Stratigraphic and geochemical study of clastic sediments of the Grotte di Stiffe karstic system

The present work reports the results of a geochemical and stratigraphic study carried out on clastic sediments from the karstic system of the Grotte di Stiffe in Abruzzo. In order to describe in more significant manner the system from which the sediments have been taken, the rocks from which they derive and ground samples from the plateau immediately above the caves have also been examined. Stratigraphic and chemical studies, with particular regard to the presence of heavy metals, have been performed on some 50 cm of drawn sediment, utilising atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The data obtained in this way have been subjected to Principal Components Analysis in order to investigate possible correlations.