Hydrogeological conceptual model of a highly impacted watershed: the case study of Oglio river (n Italy)

Oglio River watershed, Italy, water bodies, TANGRAM, groundwater discharge

Geological map of the Tocomar Basin (Puna Plateau, NW Argentina): Implication for the geothermal system investigation

This paper presents a detailed geological map at the 1:20,000 scale of the Tocomar basin in the Central Puna (north-western Argentina), which extends over an area of about 80 km2 and displays the spatial distribution of the Quaternary deposits and the structures that cover the Ordovician basement and the Tertiary sedimentary and volcanic units. The new dataset includes litho-facies descriptions, stratigraphic and structural data and new 234U/230Th ages for travertine rocks. The new reconstructed stratigraphic framework, along with the structural analysis, has revealed the complex evolution of a small extensional basin including a period of prolonged volcanic activity with different eruptive centres and styles. The geological map improves the knowledge of the geology of the Tocomar basin and the local interplay between orogen-parallel thrusts and orogen-oblique fault systems. This contribution represents a fundamental support for in depth research and also for encouraging geothermal exploration and exploitation in the Puna Plateau regionFil: Filipovich, Ruben Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Museo de Ciencias Naturales. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA; ArgentinaFil: Baez, Walter Ariel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Museo de Ciencias Naturales. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA; ArgentinaFil: Groppelli, Gianluca. CNR Istituto di Geologia Ambientale e Geoingegneria; ItaliaFil: Ahumada, Maria Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Museo de Ciencias Naturales. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA; ArgentinaFil: Aldega, Luca. Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza"; ItaliaFil: Becchio, Raul Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Museo de Ciencias Naturales. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA; ArgentinaFil: Berardi, Gabriele. Università Roma Tre III; ItaliaFil: Bigi, Sabina. Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza"; ItaliaFil: Caricchi. Chiara. Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia; ItaliaFil: Chiodi, Agostina Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Museo de Ciencias Naturales. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA; ArgentinaFil: Corrado, Sveva. Università Roma Tre III; ItaliaFil: De Astis, Gianfilippo. Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia; ItaliaFil: De Benedetti, Arnaldo Angelo. Università Roma Tre III; ItaliaFil: Invernizzi, Chiara. Universita Degli Di Camerino; ItaliaFil: Norini, Gianluca. CNR Istituto di Geologia Ambientale e Geoingegneria; ItaliaFil: Soligo, Michele. Università Roma Tre III; ItaliaFil: Taviani, Sara. University of Milano-Bicocca; ItaliaFil: Viramonte, Jose German. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Museo de Ciencias Naturales. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA; ArgentinaFil: Giordano, Guido. CNR Istituto di Geologia Ambientale e Geoingegneria; Italia. Università Roma Tre III; Itali

Preservation of modern and MIS 5.5 erosional landforms and biological structures as sea level markers : a matter of luck?

The Mediterranean Basin is characterized by a significant variability in tectonic behaviour, ranging from subsidence to uplifting. However, those coastal areas considered to be tectonically stable show coastal landforms at elevations consistent with eustatic and isostatic sea level change models. In particular, geomorphological indicators—such as tidal notches or shore platforms—are often used to define the tectonic stability of the Mediterranean coasts. We present the results of swim surveys in nine rocky coastal sectors in the central Mediterranean Sea using the Geoswim approach. The entire route was covered in 22 days for a total distance of 158.5 km. All surveyed sites are considered to have been tectonically stable since the last interglacial (Marine Isotope Stage 5.5 [MIS 5.5]), because related sea level markers fit well with sea level rise models. The analysis of visual observations and punctual measurements highlighted that, with respect to the total length of surveyed coast, the occurrence of tidal notches, shore platforms, and other indicators accounts for 85% of the modern coastline, and only 1% of the MIS 5.5 equivalent. Therefore, only 1% of the surveyed coast showed the presence of fossil markers of paleo sea levels above the datum. This significant difference is mainly attributable to erosion processes that did not allow the preservation of the geomorphic evidence of past sea level stands. In the end, our research method showed that the feasibility of applying such markers to define long-term tectonic behaviour is much higher in areas where pre-modern indicators have not been erased, such as at sites with hard bedrock previously covered by post-MIS 5.5 continental deposits, e.g., Sardinia, the Egadi Islands, Ansedonia, Gaeta, and Circeo. In general, the chances of finding such preserved indicators are very low.peer-reviewe

A preliminary understanding of groundwater exchanges between the Riardo Plain and Mount Maggiore ridge (Campania, Italy)

Sono state avanzate alcune ipotesi preliminari interpretative della possibile interconnessione idraulica fra la circolazione idrica sotterranea della Piana di Riardo e l’Unità Idrogeologica di Monte Maggiore. Una recente campagna piezometrica conferma il quadro idrogeologico desunto dalla letteratura e mette in evidenza la presenza di una circolazione idrica nei carbonati che bordano la Piana ad ovest della Faglia di Rocchetta, con quote di saturazione (circa 115 m s.l.m.) confrontabili con quella dell’acquifero del settore adiacente della Piana. E’ possibile, quindi, ipotizzare l’esistenza di un flusso sotterraneo dalla dorsale carbonatica di Monte Maggiore verso la Piana nel settore ad ovest di Rocchetta; nel settore orientale non si esclude, invece, la possibilità di un flusso idrico sotterraneo profondo dalla Piana verso la dorsale carbonatica, con direzione prevalente opposta a quella del settore occidentale. L’aquitard di separazione delle due circolazioni ipotizzate è stato individuato nelle dolomie e nei calcari dolomiti del Trias superiore che in questo settore sono stati sollevati fino all’affioramento dalla tettonica distensiva post orogenica

Multivariate statistical analysis supporting the hydrochemical characterization of groundwater and surface water: a case study in northern Italy

Multivariate statistical analysis is a useful method for supporting the interpretation of experimental data, particularly in the case of large datasets. In the present study, cluster analysis and factor analysis are used to support the hydrochemical characterization of groundwater and surface water in an area located in the Oglio River basin (N Italy). During a field survey performed in Fall 2015, 58 groundwater, 20 river (Oglio River and its main tributaries), 1 Lake Iseo and 7 spring samples were collected for chemical analysis. Results of multivariate statistical analysis led to the identification of the following 5 main clusters which characterize the hydrological system: (1) higher plain groundwater and springs, characterized by an oxidized hydrofacies with higher NO3, (2) lower plain groundwater, characterized by a reduced hydrofacies with higher As, Fe and Mn, (3) Oglio River, (4) Oglio River tributaries and (5) outliers. This characterization will bear the improvement of the hydrogeological conceptual model of the area, also oriented to groundwater/surface water interactions, that, in turn, will support the numerical flow modeling of the system

Hydrochemical characterization of groundwater and surface water supported by multivariate statistical analysis: a case study in the Po plain (in Italy)

Cluster analysis (CA),  factor analysis (FA), Oglio River,  hydrofacies,

Structural analysis and fluid geochemistry as tools to assess the potential of the Tocomar geothermal system, Central Puna (Argentina)

The Argentinean Andean region hosts a vast geothermal resource clustered by active magmatic and tectonic activity. One of the most studied geothermal areas is the Tuzgle-Tocomar geothermal system in Central Puna (NW Argentina). However, despite the existence of several studies since the 1970′s highlighting the geothermal potential of the area, only highly schematic and dissimilar conceptual models have been proposed for the Tocomar Geothermal System. This study presents new detailed geological-structural and hydrogeochemical data, together with in-situ permeability analysis of fault zones and Raman spectroscopic characterization of hydrothermal-alteration minerals. The electrical generating capacity has also been evaluated using the volumetric method and a stochastic approach. A new comprehensive conceptual model of the studied area was constructed highlighting the role of the Calama-Olacapato-El Toro (COT) fault-system in the circulation of hydrothermal fluids. The reservoir of the Tocomar geothermal system has a Na+-Clˉ(HCO3)ˉ composition and an estimated temperature of ∼235 °C. Such a reservoir is hosted in fractured Ordovician rocks and controlled by the COT-like Chorrillos transpressive fault at 1000–1500 m depth b.g.l. The water isotopic data and hydrological features indicate a regional recharge beyond the Tocomar sub-basin boundaries (>5000 m a.s.l.). Additionally, the main hydrothermal reservoir receives inputs of magmatic fluids from the degassing of the intra-crustal rhyolitic magma chamber of the Tocomar volcanic center. The Monte Carlo simulations suggest that the Tocomar geothermal system has a probable power production capacity above 1.23 MWe (P90), 6.18 MWe (P50) and 11.67 MWe (P10) at different confidence levels. All calculations were biased towards minimum values, thus a tighter definition of the resource size and fracture porosity would significantly impact on the predictions. Notwithstanding, the strategic position of the Tocomar geothermal field encourages move forward towards more in-depth exploration phases.Fil: Filipovich, Ruben Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Museo de Ciencias Naturales. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA; ArgentinaFil: Chiodi, Agostina Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Museo de Ciencias Naturales. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA; ArgentinaFil: Baez, Walter Ariel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta-Jujuy. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del Noroeste Argentino. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del Noroeste Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Ahumada, Maria Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; ArgentinaFil: Invernizzi, Chiara. Università degli Studi di Camerino; ItaliaFil: Taviani, Sara. Università degli Studi di Milano; ItaliaFil: Aldega, Luca. Università di Roma; ItaliaFil: Tassi, Franco. Università degli Studi di Firenze; ItaliaFil: Barrios, Alfonso. Deep Energy; ArgentinaFil: Corrado, Sveva. Università Roma Tre III; ItaliaFil: Gropelli, Gianluca. Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche. IIstituto di Geologia Ambientale e Geoingegneria; ItaliaFil: Norini, Gianluca. Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche. IIstituto di Geologia Ambientale e Geoingegneria; ItaliaFil: Bigi, Sabina. Università di Roma; ItaliaFil: Caricchi, Chiara. Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia; ItaliaFil: De Benedetti, Arnaldo. Deep Energy; ArgentinaFil: De Astis, Gianfilippo. Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia; ItaliaFil: Becchio, Raul Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Museo de Ciencias Naturales. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA; ArgentinaFil: Viramonte, Jose German. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Museo de Ciencias Naturales. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA; ArgentinaFil: Giordano, Guido. Università Roma Tre III; Itali