|
Antonio Cosenza, Universita' degli Studi di Messina (Italy)
Stefano Albanese, Università degli Studi di Napoli (Italy)
Diego Civitillo, Università degli Studi di Napoli (Italy)
Benedetto de Vivo, Università degli Studi di Napoli (Italy)
Annamaria Lima, Università degli Studi di Napoli (Italy)
Elisa Macaione, Universita' degli Studi di Messina (Italy)
Antonia Messina, Universita' degli Studi di Messina (Italy)
|
|
The present work aimed to produce a Geochemical Environmental Atlas of the Natural Park of Nebrodi, which geologically involves both Nebrodi and Peloritani Mts. (North-Central Sicily, Italy). The studied area has a surface of about 400 Km2 and is prevalently characterized by clastic deposits (clays and sandstones) of Mt. Soro and Numidic Flysch, belonging to the Sicilide and Panormide Units, respectively (Apenninic-Maghrebian Chain), and by Hercynian low-grade metamorphics and Meso-Cenozoic calcareous outcrops of the Longi-Taormina, Fondachelli and Mandanici Alpine Units of the Western Peloritani Mts. (Calabria-Peloritani Arc). On Peloritani Alpine building, unconformable covers of post-orogenic Miocene to Recent deposits are also present (Carta Geologica della Provincia di Messina, Lentini Coordinator, 2000; Messina et al. 2004). Until now, the geochemical cartography of the Central-Eastern Peloritani Mts. (De Vivo et al. 1998) in the NE Sicily, represents the only available geochemical base knowledge of the Sicilian territory.
For this study a total of 60 topsoil and 60 stream and lake waters were collected with a grid of 1 km x 1 km covering the entire territory. In addition, 140 rocks samples have also been collected. Topsoils and water samples have been analyzed by ICP-MS for 53 and 72 chemical elements respectively. Analytical data have been organized in a georeferenced database and univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were carried out. The atlas includes for both soil samples and waters: dot maps for single elements, interpolated baseline/background maps and maps showing factor scores distribution resulting from R-mode factor analysis association maps. For selected elements potential risk maps have been compiled in accordance with the Italian environmental law D.Lgs.152/06 which fixes trigger and action limits in soils and waters for some harmful elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Tl, V and Zn). The geochemical-environmental atlas in this Natural Park area is an useful tool to understand superficial processes influencing soil and water chemistry, to determine actual background/baseline concentrations and pollution levels for toxic and harmful elements.
REFERENCES: Autori Vari (2000) - Carta Geologica della Provincia di Messina. Scala 1.50.000. Fogli I, II e III e relative Note Illustrative - Direzione Lentini F. S.EL.CA., Firenze. De Vivo B., Sava A., Villani V., Messina A., 1998. Cartografia geochimica dei Monti Peloritani (Sicilia) in: Memorie Descrittive della Carta geologica d'Italia. Servizio Geologico Nazionale, LV: 33-93.
Messina A., Somma R., Macaione E., Carbone G., Careri G. (2004) - Peloritani Continental Crust composition (Southern Italy): geological and petrochemical evidence. Boll. Soc. Geol. It., 123, 405-441.
|
