United States

A promising method to trace the geographical provenance of products of the agro-food sector consists in using petro-chemical tracers derived from the geological substratum of the production area. The radiogenic isotope 87Sr is one of the most robust tracer used. Indeed, Sr is ubiquitous in rocks and soils at ppm levels. Its isotopic composition depends on the parent/daughter ratio (87Rb/86Sr), the age and the origin of the bedrock. Another possible geochemical tracer is represented by REEs (Rare Earth Elements) patterns, which varies depending on the geological and petrological setting. Pelacani et al. (2017) showed that the REEs and the 87Sr/86Sr are absorbed from soil and transferred to the olive pulp of Olea Europea, without any significant elemental and isotopic fractionation, meaning that 87Sr/86Sr of plants and fruits reflects the 87Sr/86Sr ratio of the bioavailable soil fraction. In order to assess if Sr isotopes and REE patterns can be used as geographical tracers also for olive oil, we investigate sixteen olive groves from different geological and geomorphological setting of Tuscany, located in Chianti, High Tiberina Valley and Maremma. Particular attention was paid to minimize local differences in climate, topography, and cultivar. Samples of soil, olives and extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) were collected from each olive grove. The main challenge is represented by the low content of REEs and Sr in EVOO, especially for Heavy REEs with concentrations &lt; 4 pg g-1. We set up in our lab a procedure to extract REEs and Sr from olive oil and olives involving mechanical stirring and ultrasound assisted extraction (Turk et al., 2019), followed by Sr purification using standard chromatographic techniques. 87Sr/86Sr measurements in soil, olives and olive oil were performed by TIMS, while the REE content was determined by ICP-MS. Preliminary results suggest that this analytical procedure is able to concentrate more Sr and REEs from EVOO, allowing more precise measurements.

SGI 2021

Tracing the provenance of Tuscan Extra Virgin Olive Oil using Sr isotopes and Rare Earth Elements

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L'Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e Geofisica Sperimentale - OGS e il Dipartimento di Matematica e Geoscienze dell'Università di Trieste sono orgogliosi di ospitare il 90° Congresso della Società Geologica Italiana a Trieste dal 14 al 16 settembre 2021. La modalità del congresso è interamente online.

Con il motto "Geologia senza frontiere" questo evento mira a promuovere le Scienze della Terra come disciplina scientifica proiettata nel futuro, oltre i confini geografici, politici e disciplinari, per comprendere meglio l'interno del Pianeta Terra e la struttura del sottosuolo, difendere la società da pericolosi eventi geologici, comprendere meglio la variabilità climatica, pianificare l'utilizzo delle georisorse in modo etico e nel rispetto dell'ambiente.


**Please note, times listed in the SCHEDULE tab (calendar icon) reflect YOUR LOCAL TIME ZONE. The main timezone for this conference will be Central European Summer Time.**

The National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics - OGS and the Department of Mathematics and Geosciences of the University of Trieste are proud to host the 90th Congress of the Italian Geological Society in Trieste on 14-16 September 2021.  The Congress will be held entirely online.

With the motto "Geology Without Borders" this event aims to promote Earth Sciences as a scientific discipline projected into the future, beyond geographical, political and disciplinary boundaries, to better understand the interior of Planet Earth and the structure of the subsurface, defend society from dangerous geological events, better understand climatic variability, plan the use of geo-resources in an ethical way and respecting the environment.


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Earth Sciences should be understood not only as necessary for a better understanding of the interior of the planet Earth, but also as a defense of society from dangerous geological events, for the understanding of climatic variations, for the planning and use of georesources in a ethical and respecting and protecting the environment.

A promising method to trace the geographical provenance of products of the agro-food sector consists in using petro-chemical tracers derived from the geological substratum of the production area. The radiogenic isotope 87Sr is one of the most robust tracer used. Indeed, Sr is ubiquitous in rocks and soils at ppm levels. Its isotopic composition depends on the parent/daughter ratio (87Rb/86Sr), the age and the origin of the bedrock. Another possible geochemical tracer is represented by REEs (Rare Earth Elements) patterns, which varies depending on the geological and petrological setting. Pelacani et al. (2017) showed that the REEs and the 87Sr/86Sr are absorbed from soil and transferred to the olive pulp of Olea Europea, without any significant elemental and isotopic fractionation, meaning that 87Sr/86Sr of plants and fruits reflects the 87Sr/86Sr ratio of the bioavailable soil fraction. In order to assess if Sr isotopes and REE patterns can be used as geographical tracers also for olive oil, we investigate sixteen olive groves from different geological and geomorphological setting of Tuscany, located in Chianti, High Tiberina Valley and Maremma. Particular attention was paid to minimize local differences in climate, topography, and cultivar. Samples of soil, olives and extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) were collected from each olive grove. The main challenge is represented by the low content of REEs and Sr in EVOO, especially for Heavy REEs with concentrations < 4 pg g-1. We set up in our lab a procedure to extract REEs and Sr from olive oil and olives involving mechanical stirring and ultrasound assisted extraction (Turk et al., 2019), followed by Sr purification using standard chromatographic techniques. 87Sr/86Sr measurements in soil, olives and olive oil were performed by TIMS, while the REE content was determined by ICP-MS. Preliminary results suggest that this analytical procedure is able to concentrate more Sr and REEs from EVOO, allowing more precise measurements.

poster

In the Ragusa area, in the carbonate rock levels known in the literature as the "Ragusa Formation", the uppermost Irminio member presents bituminous impregnations in the Tabuna and Streppenosa localities. Rock impregnated with natural bitumen is called 'asphaltic rock'; locally, it is also known as “Pietra Pece” (i.e. pitch stone). Asphaltic rock was mined here either in opencast and in tunnels, as in the Tabuna and Cava Pece mines; in an early phase, the Streppenosa and Castelluccio sites were also important. Pitch stone is characterized by excellent physical-mechanical properties and it has been used extensively over the centuries as building material: for instance, it is an ideal material for road paving and, in an industrial context, for hydrocarbon extraction. Indeed, it was at the end of the 18th century, when Dolomieu in his 'Memoire sur les iles ponces et catalogue raisonné des produits de l'Etna' spoke of a soft limestone, impregnated with hydrocarbons: 'under the July sun, the black stone can be cut with a knife', that it became known throughout Europe. Extraction and marketing were managed at an early stage by foreign companies, and the asphalt from Sicily arrived on the roads of half of Europe: Berlin had more than a million square metres of Ragusa asphalt road surfaces; other cities worth mentioning are Paris, Amsterdam, London, Milan and Palermo. Over the years, the extraction phases underwent inevitable evolutions and changes, oscillating between a natural preference for the use of rock as road surfacing and the extraction of bitumen itself: this latter was preferred by the first A.B.C.D., which built a battery of sixteen furnaces for the distillation of asphaltic rocks. But if, after the Second World War, the asphalt-related industries underwent a vast and irreversible process of devaluation, since bitumen had by then supplanted by compressed asphalt in road paving, the Sicilian Region intervened by encouraging the extraction of 'pitch stone', typical productions and the very reconversion of the asphalt industry, which saw the birth of the second A. B.C.D., where the first A. B.C.D. was built, where the production of cement obtained from exhausted asphalt rocks from distillation was added. It was in 1944 that A. Ancione SpA appeared on the Hyblaean market of SE Sicily: in this area, now disused, the enormous investments were done and there it is possible to investigate the production cycle divided into four large production areas: asphalt tiles, road asphalt (later replaced by bituminous conglomerates), mastic and lime. The study punctually analyses the first three of these sectors, which are intimately linked to C.da Tabuna quarry district and to pitchstone marketing. Finally, it is worth noting that the Tabuna-Streppenosa site has been proposed for the establishment of a Geosite of national importance pursuant to L. R. 25/2012 and with D. A. 238/2018 it has been included in the list of sites of geological interest of the Sicily Region.

The Pietra Pece: mining history and production cycle

The neo-born Majella UNESCO Global Geopark hosts more than one hundred mapped caves, some of which represent important geosites and touristic attractions. Underground karst systems are often excellent environments to investigate and characterize the stratigraphical relations, tridimensional spatial organization of geological structures, morphologies, and fluid flow pathways in the subsurface, as well as to reconstruct paleosismology, paleoclimate and landscape evolution over geological time. The Cavallone Caves geosite (CCG), in the southern sector of the massif, is one of the most important cave systems of the Geopark, being a tourist attraction since 1893, and as such one of the earliest show caves in Italy. This cave is part of a km-long inactive hypogene karst system formed by the rising of H2S-rich fluids, which turned into sulfuric acid in the oxygenated cave environment close to past water table. This site was recently investigated with a multidisciplinary approach involving structural geology, petrography, mineralogy, geochemistry, and geomorphology. Our geological investigations allowed to reconstruct the deformation history affecting this sector of the Majella massif and to unveil the main sources and the permeability pathways able to channelize rising H2S fluids from depth (Pisani et al., 2021). The geomorphological observations and the analysis of the conduits’ spatial organization indicate the presence of multiple phases of sub-horizontal karst development, reflecting the migration of the sulfuric water-table and the uplift of the Majella massif over time. The oldest (highest) cave level has been dated with 40Ar/39Ar geochronology on secondary alunite to 1.52 +/- 0.28 Ma, marking the exact timing of speleogenesis (and thus water table position) at the time of formation (D’Angeli et al., 2019). Furthermore, fault zones and hypogene karst conduits constitute a network of high-permeability structures for secondary and tertiary migration of hydrocarbons, as proven by the presence of bitumen-impregnated speleothems and hydrocarbon manifestations in the cave and surrounding outcrops. The CCG and its extraordinary location proved to be a perfect laboratory for karst sciences, structural geology, geomorphology, and a significant outcrop analog of deep hypogene karstified reservoirs. Furthermore, its touristic character makes it an ideal site to explain and promote the geodiversity of the cave and its surroundings, which covers multiple aspects of the Majella geological heritage.

The Cavallone Caves geotrail project: explaining the Majella UNESCO Global Geopark

The coastal environment is increasingly compromised by anthropogenic pressure including touristic, agricultural and industrial activities that take advantage of their proximity to the sea. Also the conservation and the protection of natural elements are compromised in this contest. Among the various natural resources to be safeguarded and enhanced, there are also geological and geomorphological ones which, together with floristic and faunal elements, constitute great value environments, worthy of being protected. Along the northeastern Italian Adriatic coast, various coastal landscapes as sandy beaches, lagoons and deltas represent a precious and preserved geodiversity. In particular, the Marano and Grado Lagoon, between the deltas of the Isonzo and Tagliamento rivers, is characterized by the presence of channels, tidal flats, islands and saltmarshes protected seaward by a system of sandy barrier islands. Here the tide draws a mosaic of brackish wetlands of great value, also thanks to the shallow depth and the high supply of fresh water from the rivers that flow into the lagoon. Further east, the tidal flats between the mouth of the Isonzo River, the natural eastern boundary of the Grado Lagoon, and the bay of Panzano, extend this articulated and fragile complex of wetlands until the karst cliffs.

Coastal geosites and their valorization: a case study along the North-Eastern Italian Adriatic coast

Geosites represent the geological, geomorphological, palaeontological, mineralogical or other interests in a territory with scientific and environmental values of the landscape heritage (Wimbledon et al., 1996). Generally, geosites are natural architectures, or singularities of the landscape, which testify to geological processes that shaped our planet. They provide an indispensable contribution to the understanding of the geological history of a region and represent values of exceptional importance for the landscape and cultural, educational and recreational attractions.

The Atlas of Geosites of Sicily

The Manciano Sandstone consists of medium to very coarse, fairly well-sorted, lithic to lithic-arkosic sandstone, with calcite cement, and minor intercalations of sandy conglomerates. It represents a key lithostratigraphic formation for the interpretation of the Miocene stratigraphic and structural evolution of the Tyrrhenian sector of the central-northern Apennines. This formation crops out discontinuously over the Ligurian Units in northwestern Latium and southern Tuscany, and two geosites have already been identified: along the S.P. F32 Farnese-Manciano, in the Tuscany Region, and along the Latium coast (Bagni di S. Agostino). The best exposures are observable in some quarries near Manciano (Gamberaio, Poggio la Vecchia, Scarceta), where a detailed facies analysis has been carried out (Rossi et al., 2017). However, access to these sites is generally not allowed during mining activities, and when this activity ceases, the quarry fronts are buried in order to proceed with the environmental recovery of the area. We think that in this case, the scientific interest of the outcrops should be considered prevalent compared to a traditional morphological recovery, often obtained with questionable results. On this basis we present a possible functional recovery of the Poggio la Vecchia quarry. Along its fronts, which develop over 80 m in height, the diamond cut walls show extraordinary exposures and, at the end of quarrying, an area of about 9ha could be preserved for geo-touristic itineraries, exalting the beautiful and unique landscape, and the panoramic views on the beneath Fiora valley. The regularization of the quarry fronts would allow each floor to be used in its completeness, without discontinuity, and in safe conditions. The geodiversity of these outcrops allows a wide range of possibilities for scientific dissemination and information, with particular emphasis on sedimentological and paleontological topics. The most common structures include medium-scale cross-stratification formed by the migration of 2D and 3D dunes (tabular- and trough-cross-bedding) and small-scale cross-lamination formed by the migration of waves and current ripples, as well as well preserved ichnofacies (Macaronichnus, Ophiomorpha, Skolithos, Cruziana, etc.) and interesting paleontological content, with layers containing oysters and echinids (Scutella striatula, S. leoganensis , S. paulensis). Another peculiarity is the presence of Liesegang rings, whose genesis is related to the main fracture systems affecting the rock bodies. In each of the identified stops, it will be possible to get a simple explanation of its peculiarities through information totems or Q.R. code. It would be desirable that this type of recovery project was also extended to the other two quarries that could form together with the near geosite an extended geopark.

The functional recovery of the Poggio la Vecchia Quarry: an Example of Geo-Heritage conservation

Determination and authentication of the geographical origin of food products have recently become relevant in investigations against frauds for consumer protection. Studies on territoriality are based on the hypothesis that chemical elements detected in plants and their products reflect those contained in the soil. Geographical features of the production area are considered relevant factors affecting the specific designation such as the composition of the parent rock, soil-forming process, climate, topography, and land use. As suggested by Pepi et al (2017; 2018), geochemical characterization, based on the determination of major and trace elements, is commonly used to establish the geographical origin of products. This work aims to present a preliminary study on soil samples to establish a method to identify the geographical origin of two different types of red chicory (long-leaves and round-leaves). Granulometric analysis and the major element composition, on a set of 12 samples of agricultural soils from the southern Po Delta area were used for local soil characterization. The samples come from a site located in Massenzatica (Municipality of Mesola, Province of Ferrara, NE of Italy) and sampling has been undertaken between October and December 2020 in different fields: 6 samples came from two fields inside the area of the Consorzio Uomini di Massenzatica (CUM), where the other 6 came from an area outside CUM. Grain size analysis shows a high similarity for all samples, with an average amount of sand of 85.76% (±1.47), 10.11% (±1.52) of Silt and 4.13% (±0.77) of Clay. According to USDA classification, the samples can be classified as Loamy Sand and Sand. Concerning the major element compositions (SiO2, Fe2O3, CaO, MgO, Al2O3), the samples are comparable, and aluminum plays an important role as a constituent of the clay fraction of soil, as a good reference element. Differences emerge when alkaline elements (K2O, Na2O) are considered: K concentration discriminates in the soil characterization between the two cultivated varieties.

Geochemical characterization and granulometric analysis of agricultural soils as a tool for geographical origin identification: preliminary results from the case study of Massenzatica (Ferrara)

Many studies show that grapevines develop differently, depending on their growing area. This phenomenon is shown by the different growth behaviour of the plant. Historical price developments in individual wine-growing areas have led to precisely delimited cultivation sites, down to the smallest sites, forming a pedoclimatic unit, which is identified with the term “terroir”or “climat” or simply “vineyard site”. Often a clearly defined and recognizable wine type is attributed to these units. All over the world, great importance in grape cultivation is given to the grapes’ growth habitat and intensive research of the connections between growing area and wine quality is conducted. In this context it must be considered, that the concept of “terroir” (“climat”, vineyard site) comprises all other viticultural measures which - in part of necessity - shape the cultivation of a particular location. Especially in pedoclimatically heterogeneous areas, like for example South Tyrol, it is a great challenge to recognize and evaluate the site-specific effects due to a multitude of variables. Some exemplary site studies illustrate the impact of the vineyard location on the wine quality. The significance of soil characteristics, geographical situation and microclimate conditions is demonstrated. Possible correlations between individual site characteristics and the types of sensory characteristics are presented and the vintage effect relating to the site-specific effect is defined. The site-specific effect is reflected in the wine quality, which means wines of one grape variety produced in different locations, even if they are very close, show different characteristics. Conversely, wines from different and even distant locations, may show some similarities. Generally, the vintage effect is more significant than the site effect. The climatic and geographic parameters, such as sea level, average annual temperature etc., mostly show more incisive effects than the geopedological parameters (pH-value, grain size composition, etc.). In some cases, however, the importance of these variables could be recognized as well. The greatest challenge in pedoclimatically heterogeneous areas, is the grouping of individual sites into a site unit with certain expected wine characteristics and their delimitation. 

Possible site-specific effects on wine quality based on various vineyard sites in a heterogeneous area like South Tyrol

Purpose of this research is to quantitatively assess the mineral component of vineyard soils, with particular attention to the mineralogical analysis of clays, which represent an element of high importance in the vineyard culture as well as in general agriculture. An X-ray diffraction (XRD) / thermogravimetric (TG) multi-technique analytical approach was developed, tested on soil samples taken from vineyards around the world. This codified analytical procedure was necessary to obtain precise qualitative and quantitative mineralogical data, globally comparable to distinguish the geopedological identity of the vineyards. Soil samples from vineyards of various locations were analysed, in very different geological conditions. The bulk-rock quantitative phase analysis (QPA) was obtained by the Rietveld method while the detailed composition of the clay-sized fraction was determined by modelling of the oriented X-ray diffraction patterns. The research provided a precise classification of the mineral component of soils, distinguishing the mineral phases of the clays and the so-called mixed-layer clay minerals. We found that the content in mixed layers can be directly correlated with the water retention and the cation exchange capacity ​​of the soil, while the presence of other clayey minerals and phyllosilicates in this research did not affect this CEC parameter, which codes the fertility level of the soils. The study demonstrates that terroir, in particular soils formed in complex or very different geological conditions, can only be effectively interpreted by properly analysing its mineral phases, in particular the mixed-layer clay component. These are characteristic abiotic ecological indicators, which may have specific eco-physiological influences on the plant.

Vineyards and clay minerals: multi-technique analytical approach and correlations with soil properties

The study of the relationships between the natural characteristics of the environment and the quality of the wine highlights the existence of a specificity. The basic element of the viticultural vocation is the territory, which materializes in a geographical space within which the work of nature and the centuries-old intervention of man have given rise to a food that cannot be produced elsewhere, whose qualitative excellence manifests itself continuously, therefore even in the most difficult years. It is from the interaction between natural and human factors that the peculiarities of wine are born. The high number of different areas dedicated to wine production is to be considered an element of the value of Italian viticulture, together with the great wealth of national varieties. The analysis of the various factors that lead to the qualitative expression of wines has been the subject, in the last twenty years, of numerous scientific studies, which have highlighted in the first instance, i.e. on a fairly large geographical scale, the fundamental contribution that geology and the geomorphology contribute to the peculiarities of the wine-growing areas. These factors contribute to determining the characteristics and qualities of the soil, some of which have a decisive effect on the viticultural and oenological response. In particular, the characteristics that condition water and mineral nutrition, such as water retention capacity, depth and volume that can be explored by the roots, stoniness and colour (mirror of its chemical composition), superficial and deep drainage, richness in active limestone as well as in macro and microelements, they are the basis for the quality of the grapes and the subsequent qualitative expression of the wines. Wine-growing areas located on fissured and karstified limestone rocks, which favour the removal of excess water through deep drainage, often have a high viticultural vocation. Where the parent material is calcareous marl, the soils are generally clayey and silty, retain a good amount of water and give finesse to the wines, while the granites and sandstones produce sands and gravels by alteration, which dry out very easily and contain vigour. Soils on volcanic basalts, rich in nutrients, give an imprint of robustness and fullness to the wines. Soils on alluvial sediments rich in clay are suitable for vigorous vines and wines with character. The best terroirs are rooted in soils where for most years the crop yield is moderate but of good quality, without a massive integration of chemical fertilizers and unsustainable risks for the conservation of soil quality.

Soil functional factors of Italian wines

Asthma is a main chronic respiratory disease worldwide, affecting over 330 million people of all ethnic groups throughout all ages. In the US, asthma is one of the most common and costly diseases and it is responsible for more than 5000 deaths annually. An association between climatic conditions (drought) and asthma mortality has been widely assumed. However, it is unclear whether climatic variations have a fingerprint on asthma dynamics over long time intervals. The global environment has been facing large changes during the last century, which can also affect respiratory health with increased asthma frequency worldwide. According to McCabe et al. (2004), spatial and temporal variances in multidecadal drought frequency over the contiguous US are attributable to the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) and the Paciﬁc Decadal Oscillation (PDO) interaction. In view of the statement of the Global Asthma Network, we hypothesized that drought and asthma mortality may show similar periodicity in the contiguous US. To detect a possible correlation between drought and asthma mortality rates annual data (from 1950 to 2015) of asthma mortality were downloaded from the US National Center for Health Statistics. AMO and PDO data were downloaded from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The analysis of the signals was performed by applying the Empirical Mode Decomposition algorithm of Huang et al. (1998). To compare the dominant periodicities (asthma versus AMO versus PDO) we applied a bandpass filter. We found that asthma death rates evaluated in 4 different age groups share the same pattern of fluctuation throughout the 1950-2015 time interval, but different trends. Annual asthma death rates turned out to be correlated with the dynamics of the AMO, modulated by the PDO, and sharing the same averaged ∼44 year-periodicity. The results of the current study (Bonomo et al, 2019) have suggested an influence of climate patterns on asthma mortality rates in the US. This has prompted us to assess whether a similar association may be found for asthma incidence in Italy. A collaborative research (within the domain of the “One Health” concept) using data from the Italian branch of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey is ongoing to find a possible relationship of asthma incidence with drought indices.

Tracing the provenance of Tuscan Extra Virgin Olive Oil using Sr isotopes and Rare Earth Elements

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