In this study, we combine a geomorphological analysis with geochemical data to try and understand the influence of fluvial dynamics on the spatial distribution of Hg in fluvial sediments over a 43 km segment of the river. By considering the evolution of the river course between 1883 and 2013, eight different geomorphic units (GUs) were recognised, including the active channel bed (baseflow channel and bar), the floodplain, and five orders of terraces. The distribution of Hg in sediments of these GUs reflects the timing of their formation with respect to evolution of the mining activity. In GUs formed before the main peak of mining activity, or after mine closure, sediments show mean Hg contents comparable to, or slightly higher than, the local background, estimated at 2-6 mg/kg; in GUs formed during the peak production, Hg mean contents are definitely higher (up to 26 mg/kg). The current floodplain also shows high contents (mean 19 mg/kg), because of continuous reworking and transport of older contaminated sediments during major flood events. Therefore, the point contaminant sources represented by mining centres evolved into a diffuse source spread over several tens of kilometres. By combining geochemical data with calculated sediment volumes, we estimate that not less than 63 tonnes of Hg are currently contained in the sediments of the investigated river stretch. Such amount of Hg will probably limit for the near future a full land use along the Paglia-Tiber course.

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Section: Overview Of Mining Activity and Contamination Problemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

From point source to diffuse source of contaminants: The example of mercury dispersion in the Paglia River (Central Italy)

Colica

Benvenuti

Chiarantini

et al. 2019

CATENA

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“…After the stacking of the tectonic units, extensional tectonics (Carmignani et al 1994;Brogi et al 2005) and coeval magmatism (Peccerillo 2003;Dini et al 2005) affected the previously overthickened continental crust since the Early-Middle Miocene (Brunet et al 2000) and led to the exhumation of deeper tectonic units (Carmignani et al 1995), widespread geothermal anomalies (Della Vedova et al 2001) and hydrothermal circulation (Tanelli 1983). Around Monte Amiata, hydrothermal circulation was responsible for the world-class Hg and Sb deposits, extensively mined up to thirty years ago (Rimondi et al 2015), as well as to barren hydrothermal calcite veins (Gasparrini et al 2013). Hydrothermal fluid flow is still active in this area as manifested by the travertine deposition from thermal springs at Bagno Vignoni and Bagni San Filippo (Fig.…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating fossil hydrothermal systems by means of fluid inclusions and stable isotopes in banded travertine: an example from Castelnuovo dell’Abate (southern Tuscany, Italy)

Rimondi

Costagliola

Ruggieri

et al. 2015

Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch)

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“…300 Ka) volcano reaching an elevation of 1738 m a.s.l. The surrounding area hosts the third largest Hg mining and production district worldwide (>100,000 tons metal produced), and a present day geothermal field [30]. Mercury mining and smelting operated in the area from 1848 to 1982, although the main production occurred from 1900 to 1970 [31].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The largest mine and smelting plants were near the town of Abbadia San Salvatore (ASSM), located on the eastern slope of the volcano. The environmental legacy of this extensive Hg mining and metallurgy has been the subject of many studies (see [30] for a partial reference list).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring of Airborne Mercury: Comparison of Different Techniques in the Monte Amiata District, Southern Tuscany, Italy

Rimondi

Benesperi

Beutel

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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In the present study, mercury (Hg) concentrations were investigated in lichens (Flavoparmelia caperata (L.) Hale, Parmelia saxatilis (L.) Ach., and Xanthoria parietina (L.) Th.Fr.) collected in the surrounding of the dismissed Abbadia San Salvatore Hg mine (Monte Amiata district, Italy). Results were integrated with Hg concentrations in tree barks and literature data of gaseous Hg levels determined by passive air samplers (PASs) in the same area. The ultimate goal was to compare results obtained by the three monitoring techniques to evaluate potential mismatches. Lichens displayed 180–3600 ng/g Hg, and Hg concentrations decreased exponentially with distance from the mine. Mercury concentration was lower than in Pinus nigra barks at the same site. There was a moderate correlation between Hg in lichen and Hg in bark, suggesting similar mechanisms of Hg uptake and residence times. However, correlation with published gaseous Hg concentrations (PASs) was moderate at best (Kendall Tau = 0.4–0.5, p > 0.05). The differences occurred because a) PASs collected gaseous Hg, whereas lichens and barks also picked up particulate Hg, and b) lichens and bark had a dynamic exchange with the atmosphere. Lichen, bark, and PAS outline different and complementary aspects of airborne Hg content and efficient monitoring programs in contaminated areas would benefit from the integration of data from different techniques.

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Metallogeny, exploitation and environmental impact of the Mt. Amiata mercury ore district (Southern Tuscany, Italy)

Cited by 41 publications

References 77 publications

From point source to diffuse source of contaminants: The example of mercury dispersion in the Paglia River (Central Italy)

From point source to diffuse source of contaminants: The example of mercury dispersion in the Paglia River (Central Italy)

Investigating fossil hydrothermal systems by means of fluid inclusions and stable isotopes in banded travertine: an example from Castelnuovo dell’Abate (southern Tuscany, Italy)

Monitoring of Airborne Mercury: Comparison of Different Techniques in the Monte Amiata District, Southern Tuscany, Italy

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