Origin and evolution of a salty gypsum/anhydrite karst spring: the case of Poiano (Northern Apennines, Italy)

Poiano is the largest karst spring of the Emilia Romagna region (northern Italy). It drains an aquifer of unique properties composed of anhydrite with halite lenses at depth and gypsum at the surface (both with high NaCl content). Hydrogeological research has been undertaken using automatically recorded hourly data on temperature, electrical conductivity, and water level. Water feeding the Poiano spring is restricted within the gypsum/anhydrite outcrop between the Lucola, Sologno and Secchia rivers. Karstification in the Upper Secchia Valley only concerns the gypsum rocks mainly present along the border and in the shallower parts of the sulfate outcrop and does not appear to occur at depth. Data strongly support the hypothesis that the salt content in the spring water derives from active halokinetic movements. For the first time, the fundamental hydrogeological importance of the anhydrite part inside the sulfate rocks is demonstrated. If gypsum prevails over anhydrite the karst drainage network can extend deep into the rocks following a network of fractures and fissures. Instead, if in the deep parts of the aquifer anhydrite prevails over gypsum, the karst evolution cannot take place at depth and the structure of the underground drainage paths only follows near-surface paths in gypsum.     

Pollen Viability for Air Pollution Bio-Monitoring

Biological characterization of Corylus avellana L. and Pinus nigra L. pollen samples was carried out to determine the actual value of pollen as a bio-indicator of the effects of atmospheric pollution, using samples from plants naturally developed in sites controlled for air pollution. In Trentino (North Italy), we selected six stations at three different levels of air pollution, which are constantly monitored with automatic gauges by the Environmental Protection Agency of Trento.First results showed that pollen viability of both species, germinability and pollen tube length of P. nigra, were higher in areas with no road traffic compared to heavy traffic ones. Pollen viability of P. nigra was positively correlated to ozone (O₃) concentrations and altitude but negatively to sulphur dioxide (SO₂), particulate matter with a diameter less than 10 m (PM₁₀), nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) concentrations.     

Possible stellar asterisms carved on a protohistoric stone

Chisel marks on a stone uncovered in Rupinpiccolo protohistoric hill fort from north-eastern Italy were suggested to be a representation of the night sky (Bernardini et al. 2022 Documenta Praehistorica XLIX). The patterns of the 29 marks are analyzed here to establish if they reproduce popular stellar asterisms. Nine marks are found to match the Tail of Scorpius and five the Orion's Belt, together with Rigel and Betelgeuse. Nine marks are found in the approximate position of the Pleiades showing some match with the cluster members. On the back side, 5 marks possibly reproduce Cassiopeia. One mark slightly North of Orion cannot be identified. The 28 marks show a Pearson correlation coefficient $$(28) with stellar positions higher than 0.99 with a probability $$ of a wrong correlation lower than 0.001. Departures are about one degree, or about 7 mm, as the mean diameter of the marks, which suggests a manufacturing limitation in the charting. The fort dates $$1800–400 BCE when Scorpius and Orion showed about the same orientation at the heliacal rising. The unidentified mark challenges the whole picture. We suggest it could have been the progenitor of a failed supernova, thus offering also the possibility of a verification.