Trace metals in <i>Posidonia oceanica</i>in a coastal area of the Ionian Sea (Calabria, Italy)

As, Cd, Cu and Pb concentrations were measured in Posidonia oceanica sampled from meadows located in two sites along the calabrian coast (Ionian Sea, South-eastern Mediterranean). By dating the scales and the rhizome using retrospective procedures (lepidochronology), a time series over a period of nine years (1995-2004) was analysed. Throughout the whole lepidochronological period, the arsenic content in the scales was tenfold higher than that measured in the rhizome with a peak in the lepidochronological year 1996-1997 and a general decrease in the years after. Pb concentration also showed a tendency to decrease with time, whereas the Cd and Cu concentration were increasing. A comparison of the metal level in dead sheaths (scales) and living tissue (leaves) was also performed. The detailed distribution of the trace metals along the leaf axis and in the leaves at different developmental stages (adult, intermediate and juvenile) showed some differences in the metal content. The results also indicate that the arsenic content measured in the leaf blade reflects the high As content measured at the superficial sediments at one of the two sampled sites, demonstrating, for the first time, that P. oceanica would be a good indicator for this element.

Scattering and absorption imaging of a highly fractured fluid-filled seismogenetic volume in a region of slow deformation

Regions of slow strain often produce swarm-like sequences,characterized by the lack of a clear mainshockaftershock pattern.The comprehension of their underlying physical mechanisms is challenging and still debated.We used seismic recordings from the last Pollino swarm(2010-2014) and nearby to separate and map seismic scattering(from P peak-delays) and absorption(from late-time coda-wave attenuation) at different frequencies in the Pollino range and surroundings.High-scattering and high-absorption anomalies are markers of a fluid-filled fracture volume extending from SE to NW(1.5-6 Hz) across the range.With increasing frequency,these anomalies approximately cover the area where the strongest earthquakes occurred from the sixteenth century until 1998.In our interpretation,the NW fracture propagation ends where carbonates of the Lucanian Apennines begin,as marked by a high-scattering and low-absorption area.At the highest frequency(12 Hz) the anomalies widen southward in the middle of the range,consistently marking the faults active during the recent Pollino swarm.Our results suggest that fracture healing has closed small-scale fractures across the SE faults that were active in the past centuries,and that the propagation of fluids may have played a crucial role in triggering the 2010-2014 Pollino swarm.Assuming that the fluid propagation ended at the carbonates barrier in the NW direction,fractures opened new paths to the South,favoring the nucleation of the last Pollino swarm.Indeed,the recently active faults in the middle of the seismogenic volume are marked by a high-scattering and highabsorption footprints.Our work provides evidence that attenuation parameters may track shape and dynamics of fluid-filled fracture networks in fault areas.

Optical and Morphological Properties of Carbon Nanotube—Anatase Nanocomposites: Improvements in Visible Absorbance

In this work, we present the growth and optical characterization of carbon nanotube/TiO2 anatase nanocomposites. The composites are obtained by doping a bulk of anatase nanometric grains with different weight percentages of carbon nanotube (from 0.1% to 50%). We observe that only for tube concentrations between 0.1% and 2%, the growth process shows the formation of a matrix where carbon nanotubes are uniformed and dispersed in a bulk of TiO2 grains. Moreover, the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and surface morphology analysis (conducted from AFM images) indicated that the CNT absorption is a simple physisorption without chemical bonds formations between tube and dioxide. Finally, absorption in all the visible range has the increase of about 60% at very low concentration (2%) of carbon nanotubes.

The formation and growth mechanisms of young back-arc spreading ridges from high-resolution bathymetry:The Marsili Seamount(Tyrrhenian Sea,Italy)

The formation and growth mechanisms of Mid-Ocean Ridges(MOR)are relatively well known,whereas those of back-arc spreading ridges are comparatively less known because geophysical,geochemical,and morphological data are scarce and of low density.Here we present a high-resolution bathymetry of the Marsili Seamount(MS;1 Ma-3 ka),which represents the inflated spreading ridge of the 2 Ma old Marsili back-arc basin associated to the subduction of the Ionian Sea below the Calabrian Arc and Tyrrhenian Sea.MS is 70 km long,30 km wide,and its height reaches about 3000 m from surrounding seafloor.Our new digital bathymetric model has a 5 m grid cell size resolution and covers the MS bathymetry from-1670 mbsl to the top at-491 mbsl.We conduct morphometric and morphological analyses of the bathymetry and recognize landforms due to volcanic,tectonic,hydrothermal and gravity processes.MS consists of volcanoes related to fissural and central-type activity,this latter located at the northern and southern tips of the main dike swarms.Dike swarms represent the surface expression of different ridge segments whose strikes are controlled by the larger scale back-arc spreading processes and by the local occurrence of an active hydrothermal field.This latter develops in a flat area between two partly overlapping ridge segments where historical volcanism and extensional processes concentrate.Such ridges represent the embryonic stage of the formation of transform-like faults.Central volcanoes,the northern of which is characterized by a caldera,form at the tips of MS because the decrease in width of the major volcanic fissures promotes vent localization associated with the formation of sill-like reservoirs from which central-type vents may develop.Gravity processes affecting the MS flanks are due to shallow seafloor sliding.Caldera collapses affecting the northernmost central-type polygenic volcano must be included in the evaluation of the hazard related to potential tsunami.Inward dipping faults characterize the MS eastern flank suggesting a moderately asymmetric growth of the spreading ridge possibly associated with the eastward opening of the Marsili back-arc.The Marsili back-arc spreading rate is similar to those of MOR slow spreading ridges.However,the MS morphology resembles that of fast spreading ridges.These two features also characterize more extended back-arc spreading ridges(e.g.the Mariana in Western Pacific).We conclude that,independently from the spatial scale,the increase in the ridge accretion rate is related to the progressive addition of a subduction-related component to a pure spreading mantle source.

Petrography of Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous sandstones in the Kutch Basin,western India:Implications on provenance and basin evolution

This paper investigates the provenance of Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous sediments in the Kutch Basin, western India, on the basis of mineralogical investigations of sandstones composition （Quartz-Feldspar-Lithic （QFL） fragment）, Zircon-Tourmaline-Rutile （ZTR） index, and mineral chemistry of heavy detrital minerals of the framework. The study also examines the compositional variation of the sandstone in relation to the evolution of the Kutch Basin, which originated as a rift basin during the Late Triassic and evolved into a passive margin basin by the end Cretaceous. This study analyzes sandstone samples of Jhumara, Jhuran and Bhuj Formations of Middle Jurassic, Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous, respectively, in the Kutch Mainland. Sandstones record a compositional evolution from arkosic to subarkosic as the feldspar content decreases from 68% in the Jhumara Formation to 27% in the Bhuj Formation with intermediate values in the Jhuran Formation. The QFL modal composition indicates basement uplifted and transitional continental settings at source. Heavy mineral content of these sandstones reveals the occurrence of zircon, tourmaline, rutile, garnet, apatite, monazite and opaque minerals. Sub-rounded to well-rounded zircon grains indicate a polycyclic origin. ZTR indices for samples in Jhumara, Jhuran and Bhuj Formations are 25%, 30% and 50% respectively. Chemistry of opaque minerals reveals the occurrence of detrital varieties such as ilmenite, rutile, hematite/magnetite and pyrite, in a decreasing order of abundances. Chemistry of ilmenites in the Jhumara Formation reveals its derivation from dual felsic igneous and metabasic source, while those in Jhuran and Bhuj Formations indicate a metabasic derivation. Chemistry of garnet reveals predominantly Fe-rich （almandine） variety of metabasic origin. X-ray microscopic study provides the percentage of heavy minerals ranging from 3% to 5.260. QFL detrital modes reflect the evolution of the basin from an active rift to a passive margin basin during the Mesozoic. Integration of results from QFL modal composition of the sandstones, heavy mineral analysis and mineral chemistry, suggests sediment supply from both northern and eastern highlands during the Middle Jurassic. The uplift along the Kutch Mainland Fault in the Early Cretaceous results in curtailment of sediment input from north.

MIS 5e sea surface temperature estimation;a multi-proxy approach using a marine macrofossil assemblage(Mar Piccolo,Gulf of Taranto,Southern Italy)

It is reported a multi-proxy palaeoclimatic study conducted on a MIS 5e calcarenite from the Mar Piccolo Basin(MP),Gulf of Taranto(GT)(Central Mediterranean).The calcarenite returned a rich malacofauna consisting of 120 extant species,including four of the tropical Senegalese Fauna,today absent in the Mediterranean.The biogeographic-climatic affinity of the assemblage shows,compared to today,a double percentage of warm affinity species,while the cold affinity species are nearly equally represented,indicating a warmer but not strictly tropical SST.This is confirmed by the most recurring preferred SST ranges of the assemblage,indicating an average of 20℃.The skeletal compositions of five well-preserved molluscan and coral specimens were analyzed for trace elements and stable isotopes for further mean SST estimations.From the comparison of the results of several equations available in literature,it appears that only some SST estimations are realistic,converging into similar values of,on average,20.8±0.9℃.Considering all the used proxies,the MIS 5e SST difference compared to today falls in the range 1.2—2.0℃for the GT(being a more reasonable scenario)and 2.0—2.8℃for the MP.This is not a firmly tropical-like SST setting as suggested by the sole Senegalese fauna,indicating at least 2.7℃—3.5℃more than today’s GT and MP,respectively.The approximations and assumptions made for obtaining SST values with any single proxy indicate the need of a multi-proxy approach to define the best SST estimation.

The use of mineral interfaces in sand-sized volcanic rock fragments to infer mechanical durability

The use of mineral interfaces, in sand-sized rock fragments, to infer the influence exerted by mechanical durability on the generation of siliciclastic sediments, has been determined for plutoniclastic sand. Conversely, for volcaniclastic sand, it has received much less attention, and, to our knowledge, this is the first attempt to make use of the volcaniclastic interfacial modal mineralogy of epiclastic sandy fragments, to infer mechanical durability control at a modern beach environment. Volcaniclastic sand was collected along five beaches developed on five islands, of the southern Tyrrhenian Sea(Alicudi, Filicudi, Salina, Panarea and Stromboli) from the Aeolian Archipelago, and one sample was collected near the Stromboli Island volcanic crater. Each sample was sieved and thin sectioned for petrographic analysis. The modal mineralogy of the very coarse, coarse and medium sand fractions was determined by point-counting of the interfacial boundaries discriminating 36 types of interfaces categories, both no-isomineralic and/or no iso-structural(e.g., phenocrystal/glassy groundmass or phenocrystal/microlitic groundmass boundaries) and iso-mineralic interfaces, inside volcanic lithic grains with lathwork and porphyric textures. A total of 47,386 interfacial boundaries have been counted and, the most representative series of interfaces, from the highest to the lowest preservation, can be grouped as: a) ultrastable interfaces, categorized as Pl(Plagioclase)/Glgr(Glassy groundmass) > > Px(Pyroxene)/Glgr > > Ol(Olivine)/Glgr > > Op(Opaque)/Glgr > > Hbl(Hornblende)/Glgr> > Bt(Biotite)/Glgr > > Idd(Iddingsite)/Glgr > > Rt(Rutile)/Glgr;b) stable interfaces, categorized as Pl/Migr(Microlitic groundmass) > > Op/Migr > > Px/Migr > > Ol/Migr;c) moderately stable interfaces, categorized as Op/Px > > Op/Hbl > > Px/P > > Ol/Pl> > Bt/Op;and d) unstable interfaces, categorized as Pl/Pl > > Px/Px > > Ol/Ol > >Op/Op > > Hbl/Hbl > > Bt/Bt. Grains, eroded from the volcanic bedrock, if affected solely by abrasion, developed a rounded and smoothed form, with prevailing no-isostructural interfaces such as Plagioclase/Glassy groundmass,Pyroxene/Glassy groundmass and Olivine/Glassy groundmass interfaces. Grains that during transport suffered fracturing and percussion have a sharp and angular form: these combined transport mechanisms produce mainly volcanic sandy grains with iso-structural interfaces, such as Pl/Pl, Px/Px, Hbl/Hbl, and, to a lesser extent, Bt/Op and Bt/Glgr interfaces.

Detrital zircon ages of Oligocene to Miocene sandstone suites of the Southern Apennines foreland basin system,Italy

U-Pb spot ages on detrital zircons from turbidite quartzarenites,quartz-feldspathic and volcaniclastic sandstones of the Tufiti di Tusa(TTF),Numidian Flysch(NF),Bifurto(BF),Gorgoglione(GF)and Serra Palazzo(SPF)formations,exposed in southern Italy,were detected to define their provenance signatures aiming to contribute to reconstructing the complex geodynamic evolution of the southern Apennine chain.The deposition ages of these sandstones range from Rupelian(TTF),Burdigalian p.p.-Early Langhian(NF and BF)and Langhian-Serravallian-Early Tortonian(GF and SPF).The detrital zircon ages in each deposit show different clusters.In TTF,the zircon age clusters are:610±6 Ma;390±4 Ma;287±3 Ma;157±2 Ma;78±1 Ma and 67±1 Ma;33±1 Ma.In NF and BF formations,the prevalent zircon ages are clustered at 661±10 Ma,607±8 Ma and 547±8 Ma.In GF sandstones,the ages of detrital zircons are clustered around 672±28 Ma,458±9 Ma,297±8 Ma and 24±1 Ma.The sandstones of SPF contain zircons showing age clusters at649±10 Ma,486±7 Ma and 315±5 Ma.Zircons and lithic fragments from TTF display a dominant provenance from Oligocene calc-alkaline effusive products located on western domains of the Mesomediterranean Microplate,and minor detritus from granitoids and metamorphic rocks of Variscan ages.Zircons of NF and BF indicate a provenance of detritus from the African Craton without evidence of Variscan or Alpine signatures.Zircons from GF and SPF show a provenance from both Variscan crystalline basement rocks forming the Alpine chain(Calabria-Peloritani Terranes)and Variscan magmatic and metamorphic rocks unaffected by Alpine tectonics,similar to Sardinia-Corsica(pro-parte)block.In addition,the Oligocene magmatic component dated at 24 Ma in GF sandstones is evidence for the maximum age of sedimentation for these deposits.In light of the recent and preliminary geochronological data acquired,a revised paleogeographic restoration could be inferred for the location of sedimentary basins during the Apennines tectonic evolution.The Rupelian sedimentation age of TTF suggests that the deposition domains of the Numidian sequences and the successive deposits of GF and SPF,were located in a more complex paleogeographic scenario along the orogenic system.