Formignano mine: a study for the research project of Emilia-Romagna Regional Speleological Federation “Eastern Romagna Gypsum and Sulphur”. Ponti Elisa
The Speleological Federation of Emilia -Romagna Region has started a project to study the multidisciplinary areas of gypsum and sulphur mines in the provinces of Forlì- Cesena, Rimini, the Republic of San Marino and the municipality of Sassofeltrio in the province of Pesaro -Urbino .
The project involves the study of gypsum outcrops in the area, the relief and the positioning of the cavity , their inclusion in the Regional Cadastre, hydrological studies, microbiological analyzes of the sulphur springs and the study of bats.
The mines of sulphur are present large amount in the valleys of Savio, Montone and Rabbi rivers and particularly in the towns of Perticara and Formignano. Overall, it is estimated that the network of tunnels grows for many tens of kilometers. These mines are abandoned for decades and since then only a small part explored but at times of maximum activity were used, the extraction of sulphur, some thousands of people, so it is obvious the socio-cultural importance of these places.
It is therefore to explore, update and document photographically the relief of these mines. There is also a huge amount of unpublished documents that must be properly screened and can form the basis for a detailed bibliographic work.
This project, that will engage the Federation for about three years, provides, at the end, the publication of a monograph – included DVD – in the series of the Memoirs of the Italian Institute of Speleology .
Reference Author: Elisa Ponti