Study of dilution processes of sulfidic aquifer hosted by the Fiume-Vento karstic complex, Frasassi (Central Italy)


Submitted: 28 April 2022
Accepted: 1 July 2022
Published: 28 September 2022
Abstract Views: 712
PDF: 499
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Authors

  • Riccardo Nicolini Università degli Studi di Perugia, Dipartimento di Fisica e Geologia, Perugia (PG), Italy.
  • Lucio Di Matteo Università degli Studi di Perugia, Dipartimento di Fisica e Geologia, Perugia (PG), Italy.
  • Sandro Galdenzi Università di Camerino, Scuola di Scienze e Tecnologie-Sez. di Geologia, Camerino (MC), Italy.
  • Fabio Baldoni Saipem, Fano (PU), Italy.
  • Francesco Frondini Università degli Studi di Perugia, Dipartimento di Fisica e Geologia, Perugia (PG), Italy.
  • Daniela Valigi Università degli Studi di Perugia, Dipartimento di Fisica e Geologia, Perugia (PG), Italy.

Sulfuric acid caves are widespread worldwide. In Central Italy, the Fiume-Vento karstic complex represents the most important active hypogenic cave system hosting several interconnected lakes where groundwater moves towards sulfidic springs emerging along the Sentino Stream. Stratification and dilution phenomena between freshwater and sulfidic water occur in many underground lakes, even if they remain still open if these processes are driven by stream-aquifer interaction or dripping water. The speleological knowledge coupled with geochemical surveys can help study groundwater circulation in the karst system’s inner and outer portions. The geochemical analyses on water samples taken along the Sentino Stream, inside the caves (dripping and lakes water) and in sulfidic springs allow establishing the origin of the dilution water in the dripping water. However, stream-aquifer interactions cannot be excluded during flood events. Using the tracer masse balance method (chloride and sodium ions), the discharge of the sulfidic springs ranges between 65 and 11 L/s. The results presented in this study may help understand groundwater circulation and dilution phenomena in other karst systems characterised by sulfuric acid speleogenesis type.


Atkinson AP, Cartwright I, Gilfedder BS, Hofmann H, Unland NP, Cendon DI, Chisari R (2015) A multi-tracer approach to quantifying groundwater inflows to an upland river; assessing the influence of variable groundwater chemistry. Hydrological Processes 29(1):1-12. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10122.

Baldoni F, Cardellini C, Cambi C, Di Matteo L, Frondini F, Valigi D (2010) Contributo alla conoscenza della circolazione idrica del

sistema carsico di Valmontagnana-Frasassi (Italia centrale). Atti “VIII Convegno Nazionale dei Giovani Ricercatori di Geologia Applicata”. “Contribution to the knowledge of the water circulation of Valmontagnana-Frasassi karstic system (Central Italy)”. Proceedings

“VIII National Congress of Young Researchers in Applied Geology”, 18- 19 February 2010, Perugia, Italy, 4-6.

Bocchini A, Coltorti M (1990) Il complesso carsico Grotta del Fiume Grotta Grande del Vento e l’evoluzione geomorfologica della Gola

di Frasassi. “The karstic complex Grotta del Fiume Grotta Grande del Vento and the geomorphological evolution of the Frasassi Gorge”. Mem. Ist. It. Speleol. 2(4):155-180. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/253644244_Il_complesso_carsico_Grotta_

del_Fiume_-_Grotta_Grande_del_Vento_e_l%27evoluzione_geomorfologica_della_gola_di_Frasassi_Appennino_umbromarchigiano#fullTextFileContent - last accessed 10/06/2022.

Bohme D (2011) Evaluation of brine discharge to rivers and streams: Methodology of rapid impact assessment. Limnologica 41(2):80-89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.limno.2010.08.003.

Cambi C, Valigi D, Di Matteo L (2010) Hydrogeological study of datascarce limestone massifs: the case of Gualdo Tadino and Monte Cucco structures (central Apennines, Italy). Bollettino di Geofisica Teorica ed Applicata 51(4):345-360. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/255963847_Hydrogeological_study_of_data-scarce_limestone_massifs_The_case_of_Gualdo_Tadino_and_Monte_Cucco_structures_central_Apennines_Italy#fullTextFileContent - last accessed 10/06/2022.

Caprari M, Galdenzi S, Nanni T, Ramazzotti S, Vivalda P (2001) La sorgente di Gorgovivo. Analisi idrogeologica finalizzata all’individuazione della zona di tutela, rispetto e protezione: dati preliminari. “The Gorgovivo spring. Hydrogeological analysis aimed at identifying the area of protection, respect and protection: preliminary data”. Mem. Soc. Geol. It. 56:157-169. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328837372_CAPRARI_M_GALDENZI_S_NANNI_T_RAMAZZOTTI_S_VIVALDA_P_2001_-_La_sorgente_di_Gorgovivo_analisi_idrogeologica_f inalizzata_all%27individuazione_delle_zone_di_tutela_rispetto_e_protezione_Dati_preliminari_Mem#fullTextFileContent - last accessed 10/06/2022.

Centamore E, Catenacci V, Chiocchini M, Chiocchini U, Jacobacci A, Martelli G, Micarelli A, Valletta M (1975) Note Illustrative della Carta Geologica d’Italia alla scala 1:50.000, Foglio 291, Pergola. “Explanatory Notes of the Geological Map of Italy at the scale of 1: 50,000 (291), Serv. Geol. d’It. Roma”.

Ciancetti GF, Pennacchioni E (1993) Idrologia superficiale ed alimentazione della falda dell’area carsica di Frasassi. “Surface hydrology and groundwater supply of the Frasassi karst area”. Geologia Applicata ed Idrogeologia 28:285-293.

Cocchioni M, Galdenzi S, Amici V, Morichetti L, Nacciarriti L (2003) Studio idrochimico delle acque nelle Grotte di Frasassi. “Hydrochemical study of the waters in the Frasassi Caves”. Le Grotte d’Italia 4:49-61.

D’Angeli IM, Parise M, Vattano M, Madonia G, Galdenzi S, De Waele J (2019) Sulfuric acid caves of Italy: A review. Geomorphology, 333:105-122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2019.02.025.

D’Angeli IM, Nagostinis M, Carbone C, Bernasconi SM, Polyak VJ, Peters L, De Waele J (2019) Sulfuric acid speleogenesis in the Majella Massif (Abruzzo, Central Apennines, Italy). Geomorphology 333:167-179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2019.02.036.

D’Angeli IM, De Waele J, Fiorucci A, Vigna B, Bernasconi SM, Florea LJ, Parise M (2021) Idrogeologia e geochimica delle sorgenti sulfuree carsiche di Santa Cesarea Terme (Puglia, Italia meridionale). “Hydrogeology and geochemistry of the sulfur karst springs at Santa Cesarea Terme (Apulia, southern Italy)”. Hydrogeology Journal 29(1):481-498. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-020-02275-y.

De Filippi FM, Iacurto S, Grelle G, Sappa G (2021) Magnesium as Environmental Tracer for Karst Spring Baseflow/Overflow Assessment-A Case Study of the Pertuso Karst Spring (Latium Region, Italy). Water 13(1):93. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13010093.

De Waele J, Galdenzi S, Madonia G, Menichetti M, Parise M, Piccini L, Sanna L, Sauro F, Tognini P, Vattano M, Vigna B (2014) A review on hypogene caves in Italy. In: Klimchouk A, Sasowsky I, Mylroie J, Engel SA, Engel AS (Eds.) Hypo-gene Cave Morphologies. Karst Waters Institute Special Publication 18. Leesburg, Virginia.

De Waele J, Audra P, Madonia G, Vattano M, Plan L, d’Angeli IM, Nobécourt JC (2016) Sulfuric acid speleogenesis (SAS) close to the water table: examples from southern France, Austria, and Sicily. Geomorphology 253:452-467. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2015.10.019.

Di Matteo L, Menegon S, Rossi A, Liti S (2016) Understanding karst environments by thermo-hygrometric monitoring: preliminary results from the Cesi Mountain karst system (Central Italy). Italian Journal of Groundwater 5(1):25-32. https://doi.org/10.7343/as-2016-197.

Dragoni W, Verdacchi A (1993) First results from the monitoring system of the Karstic complex “Grotte di Frasassi-Grotta Grande del Vento (Central Apennines, Italy). IAHS Publ 207:107-117.

Galdenzi S (1990a) Litostratigrafia giurassica e speleogenesi nella struttura di Frasassi. “Jurassic lithostratigraphy and speleogenesis in the structure of Frasassi”. Mem. Ist. It. Spel. 2:53-64.

Galdenzi S (1990b) Un modello genetico per la Grotta Grande del Vento. “A genetic model for the Grotta Grande del Vento”. Mem. Ist.

It. Spel. 2:123-142. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281994204_Un_modello_genetico_per_la_Grotta_Grande_del_Vento - last accessed 9/06/2022.

Galdenzi S, Menichetti M (1995) Occurrence of hypogene caves in a karst region: examples from central Italy. Environmental Geology 26:39-47. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00776030.

Galdenzi S, Menichetti M, Forti P (1997) La corrosione di placchette calcaree ad opera di acque sulfuree: dati sperimentali in ambiente ipogeo. “Corrosion of limestone tablets by sulfidic waters: experimental data in a hypogeous environment. Proceedings 12th International Congress of Speleology, 10-17 August 1997”, Le Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, 1:187-190. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/

publication/284582678_La_corrosione_di_placchette_calcaree_ad_opera_di_acque_sulfuree_Dati_sperimentali_in_ambiente_ipogeo - last accessed 10/06/2022.

Galdenzi S (2001) L’azione morfogenetica delle acque sulfuree nelle Grotte di Frasassi, Acquasanta Terme (Appennino marchigiano –

Italia) e di Movile (Dobrogea – Romania). “The morphogenetic action of sulfidic waters in the Frasassi, Acquasanta Terme (Marche Apennines - Italy) and Movile (Dobrogea - Romania) caves”. Le Grotte d’Italia 2:49-61. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284026363_L%27azione_morfogenetica_delle_acque_sulfuree_nelle_Grotte_di_Frasassi_Acquasanta_Terme_Appennino_

marchigiano-Italia_e_di_Movile_Dobrogea-Romania - last accessed 10/06/2022.

Galdenzi S, Maruoka T (2003) Gypsum deposits in Frasassi Caves, central Italy. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies 65(2):111-125.

Available from: https://caves.org/pub/journal/PDF/V65/v65n2-Galdenzi.pdf - last accessed 10/06/2022.

Galdenzi S (2004) Il carsismo nella regione Marchigiana. “The karst in the Marche region”. In: Galdenzi S (Ed.) Frasassi 1989-2004: gli sviluppi nella ricerca. Frasassi 1989-2004: Developments in Research 6-20. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/

publication/319314276_Il_carsismo_nella_regione_marchigiana - last accessed 10/06/2022.

Galdenzi S, Cocchioni M, Morichetti L, Amici V, Scuri S (2008) Sulfidic ground-water chemistry in the Frasassi Caves, Italy. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies 70(2):94-107. Available from: https://digital.lib.usf.edu/content/SF/S0/05/24/97/00001/K26-02048-cave-70-02-94.pdf - last accessed 10/06/2022.

Galdenzi S (2012) Corrosion of limestone tablets in sulfidic groundwater: measurements and speleogenetic implications. International Journal of Speleology 41(2):3. http://dx.doi.org/10.5038/1827-806X.41.2.3.

Galdenzi S, Campagnoli A (2015) Piano quotato dell’acquifero carsico di Frasassi. “Datum of the Frasassi karst aquifer”. Proceedings of the XXII National Congress of Speleology, 30 May-2 June 2015, Pertosa-Auletta (SA), Italia.

Gambelli G, Recchioni R, Santolini C (1978) Complesso carsico del Monte Valmontagnana. “Monte Valmontagnana karstic complex”. Preprints XIII National Congress of Speleology, 30 September-4 October 1978, Perugia, Italy.

Jones DS, Polerecky L, Galdenzi S, Dempsey BA, Macalady JL (2015) Fate of sulfide in the Frasassi cave system and implications for

sulfuric acid speleogenesis. Chemical Geology 410:21-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2015.06.002.

Klimchouk A (2009) Morphogenesis of hypogenic caves. Geomorphology 106(1-2):100-117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2008.09.013.

Laurent D, Durlet C, Barré G, Sorriaux P, Audra P, Cartigny P, Gaucher EC (2021) Epigenic vs. hypogenic speleogenesis governed by H2S/CO2 hydrothermal input and Quaternary icefield dynamics (NE French Pyrenees). Geomorphology 387:107769. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2021.107769.

Mariani S, Mainiero M, Barchi M, Van Der Borg K, Vonhof H, Montanari A (2007) Use of speleologic data to evaluate Holocene uplifting and tilting: an example from the Frasassi anticline (northeastern Apennines, Italy). Earth and Planetary Science Letters 257(1-2):313-328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2007.02.045.

Menichetti M (2013) Karst processes and carbon flux in the Frasassi Caves, Italy. Proceedings of the 16th International Congress of Speleology, July 21-28, Brno, Czech Republic, 3:376-378. Available from: https://www.speleogenesis.info/directory/karstbase/pdf/seka_pdf13456.pdf - last accessed 8/06/2022.

Palmer AN (2011) Distinction between epigenic and hypogenic maze caves. Geomorphology 134(1-2):9-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.

geomorph.2011.03.014.

Piccini L, Forti P, Giulivo I, Mecchia M (2007) The polygenetic caves of Cuatro Ciénegas (Coahuila, Mexico): morphology and speleogenesis.

International Journal of Speleology 36(2):83-92. http://dx.doi.org/10.5038/1827-806X.36.2.4.

Sappa G, Ferranti F, De Filippi FM, Cardillo G (2017) Mg2+-based method for the Pertuso spring discharge evaluation. Water 9(1):67. https://doi.org/doi:10.3390/w9010067.

Tazioli GS, Coltorti M, Dramis F, Cocchioni M, Mariani M (1990) Circolazione idrica e chimismo delle acque sotterranee dell’area

carsica di Frasassi nelle Marche. “Water circulation and chemistry of the groundwater of the Frasassi karst area in the Marche region”. Mem. Ist. It. Spel. 4(2):93-108.

Tazioli A, Palpacelli S (2013) Scelta del tracciante ideale per indagini idrogeologiche: risultati preliminari da test in laboratorio. “Choosing of the appropriate tracer for hydrogeological investigations: preliminary results from laboratory testing”. Italian Journal of Groundwater 59-64. http://dx.doi.org/10.7343/AS-021-13-0000.

Vattano M, Madonia G, Audra P, D’Angeli IM, Galli E, Bigot JY, De Waele J (2017) An Overview of the Hypogene Caves of Sicily. In: Klimchouk A, N. Palmer A, De Waele J, S Auler A, Audra P (eds) Hypogene Karst Regions and Caves of the World. Cave and Karst Systems of the World. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53348-3_12.

Nicolini, R., Di Matteo, L., Galdenzi, S., Baldoni, F., Frondini, F., & Valigi, D. (2022). Study of dilution processes of sulfidic aquifer hosted by the Fiume-Vento karstic complex, Frasassi (Central Italy). Acque Sotterranee - Italian Journal of Groundwater, 11(3), 7–17. https://doi.org/10.7343/as-2022-567

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Citations