5. 07 Field Trip to Apennines,
Italy
1st – 11th May 2010
Leader: Dr Alex Whittaker
Demonstrators
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Dr Jon Hill (Imperial)
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Dr Gillian McCay (Edinburgh)
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Grace Cairns (Imperial)
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Nikolas Michael (Imperial)
Itinerary
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1 May: Coach departs RSM, 6am. Meet at Stansted
airport departures lounge, flight FR 124, depart
09.55. Arrive Ancona 13.10, drive to Sigillo, overnight
at Hotel Dominus
3 days on the thrust belt and its synorogenic
sediments, Mesozoic passive margin and deformation,
based at Scheggia
Move to Perugia (2 nights) via famous K-T boundary at
Gubbio. 1 day on “Tuscan flysch”
Drive to Piombino and ferry to Elba - igneous
intrusions, oceanic sediments/lavas and deformation of
Elba island (3 nights)
20 May: Depart Elba by ferry, driver to Pisa, depart
Pisa airport FR 589 at 22.15, arrive Stansted 23.30;
Coach transfer to RSM
Transect across a
mountain belt and its
associated basins
What we see….
Structural Geology
Contractional deformation
What we see….
Structural Geology
Extensional deformation
What we see….
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Sediments
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carbonates, fluvial
deposits and turbidites
What we see….
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Igneous and Metamorphic
Monte Capanne
Pluton
Pillow Basalts
Intrusives
Punto Zuccale
Geology of Elba
Schists
Oh no!
Aim of trip
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Idea is to produce an integrated geological history
of the Apennines from field observations
Not just about interpreting outcrops as moderately
diverting but ultimately random bits of rock…..
Tectonic setting of the Apennines
Shortening
and extension in the Western
Mediterranean
5.6
From Faccenna et al. Tectonics 2004
7.3
6
8.1
Crustal scale section - approx. along transect of field trip
Vignaroli et al. 2008
Anticlines of Umbria-Marche
Modern thrust front of the
Northern Apennines
From Platt, J Geol. Soc. London 2007
From Lonergan & White, Tectonics, 1997
Young
volcanism in
Italy
Pecerillo & Donati (2002)
c. 35 Ma
Iberia
Tethyan
Ocean
Iberian & African
Passive Margins
Flysch Basin
?
Africa
From Lonergan & White, Tectonics, 1997
C. 18 MA
Shortening
Iberia
9 Ma
5 Ma
0 Ma
Rapid
Roll-back
c. 22-15 Ma
Africa
Internal Zones
Flysch Basins
From Lonergan & White, Tectonics, 1997
500 km
External Zones
Back -Arc extending
region
New oceanic crust
Section:
Explanation
Subduction Zone
Roll-back
F
Mantle
Flow
Extension
A
A'
Plan View:
A
From Lonergan & White,
Tectonics, 1997
A'
Extension in the Apennines
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Now active
extension;
up to
6mm/yr
stretching
Whittaker et al., 2008
Extensional deformation
Extensional deformation in the Apennines
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Extension drives deformation –due to
eastward movement of rising
aesthenospheric plume in Tyrrhenian Sea
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Continuous eastward thrusting of crust drives
deformation (extension is minor)
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Extension and shortening driven by rollback of subducting slab?
Convective removal of thickened
lithospheric root
mountain
belt
shortening
Extension
shortening
Delamination of lithospheric mantle
Extension
shortening
Timing of deformation and volcanism
Timing of
Thrusting
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W
Extensional basins
E
Contractional basins
volcanism
Pauselli et al. 2006
Key Questions:
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What field data can be observed that support or
distinguish between these hypotheses?
What implications does the dynamic history of the
Apennines have for the timing, locus and style of
sedimentation?
How does the igneous and metamorphic geology of
Elba fit with the evolution of the Apennine belt?
What do the Apennines tell us about the growth and
collapse of mountain belts generally?
Requires synthesis and integration of structural
geology, sedimentology, stratigraphy, igneous
geology, metamorphic studies
Routine
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Field visits during day (4
x 9-seater minivans).
Fieldwork tasks
include: sketching,
structural measurements,
logging, sedimentology,
petrology etc
Evening work will
include: discussion
sessions, seminars and
group presentations and
structural/cross section
work. This takes place
between 6.45 and 8pm,
BEFORE dinner.
Assessment
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At least two main
assessed components:
1) Field notebook,
including large-scale
sketches
2) Synthesis group
presentations, conducted
on the Isle of Elba
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e.g: “Extensional
faulting in the
Apennines; observations
and interpretations....”
Logistics
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We will buy lunches (supplies at supermarkets). All evening
meals, except for two are provided. Breakfasts provided for all
days, but note that breakfasts in Italy are not as plentiful as in the
UK, so do not expect cereal and lots of bread.
Please make sure you have filled in the medical/personal
information form and returned this to Liz Swift; We also require
information on any dietary requirements on this form.
Make sure you bring your own medical supplies.
In early May the weather can be very variable in Italy. For the first
part of the trip we stay in the mountains - bring warm and
waterproof clothing, but also sun screen, hats and sunglasses etc
for warm weather.
A towel is required for the Youth Hostel in Perugia
Please remember . . . .
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Passport, European Health Insurance Card,
any special medical or dietary needs, cash
To bring/pick up:- hardhat, field guidebook,
fluorescent vest, HP tablet (shared) and cable
Be sure to bring:- field notebook (+A4
sketching pad), compass-clinometer, digital
camera, hand lens, pens, pencils, crayons
You don’t really need a hammer