Dissolution‐corrosion measurements with limestone and gypsum tablets in active sulphuric acid caves of southern Italy

Dissolution‐corrosion (DC) represents an important factor for speleogenesis, and can be measured monitoring weight variation over time of carbonate and gypsum tablets exposed in underground environments. The oxidation of H2S produces H2SO4, which in carbonate host rock induces the surface of carbonate tablets to be rapidly corroded by sulphuric acid, whereby CaCO3 is replaced by CaSO4∙2H2O, producing a significant weight gain. We describe preliminary results of DC monitoring in four still‐active SAS systems, including Ninfe Cave and Terme Sibarite (Calabria), Fetida Cave (Apulia), and Acqua Fitusa Spring Cave (Sicily). The tablets have been set inside the caves, in three different condition…