http://hdl.handle.net/2122/224 Thu, 16 May 2013 16:57:30 GMT 2013-05-16T16:57:30Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8555 Title: A ~125° post-early Serravallian counterclockwise rotation of the Gorgoglione Formation (Southern Apennines, Italy): New constraints for the formation of the Calabrian Arc Authors: Maffione, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; Speranza, F.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; Cascella, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; Longhitano, S. G.; Department of Geological Sciences, Università della Basilicata, Potenza, Italy; Chiarella, D.; Department of Geological Sciences, Università della Basilicata, Potenza, Italy Abstract: The Southern Apennines, Calabro-Peloritane block, and Sicilian Maghrebides form a ~700 km long orogenic bend, known as Calabrian Arc (Cifelli et al., 2007). The bending of this orogenic system was realized progressively through opposite-sense rotation of the two limbs, counterclockwise (CCW) in the Southern Apennines and clockwise (CW) in the Sicilian Maghrebides, synchronous to the Miocene-to-Present opening of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Despite the wealth of paleomagnetic data from the Southern Apennines, the main Miocene rotational phase still remains poorly constrained in time and, more importantly, data from the most internal paleogeographic domains of the belt are completely lacking. The Gorgoglione Formation, a middle Miocene piggy-back deposit of the Southern Apennines, unconformably resting over the internal Sicilide Unit, offers the unique opportunity to document the deformation pattern of the most internal units, and reconstruct the incipient tectonic phases leading to the formation of the Calabrian Arc. New paleomagnetic and biostratigraphic data from the Gorgoglione Fm. reveal a post-early Serravallian ~125° CCW rotation with respect to stable Africa. Such a large rotation, affecting the Gorgoglione Fm. (and consequently the underneath allochthonous Sicilide nappe) exceeds by ~45° the maximum mean CCW rotation previously reported for the Southern Apennines. We propose that the additional ~45° CCW rotation measured in the Sicilide Unit is the result of an earlier, late Miocene phase of deformation related to the onset of the Tyrrhenian Sea opening and affecting the most internal paleogeographic domains of the Southern Apennines. Our reconstructed tectonic scenario confirms and emphasizes the central role of the Ionian slab in the geodynamic evolution of the central Mediterranean. Sun, 31 Mar 2013 22:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8555 2013-03-31T22:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8469 Title: Orbital variations in planktonic foraminifera assemblages from the Ionian Sea during the Middle Pleistocene Transition Authors: Incarbona, A.; Università degli Studi di Palermo, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e del Mare, Via Archirafi 22, 90134 Palermo, Italy; Dinarès-Turell, J.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; Di Stefano, E.; Università degli Studi di Palermo, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e del Mare, Via Archirafi 22, 90134 Palermo, Italy; Ippolito, G.; Università degli Studi di Palermo, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e del Mare, Via Archirafi 22, 90134 Palermo, Italy; Pelosi, N.; Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per l'Ambiente Marino Costiero, Calata Porto di Massa, Interno Porto di Napoli, 80133, Naples, Italy; Sprovieri, R.; Università degli Studi di Palermo, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e del Mare, Via Archirafi 22, 90134 Palermo, Italy Abstract: The Middle Pleistocene Transition (1.2-0.7 Ma) is the most recent re-organization of the global climate system which includes variations in the frequency and amplitude of glacial/interglacial cycles, increased ice sheet volume, sea surface temperature cooling and a significant drop in the CO2 atmospheric levels. Here we present high-resolution planktonic foraminifera data (mean sampling resolution of about 780 years) from core LC10 recovered in the Ionian Sea (eastern Mediterranean), between 1.2 and 0.9 Ma. Selected taxa, among them G. ruber, T. quinqueloba and G. bulloides, show significant periodicities that can be associated to orbital cycles, mainly precession and obliquity. The planktonic foraminifera based paleoclimatic curve exhibits a cooling linear trend that can be associated to similar phenomena observed in the North Atlantic. On the other hand, we refer to the influence of the North African Monsoon the occurrence of two peaks of the low-salinity tolerant species G. quadrilobatus that fall in coincidence of sapropel layers. Finally, we discuss the distribution pattern of N. pachyderma sinistral coiling, with peaks up to about 20% between MIS 30 and 28, and compare it to middle-late Quaternary records of the Sicily Channel and western Mediterranean. Mon, 31 Dec 2012 23:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8469 2012-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8455 Title: A photographic dataset of the coseismic geological effects induced on the environment by the 2012 Emilia (Northern Italy) earthquake sequence Authors: Alessio, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione OV, Napoli, Italia; Alfonsi, L.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; Brunori, C. A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Burrato, P.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Casula, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia; Cinti, F. R.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Civico, R.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Colini, L.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione CNT, Roma, Italia; Cucci, L.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; De Martini, P. M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Falcucci, E.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Galadini, F.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Gaudiosi, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione OV, Napoli, Italia; Gori, S.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Mariucci, M. T.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Montone, P.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Moro, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione CNT, Roma, Italia; Nappi, R.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione OV, Napoli, Italia; Nardi, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione CNT, Roma, Italia; Nave, R.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione OV, Napoli, Italia; Pantosti, D.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Patera, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Pesci, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia; Pignone, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione CNT, Roma, Italia; Pinzi, S.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Pucci, S.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Vannoli, P.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Venuti, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; Villani, F.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; EMERGEO, Working Group; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia Abstract: We present a collection of pictures of the coseismic secondary geological effects produced on the environment by the 2012 Emilia seismic sequence in northern Italy. The May-June 2012 sequence struck a broad area located in the Po Plain region, causing 26 deaths and hundreds of injured, 15.000 homeless, severe damage of historical centres and industrial areas, and an estimated economic toll of ~2 billion of euros. The sequence included two mainshocks (Figure 1): the first one, with ML 5.9, occurred on May 20 between Finale Emilia, S. Felice sul Panaro and S. Martino Spino; the second one, with ML 5.8, occurred 12 km southwest of the previous mainshock on May 29. Both the mainshocks occurred on about E-W trending, S dipping blind thrust faults; the whole aftershocks area extends in an E-W direction for more than 50 km and includes five ML≥5.0 events and more than 1800 ML>1.5 events. Ground cracks and liquefactions were certainly the most relevant coseismic geological effects observed during the Emilia sequence. In particular, extensive liquefaction was observed over an area of ~1200 km2 following the May 20 and May 29 events. We collected all the coseismic geological evidence through field survey, helicopter and powered hang-glider trike survey, and reports from local people directly checked in the field. On the basis of their morphologic and structural characteristics the 1362 effects surveyed were grouped into three main categories: a) liquefactions related to overpressure of aquifers, occurring through several aligned vents forming coalescent flat cones (485 effects); b) liquefactions with huge amounts of liquefied sand and fine sand ejected from fractures tens of meters long (768); c) extensional fractures with small vertical throws, apparently organized in an en-echelon pattern, with no effects of liquefaction (109). The photographic dataset consists of 99 pictures of coseismic geological effects observed in 17 localities concentrated in the epicentral area. The pictures are sorted and presented by locality of observation; each photo reports several information such as the name of the site, the geographical coordinates and the type of effect observed. Figure 1 shows a map of the pictures sites along with the location of the two mainshocks; Figure 2 shows a detail of the distribution of the liquefactions in the area of S. Carlo. The complete description of the coseismic geological effects induced by the Emilia sequence, their relation with the aftershock area, the InSAR deformation area and the I>6 EMS felt area, along with the description of the technologies used for data sourcing and processing are shown in Emergeo Working Group [2012a and 2012b]. Sun, 30 Sep 2012 22:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8455 2012-09-30T22:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8335 Title: The Palaeocene ‘‘top chron C27n’’ transient greenhouse episode: evidence from marine pelagic Atlantic and peri-Tethyan sections Authors: Dinarès-Turell, J.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; Pujalte, V.; Department of Stratigraphy and Paleontology, Fac. Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country UPV⁄EHU, PO Box 644, Bilbao E-48080, Spain; Stoykova, K.; Department of Paleontology and Stratigraphy, Geological Institute, Bulgarian Academy of Science, Sofia BG-1113, Bulgaria; Baceta, J. I.; Department of Stratigraphy and Paleontology, Fac. Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country UPV⁄EHU, PO Box 644, Bilbao E-48080, Spain; Ivanov, M.; Department of Geology and Paleontology, University of Sofia, Sofia BG-1000, Bulgaria Abstract: The early Cenozoic, which is punctuated by several negative carbon isotope excursions (CIEs), was a time of climatic and oceanographic transition from ’Greenhouse’ to ’Icehouse’ conditions. The occurrence of a 0.5& CIE starting at the top of Chron C27n (TC27N) is reconfirmed with stable isotope data from Zumaia (Spain) and Bjala (Bulgaria) localities. Spectral analysis on respective carbonate ⁄magnetic susceptibility proxy records substantiates the orbital cyclostratigraphy allowing correlation to a high-resolution benthic foraminifera isotope record from ODP Pacific Site 1209, that indicates a coeval 2 C transient warming. The hyperthermal event lasts 200 ka, contrasting with other short-lived events from the Eocene, and displays a relatively rapid onset and a longer tailing back to pre-event values similar to the Palaeocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), though lower in amplitude. That a causal trigger for the TC27N event may be the onset of volcanism in the North Atlantic Igneous Province (NAIP) can be inferred from a 200-m-thick lava pile erupted during C27n ⁄ C26r polarity transition in the E Greenland margin. Sat, 31 Dec 2011 23:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8335 2011-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8325 Title: Integrated stratigraphy for the Late Quaternary in the eastern Tyrrhenian Sea Authors: Lirer, F.; Istituto per l’Ambiente Marino Costiero (IAMC) e CNR, Calata Porta di Massa, Interno Porto di Napoli, 80133 Napoli, Italy; Sprovieri, M.; Istituto per l’Ambiente Marino Costiero (IAMC) e CNR, Via del Faro 3, Torretta Granitola (Fraz. Campobello di Mazara, Tp) 91021, Italy; Ferraro, L.; Istituto per l’Ambiente Marino Costiero (IAMC) e CNR, Calata Porta di Massa, Interno Porto di Napoli, 80133 Napoli, Italy; Vallefuoco, M.; Istituto per l’Ambiente Marino Costiero (IAMC) e CNR, Calata Porta di Massa, Interno Porto di Napoli, 80133 Napoli, Italy; Capotondi, L.; Istituto Scienze Marine, ISMAR e CNR, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Gobetti 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy; Cascella, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; Petrosino, P.; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e Università degli Studi “Federico II” di Napoli. Largo S. Marcellino 10, 80138 Napoli, Italy; Insinga, D. D.; Istituto per l’Ambiente Marino Costiero (IAMC) e CNR, Calata Porta di Massa, Interno Porto di Napoli, 80133 Napoli, Italy; Pelosi, N.; Istituto per l’Ambiente Marino Costiero (IAMC) e CNR, Calata Porta di Massa, Interno Porto di Napoli, 80133 Napoli, Italy; Tamburrino, S.; Istituto per l’Ambiente Marino Costiero (IAMC) e CNR, Calata Porta di Massa, Interno Porto di Napoli, 80133 Napoli, Italy; Lubritto, C.; Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Seconda Università di Napoli, Via Vivaldi 47, Caserta, Italy Abstract: A high-resolution integrated stratigraphy is presented for the Late Quaternary in the southern-eastern Tyrrhenian Sea. It is based on calcareous plankton taxa (planktonic foraminifera and nannoplankton) distribution, d18OGlobigerinoides ruber record, tephrostratigraphy and radiometric dating methods (210Pb and 137Cs, AMS 14C) for a composite sediment core (from the top to the bottom, C90-1m, C90 and C836) from the continental shelf of the Salerno Gulf. High sedimentation rates from ca 1 cm/100 y for the early Holocene, to 3.45 cm/100 y for the middle Holocene to 8.78 cm/100 y from late Holocene and to 20 cm/100 y for the last 600 AD, make this area an ideal marine archive of secular paleoclimate changes. Quantitative distributional trend in planktonic foraminifera identify seven known (1Fe7F) eco-biozones, and several auxiliary bioevents of high potential for Mediterranean biostratigraphic correlation. Recognised were: the acme distribution of Neogloboquadrina pachyderma r.c. between 10.800 0.400 ka BP and 5.500 0.347 ka BP, a strong increase in abundance of Globorotalia truncatulinoides r.c. and l.c. at 5.500 0.347 ka BP and at 4.571 0.96 ka BP, respectively, an acme interval of Globigerinoides quadrilobatus (between 3.702 0.048 ka BP and 2.70 0.048 ka BP) and the acme/paracme intervals of T. quinqueloba (acme between 3.350 0.054 ka BP and 1.492 0.016 ka BP; paracme between 1.492 0.016 ka BP and 0.657 0.025 ka BP; acme beginning 0.657 0.025 ka BP). These results, integrated with trends of selected calcareous nannofossil species (Florisphaera profunda, Brarudosphaera bigelowii, Gephyrocapsa oceanica and Emiliania huxleyi) and d18OG. ruber signature, are consistent with the most important pre-Holocene and early Holocene paleoclimatic and paleoceanographic phases i.e., the BöllingeAllerod, the Younger Dryas and the time interval of Sapropel S1 deposition in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. These features revealed the high potential of this shallow water environment for high-resolution stratigraphy and correlation for the western Mediterranean. In addition, the chemical characterization of seven tephra layers supplied further data about the age and the dispersal area of some well-known Campi Flegrei explosive events, inferring the possible occurrence of explosive activity at Vesuvius around the middle of the 6th century, and contributing to refine the tephrostratigraphic framework for the last 15 ka in the south-eastern Tyrrhenian Sea. Mon, 31 Dec 2012 23:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8325 2012-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8304 Title: Marine-continental tephra correlations: Volcanic glass geochemistry from the Marsili Basin and the Aeolian Islands, Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy Authors: Albert, P. G.; Department of Earth Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK; Tomlinson, E. L.; Department of Earth Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK; Smith, V. C.; Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, University of Oxford, UK; Di Roberto, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Pisa, Pisa, Italia; Todman, A.; Department of Earth Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK; Rosi, M.; Dipartimento Scienza Della Terra, University Pisa, Via S. Maria 53, 56126, Pisa, Italy; Marani, M.; ISMAR, CNR, Via Gobetti 101-40129 Bologna Italy; Muller, W.; Department of Earth Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK; Menzies, M. A.; Department of Earth Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK Abstract: Major, minor and trace element analysis of volcanic glass in proximal and distal (< 2 mm) tephra deposits underpins tephrochronology. This approach has been tested in the Aeolian Islands and the Tyrrhenian Sea using juvenile clasts in pyroclastic fall and flow deposits. Geochemical data are used to link marine tephras in the Marsili Basin (core TIR2000-C01) to explosive eruptions of (1) Lipari (Monte Pilato; 776 cal AD); (2) Vulcano; and (3) Campi Flegrei (Soccavo 1; 11,915–12,721 cal years BP). Whether a polymictic coarse grained volcaniclastic turbidite in the Marsili Basin originated from collapse on Salina remains unresolved because multi-elemental analysis raises doubt about the published correlation to the Pollara region. It is evident that correlation of proximal continental and distal marine tephras, at a high level of confidence, requires a full complement of major, minor and trace element data. In conjunction with considerations of the mineralogy and morphology of juvenile deposits these data help define petrological lineages such that precise provenance can be established. Whilst a precise proximal–distal match must be based on identical major, minor and trace element concentrations it is clear that resurgent activity from a single volcano can produce magmas with identical compositions. In such cases stratigraphic relationships must complement any geochemical study. Occasionally proximal stratigraphies may be unrepresentative of the complete eruptive history because of a lack of exposure due to burial by more recent effusive and explosive activity, or sector collapse which can remove vital stratigraphy particularly on volcanic islands. Thu, 31 May 2012 22:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8304 2012-05-31T22:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8284 Title: Introduction: The ANDRILL McMurdo Ice Shelf (MIS) and Southern McMurdo Sound (SMS) Drilling Projects Authors: Paulsen, T. S.; Department of Geology, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901, USA; Pompilio, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Pisa, Pisa, Italia; Niessen, F.; Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, D-27568 Bremerhaven, Germany; Panter, K.; Department of Geology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio 43403-0218, USA; Jarrard, R. D.; Department of Geology and Geophysics, 383 FASB, University of Utah, 115 S. 1460 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-0102, USA Abstract: No Abstract Thu, 31 May 2012 22:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8284 2012-05-31T22:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8254 Title: Early Miocene volcanic activity and paleoenvironment conditions recorded in tephra layers of the AND-2A core (southern McMurdo Sound, Antarctica) Authors: Di Roberto, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Pisa, Pisa, Italia; Del Carlo, P.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Pisa, Pisa, Italia; Rocchi, S.; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy; Panter, K. S.; Department of Geology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, 43403, USA Abstract: The ANtarctic geological DRILLing program (ANDRILL) successfully recovered 1138.54 m of core from drillhole, AND-2A, in the Ross Sea sediments (Antarctica). The core is composed of terrigenous claystones, siltstones, sandstones, conglomerates, breccias, and diamictites with abundant volcanic material. In this work we present sedimentological, morphoscopic, petrographic, and geochemical data on pyroclasts recovered from core AND-2A, which provide insights on eruption styles, volcanic sources, and environments of deposition. One pyroclastic fall deposit, 12 resedimented volcaniclastic deposits and 14 volcanogenic sedimentary deposits record a history of intense explosive volcanic activity in southern Victoria Land during the Early Miocene. Tephra were ejected during Subplinian and Plinian eruptions fed by trachytic to rhyolitic magmas and during Strombolian to Hawaiian eruptions fed by basaltic to mugearitic magmas in submarine/subglacial to subaerial environments. The long-lived Mt. Morning eruptive centre, located c. 80 km south of the drillsite, was recognized as the probable volcanic source for these products on the basis of volcanological, geochemical, and age constraints. The study of tephra in the AND-2A core provides important paleoenvironment information by revealing that the deposition of primary and moderately reworked tephra occurred in a proglacial setting under generally open water marine conditions. Sat, 31 Dec 2011 23:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8254 2011-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8233 Title: Influence of granitoid textural parameters on sediment composition: Implications for sediment generation Authors: Caracciolo, L.; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università della Calabria, Rende (CS), Italy; Tolosana-Delgado, R.; Dept. d'Enginyeria Hidràulica i Ambiental, Laboratori d'Enginyeria Marìtima (LIM/UPC) Universitat politecnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain; Le Pera, E.; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università della Calabria, Rende (CS), Italy; von Eynatten, H.; Geowissenschaftliches Zentrum der Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Abteilung Sedimentologie/Umweltgeologie, Göttingen, Germany; Arribas, J.; Dpto. de Petrología y Geoquímica, Univ. Complutense de Madrid-CSIC, Madrid, Spain; Tarquini, S.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Pisa, Pisa, Italia Abstract: The aim of this study is to determine and characterise the control exerted by parent rock texture on sand composition as a function of grain size. The sands investigated were generated from granitoid parent rocks by the Rhone, Damma and Sidelen glaciers, which drain the Aar Massif in the Central Alps (Switzerland), and were deposited in glacial and fluvio-glacial settings. Mechanical erosion, comminution (crystal breakdown and abrasion) and hydraulic sorting are the most important processes controlling the generation of sediments in this environment, whereas chemical and/or biochemical weathering plays a negligible role. By using a GIS-based Microscopic Information System (MIS), five samples from the glacier-drained portions of the Aar basement have been analysed to determine textural parameters such as modal composition, crystal size distribution and mineral interfaces (types and lengths). Petrographic data of analysed sands include traditional point counts (Gazzi-Dickinson method, minimum of 300 points) as well as textural counts to determine interface types, frequency, and polycrystallinity in phaneritic rock fragments. According to Pettijohn's classification, grain‐size dependent compositions vary from feldspathic litharenite (0φ fraction) via lithic arkose (1φ and 2φ) to arkose (3φ and 4φ). Compositional differences among our data set were compared to modern plutoniclastic sands from the Iberian Massif (Spain) and the St. Gabriel Mts. (California, USA), which allowed us to assess the role exerted by glaciers in generating sediments. By combining data from the MIS with those from petrographic analysis, we outlined the evolution of mineral interfaces from the parent rocks to the sediments. Sat, 31 Dec 2011 23:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8233 2011-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8212 Title: Geological record of tsunami inundations in Pantano Morghella (south-eastern Sicily) both from near and far-field sources Authors: Gerardi, F.; Università di Catania; Smedile, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Pirrotta, C.; Università di Catania; Barbano, M. S.; Università di Catania; De Martini, P. M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Pinzi, S.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Gueli, A. M.; Università di Catania; Ristuccia, G. M.; Università di Catania; Stella, G.; Università di Catania; Troja, S. O.; Università di Catania Abstract: Analysis of tsunami deposits from the Pantano Morghella area provided geological evidence for two inundations occurred along the south-eastern Ionian coast of Sicily. Pantano Morghella is a large pond characterised by a finegrained sedimentation indicating a low-energy depositional environment. Two anomalous yellow sandy layers found at different depths indicate the occurrence of high-energy marine inundations. We studied sedimentological and paleontological features of the anomalous deposits as well as their spatial distribution observing the following properties: different facies with respect to the local stratigraphic sequence; erosive bases, rip-up clasts and broken elements testifying violent deposition mechanisms; macro and micro fauna of marine environment; relatively constant thickness throughout most of the depositional zone with thinning at the distal end; large sand sheets that extend inland. These observations, jointly with their infrequency in the sedimentary record and the age indicating a fast deposition, provided strong evidence for tsunami inundations. Correlations between anomalous layers and historical tsunamis are supported by radiocarbon and OSL dating results. The younger deposit is likely due to the 1908 near-source tsunami, whereas the flooding of the oldest event is most likely associated with a far and large source, the Crete 365AD earthquake. Sat, 31 Dec 2011 23:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8212 2011-12-31T23:00:00Z