Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources - National Research Council of Italy

Who we are

The Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources (IGG), is an institute of National Research Council of Italy (CNR), and it is devoted to the interdisciplinary study of the Geosciences, including application-oriented approaches.

New multicollector Ar/Ar data on microtektites from Transantarctic Mountains (Antarctica)

Tektites, and their submillimeter equivalents microtektites, are siliceous natural glasses which represent a component of the distal ejecta produced by hypervelocity impacts from large asteroidal impactors.

Mapping the global threat of land subsidence

LaSII - Land Subsidence International Initiative from UNESCO published the first global subsidence map due to groundwater depletion in SCIENCE. The research, led by Herrera-García from the Geological Survey of Spain, was also developed with the collaboration of Italian researchers Luigi Tosi (IGG-CNR and LaSII), Mauro Rossi (IRPI-CNR), and Pietro Teatini (ICEA-University of Padua and LaSII).

New tephrostratigraphical and tephrochronological data on a thick tephra layer from the Wood Bay area (Antarctica)

Tephra in marine sequences, similarly to those recovered in ice archives, represent invaluable isochrons for dating and correlating the records and the synchronization of climate proxy records.

Water transparency in the Venice Lagoon during COVID-19 lockdown revealed by Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites

A paper entitled “COVID-19 lockdown measures reveal human impact on water transparency in the Venice Lagoon” has been recently published by a team of researchers from the Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources (CNR-IGG) and the Institute of Marine Sciences (CNR-ISMAR). The article discusses the environmental changes related to the COVID-19 lockdown in Venice and analyzes the different factors that affected turbidity in the lagoon waters.

New study published in Scientific Reports on the development of complex normal fault systems

A group of scientists coordinated by the University of Padova in cooperation with the Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IGG) has obtained new data on the development of complex fault patterns in regions undergoing continental extension.

A global map to identify suitable areas to use geothermal energy for power production

In the framework of a collaboration between the Institute of Science and Technologies Information "A. Faedo" (CNR-ISTI) and the Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources (CNR-IGG), the researchers Gianpaolo Coro (CNR-ISTI) and Eugenio Trumpy (CNR-IGG) realised the first suitability global map with a 50 km of spatial resolution, for the use of geothermal energy for power production.

New study on carbon dioxide fluxes and their drivers in alpine tundra

This study, published in Science of the Total Environment, describes a statistical study of carbon dioxide fluxes and their drivers in alpine tundra.

A new study on the Norian/Rhaetian boundary sampled in sections located all over the world, from both Hemispheres

An international work group, which includes IGG researchers and professors associated with the Institute, has published a study on the Norian/Rhaetian boundary (Late Triassic) sampled in sections located all
over the world, from both Hemispheres. The turnover of ammnoids, conodonts, radiolarians, bivalves, coral reef, terrestrial and marine vertebrates is recorded across the limit. These changes in biota coincide with a strong variation in the isotopic composition of carbon which implies a strong perturbations in the ocean-atmosphere system, probably linked to the emission of very large volumes of magmatic gases.

Determination of the asbestos content in metamorphic rocks

An article entitled "Estimation of natural asbestos content in rocks by fracture network modeling and petrographic characterization", has been recently published in Engineering Geology, issue 271. The article reports the results of a multidisciplinary research, carried out in consortium with the University of Turin, for the determination of the asbestos content in metamorphic rocks crossed by the excavation of the tunnel of the Gronda di Genova highway system.

How the High Atlas belt in Morocco was formed: a new perspective

A paper dealing with the formation of the High Atlas mountain belt in Morocco has been now published in the Journal of Structural Geology. It suggests a new interpretation of the structural evolution of the High Atlas characterized by a long history of transpressional and transtensional reactivations along a major lithospheric shear zone, since the break-up of Pangea.

Fluid-driven tectonic and anthropogenic seismic activity at the Larderello-Travale geothermal field

Recently, some geothermal projects have attracted public attention for the hypothesis that they could produce moderate to high magnitude earthquakes.

New data on the initiation and development of the Pennine Basal Thrust (Swiss Alps)

Megathrusts are very large faults that allow one plate to overthrust another, accumulating much of the inter-plate displacement. They can generate very large earthquakes (M_w 8+) but if megathrusts are slipping too slowly or are sufficiently warm (>~300°C), they may creep without breaking.

New data on the development of the African rift valley

A group of scientists from universities and research institutions from many different countries (Ethiopia, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand and United Kingdom) and coordinated by the Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources has shed new light into the recent evolution of the African rift valley and placed fundamental new constraints on how major sectors of continental rift valleys propagate, interact and link.

Aeolian megaripples on Earth and Mars

This study, published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, addresses the cause and mechanisms of transverse instability of aeolian megaripples on Earth and Mars, focusing on the role of grain size distribution.

New study about the Neogene magmatism in the Cappadocia Volcanic Province

Samuele Agostini and Paolo Di Giuseppe (IGG-CNR, Pisa), along with Mehmet Yılmaz Savaşçın (Munzur University, Tunceli), Piero Manetti, and Sandro Conticelli (Università degli Studi, Firenze) have recently published a paper in the journal Lithos about the evolution of volcanism in Cappadocia (Turkey).

A new study on Nature Communications about the role of boron in subducting mantle

Researchers from Leeds University and SUERC (UK), along with Samuele Agostini (IGG-CNR, Pisa) published a paper on Nature Communications about the role of boron in subducting mantle.

Fires: A new study using seasonal predictions

In many regions of our planet, forest fires pose a serious threat to homes and infrastructures, causing huge economic damage and also loss of lives.

New article on Nature: CaSiO3 perovskite in diamond indicates the recycling of oceanic crust into the lower mantle

F. Nestola, N. Korolev, M. Kopylova, N. Rotiroti, D. G. Pearson, M. G. Pamato, M. Alvaro, Luca Peruzzo*, J. J. Gurney, A. E. Moore & J. Davidson

A CaSiO₃ perovskite-structured crystal enclosed in a South African natural diamond has been discovered and studied for the first time. The titanium rich composition of this inclusion indicates a bulk composition consistent with derivation from basaltic oceanic crust subducted to pressures equivalent to those present at the depths of the uppermost lower mantle (780 km). The relatively ‘heavy’ carbon isotopic composition of the surrounding diamond, together with the pristine high-pressure CaSiO₃ structure, provides evidence for the recycling of oceanic crust and surficial carbon to lower-mantle depths.

www.nature.com/articles/nature25972

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/03/super-deep-diamond-found-calcium-silicate-perovskite-spd/

* CNR – Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources (IGG) – Padua territorial Unit

Nature volume 555, pages 237–241 (08 March 2018)

doi:10.1038/nature25972

Top News

Seminar of Dr. Cristina Da Lio "Innalzamento relativo del livello del mare in ambienti costieri di transizione: vulnerabilità e resilienza"

On Thursday 11 March at 11 a.m., Dr. Cristina Da Lio (CNR-IGG), will give a seminar entitled ""Innalzamento relativo del livello del mare in ambienti...

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Two days dedicated to the ORMA Project “Alta fORMAzione e ricerca-azione presso enti di ricerca toscani”

As part of the ORMA project "Alta fORMAzione e ricerca-azione presso enti di ricerca toscani”, funded by the Tuscany Region

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Seminar of Dr. Cabassi "Geochemistry and Limnology of Volcanic Lakes"

On Thursday 25 February at 11 a.m., Dr. Jacopo Cabassi (CNR-IGG), will give a seminar entitled "Geochemistry and Limnology of Volcanic Lakes".

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Seminar "CO2 capture and storage by mineral carbonation" on Geo-energy Webinars series 2021

We would like to advertise the fifth Webinar (18 February from 5 p.m.) of the series on "Geo Storage Technologies’’ sponsored by the Italian...

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Funded Projects

Bilateral Project Italy - Morocco

The bilateral project aims to study the main fault systems of the High Atlas in Morocco, whose long history of activation in different geodynamic contexts characterized the overall evolution of the mountain belt. The Atlas orogen resulted from a long history of reactivations in alternating transtensional–transpressional tectonic regimes of lithospheric faults (Tizi n'Test fault system in the western High Atlas, South Meseta and South Atlas fault systems in the central High Atlas).

HIETE Project

The purpose of the "Scientific Research of Excellence", funded by the CARIPARO Foundation, is to support innovative research projects that help generate positive economic and social effects, promoting the advancement of scientific knowledge in the most diverse fields.

One of the most debated scientific aspects in relation to the impacts of global changes is whether, how and for how long transitional coastal environments such as lagoons, estuaries and deltas will be able to survive the expected Sea Level Rise (SLR).

BRIC-INAIL Asbestos Call

The project “Crystallochemical characterization and study of surface reactivity of mineral fibres of environmental and health interest, for an accurate hazard analysis”, was financed in the frame of the “Bric” research funding program of INAIL - the Italian National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work.

Bilateral project Italy - China

Deltas, estuaries, lagoons form complex and highly fragile transition zones between river dominated lowlands and coastal marine systems. Such systems have proven to react sensitively to climate change and anthropogenic forces: the present morpho- hydro- geological setting and ecosystem of coastal systems result from human-induced processes superposed to the natural coastal zone evolution.

TRETAMARA

In the northern Adriatic Sea there are marine and coastal habitats that favor and support a significant animal and plant biodiversity, represented by the geo-biogenic outcrops of Friuli Venezia Giulia and Veneto, by the Cladocora caespitosa dead corallites on the Slovenian side, by the numerous coastal-littoral ZSC-ZPS.

MoST

Project coordinator: Prof. Paolo Salandin University of Padova, Department ICEA (paolo.salandin(at)unipd(dot)it);CNR Scientific Responsible: Dr. Luigi Tosi, CNR-IGG (luigi.tosi(at)igg.cnr(dot)it)

ASTERIS

Project coordinator: Prof. Simone Galeotti, Università degli studi di Urbino “Carlo Bo”; CNR Scientific Responsible: Dr.ssa Barbara Nisi, CNR-IGG (barbara.nisi(at)igg.cnr(dot)it)

GECO

The project aims to study and develop, at industrial level, the production of geothermal energy with zero emissions. Geothermal fluids can naturally contain small variable amounts of CO₂ and H₂S that, if released into the atmosphere, can contribute negatively to the climate change.

Venezia 2021

The loss of land elevation with respect to the mean sea level (relative sea level rise – RSLR) is one of the processes potentially more impacting flat low-lying coastlands. Today, a continuous updating of the knowledge on land subsidence is becoming even more necessary. This holds in particular for the Venice area where land subsidence is characterized by a significant variability because of the hydro-geo-morphological complexity typical of this transitional environment. Although land subsidence in the Venice coast does not peak to values recorded in other coastal areas worldwide, the process is here severely threatening the territory because of its very low elevation, which is generally below the mean sea level, and the peculiarity of the lagoon environment.

IGCP 663 - IM2LSC

Land subsidence severely threatens most of the coastal plains around the world where high productive industrial and agricultural activities and urban centers are concentrated. Coastal subsidence damages infrastructures and exacerbates the effect of the sea‐level rise at regional scale. Although it is a well‐known process,

VIOLA

The VIOLA project is one of the activities funded under POR Puglia. The IGG is involved in the project for activities concerning the isotopic applications of O, H, B, and Sr in the study of the interactions between the waters selected and the carbonate aquifers of the Apula platform.

GEOENVI

CNR Scientific Responsible: Dr. Adele Manzella, CNR-IGG (adele.manzella(at)igg.cnr(dot)it). Link to project web site: https://www.geoenvi.eu/.

OT4CLIMA

The general objective of the OT4CLIMA project is to develop advanced Earth Observation (EO) technologies and methodologies for improving our knowledge of the effects of Climate Change (CC) and our capability to mitigate them at the regional and sub-regional scale.

EUROVOLC

The H2020 EUROVOLC Project aimed at creating a European network of observatories and research infrastructures for volcanology. CNR Scientific Responsible: Dr. Maddalena Pennisi, CNR-IGG (maddalena.pennisi(at)igg.cnr(dot)it). Link to project web site: https://eurovolc.eu/.

DG-ETIP

Deep Geothermal ETIP (Support to the activities of the European Technology and Innovation Platform on Deep Geothermal) is a geothermal project, funded by the European Commission within the Framework Programme Horizon 2020.

GEMex

GEMEx is a project of international cooperation in the geothermal field between Europe and Mexico, funded by Horizon 2020 EU framework programme for research and innovation.
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Bilateral Project Italy-Taiwan

Geochemical tracers and indicators for the evaluation of geothermal resources is a Joint Research Project between National Council of Research of Italy and Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan, funded for 2 years.
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ERA4CS

The ERA-NET Consortium “European Research Area for Climate Services”, so-called ERA4CS, has been designed to boost the development of efficient Climate Services in Europe.
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ECOPOTENTIAL

Ecosystems are the product of the interaction between the biosphere and the geosphere, between living organisms and the physical, chemical and

DESCRAMBLE

DESCRAMBLE, is a European project, co-funded for three years by the European Commission within Horizon 2020.
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Bilateral Project Italy - Moldova

Italy Partner: Dr. Barbara Nisi
Moldova Partner: Dr. Oleg Bogdevici
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IMAGE

IMAGE is a European project, co-funded for four years by the European Commission within the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development 2007-2013.
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NextData

Mountains are sentinels of climate and environmental change and many marine regions provide information on past climate variations.
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Geothermal ERA-NET

Geothermal ERA-NET is a European project co-funded for four years by the European Commission within the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development 2007-2013.
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ATLANTE

The Geothermal Atlas of southern Italy is a project aimed at characterizing, assessing and mapping of conventional and unconventional geothermal resources for power production in southern Italy.
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VIGOR

VIGOR was a four year Project launched at the end of 2010, coordinated at national level by CNR-IGG and dedicated to a comprehensive assessment of geothermal energy and its technological applications in four regions of southern Italy (Calabria, Campania, Apulia and Sicily, the “Regioni Convergenza”).
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VAPORE

VAPORE project points to quantify the residual capacity of Stabilised Organic Fraction (SOF) and already buried waste, to produce biogas in anaerobic conditions.

SMAT

Climate Change and Groundwater resources
Principal Investigator for CNR-IGG: Antonello Provenzale (antonello.provenzale(at)cnr(dot)it)
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Sa.Pe.Vo.

The Sa.Pe.Vo. project is a product of the Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources of CNR. The project team includes Unifi, Unipa, UNIRM1 and Universidad de El Salvador. The Italian Agency for International Cooperation has financed the project.
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VEGEO

The VEGEO project, funded by the National Park of Vesuvius, is aimed at the definition and the description of the Geosites that are present inside the Park area.
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LaMMA Regional Projects

“LaMMA” REGIONAL PROJECT (Tuscany Region funds)
Coordinator: Dr. Alessandro Ellero
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Geodynamics of the Living Planet