Structure and geological evolution of the island of Ponza, Italy: inferences from geological and gravimetric data

Abstract

A geological and a geophysical survey have been carried out at Ponza Island, Tyrrhenian sea, Italy. Geological and structural data allowed to identify three main tectonic systems: NW-SE, NE-SW and E-W trending. The first one is related to a pre-volcanic tectonic event, probably linked to the Pliocene extensional activity of the Tyrrhenian evolution; the other two systems affected the volcanic units in two different stages of the Lower Pleistocene, the earlier one after the rhyolitic hyaloclastic formation (HF) emplacement and the later one after the emplacement of older trachytic pyroclastic deposits (Lower Pyroclastic Units—LPU). The latter event was followed by the emersion of the whole Ponza area, as testified by a marked erosional surface and marine terrace deposits cropping out at the top of LPU. The Upper Pyroclastic Units (UPU) represent the younger trachytic activity of the island (1.3 Myr) and do not show evidence of tectonic activity. The NW-SE-trending tectonic system probably assisted the rhyolitic magma rise, while the NE-SW- and E-W-trending systems mainly assisted the trachytic magma rise, responsible for the explosive and effusive activity in the southern area and for the hydrothermal fluids that caused alteration processes in the northern area. A 161-station gravimetric survey was carried out on the island and surrounding islets. The geological data and the gravimetric survey have been used to propose a 2.5 D model in which rhyolitic hyaloclastic deposits (ρ = 1.7 g cm −3) overlay an articulated Meso-Cenozoic sedimentary substratum (ρ = 2.6 g cm −3) laying at a depth to 300 m below sea level. Both formations are crossed by rhyolitic dykes (ρ = 2.4 g cm −3) which mark feeder fractures. In the M. Guardia area, where a maximum is present, this model accounts for the presence of a horst of the rigid basement, a shallow trachytic lava flow and its feeder (ρ = 2.8 g cm −3).