Field Trips Guide Books - From B16 to B33

B16 - WESTERN PYRENEES FOLD-AND-THRUST-BELT:GEODYNAMICS, SEDIMENTATION AND PLATE BOUNDARY RECONSTRUCTION FROM RIFTING TO INVERSION
R. Bourrouilh, L. Moen-Maurel, J. Muñoz & A. Teixell
Extending from Southern France to Northern Spain, this field trip aims to illustrate the evolution of the suture zone between the Iberian and the European plates from the opening of the Bay of Biscay and associated rift basins to the inversion of the suture zone creating the Pyrenean Fold and-Thrust (FTB) mountain chain. Both the south-verging peripheral foreland basin and the hinterland retro-basin will be investigated. Two North-South transects will be examined, as well as a strike route along the thrust fronts, showing spectacular outcrops of the rift, foredeep and molasse sections and folded series (Western Pyrenees, Mallos de Riglos, Ordesa National Park, Jaca and Ainsa basins). Special interest will be devoted to rift and foreland basin sedimentation and tectonics, in relation to petroleum geology.

B17- THE PERIADRIATIC INTRUSION OF VEDRETTE DI RIES - RIESERFERNER (EASTERN ALPS): PETROLOGY, EMPLACEMENT MECHANISMS AND CONTACT AUREOLE
B. Cesare, A.M. Fioretti & Rosenberg
This field trip will present the results of recent investigations on the Oligocene pluton of Vedrette di Ries (Rieserferner). Located in a beautiful alpine environment, the Vedrette di Ries is the largest Periadriatic intrusion in the Eastern Alps. In the last decade, this pluton has been the subject of multidisciplinary studies which have characterized, on a geochemical, geochronological and structural basis, its multi-stage magmatic history. Research on the structural geology, anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility, geochronology, and metamorphism of the country rocks has constrained the P-T-t regime of intrusion, and the relationships between pluton emplacement and regional deformation. This field trip will group specialists in the various disciplines related to pluton formation and emplacement, presenting them with an integrated picture of the main petrologic, geochemical, structural and metamorphic features at Vedrette di Ries. Participants will also enjoy the natural attractions and cultural richness of this unique part of Italy.

B18 - SKARN DEPOSITS IN SOUTHERN TUSCANY AND ELBA ISLAND (CENTRAL ITALY)
M. Benvenuti, M. Boni  & L. Meinert
The skarn deposits of Central Italy are world-famous for the study of metasomatic processes and also as the type locality for many rare and beautiful minerals, such as ilvaite. This two-day field trip will examine outcrop and mine exposures near Valle del Temperino (Southern Tuscany), and Rio Marina and Capo Calamita (Elba island). These areas are also of great historical interest due to many early Etruscan settlements. Visits are planned to archeological sites near Baratti.

B19 - THE RECORD OF MESSINIAN EVENTS IN THE NORTHERN APENNINES FOREDEEP BASINS
M. Roveri, A. Landuzzi, M.A. Bassetti, S. Lugli, V. Manzi, F. Ricci Lucchi & G.B. Vai
This field trip deals with the dramatic paleoenviromental changes related to the "Messinian salinity crisis" as recorded by the sedimentary successions of the Northern Apennines. The Romagna Apennines offer a unique opportunity to compare extensive successions developed in different structural and depositional settings, with relevant implications on a Mediterranean scale. The specific topics that will be dealt with during the field trip include the following: the onset of the salinity crisis; the facies characters of the primary evaporites; the resedimented gypsum facies, and their genetic relationships with primary evaporites; the diagenetic transformations of primary and resedimented evaporites; the facies characters and paleoenvironmental meaning of the post-evaporitic siliciclastic deposits; the origin and nature of the pervasive high-frequency cyclicity recorded by Messinian deposits; the role of climate and tectonics in controlling facies development and time-space distribution of the Messinian successions.

B21 - ULTRAHIGH AND HIGH PRESSURE ROCKS OF SAXONY
H.-J. Massonne & H.-J. Bautsch
The topic of this excursion is the wide variety of high-pressure and especially ultra-high-pressure rocks in Saxony. These rocks occur in both Variscan crystalline massifs of the Erzgebirge and the Granulitgebirge at the North Western edge of the Bohemian Massif. The excursion group will visit several of the abundant bodies of relatively fresh eclogite, garnet peridotite, garnet pyroxenite and spectacular diamondiferous quartzofeldspathic rocks. The country rocks are a further aim of the field trip. Several types of felsic and basic high-pressure (HP) granulites will be visited in the Granulitgebirge (the type locality of granulites). HP gneisses, HP pegmatites, marbles and skarns will be presented in the Erzgebirge. Participants will certainly also enjoy the historic mining town of Freiberg.

B22 - PALEOZOIC OROGENIES IN THE FRENCH MASSIF CENTRAL A CROSS SECTION FROM BÈZIERS TO LYON
M. Faure, P. Ledru, J. M. Lardeaux & P. Matte
The French Massif Central is one of the largest areas exposing pre-Permian rocks deformed and metamorphosed during the Paleozoic tectono-thermal events responsible for the formation of the basement of Middle Europe. This field trip, from Montpellier to Lyon, along a reference cross-section will allow participants to get a general overview of the stack of nappes which form the Southern branch of the Hercynian belt, from unmetamorphosed kilometer-scale recumbent folds to high-grade metamorphic rocks and up to UHP eclogites and granulites. Current hotly debated points on the evolution of the Paleozoic Variscan-Hercynian Belt will be discussed. Namely: mono-orogenic vs poly-orogenic evolution, exhumation of HP/UHP metamorphic rocks, tectonic significance of orogen-oblique NW-SE trending lineations, timing and modalities of switching from compression to extension, relationships between magmatism and tectonics.

B24 - LATE QUATERNARY EVOLUTION OF THE PO PLAIN FROM SURFACE AND SUBSURFACE DATA: A TRAVERSE FROM THE APENNINES TO THE ADRIATIC SEA
A. Amorosi, U. Cibin, P. Severi, M. Stefani, G. Gabbianelli, U. Simeoni & S. Vincenzi
This excursion will focus on the sequence-stratigraphic architecture and on G.I.S.-assisted geological mapping of late Quaternary continental and marine sediments in the South-Eastern portion of the Apennine Foredeep (Po Basin, Emilia- Romagna Region, Northern Italy). The trip will be aimed at an understanding of the dramatic environmental evolution leading from the last glacial climax to the present-day temperate, strongly anthropogenic conditions. The sedimentary bodies and the erosional terraces visible in the piedmont belt are evidence of the evolution from the cold-climate Würmian depositional systems to the modern anthropogenic environments, while the outcropping and subsurface sediments from the Po Delta area record the coeval, widespread eustatic-driven transpression, followed by a large highstand progradation, taking place over the last 5,000 yrs and recording further high frequency paleoclimatic fluctuations.

B26 - NEOTECTONIC TRANSECT MOESIA-APULIA
I. Mariolakos, I. Zagorchev, I. Fountoulis & M. Ivanov
This field trip aims at demonstrating basic features of the neotectonic structure and deformation along a transect from the Moesian to the Apulian platform, through the mountain chains of the Balkanides and Hellenides. The trip will give a comprehensive idea about the Alpine geodynamics of the Balkan Peninsula, and largely coincides with Transect II of the TRANSMED Project. Emphasis will also be placed on seismic and geotechnical hazards, the geological heritage and its conservation, and on the archeological, cultural and historic heritage and geomythology. The field trip will include important natural, cultural and historic monuments such as the Vrachanski Balkan, Rila and Pirin national parks, the Rila Monastery, numerous ancient and medieval towns and monuments (Plovdiv, Hisar, Melnik,Thessaloniki, Vergina, Ioannina), the monastic rock complex of Meteora, and many others.

B28 - THE NEAPOLITAN ACTIVE VOLCANOES (VESUVIO,CAMPI FLEGREI,ISCHIA): SCIENCE AND IMPACT ON HUMAN LIFE
G. Orsi, S. de Vita, M.A. Di Vito, R. Isaia, D. Andronico, R. Avino, R. Brown, S. Caliro, G. Chiodini, R. Cioni, L. Civetta, M. D'Antonio, F. Dell'Erba, P. Fulignati, D. Granieri, L. Gurioli, P. Marianelli, R. Santacroce, A. Sbrana & R. Sulpizio
This field trip will be devoted to illustrating the volcanic and deformational history of the active Neapolitan volcanoes (Somma-Vesuvio, Campi Flegrei, Ischia), and the evolution and present state of their magmatic feeder systems. The trip will provide the opportunity to visit various types of volcanoes such as stratovolcano (Somma-Vesuvio) and caldera (Campi Flegrei, Ischia). Sedimentological, textural and structural features of the rocks as well as the petrological signature of the erupted magmas will be presented and discussed in order to explain the characteristics of the eruptions and their relationship with magma withdrawal dynamics. All three active volcanoes have erupted in historical times and have deeply influenced the life of the inhabitants of the regions. Therefore the trip will also include reviewing archeological, historical and artistic testimonies of such a relationship. The Pompeii and Herculaneum excavations are known worldwide. Other aspects on which we will focus are volcanic hazards and risk, and mitigation actions for volcanic crisis preparedness and management.

B29 - THERMO -MECHANICAL EVOLUTION OF THE ALPINE BELT, FROM THE ENGADINE WINDOW TO THE MATTERHORN
G. Gosso, M. Engi, F. Koller, J.M. Lardeaux, R. Oberhaensli & M.I. Spalla
A seven-day field trip over tectonic cross sections (Eastern and Central Alps) fanning across the Alpine belt, with a few high-altitude hiking days, with easier alternatives available as well. Included, along-the-way during the trip will be a half-day field workshop, focused on structural, metamorphic and geochronologic methods of exploiting the full tectonothermal record of crustal orogenic rocks in order to reach consistent interpretations of lithosphere behaviour and geodynamics. The trip is of general interest for viewing the huge imbricate structures of the continental and oceanic crusts in the Pennine mega-suture zone, and of specific interest for the outcrop-scale study of the structural and thermal memory of polymetamorphic tectonites from celebrated Alpine sites. The full range of continental and oceanic protoliths and of their tectonometamorphic derivatives generated during alpine subduction and collision will be thoroughly examined in order to consider how consolidated tectonic blocks and units evolved according to modern interpretations. The excursion crosses numerous sites of historical interest with regard to the civilization of the Alpine area in the recent millenia.

B30 - THE NEOGENE THRUST-TOP BASINS IN CENTRAL SICILY AND THE NEOGENE VOLCANISM OF THE NORTHERN MONTI IBLEI IN SOUTH-EASTERN SICILY
R.W.H. Butler, M. Grasso & R. Maniscalco
During the first and second day of this field excursion we will examine the tectonic and climatic signals in active sedimentary basins. We will concentrate on the interactions between deposition, base-level variations and deformation as recorded by late Miocene to Quaternary sediments that accumulated across, and adjacent to active thrust structures. The field trip follows a transect through the Maghrebian structures of central Sicily and will be of interest to a wide range of sedimentologists and structural geologists together with paleoclimatologists - paleoenvironmentalists interested in the Neogene record in the Mediterranean.
The third and fourth days will focus on the volcanic, geochemical and geodynamic evolution of the Northern Iblean Plateau (Southeast Sicily) from the Miocene to the present. Emphasis will be on:

• Systematic chemical evolution from early nephelinites through voluminous tholeiites to late alkali basalts and nephelinites;
• Contrasting emplacement mechanisms: subaerial, land-to sea transition, deeper water volcanism;
• Large variety of pyroclastic and hydroclastic deposits, submarine volcanic delta and debris flow deposits.

B31 - CADOMIAN OROGENIC IMPRINTS IN THE BOHEMIAN MASSIF (AUSTRIA,THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND GERMANY)
G. Zulauf, J. Fiala, F.Finger & U.Linnemann
During the past decade it has widely been accepted that the Avalonian-Cadomian belt results from Neoproterozoic to early Paleozoic Andean-type orogeny, that was active at the northern margin of Gondwana. This belt fell into microplates that collided with Laurentia or Baltica during the Caledonian/Variscan cycle. Central and southwestern Europe consists of these peri-Gondwanan microplates, and several attempts have been made to reconstruct the Neoproterozoic-Early Paleozoic distribution of them with respect to the West African and Amazonian Cratons. However, as robust paleomagnetic and other quantitative data are largely lacking, these reconstructions are still speculative and need further confirmation.
This field trip through the Bohemian Massif will show unique outcrops where Neoproterozoic to early Paleozoic (Cadomian) orogenic imprints are well documented. Participants will find rocks of both the Avalonia and Armorica microplates, the geodynamic evolution and plate-tectonic reconstruction of which will be discussed. Of particular interest is the center of the Bohemian Massif (Tepla-Barrandian unit) where tilted crustal sections are indicated by striking metamorphic isograds (biotite, garnet, staurolite, kyanite). Along these sections Cadomian deformation, metamorphism, and igneous activity can be studied at different structural levels, the latter ranging from the upper to the lower crust.

B32 - EXHUMATION OF HIGH-PRESSURE METAMORPHIC ROCKS WITHIN AN ACTIVE CONVERGENT MARGIN, CRETE,GREECE:  A FIELD GUIDE
J.M. Rahl, C. Fassoulas & M.T. Brandon
This field trip will focus on the exhumation of high-pressure metamorphic rocks exposed in central and western Crete, Greece. Excellent exposures of Miocene high-pressure rocks will provide an opportunity to discuss how erosion, brittle deformation, and ductile deformation contribute to exhumation within the convergent wedge overlying the Hellenic subduction zone.  In addition to the deformed basement rocks, the trip will focus on normal faulting and the development of syntectonic sedimentary deposits. Furthermore, the trip will examine the tectonic geomorphology associated with the ongoing deformation in Crete, including active fault scarps and the rapid incision of several spectacular gorges. The trip will also include a hike through the Samaria Gorge, which will provide beautiful mountain scenery, excellent exposures of the high-pressure rocks, and an opportunity to discuss the relationship between tectonic uplift and river incision.

B33 - THE CONTROL OF THE MESOZOIC PALEOMARGIN ARCHITECTURE ON THE PLIOCENE ROGENIC SYSTEM OF THE CENTRAL APENNINES
F. Calamita, M. Di Vincenzo, V. Scisciani, E. Tavarnelli, & M. Viandante
The outer zones of the Central Apennines of Italy represent, due to good outcrop continuity and high vertical relief, a well exposed foreland fold-and-thrust belt. Salient geometries of the thrust fronts represent a peculiar feature of the chain. These appear controlled by the distribution of Mesozoic carbonate platforms and pelagic basins differentiated during Triassic-Jurassic Tethyan rifting. The stratigraphic section, and the relationships between tectonics and sedimentation are well documented in the numerous foredeep and thrust-top basins, developed in response to the eastward migration of the Neogene thrust fronts. The proposed field trip will focus on the main geological and structural characteristics of the Central Apennines, and will show the role played by pre-thrusting normal faults of Mesozoic and Miocene ages, produced as a consequence of rifting and foreland flexure respectively, during the subsequent evolution of the fold-and-thrust belt.