Dear Colleagues,

The present Special Issue of Minerals (MDPI) is broadly inclusive. It addresses the various fields of the Earth sciences contributing to tracing the geological evolution of Italy, whose territory covers one of the most (geo)dynamic regions in the world. Although a lot has been achieved in the last century and a half, more progress is still needed to better understand the geological history of Italy. In this perspective, the results of research studies based on geochemical and mineralogical analyses, and especially articles with a petrological, geochronological, or volcanological imprint, are particularly welcome as long as they offer insights into geological evolution. Furthermore, the Special Issue invites research studies focused on mineralization, as well as the related exploration methods, occurring in the Italian territory in the different geological conditions (e.g., karst, sedimentary, metamorphic, magmatic, and hydrothermal) that are frequently influenced by geodynamics/tectonics. Finally, review articles regarding specific mineralization-bearing geological contexts in Italy are invited.

Prof. Dr. Vincenzo Festa
Dr. Fabrizio Tursi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

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Open AccessArticle

Petrographic and Geochemical Inferences for Genesis of Terra Rossa: A Case Study from the Apulian Karst (Southern Italy)

by

Francesca Micheletti

,

Annamaria Fornelli

,

Luigi Spalluto

,

Mario Parise

,

Salvatore Gallicchio

,

Fabrizio Tursi

and

Vincenzo Festa

Minerals 2023, 13(4), 499; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13040499 - 31 Mar 2023

Viewed by 492

Abstract

Terra rossa is a reddish clay soil which is often present on the surface of limestone in regions with a Mediterranean-type climate. Its genesis is a controversial subject in terms of the origin of the parent material, from the residuum of underlying (carbonate/dolomite) [...] Read more.

Terra rossa is a reddish clay soil which is often present on the surface of limestone in regions with a Mediterranean-type climate. Its genesis is a controversial subject in terms of the origin of the parent material, from the residuum of underlying (carbonate/dolomite) bedrock in the absence/presence of an external silicate contribution (e.g., aeolian dust). Within this context the main goal of the present work was the understanding of the geochemical processes leading to the formation of the terra rossa starting from the carbonate bedrock. We report the results of a multi-method analysis on a terra rossa deposit occupying the bottom of a Quaternary karst depression on Mesozoic limestones exposed in the Murge area (Apulia Foreland, southern Italy). Geological, petrographic, textural, and chemical data were collected on karst products (reddish calcite incrustations and nodules, and fine-grained portion of terra rossa) by a detailed field mapping, optical microscopy, XRF and fusion ICP/MS analyses and by scanning electron microscope. New collected data show that the mineralogical composition of reddish incrustations and nodules is comparable, consisting of fibrous and impure calcite, detrital fragments of quartz, K-feldspar, zircon and authigenic minerals as (Mn, Ba, Ca) phases, (Al, Si, Mn, Fe, Mg, Ba, Ca) minerals, Fe-kaolinite and anatase. The prevailing minerals, instead, in the fine-grained portion of terra rossa are hematite, kaolinite, and goethite. Based on the chemical composition, and especially on REE patterns, a progressive interaction of silicate aqueous solutions (with Al, Si, Fe), containing pelite material, with the calcareous bedrock, as a source of carbonic acid, was the process driving the formation of terra rossa. Obtained results add new elements to the definition of the long-lasting question about the genetic processes responsible for the formation of terra rossa, corroborating their polygenetic origin, as result of limestone alteration in conjunction with the chemical interaction with allochthonous siliciclastic material. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding the Geologic History of Italy: Perspectives from Geochemistry, Geology and Mineralization)

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Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Campiglia Marittima Skarn (Tuscany): A Challenging Example for the Evolution of Skarn-Forming Models

by

Simone Vezzoni

,

Sergio Rocchi

and

Andrea Dini

Minerals 2023, 13(4), 482; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13040482 - 29 Mar 2023

Viewed by 495

Abstract

Campiglia Marittima (hereafter Campiglia) has a long record of attracting interest on its ore deposits that have been intermittently exploited from the Copper Age to the late XX century. Since the XIX century, Campiglia has been a key locality for the debate on [...] Read more.

Campiglia Marittima (hereafter Campiglia) has a long record of attracting interest on its ore deposits that have been intermittently exploited from the Copper Age to the late XX century. Since the XIX century, Campiglia has been a key locality for the debate on skarn-forming processes due to the presence of mining activities ensuring access to ever new rock exposures. The pioneering study of vom Rath and the comparison with attractive chemical model (e.g., Korzhinskii’s theory) in the XX century made Campiglia a “classic” example of skarn ore deposit, from the causative intrusion to the marble host rock. In recent years, detailed field investigations integrated by petrographic, geochemical, and isotopic analyses revealed a more complex and stimulating geological history. The Campiglia skarn was later intruded by mafic magma causing textural reworking and chemical redistribution as well as the reverse telescoping process with Fe-Cu sulfides overprinting previously formed Pb-Zn ore. This work aims to trace the evolution of the scientific thinking on the Campiglia ore deposit by comparison with existing skarn-forming models and, ultimately, shows that the current skarn-forming model(s) cannot fully explain the textural and geochemical features of the Campiglia skarn. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding the Geologic History of Italy: Perspectives from Geochemistry, Geology and Mineralization)

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Open AccessReview

Review of Polymetallic Mineralization in the Sila and Serre Massifs (Calabria, Southern Italy)

by

Rosa Anna Fregola

,

Antonio Ciccolella

,

Vincenzo Festa

,

Giovanni Ruggieri

,

Emanuela Schingaro

,

Fabrizio Tursi

and

Gennaro Ventruti

Minerals 2023, 13(3), 439; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13030439 - 19 Mar 2023

Viewed by 805

Abstract

We provide an updated overview of the known mineral deposits from the Sila and Serre Massifs in Calabria, contributing to setting their genesis within a complex geologic history, starting from the late-Carboniferous. We summarize the mineralization reported in the literature, with a critical [...] Read more.

We provide an updated overview of the known mineral deposits from the Sila and Serre Massifs in Calabria, contributing to setting their genesis within a complex geologic history, starting from the late-Carboniferous. We summarize the mineralization reported in the literature, with a critical review of the host tectonic units, by taking into account the upgrades in the knowledge of these areas. We also set them in updated geological maps and in stratigraphic columns, highlighting the crustal levels to which they pertain. Despite the geologic and minerogenetic similarities potentially existing with late- to post-Variscan mineral deposits from other regions (e.g., Sardinia and French Central Massif), the scientific literature on the Calabria mineralization is out-of-date and not exhaustive. Moreover, these ore deposits were likely considered not economically attractive enough to stimulate new scientific studies. However, in our opinion, such studies are needed to resolve the main open questions, which rely on deciphering the origin and age of mineralization. Finally, research for critical elements hosted by the Sila and Serre mineralization (e.g., In, Ge and Ga in sphalerites) is a possible interesting new perspective. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding the Geologic History of Italy: Perspectives from Geochemistry, Geology and Mineralization)

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Displaying articles 1-3

Current planned papers:

Title: Editorial.
Authors: Vincenzo Festa (a), Fabrizio Tursi (b)
Affiliation: (a) Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro (Italy); (b) Università degli Studi di Padova (Italy)

Title: A review of the Mineralogy, Petrography and Geochemistry of serpentinite from Calabria and Basilicata regions (southern Italy): problem or georesource?
Authors: Punturo R. (a), Apollaro C. (b), Vespasiano G. (b), Cirrincione R. (a), Bloise A. (b)
Affiliation: (a) Dept. Biological, Geological, Environmental Sciences - University of Catania, Italy; (b) Università della Calabria, Rende, Italy.

Title: Geochemistry of shales from the southern Apennines: paleoweathering, provenance and distribution of critical metals.
Authors: R. Buccione (a), G. Mongelli (a), G. Rizzo (a)
Affiliation: Dept. of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Macchia Romana Campus, 85100 Potenza, Italy.

Title: The Variscan metallogenic stages in Sardinia. Post-collisional  tectonomagmatic evolution, crustal fertilization and ore genesis along  a section of the southern Variscan belt.
Authors: Stefano Naitza (a), Leonardo Casini (b), Fabrizio Cocco (a), Antonio  Funedda (a), Alfredo Loi (a), Giacomo Oggiano (b), Camille Rossignol (a), Francesco Secchi(b)
Affiliation: (a) Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, Università degli  Studi di Cagliari (Italy); (b) Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Fisiche, Matematiche e Naturali,  Università degli Studi di Sassari (Italy)

Title: Review of the historical ore districts of the Italian Alpine chain: minerogenesis, geological processes, and CRMs potential.
Authors: Licia Santoro (a), Marilena Moroni (b), Giulia Domenighini (a)
Affiliation: (a) Università degli studi di Torino (Italy); (b) Università degli studi di Milano (Italy)

Title: Petrographic and chemical inferences for the "terra rossa" genesis: searching for REE-minerals in the karst of Apulia (southern Italy).
Authors: Francesca Micheletti (a), Annamaria Fornelli (a), Luigi Spalluto (a), Fabrizio Tursi (b), Vincenzo Festa (a)
Affiliation: (a) Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro (Italy); (b) Università degli Studi di Padova (Italy)

Title: Evolution of skarn genetic hypotheses in the key magmatic-hydrothermal system of Campiglia Marittima (Tuscany).
Authors: Simone Vezzoni (a), Andrea Dini (b), Sergio Rocchi (c)
Affiliation: (a) Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Roma (Italy); (b) Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Pisa (Italy); (c) Università degli Studi di Pisa (Italy)

Title: Mineralization occurrences of the Sila and Serre Massifs (Calabria, southern Italy): An overview.
Authors: Fregola R.A. (a), Ciccolella A. (a), Festa V. (a), Ruggieri G. (b), Schingaro E. (a), Tursi F. (c), Ventruti G. (a)
Affiliation: (a) Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro (Italy); (b) Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Firenze (Italy); (c) Università degli Studi di Padova (Italy)

Title: The ophiolite-hosted Cu-Fe-Zn deposits of Tuscany (Italy).
Authors: Andrea Dini (a), Chiara Boschi (a), Andrea Rielli (a)
Affiliation: (a) Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Pisa (Italy)