La Cava di Monte Croce

The Monte Croce Quarry, now decommissioned and environmentally reclaimed by the Euganean Hills Regional Park, is one of the most interesting sites for the geological phenomena visible within it. The structure of the wall, made up of volcanic rock (latite), can be observed from various positions while walking in the quarry floor due to the excavation produced by mining activity; in the lowest part, there is an example of "columnar jointing," a division into regular prisms of the rock caused by the rapid cooling of magma in a marine environment, and in this case, curved due to gravity. Towards the top of the wall, the now compact mass of latite presents a well-defined, semi-horizontal layer of sedimentary rock (marl), which is not very thick in height but clearly distinct from the rest of the wall, also due to its lighter color. Formed by the deposition of materials (sediments) on the bottom of the ancient sea during a pause in volcanic activity, this layer has been the subject of in-depth studies, as fossils of marine organisms dating back approximately 33 million years ago were found. The precise dating of these ancient life forms represents the most interesting aspect, as the dating performed on the volcanic rocks above and below the sedimentary layer yielded the same result in terms of millions of years. The comparison between the dating of other Euganean volcanic rocks has allowed scholars to conclude that the eruptions that led to the formation of the Euganean Hills were of the same age, around 33 million years. The excavation activity at Monte Croce has highlighted a fundamental scientific aspect for reconstructing the history of the Euganean hill complex. The quarry floor, very articulated with more or less flat areas, depressions, and small hills of fill material, was the subject of a careful recovery plan that led to the establishment of a diversified environment for vegetation and microclimatic situations. Pioneer plants have colonized every corner of the ancient quarry, which, at its lowest point, is enriched by an exceptional wetland area with reed beds, one of the few present in the Euganean area. As in many other neighboring points along the nearby Cavallo di Ferro Path, of which the quarry is a mandatory stop, the sun-exposed rocky ledges on the southern side of Monte Croce are abundantly inhabited by the dwarf prickly pear (Opuntia compressa), a species native to Central America, near the panoramic point on Battaglia Terme equipped with benches. The Monte Croce Quarry today represents an authentic open-air naturalistic educational laboratory and is an ideal site for sports activities compatible with environmental respect.