Cultural land use and vegetation dynamics in the uplands of northern Portugal from the Middle Ages to the Modern period

In Europe, mountain landscapes have evolved in a long-term relationship with human communities and present-day landscapes reflect that ancient interaction. The present study aims to reconstruct human activity in two mountain areas in northern Portugal using palynological analysis integrated with the available regional historical, archaeological and palaeoenvironmental archives. Pollen records from two sedimentary sequences span the Medieval and Modern periods and show that mixed agriculture and livestock grazing were consistently present in both regions throughout these times. Variations in cultural indicators show that the extent of farming fluctuated throughout time, with a general increase in cultivation during the Medieval period but with contractions likely coinciding with times of social disturbance. Historical sources suggest that sociopolitical factors and population pressure were fundamental in the utilisation of upland spaces. This study did not find any convincing evidence to suggest that fire was a fundamental factor in heathland spread. We conclude that long-term occupation of the uplands was sustained by low-intensity land use throughout the Medieval to post-Medieval periods, and that the present landscape has assumed a very different character following depopulation of the mountain areas and a shift towards commercial forestry.     

Evidence for a warmer period during the 12th and 13th centuries AD from chironomid assemblages in Southampton Island, Nunavut, Canada

This study presents the Late-Holocene evolution of a northern Southampton Island (Nunavut, Canada) lake, using fossil chironomids supported by sedimentological evidences (XRF, grain size and CNS). All proxies revealed a relatively stable environment during the last millennium with short-lived events driving changes in the entire lake ecosystem. The chironomid-based paleotemperatures revealed variations of significant amplitude coincident with changes in the sediment density and chemical composition of the core. Higher temperature intervals were generally correlated to lower sediment density with higher chironomid concentration and diversity. Higher temperatures were recorded from cal yr AD 1160 to AD 1360, which may correspond to the Medieval Warm Period. Between cal yr AD 1360 and AD 1700, lower temperatures were probably related to a Little Ice Age event. This study presents new information on the timing of known climatic events which will refine our knowledge of the paleoclimate and climatic models of the Foxe Basin region. It also provides a new framework for the evolution of such freshwater ecosystems under the “Anthropocene” and underlines the importance of including sedimentological proxies when interpreting chironomid remains as this combined approach provides an extended overview of the past hydrological and geochemical changes and their impacts on lake biota.     

成矿环境中的高密度碳质流体:以阿尔泰南缘为例

碳质流体(CO2-CH4-N2体系流体)常见于地幔橄榄岩和下地壳麻粒岩中。近期研究表明,阿尔泰南缘晚古生代成矿环境中的碳质流体极为丰富,不仅在造山型金矿中赋存大量与成矿有关的碳质流体,而且在VMS型矿床中也存在同造山期的变质碳质流体。由共生的富CO2包裹体(LCO2-LH2O型)和H2O-CO2包裹体(LH2O-LCO2型)的均一温度推测,造山型金矿的碳质流体捕获温度大于254～394.5℃,压力大于150～320MPa;VMS矿床的变质碳质流体捕获温度大于209～430℃,压力大于180～300MPa,两者具相似的捕获温度压力条件。碳质流体的捕获温度压力条件与变质相带相平衡计算的变质温度、压力范围相当。碳质流体源于区域变质作用,并参与了与造山型金矿有关的构造-变质-流体-成矿作用和对VMS型矿床的变质改造作用。     

阿拉善变质基底古元古代晚期的构造热事件

阿拉善地块可分为太古宙的叠布斯格杂岩(岩群)、古元古代的巴彦乌拉山杂岩(岩组)和古-中元古代的阿拉善杂岩(岩群)、波罗斯坦庙片麻杂岩和毕级格台片麻杂岩。太古宙的叠布斯格岩群和片麻岩中的锆石记录了1926Ma和1802Ma的变质事件年龄,角闪石记录了1918Ma的变质事件年龄,斜长石记录了1722Ma的冷却年龄。同时,在波罗斯坦庙变形的片麻状杂岩中的锆石记录了1839Ma的岩浆事件年龄。该区古元古代晚期的构造热事件,可初步将划分为2000～1900Ma的早期事件和1850～1800Ma的晚期事件,并在时间和特点上与大青山-集宁-大同一带变质地体中广泛发育古元古代晚期的岩浆-变质事件非常相似,进而表明,华北克拉通西部陆块中的古元古代晚期造山带(孔兹岩带)向西可延伸到阿拉善东部地区。     

Natural hazards vs human impact: an integrated methodological approach in geomorphological risk assessment on the Tursi historical site, Southern Italy

The Tursi–Rabatana historical site is very representative of the cultural heritage of Basilicata, Southern Italy. Morphological evolution of the landscape is characterized by very intense erosive phenomena such as landslides, deep gullies, rills, and piping, which affect the perimeter of urban settlements and threaten the conservation of these sites. Rainfalls and the lithology of the substratum are the main factors to which the landscape evolution is linked, triggering landslide and linear erosion phenomena. Climate analysis carried out during the last century showed an increasing trend in the rainfall intensity over extremely short periods. This condition also induced an increase in the vulnerability level of the slopes. Integrated analysis between territorial data (geology, geomorphology, climate) and historical documents showed that, at least from the last century, the geomorphological hazard has been accentuated by the intense human activity of cave excavation along several fronts under the present urban area. The geophysical investigation also permitted the mapping of shallow caves and tunnels in the subsurface reconstructing the multilevel complex hypogeal system. This work also produced evidence that the human interventions occurring during the historical period have been a determining factor in increasing the hazard level and accelerating the preexisting morphological processes.     

Internal colonisation, hegemony and coercion: Investigating migration to Southern Lazio, Italy, in the 1930s

This paper investigates the Italian fascist regime’s use of internal colonisation as part of a wider ruralisation policy aimed at promoting population growth, curbing rural-urban migration, staunching emigration, and halting the spread of industrial urbanisation. By focusing on the case study of the Pontine Marshes, the paper demonstrates how, through targeted selection procedures aimed at displacing defined social and political undesirables, migrants were chosen and effectively coerced into migrating to the “fascist” landscape of the marshes. The area, reclaimed and developed in the 1930s, was celebrated as a sign of the regime’s engineering and social success. The paper utilises Antonio Gramsci’s thought on hegemony, and argues that the overt use of coercion hints at the fact that fascism, although ideologically totalitarian and hegemonic, was contested. Although statisticians, demographers and state bureaucrats were organised and institutionalised in the construction of hegemony based on consent, fascism based itself more in coercion than in passive consent in the case of internal colonisation.     

喜马拉雅地体的泛非-早古生代造山事件年龄记录

喜马拉雅地体是55±10Ma以来印度陆块与欧亚大陆碰撞而形成的增生地体,位于其中的高喜马拉雅与特提斯-喜马拉雅构造单元的变质基底主要由角闪岩相的富铝变质沉积岩和花岗质片麻岩组成。对两类岩石中锆石的SHRIMPU-Pb测年结果表明,除了记录了20Ma以来的构造事件年龄外,主要保存了529-457Ma的变形和变质事件记录,另外还保存了更早期(>835Ma)的年龄信息。根据20Ma以来崛起的喜马拉雅挤出岩片中包含早期强烈褶皱和向南的斜向逆冲构造以及伴随的角闪岩相变质作用记录,结合岩石测年所获得的大量泛非-早古生代年龄和奥陶纪底砾岩的发现,说明曾位于南半球印度陆块北部的变质基底岩石经历过泛非-早古生代造山事件,同位素年代学数据表明:(1)原始喜马拉雅山是泛非-早古生代造山事件的产物;(2)印度陆块早-中元古代变质基底的再活化在原始喜马拉雅山形成中起重要的作用;(3)现在的喜马拉雅山是在泛非-早古生代造山事件基础上再造山的结果。     

Response of Reactive Phosphorus Burial to the Sedimentary Transition from Cretaceous Black Shales to Oceanic Red Beds in Southern Tibet

The mechanism of sedimentary transition from the Cretaceous black shales to the oceanic red beds is a new and important direction of Cretaceous research. Chemical sequential extraction is applied to study the burial records of reactive phosphorus in the black shale of the Gyabula Formation and oceanic red beds of the Chuangde Formation, Southern Tibet. Results indicate that the principal reactive phosphorus species is the authigenic and carbonate-associated phosphorus (CaP) in the Gyabula Formation and iron oxides-associated phosphorus (FeP) in the Chuangde Formation which accounts for more than half of their own total phosphorus content. While the authigenic and carbonate-associated phosphorus (CaP) is almost equal in the two Formations; the iron oxides-associated phosphorus is about 1.6 times higher in the Chuangde Formation than that in the Gyabula Formation resulting in a higher content of the total phosphorus in the Chuangde Formation. According to the observations on the marine phosphorus cycle in Modern Ocean, it is found that preferential burial and regeneration of reactive phosphorus corresponds to highly oxic and reducing conditions, respectively, leading to the different distribution of phosphorus in these two distinct type of marine sediments. It is the redox-sensitive behavior of phosphorus cycle to the different redox conditions in the ocean and the controlling effects of phosphorus to the marine production that stimulate the local sedimentary transition from the Cretaceous black shale to the oceanic red beds.     

南黄海盆地二叠系至三叠系沉积体系特征及其沉积演化

南黄海是下扬子板块主体,经过多年的油气勘探,从浅层陆相至深层海相地层仍未取得油气突破,总体勘探和认识程度都较低。根据南黄海地震和钻井资料,充分结合下扬子陆区成果认识,将南黄海二叠系龙潭组、大隆组和三叠系青龙组划分为6大沉积体系：河流沉积体系、三角洲沉积体系、潮坪沉积体系、开阔台地沉积体系、局限台地沉积体系、陆棚沉积体系,并分析了各沉积体系特征。根据二叠系龙潭组、大隆组和三叠系青龙组地震反射特征,可将其划分为4大地震相类型,分析了各地震相的沉积意义。钻井沉积相和地震相相结合,分析了沉积体系的分布特征,龙潭组、大隆组和青龙组沉积体系具有水体西北深、东南浅的分布特征。龙潭组至青龙组沉积时期,经历了两次大规模海侵和两次大规模海退,形成了海平面的上升-下降的旋回式变化,岩性组合上构成了潮坪砂泥岩-潮坪煤层-潮坪砂泥岩-陆棚页岩-开阔台地碳酸盐岩-局限台地碳酸盐岩的沉积演化序列。     

Late Cretaceous planktonic foraminifera from Kerguelen Plateau (ODP Leg 183): new data to improve the Southern Ocean biozonation

An almost complete Upper Cretaceous sedimentary sequence recently recovered on the Kerguelen Plateau (southern Indian Ocean) during ODP Leg 183 was analysed for planktonic foraminifera in order to refine and integrate the zonal schemes previously proposed for the Southern Ocean area. Detailed biostratigraphic analysis carried out on holes 1135A, 1136A and 1138A (poleward of 50°S palaeolatitude during Late Cretaceous time) has allowed recognition of low and mid–high latitude bioevents, useful for correlation across latitudes, in addition to known Austral bioevents. The low latitude biozonation can be applied to Turonian sediments, because of the occurrence of Helvetoglobotruncana helvetica, which marks the boundary between Whiteinella archaeocretacea and Helvetoglobotruncana helvetica zones. The base of the Whiteinella archeocretacea Zone falls within the uppermost Cenomanian–Turonian black shale level in Hole 1138A. The stratigraphic interval from upper Turonian to uppermost Santonian can be resolved using bioevents recognized in the mid–high latitude sections. They are, in stratigraphic order: the last occurrence of Falsotruncana maslakovae in the Coniacian, the first occurrence of Heterohelix papula at the Coniacian/Santonian boundary, the extinction of the marginotruncanids in the late Santonian, and the first occurrence of Globigerinelloides impensus in the latest (?) Santonian. The remainder of the Late Cretaceous fits rather well in the Austral zonal scheme, except that Globigerinelloides impensus exhibits a stratigraphic range in agreement with its record at the mid–high latitude sections and extends further downwards than previously recorded at southern sites. Therefore, despite the poor recovery in certain intervals and the presence of several hiatuses of local and regional importance as revealed by correlation among holes, a more detailed zonal scheme has been obtained (mainly for the less resolved Turonian–Santonian interval). Remarks on some species often overlooked in literature are also provided.     

中天山东段中元古代晚期—古生代构造-热事件:SHRIMP锆石年代学证据

星星峡杂岩是中天山构造带东段出露的最老岩石,主要岩性为斜长角闪岩和各种副变质岩,并被中—新元古代花岗片麻岩和古生代片麻岩所侵位。文中利用SHRIMP定年方法,对星星峡杂岩的一个片岩和侵入其中的一个花岗片麻岩样品进行了锆石U-Pb测年。其中片岩样品中的碎屑锆石给出1800、1530和1200Ma3组大约年龄,表明其源区不仅包括古元古代和中元古代早期还含有中元古代晚期的地壳物质。在这些碎屑锆石中,最年轻的年龄为(1189±65)Ma,与该区中元古代大约1200Ma岛弧岩浆活动相近,可代表其沉积时的最大年龄。同时获得约910和470Ma的两组较年轻年龄;前者解释为变质年龄,后者为岩浆扰动年龄,与花岗质片麻岩样品的侵位时代相一致。中天山构造带东段的中元古代晚期岩浆(大约1200Ma)和变质作用(大约910Ma)的发生时间与华南、南极洲东部、澳大利亚南部和北美西南部所报道的格林维尔期增生-造山事件在时间上接近,表明中天山构造带东段与Rodinia超大陆的汇聚过程密切相关。     

南秦岭东河群碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄及其板块构造意义

南秦岭微陆块是秦岭造山带的重要构造单元,其早白垩世沉积物是研究物源区及南秦岭微陆块构造演化的理想对象.南秦岭微陆块南缘观音坝盆地早白垩世砂砾岩中的碎屑锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb年龄给出了5个年龄峰,范围分别是2600～2300Ma、2050～1800Ma、1200～750Ma、650～400Ma和350～200Ma,对应于Kenor、Columbia、Rodinia、Gondwana和Pangaea等5次超大陆事件.碎屑锆石源区复杂,但主要源自华北克拉通和北秦岭增生带,表明晚古生代南秦岭微陆块是秦岭-华北联合大陆板块的一部分,而非独立的微陆块.最年轻的锆石年龄峰给出了勉略洋向秦岭-华北大陆俯冲的时限,即350～ 200Ma;扬子与秦岭-华北联合大陆板块的碰撞造山作用始于三叠纪-侏罗纪之交,强烈的挤压造山作用发生在侏罗纪,而非三叠纪或更早.     

Spatial distribution of melt-bearing structures in anatectic rocks from Southern Brittany, France: implications for melt transfer at grain- to orogen-scale

In this study, we present quantitative spatial information on the one- and two-dimensional distribution of inferred melt-bearing structures in anatectic supracrustal rocks of the Southern Brittany Migmatite Belt, south of the transcurrent South Armorican Shear Zone (SASZ); based on these data, we infer the mechanism of melt extraction from partially molten crust. Former melt-bearing structures include foliation-parallel leucosomes and cross-cutting granitic leucosomes that infill inter-boudin partitions and extensional shear surfaces, as well as discordant dykes of granite. Petrographic (i.e., mineralogical and microstructural) continuity of granite from structure to structure suggests that they once formed a continuous melt-bearing network. Measurements along one-dimensional line traverses perpendicular to layering of stromatic migmatite exposed in clean, sub-horizontal outcrop surfaces provide information about thickness and spacing distributions of foliation-parallel leucosomes. Most leucosome thicknesses fall in the range of 1–10 mm, with upper limits around 20–30 mm. The number of thicker layers decreases abruptly with increasing thickness, which is inconsistent with scale-invariance. This suggests that leucosome formation was controlled by short-range melt movement along grain boundaries to form melt-rich layers constrained by pre-existing compositional layering. Spacing distributions also are not scale-invariant; however, the large percentage of leucosomes (40–60%) in these line traverses suggests that spacing distributions may be controlled in part by impingement of leucosomes, making it difficult to derive genetic information from these data. Qualitative observation of inferred melt-bearing structures in mutually perpendicular two-dimensional exposures from the same outcrop reveals anisotropy of the leucosome network related to a well-developed sub-horizontal quartz–feldspar lineation reflecting stretching associated with transcurrent movement along the SASZ. Analysis of these two-dimensional distributions using the box-counting method corroborates the observed anisotropy, but indicates that leucosome morphology (and perhaps distribution) is not scale-invariant. The applicability of the box-counting method, or of fractal analysis, to understanding melt movement in migmatites is discussed in light of these results. Based on the anisotropy of melt-bearing structures, we infer that melt-movement in structures now represented by layer-parallel leucosomes was primarily sub-horizontal. These layers fed steeply dipping structures now represented by cross-cutting leucosomes, in particular those developed at inter-boudin partitions, and granite dykes. The formation and orientation of these steeply dipping structures was in part controlled by far-field stresses related to dextral displacement along the SASZ. Melt extraction is inferred to have occurred along these steeply dipping structures; extracted melt accumulated in plutons at higher crustal levels, such as the Quiberon, Sarzeau, and Guérande granites.     

Altitudinal shift in stable hydrogen isotopes and microbial tetraether distribution in soils from the Southern Alps,NZ: Implications for paleoclimatology and paleoaltimetry

The Southern Alps are an ideal locality for studying patterns of isotopic fractionation associated with orographic precipitation. We have evaluated whether altitudinal change is reflected in the stable hydrogen isotopic composition (δ²H) of stream water, plant stem water and leaf wax lipids (n-alkanes) from living plants and soils, as well as in soil temperature. Samples were collected along an altitudinal transect from the windward side of the Southern Alps to Lake Hawea in the rain shadow. The results indicate that δ²H values of stem water overlap with stream water, demonstrating a gradual decrease with elevation that complied with modeled Rayleigh distillation, reflecting an isotopic lapse rate of −18.0 (± 1.1, 1σ)‰/km. Leaf and soil n-alkanes shared similar δ²H values and were ²H depleted relative to stem/stream waters. The values for soil n-alkanes indicated an isotopic lapse rate of −21.8 (± 2.0, 1σ)‰/km, consistent with precipitation data and long term observations. MBT/CBT derived soil temperature values based on the relative distribution of microbial tetraether lipids were similar to midsummer temperature observations, displaying an elevational decrease rate of −5.6 (± 1.5, 1σ) °C/km, consistent with regional and global observations.The results indicate that sedimentary lipid δ²H and microbial tetraether temperature estimates captured altitudinal trends in the isotopic composition of precipitation and mean temperature and further support their application in the reconstruction of past climate and surface uplift histories. However, notable differences in isotopic composition and temperature estimates between in situ soils and those with downslope transport of material emphasize the importance of facies analysis when interpreting past systems.     

Fault geometries from the space distribution of the 1990–1997 Sannio–Benevento earthquakes: inferences on the active deformation in Southern Apennines

In this study, we analyze the recent (1990–1997) seismicity that affected the northern sector (Sannio–Benevento area) of the Southern Apennines chain. We applied the Best Estimate Method (BEM), which collapses hypocentral clouds, to the events of low energy (M_{d max}=4.1) seismic sequences in order to constrain the location and geometry of the seismogenetic structures. The results indicate that earthquakes aligned along three main structures: two sub-parallel structures striking NW–SE (1990–1992, Benevento sequence) and one structure striking NE–SW (1997, Sannio sequence). The southernmost NW–SE structure, which dips towards NE, overlies the fault that is likely to be responsible for a larger historical earthquake (I_{o max}=XI MCS, 1688 earthquake). The northernmost NW–SE striking structure dips towards SW. The NE–SW striking structure is sub-vertical and it is located at the northern tip of the fault segment supposed to be responsible for the 1688 earthquake. The spatio-temporal evolution of the 1990–1997 seismicity indicates a progressive migration from SE (Benevento) to NW (Sannio) associated to a deepening of hypocenters (i.e., from about 5 to 12 km). Hypocenters cluster at the interface between the major structural discontinuities (e.g., pre-existing thrust surfaces) or within higher rigidity layers (e.g., the Apulia carbonates). Available focal mechanisms from earthquakes occurred on the recognized NW–SE and NE–SW faults are consistent with dip-slip normal solutions. This evidences the occurrence of coexisting NW–SE and NE–SW extensions in Southern Apennines.     

松辽盆地基底显生宙岩浆热事件:来自营城组火山岩捕获锆石的SHRIMP定年证据

盆地基底的研究对了解成盆历史及恢复区域古大地构背景具有重要意义.本文从松辽盆地北部早白垩世营城组火山岩的显生宙基底捕获锆石入手.对其进行SHRIMP U-Pb定年,得到7组显生宙年龄:482～481Ma、381～350Ma、297～290Ma、252～237Ma、225～219Ma、200～189Ma、183-158Ma.研究认为松辽盆地北部显生宙基底至少经历了晚泥盆世、早二叠世早期、三叠纪和早-中侏罗世等多次大规模的岩浆热事件,其中以中生代三叠纪和侏罗纪火山活动最为频繁,中生代火成岩是松辽盆地显生宙基底花岗岩的主体.这一系列显生宙的岩浆活动可能与晚古生代额尔古纳-兴安、松嫩-张广才岭、佳木斯.兴凯等地块相互间碰撞拼合后的岩石圈伸展作用、华北板块和西伯利亚板块在二叠纪末期碰撞拼合(古亚洲洋闭合造山)后的岩石圈伸展作用、侏罗纪佳木斯地块西缘洋壳俯冲并与松嫩地块拼合作用、东北亚古亚洲洋构造域向太平洋构造域转换等古大地构造运动有关.482～481Ma为变质成因锆石的年龄,代表了早奥陶世(Tremadocian阶)松辽盆地基底的变质增生作用,该变质过程可能与盆地西北部额尔古纳地块与兴安地块的拼合作用.     

苏南地区中、古生界沉积岩地球化学特征——以圣科1井为例

通过对苏南地区圣科1井333块沉积岩样品的微量元素和稀土元素进行测试和分析,揭示了苏南地区中、古生界的沉积环境、物质来源及其大地构造背景。研究表明:苏南地区二叠系栖霞组上部沉积时呈现明显的富氧特征;研究区中、古生界海陆环境交替出现。另外,通过对所有碎屑岩样品中的∑REE、∑LREE/∑HREE、w(La)、w(Ce)、La/Yb、δEu等以及La-Th-Sc和Th-Sc-Zr/10图解判定:研究区龙潭组上部、坟头组、高家边组沉积时其物质来源应为活动大陆边缘的构造环境;龙潭组下部为大陆岛弧的构造环境;并推测五通组也可能为被动大陆边缘的构造环境。依据碎屑岩样品中δEu的大小、REE配分模式和La/Yb-∑REE投影图上所体现的规律,表明苏南地区中、古生界物质主要来源于上地壳并且存在多个物源区;志留系高家边组和坟头组其母岩以沉积岩和花岗岩为主;五通组的源岩应为沉积岩,其物源区为华夏板块及江南隆起。     

贺兰山构造带及邻区中-新生代构造事件:来自不整合面和裂变径迹的约束

贺兰山构造带及邻区的构造属性长期以来存在争议,确定该地区中新生代的构造事件及隆升过程是了解这一重要陆内变形带动力学机制的关键所在。本文采用不整合面分析法和低温热年代学方法,综合分析探讨了贺兰山构造带及邻区中新生代的构造事件及其构造演化过程。通过对该地区的野外地质调查,本次在中-新生代地层中由底到顶识别出6个不同类型的不整合面,它们分别是:(1) T_(2-3)/P平行不整合面;(2) J/AnJ角度不整合面-微角度不整合面;(3) K_1/AnK_1高角度不整合面;(4) E_3q/AnE_3;(5) N_1/AnN_1;(6) Q/An Q。在T_3d~3、J_2y和K_1变形前锋,可见与逆冲-褶皱造山带相关的同构造沉积生长地层,其在形态上表现为超覆、削截,在黄草滩等地局部与倒转背斜相伴生。这些不整合和生长地层是构造活动的直接证据。本次研究对采自该地区的12件样品分别进行了磷灰石、锆石裂变径迹测年及热史模拟分析。结果表明,裂变径迹年龄主要分布在4个区间,对应地质时代分别为中侏罗世-晚侏罗世(168～159Ma)、早白垩世末(139～91Ma)、晚白垩世末(79～66Ma)、始新世(59～50Ma),反映出该地区在这4个时期发生了明显的冷却抬升事件,且这4期构造事件与野外观察到的地质特征有很好的地质响应。同时,热史模拟表明该地区整体上经历了晚侏罗世、早白垩世、晚白垩世末-始新世3期快速隆升事件。综合研究表明,该地区主体逆冲褶皱的时间是从中侏罗世开始,早白垩世末构造运动最强烈,新生代又有所活动。     

Automicrite in a ‘nummulite bank’ from the Monte Saraceno (Southern Italy): evidence for synsedimentary cementation

Following introduction of the term ‘nummulite bank’, there has been debate regarding interpretation of these types of deposits as autochthonous (automicrite) or allochthonous (detrital micrite). These banks are made up of large foraminifera and ill‐defined fine‐grained components. The fine‐grained components consist mainly of micrites. The recognition of automicrite has deep implications for the synsedimentary cementation and stabilization of the bank. In order to distinguish between automicrite and detrital micrite, the nanomorphology, geochemistry and organic matter remains in the microfacies of a nummulite bank in the Middle Eocene of Monte Saraceno (Gargano, Southern Italy) were analysed. Optical and scanning electron microscope investigations showed that the micrites have been recrystallized to aggrading microsparite. Epifluorescence observations on selected micrite/microsparite areas with peloidal texture revealed the presence of organic matter. Scanning electron microscope analyses on epifluorescent micrites showed that the microbial peloids have smaller crystal sizes than those in organic matter‐depleted areas. The geochemical characterization of extracted organic matter, performed through the functional group analyses by Fourier transform‐infrared spectroscopy, shows strong prevalence of the aromatic fraction over the aliphatic and carboxylic ones. These characteristics of organic compounds indicate both their thermal maturation and their likely derivation from degradation of bacterial communities. The local presence of peloidal anti‐gravity textures, bright epifluorescence and organic molecules in clotted peloidal areas suggest that the metabolic activity of microbial communities could have induced precipitation of these micrites and, consequently, the syndepositional cementation of the nummulite bank. This type of cementation can rapidly stabilize sediments and promote the depositional bank geometry.