5. 07 Field Trip to Apennines, Italy5. 07 Field Trip to Apennines, Italy

1st – 11th May 2010

Leader: Dr Alex Whittaker

1st – 11th May 2010

Leader: Dr Alex Whittaker

DemonstratorsDemonstrators Dr Jon Hill (Imperial) Dr Gillian McCay (Edinburgh)

Grace Cairns (Imperial)

Nikolas Michael (Imperial)

Dr Jon Hill (Imperial) Dr Gillian McCay (Edinburgh)

Grace Cairns (Imperial)

Nikolas Michael (Imperial)

ItineraryItinerary 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

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….What we see….Structural GeologyStructural GeologyContractional deformation

What we see….What we see….Extensional deformationStructural GeologyStructural Geology

What we see….What we see….

Sediments carbonates, fluvial

deposits and turbidites

Sediments carbonates, fluvial

deposits and turbidites

What we see….What we see….

Igneous and Metamorphic Igneous and Metamorphic

Monte CapannePluton

Punto Zuccale

Pillow Basalts

Schists

Intrusives

Geology of Elba

Oh no!

Aim of tripAim of trip 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…..

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 Tectonic setting of the Apennines Shortening and extension in the Western Mediterranean

Shortening and extension in the Western Mediterranean

From Faccenna et al. Tectonics 2004

8.17.36

5.6

Vignaroli et al. 2008

Crustal scale section - approx. along transect of field trip

Anticlines of Umbria-Marche

Modern thrust front of the Northern Apennines

From Platt, J Geol. Soc. London 2007

From Lonergan & White, Tectonics, 1997

Pecerillo & Donati (2002)

Young volcanism in Italy

Iberia

Africa

c. 35 Ma

Flysch BasinIberian & AfricanPassive Margins

?

Tethyan Ocean

From Lonergan & White, Tectonics, 1997

500 km

C. 18 MA

0 Ma

5 Ma9 Ma

Rapid Roll-back

c. 22-15 Ma

Back -Arc extending region

Flysch Basins

Internal ZonesExternal Zones

Shortening

Iberia

Africa

New oceanic crust

From Lonergan & White, Tectonics, 1997

MantleFlow

F

Subduction ZoneRoll-back

ExtensionA A'

A A'

Section:

Plan View:

From Lonergan & White, Tectonics, 1997

Explanation

Extension in the ApenninesExtension in the Apennines

Now active extension; up to 6mm/yr stretching

Now active extension; up to 6mm/yr stretching

Whittaker et al., 2008

Extensional deformationExtensional deformation

Extensional deformation in the ApenninesExtensional deformation in the Apennines

Extension drives deformation –due to eastward movement of rising aesthenospheric plume in Tyrrhenian Sea

Continuous eastward thrusting of crust drives deformation (extension is minor)

Extension and shortening driven by roll-back of subducting slab?

Extension drives deformation –due to eastward movement of rising aesthenospheric plume in Tyrrhenian Sea

Continuous eastward thrusting of crust drives deformation (extension is minor)

Extension and shortening driven by roll-back of subducting slab?

shorteningExtension

shortening shorteningExtensionmountainbelt

Convective removal of thickened lithospheric root

Delamination of lithospheric mantle

Timing of deformation and volcanismTiming of deformation and volcanism

Timing of

Thrusting

Timing of

Thrusting

W EContractional basins

Extensional basins

volcanism

Pauselli et al. 2006

Key Questions:Key Questions:

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

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

RoutineRoutine  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.

  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.

AssessmentAssessment  At least two main

assessed components: 1) Field notebook,

including large-scale sketches

2) Synthesis group presentations, conducted on the Isle of Elba e.g: “Extensional

faulting in the Apennines; observations and interpretations....”

  At least two main

assessed components: 1) Field notebook,

including large-scale sketches

2) Synthesis group presentations, conducted on the Isle of Elba e.g: “Extensional

faulting in the Apennines; observations and interpretations....”

LogisticsLogistics  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

  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 . . . . Please remember . . . .

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

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