Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Petrology & Volcanology

Imaggeo on Mondays: Civita di Bagnoregio – the dying town

Elenora van Rijsingen November 11, 2019

Civita di Bagnoregio - The Dying Town. Credit: Elenora van Rijsingen (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu)

On top of a steep cliff standing out from the surrounding countryside, lies the small town of Civita di Bagnoregio, one of the most famous villages of Italy. It is often called the dying town, although more recently people have started to refer to it as fighting to live. What this little town is fighting against is the threat of erosion, as its walls are slowly crumbling down. Located in central I ...[Read More]

Imaggeo on Mondays: The colourful sinkhole clusters at Ghor Al-Haditha

Rob Watson September 30, 2019

Crazy colours in a cluster of sinkholes at Ghor Al-Haditha. Credit: Rob Watson (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu)

Sinkholes that form on the Dead Sea shore at Ghor Al-Haditha, Jordan, often occur in clusters, with many holes packed into a small area. However the visual appearance of neighbouring sinkholes can vary significantly. Mineral precipitation in the foremost sinkhole in this picture, which has no fresh water supply, gives it a garish pink-orange colouration. The larger hole behind has a groundwater-de ...[Read More]

Imaggeo on Mondays: The salt mine carving into the Carpathians

Olivia Trani August 26, 2019

Large similar folds in a salt mine in the Carpathians. Credit: Janos Urai (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu)

The image gives us a glimpse into the Slănic Salt Mine in central Romania, about 100 kilometres north of the capital city Bucharest. The region was actively mined for almost 30 years, from 1943 to 1970. The Slănic Salt Mine is the largest salt mine in Europe, and the facility consists of 14 large chambers, each more than 50 metres high. The cavities of the mine, more than 200 metres deep, carve in ...[Read More]

Imaggeo on Mondays: The ephemeral salt crystals

Dan V. Palcu August 12, 2019

The ephemeral crystals. Credit: Dan Valentin Palcu (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu)

Rock salt stalactites (Speleothems) are the indicators of entrance in a salt cave. These crystal stalactites precipitate from brine only at the entrance in the salt caves, as that is the only place where the physical and chemical properties of the air and the brine dripping from the ceiling allow these crystals to grow and be preserved. And they are extremely fragile – if there is just a sma ...[Read More]