The
project of this Local Unit (LU), as indicated by the
outline of general project, is mainly focussed on the
interdisciplinary study of the late Messinian sedimentary
successions. In particular on those comprised between
5.6 and 5.33 Ma; that is, between the salinity crisis
and the reopening of the communication between the Atlantic
Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
The general project deals with the development of 8
interconnected tasks. The research of this LU will be
mainly focussed on the first three tasks:
Task 1 – high-resolution stratigraphic reconstruction
of the late Messinian interval based on the chronology
of the events that can be followed and recognised at
the Mediterranean scale.
Task 2 – Role of the Tortonian and Messinian deformation
in the genesis of the Messinian Mediterranean events.
Task 3 – Genesis of the wide intramessinian erosive
surface and of the deposits related to this surface.
Researcher of the LU will analyse some basins of the
North Tyrrhenian Sea to define their Messinian tectono-stratigraphic
framework.
Study area
Offshore selected areas of the North Tyrrhenian Sea
are: Tuscan Shelf, Corsica Basin and eastern Sardinia
Shelf. In the Tuscan Shelf the following basins are
analysed: Viareggio, Punta Ala. The first has been selected
for the presence of some deep oil wells. These will
be used to tie the recognised seismic units. The second
for the seismic lines quality, the occurrence of salt
diapires, and the close presence of the Messinian deposits
of the Cecina Valley. The Corsica Basin has been selected
both for the good and recent seismic cover (LISA and
CROP projects) and for the possibility to tie the seismic
units with the depositional units cropping out on the
Pianosa Island (eastern margin of the Corsica Basin)
and along the eastern margin of the Corsica Island (Aleria
Plain). Along the eastern Sardina Shelf there are the
Olbia and Tavolara basins. Both basins are crossed by
the M2A CROP line. The preliminary analysis of theline
underlined the presence of features like salt diapires.
A study of the north-eastern part of the Sardinia Shelf
will carried as well and focussed on the Asinara Gulf
(Porto Torres and Castel Sardo basins) where continental
late Messinian successions are documented. Inland analyses
will be carried mainly in Tuscany along the Cacina River
Valley basins (Sassa, Volterra, Radicondoli), where
the presence of both good seismic cove, and outcrops
will provide data for offshore-inland comparison.
Methodologies
All the available seismic profiles are acquired, scanned
and archived. Their interpretation will be carried out
either on video using dedicated software or on paper.
The possibility to have digital-seismic lines will allow
an uniform and easy interpretation.
Seismo-stratigraphy
Seismic analysis of industrial (ENI_AGIP, ANSCHUTZ,
CNR) and deep-crustal profiles will be performed. Same
of these profiles are ready available at the LU, other
will be provided by the ENI-AGIP in the aim of the collaboration
for this project. The late Miocene seismic units will
be defined in term of their seismic character, and boundary
unconformities. An archive of the most recurrent and
characteristic seismic facies and the line drawings
for the most significative lines will be realised A
two-year researcher will be full time involved the seismic
analysis. The Tyrrhenian basins seismic stratigraphy
will be done in collaboration
with the Units 5, 6, 7, and its aim is the definition
of the relationships between tectonic and sedimentation,
and magmatism and sedimentation in the studied area.
From the interpreted seismic lines some geological sections
will be realised and later restored with 3D MOVE software.
Restoration will allow us to reconstruct the amount
of the deformation occurred in the North Tyrrhenian
Sea during late Messinian. Restoration
will be done in collaboration with Units 5, 6 and 7.
Stratigraphy
The stratigraphic revision of the late Miocene interval
of some offshore wells will be done (i.e. Maria 1 and
Tombolo 1, 2). Together with Unit 7, high-resolution
stratigraphy will be carried out on the best late Messinian
outcrops of the Cecina Valley. This valley is covered
by a good seismic survey and is the closest to the offshore
north Tyrrhenian basins. The inland seismic analysis
will be carried out together with Unit 7.
Comparison
Comparison between the offshore(North Tyrrhenian Sea)
and the inland (Tuscany and Sardinia) seismic data will
be done. These comparisons will allow us to realise,
in collaboration with Units 5, 6, 7, a series of geological
sections between Corsica and the Adriatic Sea where
a good seismic cover and several stratigraphic data
are available.
Applicative aspects.
Time will be dedicated to the localisation of material
used in the ceramic and potters industries (i.e. eurite)
as well as in the craftman (gyspum alabaster), and to
the evaluation of the economic use of this material.
The applicative aspects will be developed duringthe
fieldwork.
Expected results
Definition of the stratigraphic record, at the highest
possible resolution, of the events occurred in the late
Messinian, in particular during the 5.6-5.33 Ma interval,
as recorded in the Northern Tyrrhenian—Tuscany—Corsica—Sardinia
area.
Definition of the relationships between tectonic and
sedimentation during late Messinian in the North Tyrrhenina
Sea.
Definition of the relationships between magmatism and
sedimentation in the Tuscan Shelf and Tuscany during
late Messinian.
Realisation of some deep marine geological maps (on
the base of the Emilia-Romagna proposed standard for
the Ravenna sheet) either at the base and top of the
late Messinian deposits; that is, of the post-evaporitic
event.
Evaluation and characterisation of the exploitation
potential of the late Messinian deposits of Tuscany.
download
the proposal (PDF - kb)
duration:
2
years
(2004-2005)
estimated cost: €
28700
total funding: €
(€
cofinanced by MIUR)
