Shallow marine sediments characterisation of the Bagnoli brownfield site, Pozzuoli Bay (Italy)

ABSTRACT

We adopted a combined geophysical-stratigraphic approach to identify grain size anomalies in sediment distribution of the Bagnoli coastal brownfield site. A large industrial plant occupied this area during most of the 20th Century. We used 18 core logs to identify macroscopic variation in sediment stratigraphy, and 72 supplemental cores to mark changes between sandy- and silt-dominated intervals. The stratigraphy evidenced the presence of anomalous lens of silt within a sandy coastal sector inside the Bagnoli industrial harbour. Cores description helped us to calibrate the interpretation of 4 subbottom profiles, that we used to obtain information on geometries of silty deposits. The spatial layout of sediments revealed that silt intervals are present in the area bounded by the old industrial wharfs. We suggest that these silty sediments are likely the result of uncontrolled discharge occurred during the last century. Once calibrated, high-resolution mono-channel seismic profiles helped us to define the shape as well as the real extent and thicknesses of silty deposits, resulted to be ca. 515.000 m², with an overall volume of 480.000 m³. These results are a first attempt to define the amount of polluted sediments in the area facing the Bagnoli industrial harbour.

KEYWORDS:

• Mono-channel seismic profiles
• Dismantled industrial plant
• coastal brownfield site
• marine sequence
• sediment correlation

Acknowledgements

We thank the crew onboard of the Grancevola Rossa Vessel for their precious support in data sampling. Massimo Contiero (Ismar CNR of – Naples) is thankful for his help and support in survey activities.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributors

Mattia Vallefuoco is a Technologist at the Institute of Marine Sciences – National Research Council. He has experience in stratigraphic and geochronological studies of marine sequence, eco- biostratigraphy based on planktonic foraminifera, isotope geochemistry (δ¹⁸O, δ¹³C) aimed to paleoclimatic and enviromental reconstructions.

Stella Tamburrino is a Researcher at the Institute of Marine Sciences – National Research Council. Her research focuses on volcanic products and environmental studies (geochemistry).

Marco Sacchi is a Researcher at the Institute of Marine Sciences – National Research Council. His research work is focused in structural geology and marine volcanic features.

Antimo Guarino is an laboratory technician. His expertise is related in sedimentological analysis.

Gabriella Di Martino is a Researcher at the Institute of Marine Sciences – National Research Council. Her expertise is related to geophysical data processing and thematic maps creation for geological interpretation

Renato Tonielli is a Technologist at the Institute of Marine Sciences – National Research Council. His expertise is related to seismic data processing and map production in GIS environment

Mario Sprovieri is Researcher at the Institute of Anthropic impacts and sustainability in the marine environment – National Research Council.

Her research focuses on volcanic products and environmental studies (geochemistry).

Salvatore Passaro is a Researcher at the Institute of Marine Sciences – National Research Council. He focuses his research in marine geomorphology and marine volcanoes.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was partially funded by the ABBaCo Project, coordinated by Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn of Naples (Italy).