Search results for "Surface Processes"

Ubendian basement and its late Mesoproterozoic and early Neoproterozoic structural and metamorphic overprint in northeastern Zambia

2004

The Palaeoproterozoic basement in the Muyombe and Luwumbu River areas of northeastern Zambia comprises a WNW‐ESE (to E‐W) trending cordierite‐garnet‐sillimanite granulite unit with numerous enderbite bodies and an amphibolite-facies migmatite unit. Zircons from a biotite metatonalite intruding the granulites were dated at 1960.7±0.4 Ma, and this is time-equivalent with the Nyika granite in adjacent Malawi. Mesoproterozoic intrusions into this basement are represented by a nepheline syenite at Mivula Hill (zircon age: 1360.1±0.8 Ma) and the porphyritic Ntendele biotite metagranite (zircon age: 1329.1±0.6 Ma). The Ntendele granite attains plutonic dimensions north of Muyombe. The Mesoproteroz…

The Lefkada barrier and beachrock system (NW Greece) — Controls on coastal evolution and the significance of extreme wave events

2012

Abstract The Lefkada–Preveza coastal zone, NW Greece, is characterised by an active barrier system and related extensive beachrock sequences. Besides the gradual coastal processes of longshore drift and spit evolution, the presence of active tectonics and the occurrence of tsunamis have been documented in previous studies and are part of the coastal geomorphological system. In this paper, we present the results of detailed multi-proxy sedimentological and geomorphological investigations carried out along the northern part of the barrier system and in back-beach positions. Our findings suggest that extreme wave events contributed to coastal and environmental changes and involved temporary br…

Millstones as indicators of relative sea-level changes in northern Sicily and southern Calabria coastlines, Italy

2011

Abstract New data are presented for late Holocene relative sea-level changes in two coastal sites of Sicily and Calabria, southern Italy. Reconstructions are based on precise measurements of submerged archaeological remains that are valuable indicators of past sea-level position. The archaeological remains are millstone quarries carved on sandstone coastal rocks and nowadays partially submerged which, to the authors’ knowledge, are used for the first time as sea-level markers. Millstones of similar typology are located on the coast of Capo d’Orlando (northern Sicily) and Capo dell’Armi (southern Calabria). When the archeologically-based sea-level position is compared with the shoreline elev…

High-frequency modification of the central Mediterranean seafloor environment over the last 74 ka

2022

Here we present a high-resolution record of benthic foraminiferal assemblages for the last 74 kyr from the Sicily Channel Ocean Drilling Program Leg 160 Site 963. Benthic foraminiferal results are compared with geochemical (benthic and planktic δ18O and δ13C) and calcareous plankton data, previously acquired on the same marine core sediments. Within the succession, three benthic foraminifera compositional zones were defined. Temporal changes in the assemblages are interpreted in the context of the modification of subtropical and temperate climate systems that affected the Mediterranean thermohaline circulation. A close connection between bottom conditions in the Sicily Channel and eastern M…

The behaviour of non consumer of organic food: suggestions on marketing strategies to attract new market segments

2013

Oggi le produzioni agricole biologiche sono in netta crescita sia a livello internazionale che nazionale. Tra le regioni italiane la Sicilia rappresenta la principale area di produzione e si colloca all’ultimo posto relativamente ai consumi. Attraverso un’indagine pilota nella citta di Palermo, si e voluto indagare, sui motivi del mancato acquisto di prodotti biologici per comprendere quali sono le leve del marketing mix su cui e possibile intervenire per attrarre nuovi segmenti di mercato. L’indagine e stata realizzata intervistando un campione di non-consumatori di alimenti biologi presso alcuni supermercati della citta. I campioni, degli intervistati e dei supermercati, sono stati selezi…

A taphonomic investigation of small vertebrate accumulations produced by the snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus) and its implications for fossil studies

2019

17 pages; International audience; The action of predators, such as diurnal raptors, owls, mammals or humans, influence the nature of smallvertebrate fossil assemblages but currently their taphonomic features are still poorly understood. In this study,we investigate the taphonomic signature of the snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus) based on an analysis of pelletscollected at breeding sites located in Greenland and the Canadian Arctic. This taxon is widely distributedthrough the North Hemisphere and was an important predator in Pleistocene times. Taphonomic parameterssuggest that, contrary to previous assumptions, B. scandiacus produces, on average, moderate digestion of incisors,molars and post-cra…

2021

Abstract. The dynamics of growing collisional orogens are mainly controlled by buoyancy and shear forces. However, the relative importance of these forces, their temporal evolution and their impact on the tectonic style of orogenic wedges remain elusive. Here, we quantify buoyancy and shear forces during collisional orogeny and investigate their impact on orogenic wedge formation and exhumation of crustal rocks. We leverage two-dimensional petrological–thermomechanical numerical simulations of a long-term (ca. 170 Myr) lithosphere deformation cycle involving subsequent hyperextension, cooling, convergence, subduction and collision. Hyperextension generates a basin with exhumed continental m…

Assessing sediment connectivity in dendritic and parallel calanchi systems

2019

Abstract Calanchi, a type of Italian badlands created by a combination of water erosion processes and environmental constraints controlling their development, is a striking example of long-term landscape evolution. Sediment connectivity can be defined as the degree to which a system facilitates the fluxes of sediments through itself. The goal of this research is testing the use of simple morphometric variables for assessing sediment connectivity of calanchi landforms distinguishing between dendritic and parallel systems. For detecting the morphological characteristics controlling the sediment connectivity of calanchi basins, literature data (146 calanchi basins) and measurements carried out…

Carbonate deposition and diagenesis in evaporitic environments: The evaporative and sulphur-bearing limestones during the settlement of the Messinian…

2015

The depositional and diagenetic processes involved in the formation of carbonates in the evaporitic environment of the Messinian Salinity Crisis are investigated in Southern Italy (Sicily and Calabria). Strong differences are observed between the studied sections that reflect specific depositional and diagenetic evolution in the interconnected sub-basins resulting from the syn-sedimentary tectonic fragmentation of the Central Sicilian and Calabrian domains. These carbonates formed diachronously in restricted perched sub-basins between the Tripoli Formation and the hypersaline settings of the MSC. The Calcare di Base (CdB) that can be interbedded with gypsum layers occurs rhythmically at the…

Effects of sample pretreatment and external contamination on bivalve shell and Carrara marble δ18O and δ13C signatures

2017

Abstract Stable isotope signatures of bivalve shells serve as important paleoclimate proxies. However, such data can be biased as a consequence of physical and chemical sample pretreatment and contamination during sampling. As yet, the potential isotope error induced by paleontological preservation techniques and specific methods used in bivalve sclerochronology have not been systematically assessed. To address these issues, homogenized powder of a well-preserved, aragonitic fossil shell, Glycymeris obovata (ca. 30 Ma old) as well as Carrara marble powder (calcite) were exposed to ultrasound, a set of different staining solutions and cleaning agents. In addition, these reference materials w…