A previous article relating to a series of outcrops of an Oligocene sandstone (Macigno) located in Tuscany along a N-NW S-SE band, illustrated that the compression strength values measured with the Schmidt Hammer gradually decreased from north to south. This study applies the same criteria and methods to the outcrops of another sandstone (Pietraforte = Strong Stone) belonging to the geological formation of the Super Gruppo della Calvana from the Cretaceous-Eocene age.The results reveal a similar trend for the outcrops between Poppi (lat. 43 degrees 45') and Radda (lat. 43 degrees 29'), while the southernmost part (from Radda to Santa Marinella (lat. 42 degrees 02', Rome) shows an initial process of case hardening, which toughens the rock due to the presence of hydroxides-oxides of Fe / Mn, and neogenic clay, and that can be attributed to the action of solar radiation. This facilitates the disintegration of the poly-minerals rock in the northern areas, while the ones located in the south, through the dehydration and oxidation of the hydroxides of Fe / Mn, the precipitation of carbonates and the incorporation of colloidal silica, determines significant hardening, especially on the surface levels.

It is well known that climatic factors can influence the degradation of rocks in different geographic environments, thus affecting the durability of natural construction materials. Research has been carried out to assess the current state of natural degradation of an Oligocene-Miocene lithic greywacke occurring without appreciable lithological and mineralogical variations from, NW to SE in Tuscany (northern Italy), considering 52 rocky outcrops distributed from approximately N 44 degrees to N 43 degrees. For each outcrop, the Schmidt Hammer "rebound" values (SH), which are directly proportional to the rock compressive strength, and the natural logarithm of the average annual solar radiation by geographic coordinates according to the Italian National Board for New Technology Energy and the Environment Atlas (ENEA) in MJ/m(2)/y (LN values), were evaluated. The results showed a significant relationship between the SH and LN: the SH values decrease significantly when passing from the cold and humid areas to the hottest and dry ones. Moreover, considering the values of the average air thermal excursion of each year in degrees centigrade, it is noteworthy that these can be divided into two groups (excursion >=7.8 and excursion >= 7.8 degrees C) which in relation to the SH give rise to more significant distributions similar to the relation between the SH and LN. We, therefore conclude that solar radiation, and thermal excursion, in particular, are responsible for the lower mechanical strength that occurs in the warmer and drier areas, as opposed to that in the colder and moister northern zones. The research also demonstrates that sandstone degradation processes due to thermal stress are not exclusive to arid and semi-arid areas, but they also occur in a reduced form, in temperate areas.

A paper published in 2013 concerning the elemental composition of 50 paleosols from Central Italy (Tuscany and Abruzzo) noted that Barium values were exceptionally high, a fact which could be not justified by the presence of neighbouring outcrops of igneous rocks. This current paper aims to explain the origin and significance of barium enrichment in these Pleistocene paleosols (Xerults, Xeralfs, Udalfs and Xerepts) formed on alluvial siliciclastic deposits mainly derived from sandstones and shales and, in a few cases, insoluble residues of Mesozoic carbonate rocks. Ba content was considered in relation to the molecular weathering ratio, soil pH and total Mg content. A qualitative inverse correlation was suggested between Mg and Ba for most soils. Maximum Ba values were found both in acid and alkaline soils, while minimum values were observed in neutral soils. This suggests the existence of different pedoclimatic environments. The acid soil solution supports the Ba release from minerals and soil components and its precipitation in the presence of SO42-, clays and Fe/Mn nodules, whereas other bases are removed. In contrast, the soils during seasonal low humidity periods or extended events of drought have a different pH: the soil solution then has a higher base concentration and therefore a greater likelihood of Ba precipitation bound to clays, metal oxides or even as insoluble sulphate (barite). Thus the soils with higher and lower pH are enriched in Ba both directly and indirectly in relation to ionic strength of the soil solution. The significant enrichment in Ba is ascribed to intense and very long pedogenetic processes during past climatic conditions of a wet- warm subtropical type, which acted on the Italian paleosols of Pleistocene age. The recurring shrink-swell pattern would have increased the rate of chemical weathering, the rate of barium release in the soil solution and its subsequent immobilisation in neoformed complexes as barite and others.

The present research deals with a measure of the uranium contents of the soil Fe/Mn nodules in order to assess the relationship between uranium content of nodules and trace elements distribution in the bulk soil. Fe/Mn nodules were collected from B-horizons of 50 palaeosoils (mainly Alfisols and Ultisols) from Tuscany and Abruzzo Regions and their alpha natural radioactivity measured by autoradiography method. Results revealed that U tends to concentrate into Fe/Mn nodules without relation with the degree of soil evolution but clearly conditioned by the parent material composition of soils. Its concentration in a single nodule can be 2 or 3 times greater than values obtained for the bulk of palaeosoils of the same area. Moreover it was possible to highlight some interesting relationships between uranium content and the frequency of soil trace elements that could suggest the existence of Fe/Mn nodules with different micro chemical composition.

The National Park of Gran Sasso-Monti della Laga (Abruzzo, Central Italy) is representative of a mountainous Mediterranean environment, with a range of elevation from 800 to 2900 meters above sea level and commonly occurring landslides, particularly in the northern belt of the Park. Two main geological formation groups are predominant in the area: the oldest one (of the Trias to Miocene periods) consists of marine carbonate rock formations, which have been tectonically overthrusted by more recent siliciclastic formations during the last orogenetic phase of the Central Appennines (Upper Miocene Lower Pliocene); these are formed mainly by sandstone and marlstone of the Miocene age and bear the name Flysch della Laga. The research carried out on a pilot area of the Park was addressed to obtain a small scale mapping of both distribution and intensity of the slope instability factors. This was accomplished by considering the percentage occurrence of some instability factors, as the ratio of friction-angle to layering dip-angle less than 1, and the occurrence of morphological signs of instability as active talus. The resulting map (IFP) which could be interpreted as expression of potential susceptibility to slope instability, was not similar to a previous instability hazard map of the same area made by traditional parametric methodology. Instead the IFP map compared with actual distribution of instability phenomena (landslides, badlands, active scree deposits, etc.) over the same area resulted positively correlated at 0.99 probability level. The proposed method seems to be able for predicting the susceptibility to instability trend not only over whole territory but also in areas assumed after traditional methods to have homogeneously distributed hazard class.

Inappropriate use of agricultural, pasture, and woodlands are the main causes of soil degradation in many Mediterranean mountainous regions. Monitoring by remote sensing and other techniques are needed in order to map and control the land degradation. The study area is located in the Gran Sasso Massif (Central Italy), a typical Mediterranean calcareous area. The extreme reduction in soil thickness reduces water availability for vegetation, with a further stress condition added during summer droughts. The aim of this study was to investigate drought using soil survey information and hydraulic conductivity values to produce a soil dryness map. Soil influence on green biomass was assessed by the relationship of soil depth versus NDVI (a vegetation index derived by Landsat-TM data). The integrated approach of field and remote sensing data showed the existence of a link between soil moisture conditions and biomass production. Such correlations may be used in research on Mediterranean mountainous sub-arid areas.