Intracontinental tectonic melange in Southern Apennines

On the axial zone of the Southern Apennines the major tectonic boundary between the inner platform (Western platform unit) and the pelagic (Lagonegro units) domains is represented by a thick level of highly deformed rock‐assemblage. Structural analysis reveals that this tectonic unit represents an intracontinental melange complex characterized by a block‐in‐matrix fabric that contains blocks from both hangingwall platform and footwall basin units. This unit comprises different sets of structures that, caused by shearing processes, developed at depths ranging from about 8–9 km to the surface. These tectonites represent the product of a crustal shear zone developed at the major boundary between platform‐basin domains of Adria during the thick‐skinned tectonic processes controlling the Southern Apennines mountain building.     

U-Pb Zircon Geochronology with an Integrated LA-ICP-MS Microanalytical Workstation: Achievements in Precision and Accuracy

Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is a microanalytical tool especially suitable for providing fast and precise U-Pb geochronological results on zircon grains. A new 193 nm excimer laser adapted to a micromachining workstation, equipped with a newly designed two-volume ablation cell and coupled with a quadrupole ICP-MS, is presented here. The system was tuned routinely to achieve sensitivities in the range of 3000 cps/μg g⁻¹ for ²³⁸U (< 2% RSD), with a 34 μm spot size, at 5 Hz and ∼ 8 J cm⁻², while ablating the NIST SRM 612 glass reference material. The system was capable of providing fast (< 1.5 minutes each analysis) and precise (generally < 1.5% 1s errors) ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U zircon ages. The ages of widely used reference material zircons (Plesovice, 337 Ma; Temora, 416 Ma; R33, 418 Ma; Sri Lanka, 564 Ma; 91500, 1065 Ma) could be precisely matched, with an accuracy on isotopic ratios that ranged from ∼ 2 to ∼ 6%, depending on the homogeneity of the natural reference materials.     

Rip current hazard assessment on a sandy beach in Liguria,NW Mediterranean

Natural Hazards - Rip currents are one of the most significant environmental hazards for beachgoers and are of interest to coastal scientists. Several studies have been conducted to understand rip...     

Empirical prediction of the Pitzer’s interaction parameters for cationic Al species with both SiO2(aq) and CO2(aq): Implications for the geochemical modelling of very saline solutions

The Pitzer’s interaction parameters, λ_N–M, involving the Mth cationic Al species Al³⁺ or AlOH²⁺ or AlO⁺ and the Nth neutral species SiO_2(aq) (at temperatures of 25–300 °C) or CO_2(aq) (at temperatures of 25–150 °C), have been evaluated through empirical linear relationships between λ_N–M and the surface electrostatic field of the ionic species of interest. These relationships have been obtained starting from the known λ_N–M for both SiO_2(aq) and CO_2(aq) with the main dissolved cations. The Pitzer’s interaction parameter thus estimated for the pair CO_2(aq)–Al³⁺ at 25 °C, 0.327, is 20–40% higher than the corresponding values obtained from CO₂ solubilities in concentrated solutions of AlCl₃, 0.272 ± 0.010 (2σ), and Al₂(SO₄)₃, 0.232 ± 0.002 (2σ), partly corroborating the empirical approach adopted in this study. To test the Pitzer’s interaction coefficients for cationic Al species with aqueous SiO₂, the log K values of the kaolinite dissolution reaction have been computed starting from available experimental data at 23–25 °C and ionic strengths of 0.0001–0.12 mol/kg adopting, alternatively, the Pitzer’s equations and the Debye–Hückel equation. A satisfactory agreement has been found between the log K values obtained through these two approaches, with maximum deviations of 0.11–0.12 log units. This good convergence of results is encouraging as it represents a necessary condition to prove the reliability of the Pitzer’s interaction coefficients estimated in this work. These results are a first step to take into account specific interactions among solutes in concentrated electrolyte solutions, such as those hosted in sedimentary basins or geothermal waters, for instance through the Pitzer’s equations. However, experimental or field data at higher ionic strengths are absolutely necessary to validate the reliability of the Pitzer’s interaction coefficients determined in this study.     

The impact of dolomite and plagioclase weathering on the chemistry of shallow groundwaters circulating in a granodiorite-dominated catchment of the Sila Massif (Calabria,Southern Italy)

This work is aimed at investigating the weathering processes of the granodiorites cropping out in a small catchment of the Sila Massif. The mineral constituents in this granodiorite are plagioclase, often zoned with a Ca-rich core and a Na-rich rim, quartz, chlorite, K-feldspar, white mica and epidote. During this study, dolomite was discovered in local stream sediments, as separate monomineralic grains, probably resulting from erosion of veins cutting the crystalline rocks. Prevailing dissolution of foreign dolomite and a Ca-rich plagioclase is suggested by the Ca–Mg–HCO₃ chemical composition of local groundwaters and stream waters, which is rather unexpected for waters interacting with granitoid rocks. These qualitative observations are quantitatively confirmed by reaction path modelling of the weathering processes occurring in the study area, which was carried out using the EQ3/6 software package, version 8.0, and the Double Solid Reactant Method. Indeed, it was possible to ascertain that the release of both major dissolved constituents and several trace elements (Ba, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, V and Zn), from rocks to waters, is chiefly controlled by the dissolution of foreign dolomite and the Ca-rich core of zoned plagioclases.     

Biodegradative potential and characterization of psychrotolerant polychlorinated biphenyl-degrading marine bacteria isolated from a coastal station in the Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica)

Antarctic marine bacteria were screened for their ability to degrade polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) as the sole carbon and energy source at both 4 degrees C and 15 degrees C. PCB-degrading isolates (7.1%) were identified by sequencing their 16S rDNA as Pseudoalteromonas, Psychrobacter and Arthrobacter members. One representative isolate per genera was selected for evaluating the biodegradative potential under laboratory scale and phenotypically characterized. Removal of individual PCB congeners was between 35.6% and 79.8% at 4 degrees C and between 0.4% and 82.8% at 15 degrees C. Differences in the removal patterns of PCB congeners were observed in relation to the phylogenetic affiliation: Arthrobacter isolate showed similar biodegradation efficiencies when growing at 4 degrees C and 15 degrees C, while Pseudoalteromonas better degraded PCBs at 15 degrees C. No biodegradation was detected for Psychrobacter isolate at 4 degrees C. Results obtained highlight the occurrence of PCB-degrading bacteria in Antarctic seawater and suggest the potential exploitation of autochthonous bacteria for PCB bioremediation in cold marine environments.     

Geophysical Survey and Archaeological Data at Masseria Grasso (Benevento,Italy)

The use of geophysical methods in metrology is a significant tool within the wide research topic of landscape archaeology context. Since 2011, the Ancient Appia Landscapes Project aims to recognize dynamics, shapes and layout of the ancient settlement located along the Appia road east of Benevento, and cyclical elements and human activities that influenced the choice of landscapes. The integration of geophysical data with an archaeological infra-site analysis allowed us to investigate the area of Masseria Grasso, about 6 km from Benevento (Campania region, Italy). In this framework, an archaeogeophysical approach (Geomagnetic and Ground Penetrating Radar) was adopted for detecting anomalies potentially correlated with buried archaeological evidences. The geomagnetic results have given a wide knowledge of buried features in a large survey highlighting significant anomalies associated with the presence of buildings, roads and open spaces. These geophysical results permitted us to define the first archaeological excavations and, successively, a detailed Ground Penetrating Radar approach has been provided highlighting the rooms and paved spaces. The overlap between archaeological dataset and geophysical surveys has also allowed recognizing the path of the ancient Appia road near the city of Benevento and hypothesize the settlement organization of the investigated area, which has been identified with the ancient Nuceriola.     

Biochemical and microbial features of shallow marine sediments along the Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea,Antarctica)

Shallow marine sediments were collected from seven stations (three of which located at Gerlache Inlet, two at Tethys Bay, one at Adelie Cove and one just beneath the Italian Research Base) along the Terra Nova Bay coast (Ross Sea, Antarctica). Their chemical, biochemical and microbiological properties were studied in order to provide further insights in the knowledge of this Antarctic benthic ecosystem. Overall, the organic carbon (OC) represented the major fraction of total carbon (TC) and displayed concentrations similar to or slightly lower than those previously measured in Antarctic bottom sediments. The biopolymeric carbon within OC ranged from 4.1% to 19.9% and showed a wide trophic range (65–834 μg g⁻¹ d.w.). Proteins (PRT) represented on average the main biochemical class contributing to labile organic carbon, followed by lipids (LIP) and carbohydrates (CHO). The activity of aminopeptidase, β-d-glucosidase, alkaline phosphatase and esterase was checked, giving the highest values at Tethys Bay and at the deepest water sediments. The principal component analysis, which was computed considering physical, chemical (elemental and biochemical sedimentary composition) and microbiological parameters (including bacterial abundance, ectoenzymatic activities, T-RFs richness and diversity indices), allowed to obtain two main clusters (“Tethys Bay” and “other stations”). Based on data obtained, two representative 16S rRNA clone libraries using samples from Tethys Bay and Gerlache Inlet were constructed. The sequences of 171 clones were compared to those available in public databases to determine their approximate phylogenetic affiliations. Both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were disclosed, with the majority of them affiliated with the Gamma- and Deltaproteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Acidobacteria. The occurrence of strictly anaerobic bacteria suggests that sediments might also undergo anoxic conditions that, in turn, could favor the accumulation of PRT in respect to CHO, assuming that fermentation of amino acids is slower than that of sugars from decomposing polysaccharides.