Abstract
This study discusses the siliciclastic to bioclastic deposits (in particular, the rhodolith deposits) in the Gulf of Naples based on sedimentological and seismo-stratigraphic data. The selected areas are offshore Ischia Island (offshore Casamicciola, Ischia Channel), where a dense network of sea-bottom samples has been collected, coupled with Sparker Multi-tip seismic lines, and offshore Procida–Pozzuoli (Procida Channel), where sea-bottom samples are available, in addition to Sparker seismic profiles. The basic methods applied in this research include sedimentological analysis, processing sedimentological data, and assessing seismo-stratigraphic criteria and techniques. In the Gulf of Naples, and particularly offshore Ischia, bioclastic sedimentation has been controlled by seafloor topography coupled with the oceanographic setting. Wide seismo-stratigraphic units include the bioclastic deposits in their uppermost part. Offshore Procida–Pozzuoli, siliciclastic deposits appear to prevail, coupled with pyroclastic units, and no significant bioclastic or rhodolith deposits have been outlined based on sedimentological and seismo-stratigraphic data. The occurrence of mixed siliciclastic–carbonate depositional systems is highlighted in this section of the Gulf of Naples based on the obtained results, which can be compared with similar systems recognized in the central Tyrrhenian Sea (Pontine Islands).
Highlights
Published: 3 December 2021Rhodolith and the maërl deposits are genetically related to coralline algae, representing important tools for assessing the paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental conditions [1,2,3,4].Analysis of the structure of these algae is an important technique in order to investigate the paleoenvironmental conditions in different regions, including tropical, temperate, and polar regions
One key aim of this paper is to study the bioclastic deposits in the northern Gulf of Naples and to highlight that a transition from bioclastic to siliciclastic deposits exists towards offshore Procida–Pozzuoli based on sedimentological and seismo-stratigraphic data
The sedimentological and seismo-stratigraphic results related to offshore Ischia and Procida–Pozzuoli were compared with previous studies on Mediterranean rhodolith
Summary
Published: 3 December 2021Rhodolith and the maërl deposits are genetically related to coralline algae, representing important tools for assessing the paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental conditions [1,2,3,4].Analysis of the structure of these algae is an important technique in order to investigate the paleoenvironmental conditions in different regions, including tropical, temperate, and polar regions. Coralline algae have some characteristics which make them important paleoenvironmental proxies, comprising the growth of annual and sub-annual growth bands, consisting of high-Mg calcite, and the progressive burial of new thalli from sediments, when new thalli grow, composing part of the dead deposit [1,2,3,4] Their widespread distribution, extending from polar to tropical zones, makes them a key stratigraphic tool in order to reconstruct the environmental conditions during the geological past, from middle to high latitudes, where they can be compared with a few other recorders, to low latitudes, where many other recorders exist [1,2,3,4]. It has been highlighted that the geographical distribution of coralline algae on a global scale is scattered, if compared with the geographical distribution of the rhodolith and maërl deposits [1,2,3,4].
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