Geochronology of terraced coastal deposits in Calabria and eastern Sicily: tectonic implications
type: CreativeWork
description: Calabrian Arc and Eastern Sicily (Southern Italy) are characterized by flights of coastal terraces occurring in various geological domains. These features are formed by interaction between the glacio-eustatic sea level changes and Late Quaternary uplift. Thus, by combining ages and elevations of inner edges with the OIT stages of high sea-level stands, it is possible to accurately evaluate the uplift rates of coastal areas and to discriminate, where possible, the regional and local components of uplift. At this purpose, in this thesis the Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) method has been used, mainly for its applicability to the detrital minerals of the terraced sediment (i.e. quartz) and for its accuracy. The research project is based on interdisciplinary study that involved the PH3DRA (Physics for Dating Diagnostic Dosimetry Research and Applications) laboratories of the Department of Physics and Astronomy of the Catania University, where preparation of geological samples, measurements and analysis of results were carried out, in order to optimize the dating procedure and to obtain OSL age of samples collected from the studied terraced deposits. For each sites the structural and geomorphological issues have been dealt with and then samples of sands have been collected from the studied areas. Four key sites, characterized by different tectonic setting, have been chosen: Amendolara (north-eastern Calabria), Capo Vaticano peninsula (western Calabria), Sant Agata di Militello (north-eastern Sicily), Terreforti Hills (eastern Sicily). For the first site, the OSL dating methodology on quartz grains failed. Quaternary terraced deposits outcropping on the Capo Vaticano peninsula have been investigated in order to obtain new chronological estimates. OSL age determinations correlated with geological and morphological evidences have provided new constraints for correlating the distinct orders of marine terraces with the last seven interglacial stages of the eustatic cu…
abstract: Calabrian Arc and Eastern Sicily (Southern Italy) are characterized by flights of coastal terraces occurring in various geological domains. These features are formed by interaction between the glacio-eustatic sea level changes and Late Quaternary uplift. Thus, by combining ages and elevations of inner edges with the OIT stages of high sea-level stands, it is possible to accurately evaluate the uplift rates of coastal areas and to discriminate, where possible, the regional and local components of uplift. At this purpose, in this thesis the Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) method has been used, mainly for its applicability to the detrital minerals of the terraced sediment (i.e. quartz) and for its accuracy. The research project is based on interdisciplinary study that involved the PH3DRA (Physics for Dating Diagnostic Dosimetry Research and Applications) laboratories of the Department of Physics and Astronomy of the Catania University, where preparation of geological samples, measurements and analysis of results were carried out, in order to optimize the dating procedure and to obtain OSL age of samples collected from the studied terraced deposits. For each sites the structural and geomorphological issues have been dealt with and then samples of sands have been collected from the studied areas. Four key sites, characterized by different tectonic setting, have been chosen: Amendolara (north-eastern Calabria), Capo Vaticano peninsula (western Calabria), Sant Agata di Militello (north-eastern Sicily), Terreforti Hills (eastern Sicily). For the first site, the OSL dating methodology on quartz grains failed. Quaternary terraced deposits outcropping on the Capo Vaticano peninsula have been investigated in order to obtain new chronological estimates. OSL age determinations correlated with geological and morphological evidences have provided new constraints for correlating the distinct orders of marine terraces with the last seven interglacial stages of the eustatic cu…
author: RISTUCCIA, GLORIA MARIA
language: eng
keywords: Coastal terraces, OSL dating, Pleistocene, Calabrian Arc, Eastern Sicily
date published: 2012-12-10
date modified: 2026-07-24T01:35:13Z
provider: Università degli Studi di Catania
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Università degli studi di Catania

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property ID: Handle
value: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11769/587700