Field Trips Guide Books - From D01 to P13
The guidebooks of field trips planned for the 32nd International Geological Congress (Firenze, Italy, 20-28 August 2004), carried out by relevant geological researchers, were edited and published by APAT, now ISPRA.
Each guidebook contains a general geological outline of the area studied and a “day by day” field-trip itinerary. References to available papers and geological maps will help geologists who wish to cover again the field-trip in private.
The scientific content of this guide is under the total responsibility of the Authors.
In this section you can download the files of guidebooks, which are in .PDF format at a screen-resolution, appropriate for viewing, not suitable for printing.
Cost of the volume 70,00 € TAX included
- Summary
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D01 - SIENA (CENTRAL ITALY): URBAN GEOLOGY, ART AND HISTORY OF A MEDIEVAL HILLTOP TOWN AND ITS BOTTINI (UNDERGROUND AQUEDUCT) AND MONUMENTAL FOUNTAINS
A. Costantini & I.P. Martini
Siena is one of the best-preserved medieval towns of Tuscany. It is located on a hilltop of porous shoreface Pliocene sands surrounded by offshore clays. Siena became an important town in early medieval times (1100-1500 AD) because it was located on a major "pilgrim" road to Rome - Via Francigena. It suffered from a lack of readily available water and continuous conflicts with neighbouring Florence. The city built a 25km-long network of underground tunnels (the "Bottini"; aqueduct), which collected water from small springs and brought it to public fountains and wells inside the walled town. The field trip will show, in outcrops and underground (a rare opportunity to visit the Bottini), a complete sedimentological shoreface succession from offshore clays, to shoreface fossiliferous sands and gravels, to lagoonal deposits, and how the magnificent engineering structure of the underground aqueduct was built with primitive tools. We will also visit monumental fountains and other edifices throughout the town.D02 - KARST AND PALEOENVIRONMENTS OF THE SIENA AREA (CENTRAL ITALY)
V. Pascucci, L. Dallai, G. Biancardi, D. Manganelli,V. Pascucci & R. Tracchini
This field trip is dedicated to the analysis of some karsts features near Siena, which possibly developed during the last ice age in Triassic limestone (Calcare Cavernoso). These limestones crop out North-East of Siena (Mt Maggio). Several relatively small lakes have formed in karst depressions in the area. The lakes allowed the establishment of several communities since the Iron Age (Villanovian) and represented an important economic asset during the Middle Ages. Villages such as Monteriggioni, Abbadia Isola, and S. Leonardo al Lago developed owing to the presence of these lakes. Most of these lakes were drained artificially in the late 17th century and the economy, landscape and climate of the Siena area changed drastically. The field trip will visit some of the best caves and other karst features of the area, the last lake to be drained (Pian del Lago), its drainage system and, finally, two well-preserved fortified medieval villages (Monteriggioni and Abbadia Isola).D03 - FIELD SIGHT NEAR RAPOLANO TERME (SIENA,TUSCANY) -RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TECTONICS AND FLUID CIRCULATION
M. Guerra & A. Raschi
This field trip will focus on the relationship between structural features (Rapolano fault, Arbia line) and the circulation of fluids (gas and water) over an area with a thick clay sequence. The concept of the impermeability of the clay sequence will be reviewed and considered on the basis of the key-concepts of "faulted clays", "fluid pressure", and "channelling phenomena". Macroscopic vents of water and gas will be seen penetrating up to hundreds of meters of clay. These observations should be taken into account when dealing with clay basins in applied fields (e.g. as waste repositories).D04 - GEOSCIENCE FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE SAFEGUARD IN FLORENCE
P. Canuti, R. Fanti, P. Malsani & E. Pecchioni
The main objective of this excursion will be to introduce the international scientific community to the main problems that the geosciences face in the preservation of monuments and other cultural heritage sites. Florence offers a wide spectrum of problems to be studied with a multi-disciplinary approach, ranging from geotechnical engineering, engineering geology, structural geology, petrography and mineralogy. The effects of weathering processes on monument preservation and problems concerning restoration work are the main topics that will be discussed in the visit to the historic center of the city. Slope instability conditions associated with landslides and cliff failures will be the aim of the tour of the San Miniato hill, the instability of which was first recognized by Leonardo da Vinci.D05 - WALKING THROUGH DOWNTOWN ROMA.A DISCOVERY TOUR ON THE KEY ROLE OF GEOLOGY IN THE HISTORY AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY
R. Funiciello, G. Giordano, B. Adanti, C. Giampaolo & M. Parotto
The Quirinal, Viminal, Esquiline, Celian, Capitoline, Palatine, and Aventine hills have been important in the mythology and history of this complex city. The Roman landscape was shaped during the deposition of hundreds of cubic kilometers of volcanic ash and pumice, produced mainly by the Alban Hills volcano, which covered the future site of Rome. These geological features are the setting for the development of Roman culture and civilization. The periphery of the ignimbrite plateau, in proximity to the river, was eroded to form small, isolated hills that were easily adapted for shelter and human settlement. Local climatic and hydrological conditions at the future site of Rome were particularly favorable for rapid incision of the ignimbrite deposits to form valleys along which there are outcrops that allow a glimpse of the geological structure underlying the city. The purpose of this one-day walking itinerary, will be to understand the connection between geology and the city's evolution from ancient to recent times.D06 - GEOLOGICAL FEATURES AND THE HISTORICAL AND ARTISTIC HERITAGE OF VITERBO, CITY OF POPES, EMPERORS AND THERMOMINERAL WATER
U. Chiocchini, A. Lanconelli & S. Madonna
The city of Viterbo is situated on the northwestern slopes of the Cimini Mountains (Latium Region) and its gently dipping landscape was shaped during the huge, mainly ignimbritic explosive eruption of the Cimini - Vicano Pleistocene volcanic district. This field trip will allow participants to observe the internals of the main products of the volcanic activity. The surrounding areas are also characterized either by springs of thermomineral water, utilized since ancient Roman times for therapeutic purposes, or by quarries of a particular lithified gray tuff locally known as "peperino". Viterbo boasts of an important historical and artistic heritage since it is one of the best preserved medieval cities of Latium. Today we can still see the formidable walls and buildings constructed between the XII and XIII centuries. The city is situated along the main medieval road between the North and Rome - the Francigena Way -- traveled by pilgrims and German emperors - and was disputed for a long time between popes and emperors, who left several traces in the city.D07 - THE RIETI INTERMOUNTAIN BASIN AND S.FRANCESCO D 'ASSISI
C. Carrara, L. Ferreli, L. Guerrieri & L. Serva
This field trip will aim at showing the Quaternary evolution of the intermountain Rieti Basin (Central Apennines) under extensional tectonics, climatic variations and human activities. The interaction among these factors during the Quaternary triggered continuous and rapid landscape modifications, such as the Holocene filling of the Rieti basin (30 to 50 meters) or the almost complete draining of the Lacus Velinus (a lake larger than 90 km2) under the Roman hydraulics works. The singularity of the natural landscape, characterized by Le Marmore Falls and other geomorphic features (fluvial terraces) shaped by travertine deposition, attracted human settlements since as early as the Bronze Age. Moreover, the presence of the places where St. Francis of Assisi lived and prayed enhance the spiritual magnificence of the area. The itinerary will provide basic elements for comprehending the role played by natural and human factors in the geomorphological evolution of the Rieti Basin and, at the same time, will include a visit to the sanctuaries of St. Francis of Assisi.D08 - APENNINE TUNNELING WORKS: IMPACTS ON THE SURFACE AND UNDERGROUND WATER RESOURCES
G. Rodolfi, S. Rossi, A. Doni & L. Ranfagni
This field trip will deal with the important changes in the hydrogeological and hydrological features resulting from one of the most important tunnelling works currently in progress in Italy. On the Tuscan part of the Bologna-Florence section the new high-speed railway will include 6 mainline tunnels (of which three exceed 15 kms in length) and also 14 kms of servicing tunnels, the so-called "windows". The line will cross the Apennines which is difficult from a geological point of view and also highly sensitive from an environmental point of view. It is characterized by fairly steep mountain relief with maximum heights being around 1,000/1,100 meters a.s.l. The field trip will proceed along the most important geological and hydrogeological features of this portion of the Apennine chain, following the development of the underground works and the most important impacts on rivers and groundwater. During the trip a reconstruction will be made of the stratigraphic sequences and the tectonic settings along a regional geological section integrating the surface information with data derived from tunneling works. The trip will move through the wonderful landscapes of the Tuscan Apennines and the Mugello plain without forgetting the local gastronomic delicacies.D09 - CRUISING ALONG DEFORMED ADRIA CONTINENTAL MARGIN AND TETHYS ROCKS (LA SPEZIA,CINQUE TERRE, LIGURIAN SEA,CENTRAL ITALY)
M. Papini & P. Vannucchi
The sea cliffs of the Cinque Terre expose a scenic geological cross-section through the Jurassic to Miocene units of the Adria continental margin (Tuscan Nappe), the Tethys sedimentary successions and ocean crust (Ligurids and Ophiolites suite, Jurassic to Paleogene). This field trip will offer an outstanding view of both the sedimentary evolution in the different paleoceanographic settings and of their deformation in the Apennine orogenic belt. The cruise is contingent on sea conditions. An alternative itinerary across the La Spezia mountains will provide the opportunity to examine the same units on land.P01 - TECTONICS AND HIGH-PRESSURE METAMORPHISM IN NORTHWEST TURKEY
A.I. Okay
North-West Turkey straddles a major Tethyan suture, and exposes Cretaceous blueschists and Triassic eclogites. The main aim of this excursion will be to show the high pressure metamorphic rocks of North-West Turkey in a regional tectonic framework. The Tethyan Izmir-Ankara suture divides North-West Turkey into two zones. The Northern Sakarya Zone comprises a basement of Late Triassic high-pressure greenschist and eclogite facies metabasic rocks of probable oceanic plateau origin, unconformably overlain by Jurassic-Cretaceous sediments. The Southern Tavsanli Zone constitutes one of the largest and best preserved glaucophane-lawsonite blueschist belts in the world, with regional distribution of jadeite, lawsonite and glaucophane. The Cretaceous blueschists are tectonically overlain by a Cretaceous oceanic accretionary complex and ophiolite. The suture separating the two zones is represented by a major strike-slip fault. Westwards towards the Aegean, a large metamorphic core complex of late Oligocene age has developed in the Sakarya Zone. The highlights of the excursion will include: the Izmir-Ankara suture; blueschist metapelites with jadeite, lawsonite, chloritoid and glaucophane; purple jades comprising jadeite, K-feldspar and lawsonite, aragonitized limestones, Triassic eclogite, Cretaceous eclogites in an accretionary complex overlying an Oligocene metamorphic core complex. Short visits to Troy and Assos will be made.P02 - STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY, STRATIGRAPHY AND VOLCANICS ACROSS THE APENNINIC - MAGHREBIAN OROGEN IN SICILY
F. Lentini, P. Guarnirei, M. Coltelli & S. Branca
This field trip, of general interest, will cross Eastern Sicily and end with a view of Mount Etna. The aim is to illustrate the stratigraphy and structural characteristics of the main tectonic units, which compose the Apenninic-Maghrebian Orogen in Sicily. Going across Eastern Sicily it will be possible to analyze foreland sequences (Hyblean carbonates and volcanics), Mesozoic oceanic rocks of the palaeo-Ionian basin, the Meso-Cenozoic carbonate platforms (Panormide), allochthonous basinal sequences of the Tethys (Sicilide) and the crystalline nappes of the delaminated European continental margin (Kabilo-Calabride Units). The mostly detached Tertiary flysch-type successions will also be observed (Numidian Flysch and internal Flysches). The field trip will permit a reconstruction of the original location of the examined sequences in the Central Mediterranean paleogeography and will allow an understanding of the general geodynamic evolution, including times and modality of the Tyrrhenian opening and the role of the Etnean volcanism in this sector of the Apenninic-Maghrebian Orogen. The field trip will allow the opportunity to visit sites of historical and touristic interest.P03 - ACTIVE TECTONISM ALONG THE DEAD SEA TRANSFORM IN JORDAN
A. M Abed, M. Atallah, & A. Al-Masri
Main structures along the transform fault. Active tectonics of the Dead Sea that affect the raised Holocene-Pleistocene deposits. Volcanic activity (3.7 Ma-0.5 Ma), which is recorded along the regional E-W Zarqa Ma'in Fault truncating the Dead Sea Transform. Hot water and oil seepages along the Rift. The stratigraphic sequence which crops out along the Dead Sea Transform. Petra (geology and archeology). General information: 3 days; The departure and arrival point is Amman City; Travel by bus. The degree of physical effort is medium. Hot and dry; Temperatures: 30-40°C.P05 - ITALIAN ALPINE LANDSLIDES
M. Amanti, C. Cesi, D.Fossati, M. Ceriani, F. Pozza, D. Sciunnach, G. Crosta,, .L. Nossing, V. Mair, A. Corsini. S. Cocco, P. Campedel, A. Franceschini, M. Zambotto & G. Zampedri.
Italy is a country in which geological disasters occur frequently. From 1945 to 1990 landslides and mass movements resulted in more then 3,500 deaths and caused a great amount of damage. The Italian Geological Survey, together with the Regional Geological Surveys, is preparing an inventory of the landslides that occurred on Italian territory (IFFI Project), linked to a comprehensive database, to be used as a support for decision makers in natural hazard reduction. Regional administrations, directly responsible for landslide matters, initiated many monitoring and hazard evaluation studies, in order to reduce the landslide hazard and risk at a local level. The aim of this field trip will be to show some examples of large landslides that occurred in Northern Italy in recent years and to describe the efforts that are being made to reduce landslide hazards on a regional/national scale (IFFI Project) and on a local scale (slope movement monitoring and warning systems). During the excursion it will also be possible to enjoy amazing alpine landscapes, taste and buy delicious local foods, drink the region's famous wines (Pinot, Teroldego Rotaliano, Inferno) and "grappa"of course, and unwind in a relaxing, hot thermal bath.P07 - DEEP-SEA FLUID EXPULSION AND RELATED PRODUCTS IN THE MIOCENE FOREDEEP AND SATELLITE BASINS OF THE NORTHERN APENNINES, ITALY
P. Clari, S. Conti, D. Fontana & M. Taviani
This field trip will focus on the chemosynthetic carbonate deposits of the Northern Apennines and in particular on the relationships between fluid expulsion, authigenic carbonates and sedimentary instability during the middle-late Miocene. Special topics will be the processes and products related to fluid expulsion ("brecciated structures"). A two-day itinerary will include the Modena-Romagna Apennines and Savio Valley, outlining the most relevant Ligurian, epi-Ligurian and Miocene foredeep successions of the Northern Apennines. The main stratigraphic sections will be shown in detail, concentrating on facies analysis, compositional, paleontological, paleoecological, paleoenvironmental and paleogeographical aspects. Outstanding geological scenarios and cultural-archeological sites will be visited during the excursion.P09 - IGNIMBRITIC DEPOSITS IN CENTRAL ITALY: PYROCLASTIC PRODUCTS OF THE QUATERNARY AGE AND ETRUSCAN FOOTPATHS
G. Nappi,L. Valentini & M. Mattioli
The volcanic areas of Quaternary age between Southern Tuscany and Northern Latium constitute a marvelous natural laboratory for volcanologists. Here we will examine deposits of large explosive volcanic eruptions linked to caldera collapse phenomena in the source areas. The field trip, which includes visits to the Vulsino, Cimino, Vicano and Sabatino volcanic districts, will allow participants to observe the volcanological characteristics of these areas first-hand, offering insights into their nature in terms of eruptive and depositional mechanisms. There will also be visits to unique historical sights where we can learn about past and present use of tuffs and lava: from Etruscan graves and monuments to modern buildings.P10 - CONTRASTING PATTERNS OF LATE QUATERNARY TECTONIC UPLIFT AROUND THE COASTLINE OF SICILY
F. Antonioli, S. Kershaw, P. Renda & D. Rust
Sicily sits astride the African - European plate boundary and much of the Eastern coastline is defined by a major fault system juxtaposing continental and oceanic-affinity crust. This complex tectonic setting, the subject of recent plate-tectonic modeling studies, also involves Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano. Several coastal sites, particularly on the Eastern (high uplift) and Northern coastline (quasi still-stand), display well-preserved sequences of marine terraces, most notably including those assigned to the Tyrhennian primarily on the basis of the distinctive Strombus bubonious warm-water fossil mollusc and now at elevations up to about 130 m. Newly published work by the leaders of the trip has extended the tectonic record into the Holocene by using uplifted and laterally extensive marine notch features formed at sea level; the carbonate bedrock and microtidal environment of the Mediterranean allowing unusually high precision. Fruitful interdisciplinary discussions are expected between field trip participants on formation mechanisms, dating and tectonics.P11 - VARISCAN BASEMENT IN NORTH SARDINIA AND CORSICA
R. Carosi, A. Di Pisa, D. Jacopini, C. Montomoli, G. Oggiano & P. Rossi
Northern Sardinia and Corsica pertain to the "inner" zone of the Southern European Variscan segment . In Sardinia where the outcrops show better continuity this segment is characterized by greenschist facies - to high-grade metamorphic rocks and consists of two metamorphic complexes: A) a polymetamorphic high-grade complex made up of LP/HT migmatites (Migmatite complex) retaining granulite relic assemblages of high-intermediate P and unknown age, which corresponds to the Northernmost part of Sardinia and extends to Corsica and B) a medium grade, chiefly metapelitic complex, consisting of micaschists and paragneisses bearing Ky±Stau ± Grt and including quartzites and N-MORB metabasalts boudins. In places this complex is confined along a narrow, NNW trending belt outcropping in Northern Sardinia (Posada Asinara Line). Thrusting, or combined thrusting-wrenching, of complex A onto complex B is apparent in places where the contact is not complicated by late-Variscan retrograde strike-slip shears. Within the collisional frame, the high-grade migmatite complex has been regarded as a crustal nappe comparable to the inner crystalline nappe of the French Massif Central, whereas the high-strain complex B has been regarded as the Sardinian segment of the Southern Variscan suture zone re-equilibrated under intermediate P amphibolite facies conditions. Later on, during the upper Carboniferous, this chain sector was affected by HT/LP metamorphism and intruded by the Corsica-Sardinia batholith. This excursion will give a general view of the Variscan chain in both the islands focusing on the transition from the pre-collisional evolution up to the late post-collisional extension and on the stratigraphic, metamorphic and magmatic evolution.P12 - THE OCEANIC LITHOSPHERE OF THE JURASSIC LIGURIAN TETHYS: FORMATION AND SUBDUCTION
G.B. Piccardo, E. Rampone, A. Romairone, M. Scambelluri, P. Elter, N. Malaspina, G. Molli, R. Tribuzio & R. L. M. Vissers
This field trip aims at showing the petrological and structural features related to formation and consumption of the oceanic lithosphere in the Mesozoic Ligurian Tethys. This lithosphere consisted of a peridotite-gabbro basement covered by MORB volcanites and radiolarian cherts. The Ligurian Tethys was originated by passive extension of the Adria-Europe lithosphere, which caused tectonic denudation and sea-floor exposure of the subcontinental mantle, and was closed by subduction during convergence between the Europe and Adria plate. The field trip will concern two classic sections of the Ligurian ophiolites: 1) the obducted ophiolites of the Liguride Units of the Northern Apennines, and 2) the subducted high-pressure ophiolites of the Alpine Erro-Tobbio Unit of the Voltri Massif. The excursion will focus on the structural, petrologic and geochronologic knowledge of mantle peridotites and gabbroic-basaltic crustal rocks of the Northern Apennine ophiolites, and on the tectonic and metamorphic evolution of subducted, HP recrystallized mafic-ultramafic rocks of the Voltri Massif, with the aim of highlighting the petrologic and geodynamic processes governing the formation and subduction of this peculiar oceanic lithosphere.P13 - LANDSLIDES OF THE EMILIA APENNINES (NORTHERN ITALY)
G. Bertolini , M. Pizzaiolo, G. Bertolini, M.T. De Nardo, G. Larini & M. Pizziolo
During the periods 1994-1999 and 2000-2001, the mountainous territory of the Emilia-Romagna Region suffered the reactivation of many previously dormant landslides which damaged and threatened villages and communication routes. This field trip will show some examples of large landslides and describe the slope movement monitoring and warning systems recently implemented. Among the landslides that will be visited, the spectacular Corniglio landslide (Province of Parma) is without doubt the largest with its 100 m depth and 110 million m3 volume. During its last reactivation (starting in 1994 and still active) 70 buildings and 5 storehouses were destroyed. Other landslides in the Modena (Valoria landslide), Reggio Emilia (Lavina di Roncovetro and Valestra landslides) and Parma (Tosca landslide) provinces will also be visited. If the weather is good, we will have an aerial view of these landslides by means of helicopter. A large amount of data will be presented and discussed during the field trip, such as the relationships between rainfall (or snowmelt), groundwater and movements. The efforts of the regional administration in this field cover a large spectrum of disciplines, such as cartography, real-time monitoring and other investigations, which will be exhibited and discussed.