main research interests regards the geochemistry of the
environmental surface, in particular:
environmental geochemistry: of abandoned mine area and
contaminated sites, focusing on dispersion of chemical elements of
environmental relevance in various matrices, the bioavailability
and the transfer to the biosphere, either in animal and
vegetation.
marine geochemistry: geochemistry is used as a tracer for
sediment provenance, as palaeoenvironmental indicator, as indicator
of diagenetic processes, as indicator of sediment
contamination.
sedimentary geochemistry: sedimentary rocks and sediments
are used as a tracer for sediment provenance, as
palaeoenvironmental indicator, as indicator of diagenetic
processes.
hydrogeochemistry: study of the chemical composition of
groundwater, surface water and drinking water
isotope geochemistry: application of stable isotopes (H,
O, C, S) to the study of rocks and water.
tephrochronology: compositional characterization of
tephra layer in marine, lacustrine and continental successions.
biogeochemistry: bioaccumulation of metals in
organisms.
environmental geochemistry studies in abandoned mine
sites and contaminated sites aimed at the evaluation of dispersion
and impacts of selected elements of environmental relevance using
different matrices, evaluating bioavailability and transfer to the
biosphere either animal and vegetal. The abandoned mines of
Libiola (GE) and Vigonzano (PC) were studied in detail. For both
sites mineralogy and chemisty of the waste material was necessary
to characterize the source and waters, soils, sediemnts and
vegetation were studied to trace dipersion and impacts.
Methods to treat acid waters were tested in lab and field studies
inthe Libiola mine area (project LIFE-Environment UK 2003-2006
BIOMAN).
marine geochemistry: geochemistry used to trace sediment
provenance, as a palaeoenvironmental proxy, as indicator of
diagenetic processes and sediment quality. Integrated
chemistratigraphic studies were carried out on recent marine
sediment of the Adriatic Sea, Ionian Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Sicily
Channel, Gulf of Cadiz. The description of the geochemical features
of sapropels S1 and S5 in several locations of the Mediterranean
Sea, the description of the evolution of sedimento composition in
the Adriatic Sea and of the Gulf of Manfredonia,the
characterization of the composition of coastal sediments along the
Emilia-Romagna coastline and of the Port of Ravenna are examples of
research themes developed. Collaboration with many researcher was
widespread: University of Milano-Bicocca, Politechnic University
of Marche, University of Pisa, CNR-ISMAR sections of Bologna
and Ancona, ARPA-ER, University of Bremen, Utrecht
University)
geochimica del sedimentario: geochemistry of sedimentary
succession used to trace sediment provenance, as a
palaeoenvironmental proxy and as indicator of diagenetic processes.
These themes were developed particulalrly in the easter sector of
the Po Plain identifying the major features of sediment provenance,
defining the independece of provenance-describing index from
texture, and extending resarch also to inland areas. Also other
coastal areas are under study (Arno River coastal plain, and
Lesinaand Varano lagoon deposits). These researches are developed
in collaboration with other colleagues of the Earth Science
Department (prof. Amorosi, dott. Vaiani), of the Engineering
Faculty (Prof. Curzi), of the University of Pisa, of the CNR-ISMAR
section of Ancona, of CNR-IGG section of Padova. Mesozoic-tertiary
successions of the Southern Apennines were studied in collaboration
with colleagues of the Basilicata University (Prof. Mongelli).
Hydrogeochemistry: research projects to study the
hydrogeochemistry of shallow groundwater in coastal areas affected
by saline intrusion with focus on the mobility of potentially
harmful elements (As). Hydrogeochemical studies in areas affected
by mining operation in Romania and in Liguria in collaboration with
colleagues from the Earth Science dept. of the University of Genoa.
Collaboration with the Geochemistry Expert Group of the
EuroGeoSurvey which recently launched research projects on drinking
water.
isotope geochemistry: application of geochemical tracers
(H, O, C, S) to the study of rocks and waters with interests
focused on the application of isotope geochemistry as source tracer
or process indicatos in fluvial catchment impacted by human
activities or mine operations. Isotope geochemical studies were
also carried out to characterize the rain in Bologna. These
researche were conducted in collaboration with CNR-IGG section of
Pisa (Prof. Cortecci), University of Parma.
tefrocronologia: compositional characterization of tephra
layer in marine, lacustrine and continental successions as a
correlationand dating tool. Researches were conducted in sediments
from the Adriatic Sea, in extension to the Ionian Sea. Research in
collaboration with CNR-ISMAR sections of Bologna amd Ancona.
biogeochemistry: bioaccumulation of metals in sediments.
The bioaccumualtion o fmetals in vegetation has been evaluated in
several mine areas and peculiar soils, in collaboration with
colleagues of the Biology department and researchers of the
Universidad Autonomaof Barcellona. Bioaccumulation of Cu and CrVI
in the earthworm
Eisenia andrei under controlled conditions
has been developed in team with CIRSA colleagues (Prof. E. Fabbri,
Dott. Pasteris, Dott. Buscaroli) integrated the biological and
ecological responses. The bioaccumulation of several metals in
Mytilus galloprovinicialis exposed to altered environmental
conditions helped to define the impact on the organism and the
quality of the environment.
