Abstract
The Metaliferi Mountains (Western Romania) are known worldwide as the richest gold region in Romania and hosts for numerous porphyry and epithermal deposits. In these mountains, mining for gold dates back to Roman and even pre-Roman times. The Golden Quadrilateral constitutes a remarkable example of an area having a significant geological and mining heritage. The main purposes of this work are to emphasize this heritage, to present, for the first time, an assessment of the geological and mining heritage of the Golden Quadrilateral as a possible geotourism destination, and to point out the important role that geotourism could have in the sustainable development of local communities. To achieve our goals, the features of thirteen sites are presented, and two geotourism itineraries are proposed. A quantitative assessment of the geosites’ capacity to support scientific, educational, and geotourism/recreational uses indicates that the Golden Quadrilateral presents a high potential not only for scientific studies but, also, for enhancement of the public understanding of science; geotourism could be part of the development strategy of rural areas. The two museums (Gold Museum and Gold Mining Museum) can have an important contribution both to the geo-education of visitors and in promoting the sustainable development of the region.
Highlights
IntroductionGeodiversity is a term that was defined by Sharples [1,2] as “the range (or diversity) of geological (bedrock), geomorphological (landform) and soil features, assemblages, systems and processes”
The methods and methodologies used in this study allowed: (i) to emphasize the significant geological and mining heritage of Golden Quadrilateral (Metaliferi Mountains); (ii) to provide an inventory of this heritage; (iii) to present a quantitative assessment of the geosites included in the two proposed itineraries, as potential sites for scientific, educational and geotourism/recreational uses
The Golden Quadrilateral constitutes a remarkable example of an area having significant geological and mining heritage
Summary
Geodiversity is a term that was defined by Sharples [1,2] as “the range (or diversity) of geological (bedrock), geomorphological (landform) and soil features, assemblages, systems and processes”. The definition of this term has evolved over time, and it is commonly used as “the natural range (diversity) of geological (rocks, minerals, fossils), geomorphological (landforms, topography, physical processes), soil and hydrological features. It includes their assemblages, structures, systems and contributions to landscapes” [7]. Mining heritage is a comprehensive term that includes anything related to active and inactive mining, “such as minerals and rocks that are being (or were) extracted, industrial facilities, historical documentation of old mines”, mining processes and technology, “and even mining communities’ stories and traditions” [10]
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