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Table of Contents


Vol. 9 - 2010

Vol. 8 - 2009

Vol. 7 - 2008
SP 1 - 2008

Vol. 6 - 2007
Vol. 5 - 2006
Vol. 4 - 2005
Vol. 3 - 2004
Vol. 2 - 2003
Vol. 1 - 2001-2002

Notes for Authors
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GeoActa Special Publication 1 2008


Acquisto online

GeoActa
an international Journal of Earth Sciences


Antonietta Cilumbriello1, Marcello Tropeano1-2, Luisa Sabato1-2
1Dipartimento di Geologia e Geofisica, Università di Bari, Via Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy.
E-mail: antocilu@tiscali.it, m.tropeano@geo.uniba.it, l.sabato@geo.uniba.it
1-2Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca per la Valutazione e Mitigazione del Rischio Sismico e Vulcanico dell'Università di Bari

The Quaternary terraced marine-deposits of the Metaponto area (Southern Italy) in a sequence-stratigraphic perspective



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Abstract

The hinterland of the Taranto Gulf (the Metaponto area, southern Italy) is characterized by the occurrence of coarse-grained Quaternary deposits that represent the outcropping and upper part of the Bradanic Trough infill in this area. These coarse-grained deposits are coastal s.l. in origin and historically viewed as linked to a flight of marine terraces developed during Middle and Late Pleistocene.
A detailed sedimentological and stratigraphic study was performed in a selected part of the Metaponto area, between Cavone and Basento Rivers; the analysed successions are very complex and record high-frequency relative sea-level changes. Following a sequence-stratigraphic approach, several fourth-order sequences made up of different systems tracts comprised of higher-order sequences (either simple sequences or sets of simple sequences) may be recognized.
Highstand Systems Tracts (HST) within fourth-order sequences are the best developed features and mainly correspond to sets of simple sequences; sets are stratigraphically organized in a downward shifting configuration. According to known chronostratigraphic data, these fourth-order HSTs may be referred to interglacial stages 9, 7, and 5 of the OIT/RSL curve (OIT = Oxygen Isotope Timescale; RSL = Relative Sea-Level curve).
Within each fourth-order HST, the HST of the highest simple sequence of each set corresponds to a coastal sigmoidal body, the top of which is a terraced surface. Only the HSTs of these simple sequences may be viewed as “classic” depositional marine terraces. According to known chronostratigraphic data, these HSTs of simple sequences may be correlated to substages of OIT/RSL curve, namely to MIS (Marine Isotope Stage) 9.5, 9.3, 9.1, 7.5, 7.3, 7.1, 5.5, 5.3, and 5.1.
Detailed facies analyses, stratigraphic correlations of the measured sections, and sequence-stratigraphic considerations show that the terraced marine-deposits cropping out in the Metaponto area record high-frequency relative sea-level changes, each of which can not be simply linked to a terraced surface. A higher number of sea-level oscillations is locally recorded below each terraced surface, and studies based only on geomorphological evidences are unable to describe the complex interaction between regional uplift and relative sea-level changes. Sequence stratigraphy may be an useful tool to better define the development of these terraced marine-deposits, the terraced surface being genetically linked only to the upper part of a flat topped marine succession.

Keywords: Terraced marine-deposits, Marine terraces, Sea-level changes, High-frequency cyclicity, Uplift, Quaternary.