Evaporite karst in Italy: a review

Evaporite karst, formed by gypsum and anhydrite, is a rare but significant geological phenomenon found primarily along the northern border of Italy's Apennine chain (Emilia-Romagna and Marche), as well as in Calabria and Sicily. Recent discoveries in Piedmont's underground gypsum mines have expanded our understanding of these unique landscapes. Multidisciplinary studies from the late 20th century provided a comprehensive overview, while more recent research has focused on detailed investigations in Emilia-Romagna and Sicily. Additionally, sinkholes related to Permian-Triassic gypsum have been studied in Friuli Venezia Giulia. This review synthesizes current knowledge, highlighting new findings and promoting further exploration of these special karst regions.

De Waele, J., Piccini, L., Columbu, A., Madonia, G., Vattano, M., Calligaris, C., D’Angeli, I., Parise, M., Chiesi, M., Sivelli, M., et al. (2017). Evaporite karst in Italy: a review. International Journal of Speleology, 46(2), 137–168. https://doi.org/10.5038/1827-806x.46.2.2107