Lucifora, S.

We present paleomagnetic, rock magnetic and scanning electron microscope data from three upper Messinian stratigraphic sections from the Adana Basin (southern Turkey). The collected samples are from fine-grained units, which were deposited during the Messinian Salinity Crisis (within subchron C3r). Paleomagnetic results reveal an inconsistent polarity record, related to a mixture of magnetite and greigite that hinders determination of a reliable magnetostratigraphy. Three classes of samples are recognized on the basis of paleomagnetic results. The first is characterized by a single magnetization component, with normal polarity, that is stable up to 530–580 C and is carried by magnetite. The second is characterized by a single magnetization component, with reversed polarity, that is stable up to 330–420 C. This magnetization is due to greigite, which developed after formation of slumps and before tectonic tilting of the studied successions. The third is characterized by reversed polarity, which is stable up to 530–580 C. We interpret this component as a primary magnetization carried by fine-grained and magnetically stable detrital magnetite. Results indicate that in the Adana Basin the assumption that a primary magnetization is carried by magnetite, and a magnetic overprint carried by greigite, does not hold because a late magnetic overprint has also been found for magnetite-bearing samples. Our data illustrate the complexity of magnetostratigraphic reconstructions in successions characterized by variable mixtures of magnetic minerals with different magnetic stability that formed at different stages. We demonstrate the need to perform detailed magnetic mineralogy analyses when conducting magnetostratigraphic studies of clay-rich sediments from marine or lacustrine environments.

This paper illustrates a geographic information system (GIS) supported methodology for the assessment of landslide susceptibility. The methodology involves four operational steps: survey, site analysis, macro- area analysis and susceptibility analysis . The Survey includes the production (or acquisition) of a large-scale litho-technical map, a large-scale geomorphological map, a detailed inventory of past and present land- slide events, and a high resolution DTM (Digital Terrain Model. Site analysis leads to the definition of discriminating parameters (commonly, lithological and morphometric conditions necessary but not suffi- cient to trigger a landslide of a given type) and predisposing factors (conditions that worsen slope stability but are not sufficient to trigger a landslide of a given type in the absence of discriminating parameters ). The different predisposing factors are subdivided into classes, whose intervals are established by descriptive, statistical analysis of landslide inventory data. A numerical index, based on the frequency of landslide occurrence, quantifies the contribution of each class to slope instability. Macro-area analysis includes the generation of Litho-Morphometric Units (LMU) by overlaying discrimina- ting parameters , manual drawing of LMU envelopes ( macro-areas ), generation of predisposing factor maps from the spatial distribution of predisposing factors , and heuristic weighting of predisposing factor indices. Susceptibility analysis includes the generation of Homogeneous Territorial Units (HTU) by overlaying macro- areas and predisposing factor maps , and the application of a susceptibility function to the different HTU. The resulting values are normalized before the generation of the landslide susceptibility maps . The methodo- logy has been applied to the Fiumicino River catchment, located in the western side of Latium Apennine (Central Italy) between 200 and 1300 m a.s.l. and developed on Late Miocene calcarenites, sandstones with clay intercalations, and marls. The resulting landslide susceptibility maps will be employed in envi- ronmental management. They also represent the preliminary step for the assessment of landslide hazard and risk

GIS methodology to assess landslide susceptibility: application to a river catchment of central Italy This paper illustrates a GIS supported methodology for the assessment of landslide susceptibility. The methodology involves four steps: survey, site analysis, macro-area analysis, and susceptibility analysis. Statiscal and GIS processing of basical large scale geological dataset leads to the recognition of discriminating parameters (land conditions necessary but not sufficient to trigger landslides) and predisposing factors (conditions that worsen slope stability) separately for each landslides types. The susceptibility function combines GIS data to draw landslide susceptibility maps. These results represent the preliminary step for the assessment of landslide hazard and risk.