This paper, which originates from a systematic elaboration of the available data, aims to provide a detailed overview of the resources of ornamental stone quarried in the Apricena- Poggio Imperiale basin. After describing the general geological and geomorphological features of the basin, the results of a detailed survey of stratigraphic successions are provided, which enable different sectors of the basin to be defined more clearly. Quarrying techniques, stone processing methods and the use made of several types of Apricena stone and marble are also illustrated here. The closure of a quarry due to defects in the quality of the exploited stone, which may become apparent during the quarrying process, is without doubt one of the most significant aspects which contribute to an adverse impact on the environment. It therefore becomes obvious that the preliminary geotechnical and geological surveys are of crucial importance in order to optimize exploitation of the deposits. In addition the preliminary studies also help to reduce or minimize any environmental impact that may result from the quarrying procedures and/or the closure of the quarry. The proliferation of quarries in the Apricena- Poggio Imperiale basin has resulted in irreversible changes in the ecology of the landscape, damage to morphological structures, interference with groundwater circulation and the presence of widespread waste dumps. Detailed analytical study of the cartography has underlined an unsuitability of the regional regulations which authorize or prohibit quarrying activity with very little proper consideration of the geological and naturalistic profile of the quarries.

All the aspects regarding the mining industrial sector are based on the balance between the economical and the environmental impacts. Actually the wise management of the mining activity need to be founded on the clear knowledge of all the involved factors. One of the main elements and the most useful tool for the mining activity management is represented by the mining resources map, as a modern reference tool for who wants to engage in mining activity. The mining resources map of the Apulia region (Southern Italy) was developed for the Regional Program of the mining activity by a research team of the Technical University of Bari (Geothecnical and Environmental Department), according with the Mining sector of the regional government. The map was developed on a geographic information system support by implementing different thematic maps of the region on overlaying layers, in order to define leaning areas for mining activity, not subjected to restriction for the environmental protection. The final product represents a clear and easy to use support to the decision making for mining activity planning.

I Rifiuti sono ormai entrati in un ciclo produttivo di risorse e di recupero in materiali ed energie. Le più recenti Direttive Europee, la Gestione, la Ricerca scientifica, l’Imprenditoria e la disponibilità dei Cittadini devono sempre più remare verso traguardi imprevedibili. Viene richiesta, inoltre, una maggiore attenzione nel valutare la sostenibilità dei processi industriali e dei sistemi di distribuzione in funzione di una compatibilità ambientale, volta a incrementi qualitativi e quantitativi delle produzioni, dell’occupazione e delle economie nazionali. Pertanto i Rifiuti e il loro ciclo di vita, attraverso la riduzione, il riuso, il recupero, il riciclo, la corretta gestione e l’efficace controllo ambientale, oggi più che mai, devono tracciare una linea trasversale che incroci le nostre piccole e grandi azioni quotidiane. Quindi, trattare i Rifiuti come materiali oggi sarebbe fare economia in un settore che stenta ancora a decollare in alcune parti d’Italia, ma che ha grandi potenzialità di sviluppo in un Paese come il nostro che è tra i maggiori importatori di materie prime a fronte di larghi consumi, con un alto tasso di disoccupazione. 4 Ambiente ed Energia, così come Sviluppo compatibile, Industria e Imprenditorialità, oggi più che mai devono stare insieme in un Sistema Integrato di Sviluppo gestito da Operatori Pubblici e Privati consapevoli e responsabili. Il caso del Distretto Lapideo di Apricena diventa emblematico se si considera lo stato, l’uso, le condizioni e le modificazioni del paesaggio estrattivo. Se si pensa agli scarti di lavorazione, che per di più non sono rifiuti, oramai accumulati a formare colline con elevazione anche di 50 m dal piano originario di campagna, costituite da blocchi, pietrame di varia pezzatura e terra: una risorsa accumulata in 100 anni e che oggi acquista un forte valore economico. Ma come ripensarla, rimuoverla e riusarla in termini di sostenibilità ambientale? In questi ultimi anni la nostra ricerca si è occupata di verificare le modalità, le tecniche e le possibilità di riuso dei ravaneti (Greco V., Reina A., Selicato F., Principi metodologici per azioni di recupero delle cave abbandonate, in «Giornale di geologia applicata», vol. 4, 2006). Una prima analisi è stata condotta sulla valutazione quantitativa e qualitativa dei materiali.

This paper refers to the Prin (Research Programs of National Interest) "Recycle Italy - New life cycles for architecture and infrastructure of cities and landscape", carried out by 13 Italian universities, in which the contribution of the Unit of the Polytechnic of Bari focuses on the theme of recycling applied to the planning strategies and design of the built environment, with particular attention to the issue of mining landscapes. The quarries have a great economic and strategic value in Puglia region even though today they fall into the category of Drosscapes, places of abandonment and rejection, due to poorly innovative extraction processes of ornamental and building stone. The theme of Recycling landscapes of quarries states a new value system that extends the concept of environmental sustainability by the mere recovery of abandoned quarries to the definition of sustainable criteria regarding the whole process of management and technological mining activity, from the opening of the quarries, to the techniques of cultivation, to its recycling to new public functions. The working hypothesis is to experiment approaches, techniques and technologies of recycling mining landscapes of Puglia within a cross-scaling strategy: - Macroscale, the mining drosscapes, seen in their phenomenological dimension throughout the whole Puglia region; - Mesoscale: study of the areas that the Regional Plan of mining Activities identifies as particularly affected by mining, in which each intervention should be aimed at mining recovery of the area in terms of landscape and environment; - Microscale (extractive basins in Apricena and Cutrofiano): case studies analyzed in detail for technical, material and landscape specificity, which represent the extremes between which you can place any other extractive landscape Puglia. The paper investigates how the "waste", traces of a production process, may establish new sustainable cycles of life for the mining materials in a chain that aims to recycle drosscapes in a virtuous way.

Il contributo traccia una sintesi del Piano Regionale delle Coste della Puglia. Illustra criticamente i principali contenuti e ne evidenzia gli aspetti problematici, quali ad esempio la necessità del monitoraggio e l'interazione con altri strumenti di pianificazione regionale.