The Apuan Alps, in Northern Tuscany, are a mainly calcareous-metamorphic range where quarrying is particularly extensive, due to the abundance, quality and beauty of the marble (the Carrara marble is of worldwide renown). In this mountain range geological heritages, or geosites, are widely represented. These include surface and underground karst features, features of Quaternary glaciations and also the particular alpine-type morphology (sharp peaks, steep slopes, deeply cut valleys). Signs of the age-old quarrying activities are also evident. Among these, the accumulation of rock fragments in quarry dumps - locally named ravaneti - is typical of the Apuan Alps and is one of its most important characteristics. The ravaneti result from marble excavation and cover a large surface area of quarried zones. They are the result of an extensive quarrying method, with extensive use of mines, now obsolete and replaced by more up-to-date techniques. At present the ravaneti are taken into consideration from two opposing points of view, that is their environmental and economic-productive relevance. However, both viewpoints must find an accordance with each other. Indeed, over the last few years, these quarry dumps have been increasingly used as a source of inert materials and calcium carbonate, without any planning or regulation. By contrast, the environmental value of the ravaneti is scarcely taken into consideration, even though they have become an integral part of the Apuan landscape: their whiteness seen in the distance makes the mountainous massif even more particular. Moreover, the ravaneti, which resulted from ancient quarrying techniques, are an important indication of past extractive activity. They sometimes still show traces of quarrying work (e.g. the vie di lizza - rocky chutes once used by quarry workers for sliding marble blocks downslope -, the fragment retaining constructions and the ramps going up to the quarries). They are therefore important features of local industrial archaeology. Finally, the quarry dumps are very large and very pervious. They therefore slow down the rainwater concentration in the watercourses, thereby helping to protect inhabited centres against floods and contributing to aquifer replenishment. This is an important fact in favour of maintenance of the ravaneti . The present market trends lead to the fear that the intensive re-utilization of the ravaneti may become uncontrolled. This has certainly been the case of the indiscriminate quarrying activity in the Apuan Alps over the centuries. We believe it is essential to promote as soon as possible a series of studies, to determine which ravaneti deserve protection from indiscriminate re-utilization. Any selection criteria, based on thematic maps and project files, should consider classification parameters, including: scenic significance, morphology, characteristics of plant adaptation, historical and anthropic value. Even if the introduction of regulatory measures restrict the exploitation of a certain number of ravaneti, millions and millions tons of rock fragments will remain for market use. Moreover, such protective action will raise the tourist value of the area. In conclusion, no damage to the economy of the Apuan district is expected from the adoption of a rational policy for safeguarding the environment.

Valenze ambientali ed economiche dei ravaneti delle Alpi Apuane (Toscana, Italia)

D'AMATO AVANZI, GIACOMO ALFREDO;
1998-01-01

Abstract

The Apuan Alps, in Northern Tuscany, are a mainly calcareous-metamorphic range where quarrying is particularly extensive, due to the abundance, quality and beauty of the marble (the Carrara marble is of worldwide renown). In this mountain range geological heritages, or geosites, are widely represented. These include surface and underground karst features, features of Quaternary glaciations and also the particular alpine-type morphology (sharp peaks, steep slopes, deeply cut valleys). Signs of the age-old quarrying activities are also evident. Among these, the accumulation of rock fragments in quarry dumps - locally named ravaneti - is typical of the Apuan Alps and is one of its most important characteristics. The ravaneti result from marble excavation and cover a large surface area of quarried zones. They are the result of an extensive quarrying method, with extensive use of mines, now obsolete and replaced by more up-to-date techniques. At present the ravaneti are taken into consideration from two opposing points of view, that is their environmental and economic-productive relevance. However, both viewpoints must find an accordance with each other. Indeed, over the last few years, these quarry dumps have been increasingly used as a source of inert materials and calcium carbonate, without any planning or regulation. By contrast, the environmental value of the ravaneti is scarcely taken into consideration, even though they have become an integral part of the Apuan landscape: their whiteness seen in the distance makes the mountainous massif even more particular. Moreover, the ravaneti, which resulted from ancient quarrying techniques, are an important indication of past extractive activity. They sometimes still show traces of quarrying work (e.g. the vie di lizza - rocky chutes once used by quarry workers for sliding marble blocks downslope -, the fragment retaining constructions and the ramps going up to the quarries). They are therefore important features of local industrial archaeology. Finally, the quarry dumps are very large and very pervious. They therefore slow down the rainwater concentration in the watercourses, thereby helping to protect inhabited centres against floods and contributing to aquifer replenishment. This is an important fact in favour of maintenance of the ravaneti . The present market trends lead to the fear that the intensive re-utilization of the ravaneti may become uncontrolled. This has certainly been the case of the indiscriminate quarrying activity in the Apuan Alps over the centuries. We believe it is essential to promote as soon as possible a series of studies, to determine which ravaneti deserve protection from indiscriminate re-utilization. Any selection criteria, based on thematic maps and project files, should consider classification parameters, including: scenic significance, morphology, characteristics of plant adaptation, historical and anthropic value. Even if the introduction of regulatory measures restrict the exploitation of a certain number of ravaneti, millions and millions tons of rock fragments will remain for market use. Moreover, such protective action will raise the tourist value of the area. In conclusion, no damage to the economy of the Apuan district is expected from the adoption of a rational policy for safeguarding the environment.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11568/44887
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