The Pulpí gigantic geode (Almería, Spain): geology, metal pollution, microclimatology, and conservation |
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| Authors: | Ángel Fernández-Cortés José María Calaforra Javier García-Guinea |
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| Institution: | (1) Water Resources and Environmental Geology Research Group, University of Almería, 04120 Almeria, Spain;(2) National Museum of Natural Sciences (CSIC), José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain |
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| Abstract: | The discovery of the giant Geode of Pulpí (Almería, Spain) was considered as an important highlight in the geological heritage of Spain. Projects developed for their conservation were immediately initiated with legal figures of protection and tourist projects. The Geode has a tourist interest, which must be tempered by environmental restrictions limiting the public visits. First results demonstrate that a continuous visit of two or three people for more than 10 min provokes the appearance of condensation and risks corrosion of the gypsum crystals. In addition, the electron microprobe analyses confirms (1) the hydrothermal phases of iron–manganese in carbonated host rock; (2) the presence of sulphides with Fe–Zn–Pb–Ag–Sb–Cu–Hg–As–Te–Se; and (3) Ba, Ca, and Sr sulphates with mercury traces. The present proposal to label the geode and the mining environment as geological-natural heritage is feasible, although any tourist adaptation must not permit visits to the geode indoor and Hg levels must be controlled. |
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| Keywords: | Geo-mining heritage Geode Gypsum Environmental management Microclimatic monitoring |
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