Southwestern Sardinia Research Articles

NEW GEOLOGICAL AND STRATIGRAPHICAL DATA AND DISCOVERY OF LOWER ORDOVICIAN ACRITARCHS IN THE SAN VITO SANDSTONE OF THE GENN'ARGIOLAS UNIT (SARRABUS, SOUTHEASTERN SARDINIA)

The subject of this paper is new geological and stratigraphical data regarding the Paleozoic in the Sarrabus area (Southeastern Sardinia). More particularly Tremadocian (Lower Ordovician) acritarchs have been found in samples taken for microfossils research from the weakly metamorphosed terrigenous sediments of the San Vito Sandstone.
 Until recently only acritarchs from the Middle and Upper Cambrian has been found in the San Vito Sandstone. This new finding provides a more precise dating of the San Vito Sandstone, a more exact correlation between this Sarrabus formation and analogous formations with acritarchs in Central- Eastern Sardinia and also further confirmation of the Intraordovician age of the Sarrabese Phase and of the corresponding Sardic Phase of Iglesiente-Sulcis area (Southwestern Sardinia).

BIOSTRATIGRAPHY AND DEPOSITIONAL SETTING OF PUNTA MANNA MEMBER TYPE-SECTION (NEBIDA FORMATION, LOWER CAMBRIAN, SW SARDINA, ITALY)

Punta Manna Member is the younger unit of the Lower Cambrian Nebida Formation in southwestern Sardinia. Sedimentological analyses aim to characterize the type-section, formally and and briefly described by Rasetti in 1972.
 The sequence has been divided into three units on the basis of its lithological features.
 The lower unit (Oolitic Unit) mainly consists of Girvanella - archaeocyathan mounds alternated with oolitic grainstones and/or sandstones containing scattered accumulations of trilobite debris. The depositional setting corresponds to a littoral environment characterized by the alternated input of land and sea-derived sands, and where the mounds were periodically destroyed or buried by migrating sand waves.
 In the middle unit bioconstructions and archaeocyaths virtually disappear whereas trilobites were accumulated by currents and waves. Siliciclastic and oolitic sands prevail but are gradually replaced by quartzitic sands and early dolomitic muds. The appearance of these latter suggests a climatic trend towards arid condition in a depositional environment evolving to a tidal lagoon.
 In the upper unit the development of early dolomitic algal mats alternating with quartzitic sandstones, siltstones and shales, attests the establishment of a sabkha complex at first influenced by siliciclastic input coming from an arid continent.
 The low diversity of the fauna throughout the section appears to reflect the severe conditions of life resulting from the high variability in energy and salinity of the depositional setting.

Microseismic assessment and fault characterization at the Sulcis (South-Western Sardinia) field laboratory

The general acceptance of the CO2 geological storage by stakeholders passes through the assessment and mitigation of risks, potentially induced or increased by the disposal activity. Injection of moderate to large quantities of CO2 in the sub-surface may unbalance local stress and trigger earthquakes if faults are critically stressed, condition that is not easily verifiable. Pilot sites are therefore the best way to proceed further in order to address such challenging issues. In such cases, the reconnaissance of faults and seismicity in the sub-surface, before the onset of activity, is mandatory. In this paper, we present studies carried out in the site where the Sotacarbo Fault Lab is going to be installed. This facility will be located in a very low seismic hazard region of central Mediterranean, where reports on historical large earthquakes are poor. We show results from a series of experiments aimed to monitor the background seismicity around the pilot site. As expected, seismicity is almost absent down to small magnitude close to the future injection-test well. Further seismic imaging of the sub-surface layers obtained by ambient noise tomography offers the ability to resolve the presence of a seismicity-free fault located in the first 200 m below the surface, of which the last episode of activity is difficult to assess. Our results encourage the use of this site to follow the response of the system to injection of small quantity of CO2.

Grotowski's method is positively valued by pre-adolescents and improves acceptance towards the others

In this research, boys and girls were involved in a workshop on Grotowski's method. The workshop was made up of two steps: i) the subjects were required to tell a tale using their bodies and narration; ii) and, they discovered the places of Carloforte island (South-western Sardinia, Italy). The final event consisted of a rendering of the workshop. On the first day of the workshop, the SIV test was administered to each subject and re-administered on the last day of the experiment. Semantic Differential was administered after three meetings and re-administered on the last day of the experiment. After the experience, the students evaluated the workshop very positively both in general and in terms of impact and activity. Students also showed higher post-workshop scores on the SIV which is meant to measure acceptance and reception of the other.

A Contribution to the Geological Characterization of a Potential Caprock-Reservoir System in the Sulcis Coal Basin (South-Western Sardinia)

The results provided by this study contribute to the geological characterization of a potential caprock-reservoir system for CO2 storage in the experimental area of the mining district of the Sulcis Coal Basin (south-western Sardinia, Italy). The work is aimed to improve the knowledge of the petrographic and petrophysical characteristics of the siliciclastic and carbonate geological formations that make up the potential caprock-reservoir system. Core samples from a number of wells drilled in the study area for mining purposes were analyzed especially for texture and physical properties (longitudinal velocity, density, porosity, and permeability). The preliminary integrated petrographic and petrophysical characterizations indicate that the Upper Paleocene to Early Eocene potential carbonate reservoir is heterogeneous but presents suitable reservoir zones for CO2. A preliminary analysis of the potential caprock siliciclastic lithologies of the Middle Eocene to Lower Oligocene suggests that they appear suitable for CO2 confinement. Finally, to account for the stability of the investigated area, an accurate geodynamical study of south-western Sardinia was carried out using global navigation satellite system and advanced differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar methodologies in order to estimate vertical and horizontal crustal displacements. The study area results stable, since it is characterized by surface crustal horizontal and vertical velocities smaller than 1 mm/year and few mm/year, respectively.

The Pb-Zn-Ag vein system at Montevecchio-Ingurtosu, southwestern Sardinia, Italy: A summary of previous knowledge and new mineralogical, fluid inclusion, and isotopic data

The Montevecchio-Ingurtosu district (SW Sardinia) was among the largest historical Pb-Zn producers of Italy, with significant Ag output, and yields of metallic byproducts such as Cd, Co, Cu, Bi, Sb, Ge, In, and Ga. Despite this importance, detailed descriptions of orebodies and mineral assemblages are surprisingly scarce and old. Here we summarize all previously available information and contribute new textural, microchemical, fluid inclusion, and C-O isotopic data deriving from a recent sampling of currently exposed orebodies. Mineralization occurs as steeply dipping veins extending for almost 20 km at the northern and western flanks of the Variscan Arbus pluton; veins are hosted in phyllites of the Arburese Unit close to the thermometamorphic aureole. Ore enrichments range from massive to coarsely nodular, stockwork and brecciated. Vein filling consists of siderite (locally Zn-rich), quartz, sphalerite, galena (remarkably rich in micro-inclusions), with accessory chalcopyrite, fahlore, bournonite, barite, and Ni-Co sulfarsenides. Vein assemblages may vary, even within a single vein, from sphalerite- to galena-dominated. Cu-rich assemblages (fahlore + chalcopyrite) were locally observed. Wallrock is affected by silicification, sericitization and pyrite dissemination. Sphalerite shows a complex mineral chemistry, with marked variations in Fe (0.08 to 8.9 mol% FeS) and in Cd contents (from <0.05 to >1 wt%). Trace element analyses (LA-ICP-MS) document the presence of measurable amounts of Ga, Ge, In, Ag, Ni, Co, Tl and Mo. Fahlore varies from the Sb (tetrahedrite) and the As (tennantite) endmembers, with Ag-rich compositions corresponding to Sb endmembers. The occurrence of Cd-rich tetrahedrite (up to 14.5 wt%) is remarkable. Fluid inclusion studies on sphalerite and quartz are in agreement with previous literature data, and indicate comparatively low (in the range 90°–130 °C) homogenization temperatures (Th) and high salinities (14 to 25 equiv. mass % NaCl); both microthermometric data and SEM/EDS analyses of decrepitated inclusions indicate the presence of Ca and K beside Na. Pressure correction to Th is presumably low (in the order of 10 °C), considering a hydrostatic pressure regime. Application of the sphalerite-based GGIMFiS thermometer provided temperatures in excellent agreement with fluid inclusion data for the Montevecchio mineralization. Isotopic data on Montevecchio carbonates define mildy negative δ13CPDB values (between −1 and −5 per mil), and a larger spread of δ18OSMOW values, between +14 and +20 per mil. Other isotopic data from literature include a limited set of δ34S values for galena, sphalerite and pyrite, and a fairly large body of Pb isotopic data on galena. Comparatively narrow ranges for sulfur isotope signatures suggest a homogeneous, possibly igneous, sulfur source, whereas the large spread in Pb isotope signatures reflects the large-scale character of the hydrothermal process and indicates that the Arbus pluton may have been just one of the sources of ore lead. The Montevecchio vein system shows affinities with other late to post Variscan European deposits. The nature of the mineralizing fluids at Montevecchio is analogous to low temperature, basinal brines, and typical of several regional-scale, late to post-Variscan hydrothermal events across Europe. Mineralization at Montevecchio obviously postdates the emplacement of the Arbus plutonic complex, but its exact age remains unknown..

The Landscape Archaeology of Southwest Sardinia Project: New Data and Method from the Insular Mediterranean

ABSTRACTSardinia has played a vital integrative role in the Holocene Mediterranean, most notably—although not only—as a key locus in emergent maritime “Mediterraneanization” and as an object of contestation among mainland polities over the last three millennia. Yet, despite the florescence of Mediterranean survey archaeology, this standard method has only been sparsely employed in Sardinia, with a pronounced focus on large, urban, coastal sites. Accordingly, we have little understanding of the ebb and flow of human settlement in the Sardinian interior. This represents a significant lacuna in the study of Mediterranean archaeology and history. Here, we report data from the first two seasons of the Landscape Archaeology of Southwest Sardinia (LASS) Project, a multidisciplinary project designed to correct this bias and to investigate how episodic integration into—but also disintegration from—larger economic and political structures drove sociocultural and socioeconomic change in southwestern Sardinia over the Mid-Late Holocene.

Punic black-gloss ware in Nora (south-western Sardinia, Italy): Production and provenance

The present archaeometric study of the Punic black-gloss ware found at the “Roman Temple” of Nora (south-western Sardinia, Italy), dated at the end of the IV century BCE and the beginning of the II century BCE, was addressed to better define the exchanges of Punic ware, ideas and production skills within the west Mediterranean Sea. Petrographic and microstructural analyses at the scanning electron microscope (SEM) clearly indicate that the analysed pottery can be referred to two different productions, for which different base-clays were used, indicating different geological origin. On the basis of chemical composition, the black-gloss ware found at Nora can be traced back in part to the northern African area and in part to the western Sardinia coast at Tharros. None local production was identified. Moreover, on the basis of both the mineralogical composition and the microstructural features, samples produced in the northern African area and in western Sardinia definitely differ in terms of firing temperature. Therefore, on the basis of these results, a more complete scenario can be drawn on the commercial traffic active in the Western Mediterranean and in Sardinia between the end of the IV century and the first half of the II century BCE. Under a social perspective, Sardinia, thanks to its Phoenician, Punic and Italic influences, became an incubator of ideas, techniques and production knowledge that, from the interaction of the preceding cultures and their influences, gave life to many local productions, which were part of the greater phenomenon of Punic black-gloss ware in the western Mediterranean (Sardinia, Sicily, Northern Africa and the southern coasts of the Iberian Peninsula).

Antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of essential oil from Helichrysum microphyllum Cambess. subsp. tyrrhenicum Bacch., Brullo & Giusso collected in South-West Sardinia.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition and the antimicrobial activity of essential oils of Helichrysum microphyllum subsp. tyrrhenicum collected in four different stations in South-Western Sardinia.The composition of the essential oils was determined by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The oil samples showed different chromatographic profiles. The oil of the station 4 revealed the presence of significant amount of neryl acetate (33.6%); in oils from stations 1 and 2 we found γ-curcumene (28%) and in station 3 γ-curcumene (12%) and linalool (11%), while there was no trace of neryl acetate. Standard microbiological assays demonstrated that essential oils obtained by plants collected in station 1 and 2, very rich in curcumene, showed an interesting anticandidal activity, dose- and time-dependent, which is enhanced by sub-inhibitory concentrations of chitosan.Our results suggest that the essential oil of Helichrysum microphyllum subsp. tyrrhenicum, associated with chitosan in innovative formulations, could be considered as a therapeutic alternative in the treatment of Candida opportunistic infections. The results of this study shows that the chemotypization of the species examined could lead to their targeted clinical use, in a concept of a rational scientific aromatherapy.

Documentazione e ricostruzione 3D di un menhir inedito rinvenuto in località “Sa Perda Fitta”, Sant’Anna Arresi (Sardegna sud-occidentale)

The authors illustrate the documentation process of a menhir not recorded in earlier studies, which was fortuitously discovered in Sa Perda Fitta, in the western landscape of Sant’Anna Arresi, a small municipality of Sulcis (south-western Sardinia). This area was the subject of a detailed study by the Authors for their PhD dissertation at the Universidad de Granada, whose purpose was the detection and analysis of settlement patterns of human communities from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age. This territory, bounded on the East by the Sulcis massif and on the West by the Gulf of Palmas, is characterized by the presence of coastal ponds which have fostered the presence and the settlement of human groups since the Neolithic. The place name Sa Perda Fitta (in the Sardinian language ‘stone fixed into the ground’) has aroused a great deal of interest as it suggests the presence of at least one menhir, a widespread prehistoric monument on the island from the Neolithic to the Chalcolithic age. Morphology and typology of the monument was examined and a 3D model created by the photogrammetric processing of a digital photo dataset using Agisoft Photoscan 3D Pro, an automatic 3D reconstruction Structure from Motion (SfM) based software offering a significant and innovative contribution to the recording and dissemination of archaeological data.

Recenti indagini sul tofet

The sanctuary called tophet affected both scholars of the Phoenician and Punic world that the public concerned by the problems of the ancient world. Two recent works by Bruno D'Andrea and Valentina Melchiorri concern shrines called tophet. Bruno D'Andrea studied the sanctuaries of North Africa after the Roman conquest of the region. Valentina Melchiorri studies the sanctuary of Sulky, current Sant'Antioco, in southwestern Sardinia.

Middle Pennsylvanian vegetation of the San Giorgio Basin, southern Sardinia (Italy)

AbstractThe small, intramontane San Giorgio Basin in southwestern Sardinia has yielded plant macrofossils dominated by sphenophytes, but with subsidiary pteridosperms, ferns, (?)noeggerathians and cordaitanthaleans. They belong to the upper part of theCrenulopteris acadicaZone or possibly theOdontopteris cantabricaZone, indicating a late Asturian or Cantabrian (≡ late Moscovian) age. They therefore correlate with the post-Leonian deposits in northern Spain, the Nýřany Member in Western and Central Bohemia, and the Llantwit Beds in South Wales. The presence of post-tectonic deposits of this age is further evidence of the widespread influence of the Leonian Phase of tectonic activity in middle Asturian times, whose effect can be observed across Europe. The San Giorgio Basin is therefore a late Variscan rather than post-Variscan basin.

Is Geo-Environmental Exposure a Risk Factor for Multiple Sclerosis? A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study in South-Western Sardinia.

BackgroundSouth-Western Sardinia (SWS) is a high risk area for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) with high prevalence and spatial clustering; its population is genetically representative of Sardinians and presents a peculiar environment. We evaluated the MS environmental risk of specific heavy metals (HM) and geographical factors such as solar UV exposure and urbanization by undertaking a population-based cross-sectional study in SWS.MethodsGeochemical data on HM, UV exposure, urbanization and epidemiological MS data were available for all SWS municipalities. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to the geochemical data to reduce multicollinearity and confounding criticalities. Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMM) were applied to evaluate the causal effects of the potential risk factors, and a model selection was performed using Akaike Information Criterion.ResultsThe PCA revealed that copper (Cu) does not cluster, while two component scores were extracted: 'basic rocks', including cobalt, chromium and nickel, and 'ore deposits', including lead and zinc. The selected multivariable GLMM highlighted Cu and sex as MS risk factors, adjusting for age and 'ore deposits'. When the Cu concentration increases by 50 ppm, the MS odds are 2.827 (95% CI: 1.645; 5.07) times higher; females have a MS odds 2.04 times (95% CI: 1.59; 2.60) higher than males.ConclusionsThe high frequency of MS in industrialized countries, where pollution by HM and CO poisoning is widespread, suggests a relationship between environmental exposure to metals and MS. Hence, we suggested a role of Cu homeostasis in MS. This is a preliminary study aimed at generating hypotheses that will need to be confirmed further.

An unusually elongate endogeic centipede from Sardinia (Chilopoda: Geophilidae)

Endogeophilus ichnusae gen. et sp. nov. (Chilopoda: Geophilidae sensu stricto) is described based on three specimens from two localities in south-western Sardinia, examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. The new centipede resembles the rare Ibero-Pyrenean genus Galliophilus Ribaut &amp; Brolemann, 1927 in some features, especially in the forcipular segment, and the temperate European species Geophilus electricus (Linnaeus, 1758) in other features, especially in the ultimate leg-bearing segment. However, the true affinities of E. ichnusae gen. et sp. nov. are uncertain, because the new species departs significantly from the majority of geophilids for the higher number of legs (91–107 pairs in the specimens examined), the slender trunk segments (the sternites being longer than wide), the relatively stout legs (the tarsus being only about twice as long as wide) and the very short setae (≤ 15 mm) scattered on the body surface. All these features are probably derived and suggest adaptation to a more strictly endogeic habit than other geophilids.

Zn, Pb and Hg Contents of Pistacia lentiscus L. Grown on Heavy Metal-Rich Soils: Implications for Phytostabilization

In this study, we determined the metal (Zn, Pb and Hg) contents in epigean and hypogean organs of Pistacia lentiscus L., a Mediterranean native plant grown on heavy metal-rich soils of Iglesiente (southwestern Sardinia, Italy), in view of its perspective use for revegetation and phytostabilization of mine waste piles. Plant samples were collected from four different areas in the district. Metal contents in the different plant tissues are roughly dependent on their total and mobile (diethylene triamine penta acetic acid (DTPA)-extractable) contents in soil and are shown in the following ranges: 48–628 mg kg−1 (Zn), 2–354 mg kg−1 (Pb) and 13–530 μg kg−1 (Hg) and usually decrease in the following order: roots > stems > leaves; the apparent exception for Hg, with an order of leaves > stems, is ascribed to foliar absorption of this element. The biological concentration factors are consistently low (≤0.05) for all metals and support the concept that the strategy of metal tolerance of P. lentiscus is based on exclusion. These results are consistent with most previous literature data, confirming that P. lentiscus is well suited for revegetation actions and could decrease metal mobility through the soil stabilization strategy.

Detailed Petrophysical and Geophysical Characterization of Core Samples from the Potential Caprock-reservoir System in the Sulcis Coal Basin (Southwestern Sardinia – Italy)

In this work we present a methodology suitable to identify a caprock-reservoir system for the CO2 storage in the Sulcis Coal Basin (SW Sardinia – Italy). The petrophysical and geophysical characterizations indicate that the potential carbonate reservoir (“Miliolitico” Fm. Auct.) located at the base of the Eocene stratigraphic sequence in the mining district of the Sulcis Coal Basin, southwestern Sardinia, is heterogeneous but presents suitable reservoir zones for the storage of the CO2. The GPS data analysis indicates that the study area is stable, since it is characterized by a surface crustal deformation smaller than 1mm/y.

Metals and metalloids in hair samples of children living near the abandoned mine sites of Sulcis-Inglesiente (Sardinia, Italy)

The Sulcis-Iglesiente district (SW Sardinia, Italy) is one of the oldest and most important polymetallic mining areas in Italy. Large outcrops of sulfide and oxide ores, as well as the products of the long-lasting mining activity, are present throughout the district releasing significant quantities of metals and metalloids into the surrounding environment. Here are reported concentrations of 21 elements determined in scalp hair samples from children (aged 11–13 years) living in different geochemical environments of southwestern Sardinia: Iglesias, hosting several abandoned mines, and the island of Sant׳Antioco, not affected by significant base metal mineralization events. Trace element determinations were performed by ICP-MS. Statistically significant differences (p<0.01) in elemental concentration levels between the two study sites were found. Hair of children from Iglesias exhibited higher concentration values for Ag, Ba, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, U, V, and Zn. Rubidium, V and U resulted more abundant at Sant׳Antioco. Hair samples from Iglesias showed gender-related differences for a larger number of elements (Ag, Ba, Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Sr, U and Zn) than at Sant׳Antioco, where only U was significantly different. The above elemental concentrations in females were always higher than in male donors. Robust Principal Component Analysis operated on log-transformed elemental concentrations showed components indicative of a) sulfides ore minerals (PC1) reflecting the influence of the diffuse mineralization covering the entire study area, b) the presence of some bioavailable As sources (PC2) as As-rich pyrite and Fe-containing sphalerite and c) other sources of metals overlapping the diffuse mineralizations, as carbonate rocks and coal deposits (PC3). The results provided evidence of a potential risk of adverse effects on the health of the exposed population, with children living at Iglesias being greatly exposed to several metals and metalloids originated in mining tailings, enriched soils, waters and food.

Capture myopathy in a corsican red deer Cervus elaphus corsicanus (Ungulata: Cervidae)

The present study focused on the importance of translocation as stressful event in an endangered cervid species causing fatal consequences during capture operations. Fourteen free-ranging Sardinian red deer (Cervus elaphus corsicanus) have been captured for restocking propose in a protected area of southwestern Sardinia. The cervids were chemically immobilized, transported to a restocking area and released in the wild. Sixteen hours after the release, a pregnant hind was found dead and a complete necropsy was performed. Post-capture blood samples showed increased levels of creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, cortisol and potassium and were highly indicative of stress-linked muscle damage. The macro- and microscopic lesions consisted of muscular and cardiac degeneration, and renal injury. In the kidneys, the presence of myoglobin in intratubular casts, detected by immunohistochemistry assay, suggested an acute renal failure associated with myoglobinuric nephrosis as a consequence of rhabdomyolysis. The pathological findings were indicative of capture myopathy in a Cervus elaphus corsicanus. This condition has never been reported in the endangered Corsican red deer. This report underlines that mortality from capture is a risk that must be considered during restocking programs. Further studies are needed to minimize stress to preserve wildlife from the risk of fatal consequences due to human interactions.

Dust dispersion from haul roads in complex terrain: the case of a mineral reclamation site located in Sardinia (Italy)

In recent years, there has been significant research effort to investigate the use of plume dispersion models to assess the environmental impact of fugitive dust emissions from surface mining operations. In particular, the results of these studies have identified challenges to the use of traditional Gaussian plume dispersion models to satisfactorily reproduce fugitive dust dispersion and deposition experienced from low elevation release heights within complex topography. This paper presents a discussion of the results of a preliminary series of modelling studies that have employed the UK-Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling System (ADMS) model to investigate the dust dispersion and deposition from a former mining site currently undergoing remediation. The remediation site is located within a valley in south-western Sardinia that may be considered an aerodynamically complex terrain. A series of field measurement surveys were conducted along the length of an unpaved surface haul truck roadway to measure the PM2.5 and PM10 dust fractions within the emitted plumes. To investigate the potential effects that the surrounding topography may have on the atmospheric dispersion and deposition experienced a series of UK-ADMS dispersion models were solved for a range of meteorological stability conditions typical of the area under investigation. A preliminary analysis of the results of these simulations concludes that there was a strong influence of the surrounding terrain on the dispersion and deposition phenomena predicted.

King Solomon's Silver

Archaeology![Figure][1] CREDIT: WWW.BIBLELANDPICTURES.COM/ALAMY Isotope analysis of archaeological materials can play critical roles in both dating of the artifacts and identification of their origin. Thompson and Skaggs use the lead isotope ratios in silver from silver hoards to investigate trade patterns during a Mediterranean “Dark Age” between 1200 and 800 BCE precipitated by the collapse of palace-based economies in the Near East. Lead isotope analysis of 48 precoinage silver artifacts from what was southern Phoenicia [the region between the Yarkon River and Akko (Acre) in present-day Israel] and dated from 1200 to 800 BCE shows that they have isotope ratios similar to those of galena (the mineral form of lead sulfide) and other lead ores from southern and southwestern Sardinia, and the Iberian Peninsula. These analyses tentatively identify regions in the western Mediterranean as contributing mineral resources to Phoenician precolonial silver trade and production. The results correlate with ancient documentary sources indicating Phoenician precolonial silver trade with Sardinia and Spain and suggest that the Phoenician precolonial expansion into the west may have involved the acquisition of silver. Thompson and Skaggs further support suggestions that the legendary Tarshish region, a possible source of King Solomon's silver, may have been a refinery town, possibly Nora, on Sardinia. Internet Archaeol. 35 , 10.11141/ia.35.6 (2013). [1]: pending:yes