THE PULPí GIGANTIC GEODE (ALMERíA, SPAIN): GEOLOGY, METAL POLLUTION, MICROCLIMATOLOGY, AND CONSERVATION

Abstract

The discovery of the giant Geode of Pulpí (Almería, Spain) was considered as an important highlight in the geological heritage of Spain. Projects developed for their conservation were immediately initiated with legal figures of protection and tourist projects. The Geode has a tourist interest, which must be tempered by environmental restrictions limiting the public visits. First results demonstrate that a continuous visit of two or three people for more than 10 min provokes the appearance of condensation and risks corrosion of the gypsum crystals. In addition, the electron microprobe analyses confirms (1) the hydrothermal phases of iron-manganese in carbonated host rock; (2) the presence of sulphides with Fe-Zn-Pb-Ag-Sb-Cu-Hg-As-Te-Se; and (3) Ba, Ca, and Sr sulphates with mercury traces. The present proposal to label the geode and the mining environment as geological-natural heritage is feasible, although any tourist adaptation must not permit visits to the geode indoor and Hg levels must be controlled. © Springer-Verlag 2006.