Field Trips Guide Books - From PR01 to B15

B02 - THE SUBDUCTED TETHYS IN THE AOSTA VALLEY (ITALIAN WESTERN ALPS)
S. Martin,  G. Godard & G. Rebay
This three-day excursion across the Aosta Valley will present the Piedmont ophiolites (Zermatt-Saas Unit: serpentinites, metagabbros, metabasalts, Mn-rich quartzites, hydrothermal sulphide deposits, metasediments) metamorphosed in the eclogite facies during the Alpine subduction. First, we will cross the Tethys Ocean suture from Europe (Mont Rose) to Adria (Sesia Lanzo and Matterhorn). Then, we will visit some of the most classical outcrops and environments of Alpine geology in the NW Alps: the Saint Marcel Fe-Cu hydrothermal sulphide deposits, the famous Praborna Mn mine, exploited since the 15th century, the Cignana coesite locality and the Valtournanche metagabbros. Attention will focus on the eclogitized ophiolites and hydrothermal oceanic deposits where the high-pressure Alpine metamorphism developed unique mineral assemblages. New data on different geological and historical aspects will be presented.

B04 - Cr-PGE MINERALIZATION, PETROLOGY AND TECTONICS OF THE ALLOCHTHONOUS COMPLEXES OF NW SPAIN AND PORTUGAL
R. Lunar, R. Capote, B.G. Izquierdo, S. Monterrubio, T. Moreno, W. Gibbons, H. Prichard, J. Ignacio, G. Ibarguchi, B. Ábalos, P. Puelles, J.F.S. Zalduegui, C. Meireles, E. Pereira, P.G. Castro, A.A.R. Ribeiro, J.F. Santos & J.M.U. Munhá
The North-Western Iberian Peninsula has an internationally recognized reputation from a petrological, tectonic and mineralogical point of view. The main objectives of this field trip will be: 1) to visit the site of a recently described new type of Cr mineralization with exceptionally high PGE contents, and 2) to analyze and discuss the petrological, geochemical and tectonic processes that produced it. The geological setting of this area represents a unique example of stacked thrusts of varied nature, including what has recently been interpreted as the root of a volcanic arc. In this area it is possible to observe the mantle-crust contact (involving a layered complex with dunites and pyroxenites), fragments of lower crust (of granulite grade), one of the best preserved eclogitic nappes in the world and several ophiolitic slices, all of them emplaced over the Gondwana continental margin during the Variscan orogeny. The field trip will start and finish in Santiago de Compostela (Galicia), the end of the famous Camino de Santiago pilgrim route, with numerous Romanesque churches and important Celtic and Roman archeological ruins.

B05 - THE PALEOZOIC BASEMENT THROUGH THE 500 MA HISTORY OF THE NORTHERN APENNINES
E. Pandeli, F.A. Decandia & M. Tongiorgi
Tuscany represents a unique area, in which the Paleozoic basement and the overlying mostly siliciclastic syn-rift sediments (Verrucano Auctt.) crop out along the whole Apennine Chain. Both of these successions, from continental to marine sedimentary sequences and volcanics, record a series of different events during a long geological time: Eo-Caledonian (Middle Ordovician) tectonics, the Variscan orogenic events (Early-Middle Carboniferous), post-Variscan extension (Late Carboniferous-Early Permian and Alpine rifting (Late Permian-Triassic). In Oligocene times they also experienced polyphase Alpine tectono-metamorphism.
This field trip will visit the Paleozoic-Carnian type-successions of the Apuan Alps, Mts. Pisani, Iano, Monticiano-Roccastrada Ridge and the Argentario Promontory. The itinerary will pass through typical Tuscan landscapes (the Versilia coast, lower Arno Valley, Chianti and Siena hills, Maremma) and famous art-filled towns (Pisa and Siena).

B06 - GEODIVERSITY IN THE LANDSCAPE OF EMILIA-ROMAGNA (NORTHERN ITALY): GEOSITES IN  THE APENNINES BETWEEN MODENA AND REGGIO EMILIA
P. Coratza, G. Tosatti, S. Piacente & M. Pellegrini
This field trip is intended for geomorphologists and geologists with an interest in the conservation and improvement of geological assets (Geosites). This topic will be treated extensively in the field with reference to some of the most relevant examples of geosites that make up the landscape of the Apennine mountains in the diverse, unique provinces of Modena and Reggio Emilia.
In particular, geological assets such as mud volcanoes up to 5 m high renowned as "Salse di Nirano", spectacular cliff-like outcrops of reddish colored ophiolites and the "Pietra di Bismantova", a rock slab geosite, will be visited and presented in a multidisciplinary and cultural perspective. Participants in this field trip will be shown the geological and geomorphological origins and significance of some important geosites. Attention will also be given to all the cultural aspects related to the vicinity of the geosites (the history of the castles and watch-towers built on them, the cultural and economic framework of the geosites, some well-known literary citations, etc). This will provide participants with a feeling for the kind of multidisciplinary approach to the topic, which is believed essential for a proper evaluation of cultural heritages of geological nature and of the relationship between cultural and natural heritages.

B07 - QUATERNARY EUSTATIC FLUCTUATIONS AND BIOCHRONOLOGY OF VERTEBRATE-BEARING DEPOSITS CORRELATED WITH MARINE TERRACES IN SICILY
V. Agnesi, L. Bonfiglio, C. Ciurcina, C. Conoscenti, C. Di Maggio, C. Di Patti, G. Mangano, F. Masini, M. Pavia, D. Petruso & U. Spigo
In Sicily a vast paleontological heritage of Pleistocene endemic terrestrial vertebrates is preserved in several caves. Variations in paleogeography caused by tectonics and glacial and eustatic marine cycles have controlled the processes and timing of Pleistocene vertebrate faunal dispersal in Sicily. In recent years new data have given significant contributions to the knowledge of both taphonomic and stratigraphic conditions of the Pleistocene mammal-bearing deposits. Correlation with marine deposits allowed the construction of a fairly detailed biochronological framework. This field trip will illustrate the paleontological and geomorphological evidence of variations in the paleogeography of the island. The Late Pleistocene deposits in the St. Teodoro caves and the remains of thousands of the endemic hippo Hippopotamus pentlandi in the excavation trenches within a lacustrine deposit will be seen at Acquedolci (North-Eastern Sicily). Some mammal-bearing deposits correlated with marine terraces in Eastern and in Western Sicily will be illustrated.

B08 - LARGE SCALE GRAVITATIONAL PHENOMENA IN SOUTHERN-CENTRAL ITALY: GEOMORPHOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK,TRIGGERING FACTORS,TEMPORAL EVOLUTION,AND IMPACT ON HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
F. Dramis, A. Prestininzi, G. Fubelli, M. Del Prete, B. Gentili, F.M. Guadagno, P. Sacconi, M.-G. Angeli, F. Bozzano, C. Cencetti, P. Conversini, B. Gentili, G. Pambianchi, F. Pontoni, G. Scarascia Mugnozza & P. Tacconi
This field trip will focus on large-scale landslides and deep-seated gravitational slope deformations greatly affecting urban settlements. A number of towns on unstable ground in Southern-Central Italy (Ferrandina, Pisticci, Craco Sarno, Bisaccia, Calitri, Roccamontepiano, Pescosansonesco, Montelparo, Ancona, Orvieto, Civita di Bagnoregio) will be visited. All the gravitational phenomena will be examined in a geological-geomorphological context, with special reference to predisposing and triggering factors, historical record of past activity phases, and disruptive effects on buildings. The trip will also include several points of general interest, among which: a visit to the archeological area of Pompei, a boat tour along the Adriatic coast between Ancona and Numana, and a stop at the Dunarobba petrified forest (Umbria).

B10 - ACTIVE TECTONICS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SECTOR OF THE IBERIAN PENINSULA (EAST SPAIN)
P. Silva, P. Alfaro, E. Masana, J.J. Martínez Díaz, T. Bardají, A. Estévez, J.L. Goy, P. Santanach, C. Zazo & K.R. Reicherter
This field trip will examine the Eastern Betic Shear Zone (SE Spain) and the Catalan Coastal Ranges (NE Spain).
Neotectonics, tectonic geomorphology and paleoseismicity will be the main topics. The trip will start in Almería, where coastal tectonics related to late Pleistocene marine deposits and landforms will be examined. Sites to be visited deal with Quaternary deformation and paleoseismic features related to the activity of low slip-rate faults in an area with low to moderate instrumental seismicity, but affected by significant (catastrophic) historical and/or pre-historical earthquakes.
Some of the selected sites have been the subject of recent fault-trenching analysis. The participants will have a chance to observe tectonic features and landforms linked to reverse, normal and strike-slip faulting, as well as much stratigraphic evidence of past earthquakes.

B12 - GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF THE ROMANIAN CARPATHIANS
M.Sandulescu & R.Dimitrescu
This is a general interest field trip which will allow the examination of  the geological structure of the Romanian Carpathians, a twice bent folded chain.
Precambrian and Paleozoic formations, Mesozoic and Cenozoic sedimentary turbiditic (flysch) and/or carbonate formations, alpine ophiolites, pre-alpine and alpine intrusive rocks and Neogene volcanics will be shown. In addition the outer and the inner large and complex overthrust units will be crossed. Paleogeographic and paleotectonic models will be discussed.
The historical provinces which will be crossed are: Moldavia, Transylvania, Oltenia and Banat. Of important historical interest are the North Moldavian painted monasteries, the Transylvanian Medieval fortified churches and castles, as well as modern art (Brancussi sculptures).

B13 - THE ROLE OF OLISTOSTROMES AND ARGILLE SCAGLIOSE IN THE STRUCTURAL EVOLUTION OF THE NORTHERN APENNINES
G.A. Pini, C.C. Lucente, D.S. Cowan, C.M. De Libero, F. Dellisanti, A. Landuzzi, A. Negri, F. Tateo, M. Del Castello, M.  Morrone & L. Cantelli
Highly disrupted and chaotic rock units with a block-in-matrix fabric are one of the most intriguing geological features of the Apennines. This field trip will address the internal structures, fabric and composition of some of the more classic examples in the Northern Apennines. Some of these units, the classic olistostromes, are sedimentary bodies from submarine avalanches and flows of debris, which collapsed from the front of the paleo-Apenninic accretionary wedge into the Oligocene and Miocene foredeeps. The "argille scagliose" of the Ligurian nappe, previously considered chaotic assemblages, have been recently subdivided into mappable bodies of strongly deformed stratigraphic successions (tectonosomes) and olistostromes.
The stratal disruption in these bodies is related to gravity mass movements, shallow-level tectonic deformation and mud diapirism. The internal structures, composition and distribution of tectonosomes and olistostromes reflect some features of the paleo-Apenninic accretionary wedge and related foredeeps and can therefore help to reconstruct the paleogeographic and structural evolution of the Apenninic chain.

B14 - ALPINE THERMAL GEOLOGY THERMAL WATER UTILIZATION IN SOUTHERN CARINTHIA (AUSTRIAN -ITALIAN BORDER)
W.  Kollmann, F.W.  Marsch & H.  Zojer
In the high Alpine regions (> 1,000 m above sea level) the occurrence of thermal springs (> 30 degrees centigrade) is a unique curiosity. Temperature and discharge have been improved using shallow drilling (< 200 m depth). This became possible due to an evaluation of a model-like geological setting. Typically, one finds a sandwich-like geo-structure (e.g. Mesozoic dolomite between basal crystalline basement and overburden schists). This sandwich was built by tectonic nappe transport and is cut by several faults which form the slip on path for deeper thermal water, running from a 1,400 m deep reservoir (calculated by geothermometry).

B15 - THE GEOLOGICAL CIRCUIT OF THE FOUR STRUCTURAL DOMAINS: THE RIF, THE MESETA, THE ATLASES,AND THE ANTI-ATLAS
B. Tadili, L. Ait Brahim, A. Chalouan, H. El Hadi, B. Fedan & A. Tahiri
This geological circuit will cover multi-disciplinary aspects (Stratigraphy, Paleontology, Petrography and Tectonics-Geodynamics) and cross great structural domains that record the Panafrican, Precambrian and Alpine (Atlasic and Rifain) Orogenies. The structural domains are as follows: the Anti-Atlas and African Craton with the ophiolitic complex and the Panafrican Orogeny around 685 MA associated with the closing of an ocean and a continental collision (folds, overlapping, magmatic rocks, etc.), the Mesetian domain with the Shoul block that records the Caledonian compression in Morocco, and the Hercynian Orogeny also recorded in the Western part of Europe (folds, overlapping, magmatic rocks, etc.), the Atlasic Domain with intracontinental chains of high and Middle Atlas with rocks dating from Triassic to current, Mesozoic deformation syn and post-rifting, and the elevation of the Neogene relief (folds, faults, slopes, etc.) with the Toubkal mount which culminates at 4,167m, and finally the Rifian Domain, a part of the Mediterranean Alpine chain made up of Paleozoic tectonic and metamorphic nappes (gneiss, kinzigites, etc.) and of ultra-basic rocks (peridotites, etc).