A 560-440 ka tephra record from the Mercure Basin, southern Italy: volcanological and tephrostratigraphic implications

Integrated electron microprobe analyses (EMPAs) on glass and Sr–Nd isotope analyses have been
performed on 17 tephras from the Middle Pleistocene Mercure lacustrine succession, southern Apennines. Two
40Ar/39Ar ages and the recognition of four relevant tephras from Colli Albani, Sabatini and possibly Roccamonfina
volcanoes allowed us to ascribe the investigated succession to the late Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 15–12 interval
(560–440 ka). The Sr–Nd isotopes and major element glass compositions allowed us to attribute 10 out of the other
13 tephras to a poorly known activity of the Roccamofina volcano, whereas two layers were tentatively attributed
to previously unknown Middle Pleistocene activity of Ponza Island or Campanian volcanoes, and one to Salina
Island. The tephrostratigraphic correlation of the Mercure tephras with the Acerno lacustrine pollen record
(Campania) also allowed us to evaluate the climatostratigraphic position of the tephras within the framework of the
MIS 15–12 climatic variability. These results were obtained by combining the Sr–Nd isotope ratio with EMPA and
40Ar/39Ar geochronological data. This confirms the notable consistency of this approach for studying the
Mediterranean Middle Pleistocene tephrostratigraphy, which, despite its great potential for both volcanology and
Quaternary studies, has been hitherto barely explored.

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