Extending the tephra and palaeoenvironmental record of the Central Mediterranean back to 430 ka: A new core from Fucino Basin, central Italy. (1st December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Giaccio, Biagio; Leicher, Niklas; Mannella, Giorgio; Monaco, Lorenzo; Regattieri, Eleonora; Wagner, Bernd; Zanchetta, Giovanni; Gaeta, Mario; Marra, Fabrizio; Nomade, Sébastien; Palladino, Danilo M.; Pereira, Alison; Scheidt, Stephanie; Sottili, Gianluca; Wonik, Thomas; Wulf, Sabine; Zeeden, Christian; Ariztegui, Daniel; Cavinato, Gian Paolo; Dean, Jonathan R.; Florindo, Fabio; Leng, Melanie J.; Macrì, Patrizia; Niespolo, Elizabeth; Renne, Paul R.; Rolf, Christian; Sadori, Laura; Thomas, Camille; Tzedakis, Polychronis C.
• Is Part Of: Quaternary science reviews. Volume 225(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-12-01
• Subjects: Geology, Stratigraphic -- Quaternary -- Periodicals; Stratigraphie -- Quaternaire -- Périodiques; 551.79
• DOI: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2019.106003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-3791

Abstract

Abstract: Here we present the first tephrostratigraphic, palaeomagnetic, and multiproxy data from a new ∼98 m-deep sediment core retrieved from the Fucino Basin, central Italy, spanning the last ∼430 kyr. Palaeoenvironmental proxy data (Ca-XRF, gamma ray and magnetic susceptibility) show a cyclical variability related to interglacial-glacial cycles since the Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 12-MIS 11 transition. More than 130 tephra layers are visible to the naked eye, 11 of which were analysed (glass-WDS) and successfully correlated to known eruptions and/or other equivalent tephra. In addition to tephra already recognised in the previously investigated cores spanning the last 190 kyr, we identified for the first time tephra from the eruptions of: Tufo Giallo di Sacrofano, Sabatini (288.0 ± 2.0 ka); Villa Senni, Colli Albani (367.5 ± 1.6 ka); Pozzolane Nere and its precursor, Colli Albani (405.0 ± 2.0 ka, and 407.1 ± 4.2 ka, respectively) and Castel Broco, Vulsini (419–490 ka). The latter occurs at the bottom of the core and has been 40 Ar/ 39 Ar dated at 424.3 ± 3.2 ka, thus providing a robust chronological constrain for both the eruption itself and the base of the investigated succession. Direct 40 Ar/ 39 Ar dating and tephra geochemical fingerprinting provide a preliminary radioisotopic-based chronological framework for the MIS 11-MIS 7 interval, which represent a foundation for the forthcoming multiproxy studies and for investigating the remaining ∼110 tephra layers that are recorded within this interval. Such future developments will contribute towards an improved MIS 11-MIS 7 Mediterranean tephrostratigraphy, which is still poorly explored and exploited. Highlights: A new core from the Fucino lacustrine succession, central Italy, has been recovered. A composite tephra record including 130 tephra layers has been built. A preliminary chronological framework for the new Fucino core is provided. The new core extends the central Italy tephra record back to 430 ka. Fucino is confirmed to be the most promising tephra archive of the Mediterranean.