The role of rainfall in the landslide hazard: the case of the Avigliano urban area (Southern Apennines, Italy)

Mass movements varying in type and size, some of which are periodically reactivated, affect the urban area of Avigliano. The disturbed and remoulded masses consist of sandy–silty or silty–clayey plastic material interbedded with stone fragments and conglomerate blocks. Five landslides that were markedly liable to rainfall-associated instability phenomena were selected.

The relationships between landslides and rainfall were investigated using a hydrological and statistical model based on long-term series of daily rainfall data. The model was used to determine the return period of cumulative daily rainfall over 1–180 days. The resulting hydrological and statistical findings are discussed with the aim of identifying the rainfall duration most critical to landslides.

The concept of a precipitation threshold was generalized by defining some probability classes of cumulative rainfall. These classes indicate the thresholds beyond which reactivation is likely to occur. The probability classes are defined according to the return period of the cumulative rainfall concomitant with landslide reactivation.     

The Finero phlogopite-peridotite massif: an example of subduction-related metasomatism

The Finero peridotite massif is a harzburgite that suffered a dramatic metasomatic enrichment resulting in the pervasive presence of amphibole and phlogopite and in the sporadic occurrence of apatite and carbonate (dolomite)-bearing domains. Pyroxenite (websterite) dykes also contain phlogopite and amphibole, but are rare. Peridotite bulk-rock composition retained highly depleted major element characteristics, but was enriched in K, Rb, Ba, Sr, LREE (light rare earth elements) (La_N/Yb_N = 8–17) and depleted in Nb. It has high radiogenic Sr (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr₍₂₇₀₎ = 0.7055–0.7093), low radiogenic Nd (ɛNd₍₂₇₀₎= −1 to −3) and EMII-like Pb isotopes. Two pyroxenite – peridotite sections examined in detail show the virtual absence of major and trace element gradients in the mineral phases. In both rock types, pyroxenes and olivines have the most unfertile major element composition observed in Ivrea peridotites, spinels are the richest in Cr, and amphibole is pargasite. Clinopyroxenes exhibit LREE-enriched patterns (La_N/Yb_N ∼16), negative Ti and Zr and generally positive Sr anomaly. Amphibole has similar characteristics, except a weak negative Sr anomaly, but incompatible element concentration ∼1.9 (Sr) to ∼7.9 (Ti) times higher than that of coexisting clinopyroxene. Marked geochemical gradients occur toward apatite and carbonate-bearing domains which are randomly distributed in both the sections examined. In these regions, pyroxenes and amphibole (edenite) are lower in mg## and higher in Na₂O, and spinels and phlogopite are richer in Cr₂O₃. Both the mineral assemblage and the incompatible trace element characteristics of the mineral phases recall the typical signatures of “carbonatite” metasomatism (HFSE depletion, Sr, LILE and LREE enrichment). Clinopyroxene has higher REE and Sr concentrations than amphibole (^amph/cpxD_REE,Sr = 0.7–0.9) and lower Ti and Zr concentrations. It is proposed that the petrographic and geochemical features observed at Finero are consistent with a subduction environment. The lack of chemical gradients between pyroxenite and peridotite is explained by a model where melts derived from an eclogite-facies slab infiltrate the overhanging harzburgitic mantle wedge and, because of the special thermal structure of subduction zones, become heated to the temperature of the peridotite. If the resulting temperature is above that of the incipient melting of the hydrous peridotite system, the slab-derived melt equilibrates with the harzburgite and a crystal mush consisting of harzburgite and a silica saturated, hydrous melt is formed. During cooling, the crystal mush crystallizes producing the observed sequence of mineral phases and their observed chemical characteristics. In this context pyroxenites are regions of higher concentration of the melt in equilibrium with the harzburgite and not passage-ways through which exotic melts percolated. Only negligible chemical gradients can appear as an effect of the crystallization process, which also accounts for the high amphibole/clinopyroxene incompatible trace element ratios. The major element refractory composition is explained by an initially high peridotite/melt ratio. The apatite, carbonate-bearing domains are the result of the presence of some CO₂ in the slab-derived melt. The CO₂/H₂O ratio in the peridotite mush increased by crystallization of hydrous phases (amphibole and phlogopite) locally resulting in the unmixing of a late carbonate fluid. The proposed scenario is consistent with subduction of probably Variscan age and with the occurrence of modal metasomatism before peridotite incorporation in the crust. Received: 20 July 1998 / Accepted: 28 October 1998     

Application of High Spatial Resolution Laser Ablation ICP-MS to Crystal-Melt Trace Element Partition Coefficient Determination

In this contribution we evaluate the capabilities of laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) using a 12 μm spot size. Precision, accuracy and detection limits were assessed on the USGS BCR-2G reference material. We demonstrate that the 12 μm LA-ICP-MS analyses of experimentally-grown amphibole and garnet are in excellent agreement with secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) trace element determinations on the same crystals. The 12 μm spot size configuration was subsequently used to determine trace element crystal-melt partition coefficients (D_c/m) for a wide range of trace elements in amphibole in equilibrium with a basanitic melt. The following strategy to determine accurately and evaluate D_c/m is proposed. One or more major elements determined previously by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) was used to ensure consistency between EPMA and the composition of the aerosol produced by the laser ablation. Measured D_c/m values were successively evaluated using the lattice strain model. The use of this strategy significantly improved the precision and accuracy of D_c/m determination when a LA-ICP-MS configuration with a high spatial resolution was employed.     

The mafic-ultramafic complex near Finero (Ivrea-Verbano Zone), II. Geochronology and isotope geochemistry

Whole-rock Nd and Sr isotopic compositions of the mafic-ultramafic complex near Finero demonstrate that the magma was derived from a depleted, perhaps MORB-type mantle reservoir. The Sm-Nd data for the Amphibole Peridotite unit can be interpreted as an isochron with an apparent age of 533 ± 20 Ma, which is consistent with a ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb evaporation age of 549 ± 12 Ma of a single zircon grain from the Internal Gabbro unit. However, the interpretation of these apparent ages remains open to question. We therefore retain the alternative hypotheses that the intrusion occurred either about 533 or 270 Ma ago, the latter being the most likely age of emplacement of the much larger magma body near Balmuccia (Val Sesia). The implication of the older emplacement age (if correct) would be that the igneous complex may be related to the numerous amphibolite units, which are intercalated with the metapelites of the overlying Kinzigite Formation, and together with them may constitute an accretionary complex. In this case, the mafic-ultramafic complex itself might also be part of such an accretionary complex (as has been proposed for the Balmuccia peridotite).

Internal Sm-Nd isochrons involving grt, cpx, plag and amph from the Internal Gabbro unit yield concordant ages of 231 ± 23, 226 ± 7, 223 ± 10, 214 ± 17, and 203 ± 13 Ma. These results confirm published evidence for a separate, regional heating event about 215 ± 15 Ma ago.

Initial _Nd(533) values average +6.3 ± 0.4 for six samples of the Amphibole Peridotite unit and +6.0 ± 1.2 for ten samples of the External Gabbro unit. ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios require little or no age correction and range from 0.7026 to 0.7047 (with two outliers at 0.7053 and 0.7071). Strong correlations between ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and K₂O and weaker correlations between initial _Nd and K₂O imply a comparatively minor (≤ 10%) contamination of the External Gabbro magma by crustal material and a later alteration by a crustal or seawater-derived fluid. These results contrast sharply with the isotopic composition (negative _Nd and high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values) of the associated mantle rocks, the Phlogopite Peridotite unit, which has been pervasively metasomatized by crustal fluids. This type of metasomatism and its isotopic signature are never seen in the magmatic complex. This evidence rules out any direct genetic relationship between the igneous complex and the mantle peridotite. The crust-mantle interaction is the opposite of that seen at Balmuccia, where the mantle peridotite is essentially ‘pristine’ and the magmatic body has been extensively contaminated by assimilation of crustal rocks.     

Palynological dating (Arenig) of the sedimentary sequence overlying the Ishkarwaz Granite (upper Yarkhun valley, Chitral, Pakistan)

A sedimentary sequence overlying a granite pluton near Ishkarwaz (upper Yarkhun valley, Chitral, Pakistan; Karakorum Microplate) contains abundant, but poorly preserved, acritarchs probably referable to the late early Arenig-early late Arenig interval. The palynological assemblages of Karakorum show a marked similarity to the cold water Peri-Gondwana assemblages; i.e. to those of Li Jun's Arbusculidium-Coryphidium-Striatotheca 'Mediterranean' Bioprovince. Biogeographical and geological comparisons suggest that, before the accretion of Cimmerian microplates to the Eurasian continent, the Karakorum Microplate was located along the northern margin of Gondwana in a latitude intermediate between the Mediterranean region and South China (Yangtze Platform).     

Petrogenesis of the Paleoproterozoic basalt–andesite–rhyolite dyke association in the Carajás region, Amazonian craton

Paleoproterozoic basaltic, andesitic and rhyolitic dykes crosscut the Archaean Carajás basement. Basalts are distinguished into a high and a low TiO₂ group (HTi and LTi), each group consisting of geochemically distinct NE- and NW-trending swarms. The HTi dykes are evolved transitional basalts having essentially EMORB-type geochemistry. The LTi basalts are tholeiites (NE-trending swarm) and high-Al basalts (NW-trending swarm) displaying incompatible trace elements patterns with variably negative Nb anomaly, enrichment in Rb, Ba, K (LILE) and La, Ce and Nd (LREE) and positive Sr anomaly. With respect to orogenic analogues, andesites have lower Al₂O₃, CaO and Ni, higher FeO, LILE, LREE, Nb, Zr and Ti and negative Sr anomaly. Rhyolites have geochemical characteristics comparable with those of A-type granites. At 1.8 Ga, ranges from 0.700 to 0.705 in the HTi basalts and from 0.700 to 0.704 in the LTi group. Andesites define an isochron of 1874±110 Ma (Sr_o=0.7038±0.0010). Rhyolites from Southern and Northern Carajás define two isochrons of 1802±130 Ma (Sr_o=0.7062±0.0046) and 1535±82 Ga (Sr_o=0.7625) respectively, the younger date being interpreted as resetting of the Rb–Sr isotopic system. We propose a petrogenetic model relating LTi basalts with melting of lithospheric mantle metasomatized by acid melts derived from incipient melting of eclogites, representing in turn the subsolidus product of basaltic batches trapped in the mantle. The HTi basalts are explained by melting of the lithospheric mantle containing the complementary residual eclogite. Andesite petrogenesis is consistent with crystal fractionation from a high-Mg andesite parent derived from a mantle source more extensively metasomatized by eclogite-derived melts. Rhyolite composition is consistent with low melting degree of the basement rocks. The basalt–andesite–rhyolite dykes may represent the effects of crustal extension and arching in Carajás, which produced the anorogenic acid to intermediate magmatism (Uatumã group) and affecting a large part of the Amazon craton between 1.85 and 1.7 Ga.     

Wavelet analysis for the regional-residual and local separation of potential field anomalies

A method based on the discrete wavelet transform was applied to the regional-residual separation of potential fields and to the filtering of local anomalies. A specific space-scale wavelet analysis, called multiresolution analysis, allowed decomposition of the signal with respect to a vast range of scales. Different analysing wavelets were applied to anomalies in both synthetic and real cases, but the more appropriate basis needed to be chosen by requiring the maximum compactness for the multiresolution analysis. Moreover, since such analysis was found not to be shift-invariant, the same criterion was applied to choosing the best signal shift. Application of the technique to both synthetic and real cases produced an optimal space-scale representation of the fields and a consistent regional-residual separation. Furthermore, the space localization allowed a variety of filtered signals to be obtained, each one with a specific scale and local area content. Fourier and wavelet analyses were both applied to the filtering out of the intense Etna anomaly from the aeromagnetic field of Sicily. The wavelet method was more powerful, suppressing only the Etna volcano anomaly and leaving the rest of the map practically unchanged.     

The old calcium plages differential rotation latitudinal profile: Its gross and fine structure evolution with the solar cycle

This work is a study of the rotational properties of the solar calcium plages, during the time interval 1967–1977; only plages older than 4 days have been the object of this research. We have looked systematically for any significant change occurring during the course of the solar cycle, and any kind of ‘anomaly’ or fine structure in the differential rotation latitudinal profile. We find that such a profile undergoes a cyclic transformation, making it assume the highest steepness at the solar maximum; a sudden flattening then occurs in the first years of declining activity; the last years of the cycle, as the first years of the next one, are characterized by intermediate steepness values. Moreover, we find that, in spite of the general belief that the angular rotation rate is continuously decreasing with increasing heliographic latitude, at least two inversions do exist of such an overall tendency:

1. A narrow, minimal angular-rotation-rate strip lies very close to the equatorward margin of the plage production band; this feature shifts continuously, in a wave-like manner, throughout the solar cycle, from 15/18° to 3/6° latitude.
2. A narrow, maximal angular-rotation-rate strip has been observed lying in the neighbourhood of the poleward margin of the activity band; a process of continuous transformation of the rotation rate profile is always active, in a narrow latitude strip on the equatorward side of such a feature, generating new features of the same kind, which replace the older ones, that disappeared due to the equatorward shift of the plage zone. All that simulates an equatorward shift of the observed ‘anomalies’; we observed them until the minimum activity epoch (1976), at 15/18° latitude. Some relations of these features with both torsionai waves (Howard and LaBonte, 1980) and magnetic activity are briefly discussed.

     

Equivocal carbonatite markers in the mantle xenoliths of the Patagonia backarc: the Gobernador Gregores case (Santa Cruz Province,Argentina)

Amphibole ± phlogopite ± apatite-bearing mantle xenoliths at Gobernador Gregores display modal, bulk-rock and phase geochemical characteristics held as indicators of carbonatitic metasomatism. However, part of these xenoliths has high TiO₂/Al₂O₃ and those displaying the most pronounced carbonatitic geochemical markers modally trend towards harzburgite. Bulk-rock, clinopyroxene and amphibole show Zr, Hf and Ti negative anomalies, which increase at decreasing Na₂O and high field strength elements (HFSE) concentrations. Steady variation trends between xenoliths which have and do not have carbonatitic characteristics suggest a control by reactive porous flow of only one agent, inferred to be initially a ne-normative hydrous basalt (because of the presence of wehrlites) evolving towards silica saturation. Variation trends exhibit cusps when amphibole appears in the mode. Appearance of amphibole may explain the Ti anomaly variations, but not those of Zr and Hf. Numerical modelling [Plate Model (Vernières et al. in J Geophys Res 102:24771–24784, 1997)] gives results consistent with the observed geochemical features by assuming the presence of loveringite. Modest HFSE anomalies in the infiltrating melt may be acquired during percolation in the garnet-facies.In memory of Carlo Rivalenti