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Geochemistry and economic evaluation of REE + Y potential in the fine-grained matrix of sedimentary phosphorites from the Tebessa region, eastern Algeria
Full text linkThe Algerian phosphorites, deposited during the Paleocene-Eocene, are part of the Tethyan phosphogenesis along the southern paleo-Tethys margin. Located primarily in the Tebessa region, these deposits hold reserves exceeding 2 billion metric tons. Recent interest has grown due to their enrichment in rare earth elements plus yttrium (REY). While previous studies have examined whole-rock and grain-size fractions, the fine-grained matrix (<45 μm) remains poorly explored. This study provides the first mineralogical and geochemical characterization of this fraction to assess its economic potential and paleoenvironmental significance. Twenty-two fine-fraction samples from four Tebessa localities were separated using humid grain-size classification. Mineralogical analysis was supported by X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRD), whereas geochemical analyses were carried out using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
The XRD results show that the phosphorite fine-grained matrix is composed of calcite, dolomite, carbonate fluorapatite, glauconite, quartz, chlorite, and gypsum. Notably, glauconite occurs in higher amounts in southern deposits (Kef Essenoun), suggesting intensified glauconitization process. Geochemically, the fine fraction contains an average of 12.48 wt% P2O5, with REY concentrations ranging from 55 to 863 ppm. REY contents increase southward, with REEs ranging between 68 and 678 ppm (avg. 416 ± 198 ppm) and Y varies from 9 to 187 ppm (avg. 125 ± 56 ppm). The higher REY content is partly linked to glauconite phase abundance. Normalized REY contents indicate seawater-like patterns in the northern deposits, whereas the southern deposits show middle REE (MREE) enrichment patterns. High (La/Yb)N ratios in the glauconite-rich samples suggest early-diagenetic adsorption under slow sedimentation rate and sub-reduced conditions. An enhanced glauconitization process occurred in the southern basin at the Paleocene–Eocene boundary, which is marked by global thermal event. These findings suggest that the fine-grained matrix, typically considered as waste during the treatment of raw phosphorites, holds economic potential due to its high REY content, presenting a promising resource for future exploitation
News Publishers, Digital Platforms, and Bargaining Codes: Debunking the Free-Riding Myth
No full textUrban Water Infrastructures of The 20th Century in Historical Contexts: The Case Study of The Grabiglioni in The Sassi of Matera, Italy
No full textThe Sassi of Matera represent a historical model of intelligent urbanization, integrating architecture with the natural environment through an advanced water management system. The Grabiglioni, natural watercourses, were key to controlling surface runoff and were complemented by artificial cisterns and channels, helping maintain ecological balance. These waterways shaped Matera’s unique morphology, including the Civita spur and the districts of Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso. This system, in use for centuries, remained largely intact until the early 20th century, when the channels were roofed over to construct roadways and underground sewer collectors. Archival research has uncovered original design documents detailing the construction of these underground infrastructures. These records reveal materials and building techniques, offering insights into past construction practices and enriching our understanding of historical technological knowledge within its cultural and environmental context. To preserve and disseminate this information, the drawings have been digitized, making them accessible with modern tools. These early 20th-century structures, still functioning today, are vital to managing urban rainwater. Yet, due to their underground location, they remain largely unknown and undervalued. This study aims to highlight their historical and functional significance, bringing attention to an essential but overlooked aspect of Matera’s heritage
Transhumance as Biocultural Heritage in Island Territories: Conservation Challenges and Tourism Opportunities in Gran Canaria (Spain)
No full textThis article analyses contemporary transhumance in Gran Canaria as a singular case of insular pastoralism and biocultural heritage within the Mediterranean and Atlantic con-texts. While transhumance has been widely recognised for its ecological, cultural and so-cio-economic relevance, in Gran Canaria it persists in an especially fragile form, main-tained by a small, ageing group of herders. Drawing on an interdisciplinary methodology that combines 36 semi-structured interviews, ethnographic fieldwork and GIS-based spa-tial analysis of routes and grazing areas, the study characterises the socio-ecological func-tioning of the system, its environmental and cultural contributions, and the threats it faces. The results highlight the role of transhumance in sustaining agrobiodiversity, fire preven-tion, ecological connectivity and traditional ecological knowledge, as well as in shaping a distinctive pastoral soundscape, toponymy and material culture. At the same time, the system is undermined by demographic ageing, land fragmentation, urban and tourism pressure, bureaucratic burdens and climate uncertainty. The article examines emerging initiatives in cultural and experiential tourism linked to cheese production, wool and par-ticipatory transhumant journeys, arguing that tourism can support, but not substitute, the protection of pastoral livelihoods. It concludes by outlining policy implications for island territories, emphasising the need for integrated governance that recognizes transhumance as living heritage and a strategic tool for cultural landscape management
Allocation policies of auxiliary modules to support reconfigurable manufacturing system: an assessment by simulation models
No full textThis study proposes and evaluates two novel workload-based allocation strategies for auxiliary modules in reconfigurable manufacturing systems (RMS). To enhance the responsiveness of RMS in dynamic Industry 4.0 environments, these strategies use direct and indirect workload metrics to optimize the placement of modules that reduce processing time or add tasks. The effectiveness of the proposed policies is assessed through extensive simulations under varying conditions, including workload imbalance, process time reductions, and machine failures. Results demonstrate that the workload-aware allocation policies lead to significant improvements in throughput, delay reduction, work-in-process, and system utilization. The findings highlight the effectiveness of adaptive, data-driven module allocation in enhancing system efficiency and robustness, thus contributing to advancing decision-making frameworks for reconfigurable manufacturing systems
Vertical Ground-Motion Effects in Base-Isolated Buildings: Preliminary Observations from Twin Fixed-Base and Base-Isolated Structures During the 18 March 2025 Potenza Sequence
No full textOn 18 March 2025, a moderate earthquake with moment magnitude Mw 4.2 struck the Basilicata region in Southern Italy. The event occurred at 09:01:25 UTC with an epicentre located approximately 4 km northeast of the city of Potenza (PZ). The earthquake was clearly felt across the urban area and followed by a sequence of low-magnitude aftershocks. A few hours after the main shock, researchers from the University of Basilicata installed a temporary structural monitoring network to check the structural conditions of several buildings located in Potenza. This installation enabled the acquisition of accelerometric recordings of several aftershocks, providing a valuable dataset for preliminary observations on structural seismic response. The monitoring campaign focused on two adjacent twin buildings with similar geometry and structural layout but different seismic design strategies: one conventionally fixed at the base and the other equipped with seismic base isolation made by rubber bearings. Comparative analyses revealed distinct differences in dynamic response. The results highlight the need for refined regulatory tools to address near-epicentral conditions, particularly potential dynamic interactions among the vertical ground-motion component, the vertical vibration frequencies of the superstructure, and floor-system resonance. While not critical for ultimate limit states, these effects may influence comfort and performance in operational and damage limit states
Urban Regeneration of San Brancato Center
No full textUrban requalification is a key driver for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11, which promotes inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities. This paper examines how urban regeneration initiatives, such as the San Brancato Center project, contribute to sustainable urban development by aligning with multiple SDGs, including poverty reduction, climate action, and social inclusion. The project aims to transform a degraded urban area into a vibrant, sustainable hub through articulated pathways, green squares, and high-quality urban design. By redefining urban spaces, the project encourages a shift in perception and behavior, fostering sustainable mobility (walking, cycling, public transport) and enhancing social interaction. The transition from a car-centric city to a pedestrian-friendly environment strengthens community identity and improves quality of life. A participatory approach ensures that local stakeholders and residents actively shape the regeneration process, embedding their needs into the project’s design. This strategy not only addresses environmental and social challenges but also promotes economic resilience and social cohesion. Additionally, the study employs i-Tree software to quantify ecosystem services provided by urban greenery, demonstrating the project’s environmental benefits. The results highlight how strategic green infrastructure enhances air quality, biodiversity, and urban microclimates, further supporting sustainability goals. Ultimately, the San Brancato Center exemplifies how integrated urban regeneration can create inclusive, sustainable communities while serving as a model for future initiatives. The project underscores the importance of participatory planning and ecological design in fostering long-term urban resilience
GIS-Based Accessibility and Safety Assessment in Small Historic Centres in Inner Areas. Pilot Application in Stigliano and Interoperability with a Digital Twin.
No full textExperimental connections among the fortified Masserie of the Montagna Materana: digital forms for knowledge, dissemination and regeneration
No full textThe region of Basilicata hosts a network of small municipalities currently affected by severe depopulation.
The National Strategy for Inner Areas (SNAI) has emphasized the weakening of historical ties between local communities and their environment, calling for new strategies to reinterpret abandoned landscapes.
Rethinking these territories requires not only documenting and reconstructing their physical aspects but also restoring connections between memory, identity, and transformation through innovative digital tools.
This research adopts an aesthetic perspective that views ‘marginality within marginality’, where landscapes become cultural palimpsests. Historic centers represent the ‘heart’ of the region, while the scattered masserie (fortified farmsteads) serve as ‘eyes’ of the landscape. These structures form a widespread system for interpreting the historical and architectural identity. The methodology relies on integrated rapid survey techniques, with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) employed for data acquisition.
This process contributes to the creation of precise 3D models and digital databases, enabling the masserie to be transformed into accessible digital assets. The final goal is to develop a georeferenced cultural itinerary using ArcGIS Pro and an immersive digital platform built with Unity and Agisoft Metashape
and published on Sketchfab. Photographic archives and scan-to-BIM processes further enhance the digital representation. The project aims to establish a replicable framework for digital documentation and valorization of rural heritage, promoting cultural awareness, combating abandonment, and supporting the sustainable regeneration of fragile inner areas
Codifying a database framework of climate change geomorphological markers: a study case from southern Italy
No full textClimate change is globally recognised as a key driver of geomorphological transformation increasingly impacting natural systems, particularly through the intensification of erosion processes and modifications to landforms in vulnerable landscapes. This study focuses on landforms, processes, measurement approaches, quantitative methods, and a suitable sampling area from southern Italy, specifically in the middle valleys of Bradano and Basento rivers in Basilicata. The study is undertaken as part of one of the most significant research projects of the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), called “Technologies for Climate Change Adaptation and Quality of Life Improvement (Tech4You)”. This project aims to study – among many topics also related to cultural heritage protection and climate change adaptation – the specific framework of natural risks, with particular emphasis on the impact of global climate change in Mediterranean semi-arid areas and soil erosion rates in socio-economically “inner” areas. In this work, we focused on the multiproxy approach needed to discriminate the components of erosion processes at different temporal and spatial scales. Such a goal was approached through the construction of a complex relational database associated with thematic maps produced in a GIS environment. The framework enables the identification of
priority areas affected by accelerated erosion and provides a methodological base for replicable climate-change monitoring, including in other Mediterranean semi-arid contexts. Further, it aims to offer a strategic tool for early-warning systems and long-term adaptation planning