Morphometric analysis and amino acid geochronology of uplifted shorelines in a tectonic region near reggio Calambria, South Italy

Abstract

The tectonic coastline of the Calabrian Peninsula provides an opportunity to study the morphology and history of elevated marine shorelines. Near Capo dell'Armi, eleven shorelines are preserved between sea level and 256 m. With some correlation difficulties posed by the dissection of the area by intermittent streams, we are able to correlate several of the shorelines across the entire study area. With the support of correlations provided by amino acid geochronology, we have identified four shorelines dating from the last interglacial period (isotope stage 5); the oldest two both contain the Strombus bubonius fauna and are of indistinguishable early last interglacial ages (stage 5e, aminozone E, ca. 125 ka). The highest terrace VII is associated with a shoreline at 157 m and the lower with a shoreline around 125-105 m a.s.l. Of the two younger stage 5 without Strombus bubonius, the higher (V) lies at about 90–100 m and produces amino acid ratios slightly younger than, but statistically indistinguishable from those of aminozone E. However, the youngest last interglacial shoreline deposits (IV) have produced amino acid ratios correlated to late stage 5 (5a) elsewhere in the Mediterranean basin. Amino acid and geomorphic data have shown that uplift varies the study area from 0.85 to 1.03 m/ka and suggeststhat constant uplift along any one traverse is unlikely.