Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra

Descrizione del progetto

The mechanisms of plate tectonics are still controversial due to a number of unexplained issues. One of these issues is the
subduction of continental lithosphere, a widespread phenomenon in small-cold collisional orogens (e.g. Alps); this is a
paradox within the paradigm of plate tectonics and the discussion is still open on the processes allowing the descent of light
lithosphere. Still debated are also the processes controlling the exhumation of large-hot collisional orogens (e.g. Himalaya),
where the role played by anatexis in the exhumation is not clear.
Subduction, collision, exhumation and erosion processes in an orogenic belt are correlated to magmatism, metamorphism
and retrometamorphism-related transformations, production and escape of fluids (among which green-house gases such as
CO2). The beginning, growth, uplift and foreland propagation of an orogenic belt deeply affect many aspects of life with the
localization of areas of relevant natural hazard. The structural and metamorphic settings, geophysical constraints, kinematics
and dynamics of both small-cold and large-hot orogens need to be further investigated.
The knowledge of the whole evolution of these orogens has many potential impacts also on the environment, such as:
estimate of the subsidence in foredeep areas, rate of uplift and erosion in the orogenic belts, natural degassing, the
occurrence of raw materials and the stress and thermal state of the lithosphere.
This project aims to study the mechanisms allowing the formation, evolution and consumption of both small-cold and
large-hot orogens. Specific aims are to understand: (i) why the continental lithosphere can subduct; (ii) whether partial
melting in large-hot collisional orogens was a cause or a consequence of exhumation; (iii) what are the metamorphic
reactions that occur during the subduction, the collision and in the exhumed part of the accreted rocks; (iv) what is the
seismological signature of this evolution; (v) which are the constraints determining seismicity?
The study areas are specific sections of the Alps, Apennines, Zagros and Himalayas; the main targets are:
- analysis and modeling of the subduction and exhumation of both continental and oceanic crustal slices;
- metamorphic and magmatic evolution during the subduction process;
- reconstruction of the geometry, depth and behavior of the decollements of the orogen;
- construction of new updated tomographic sections;
- quantification of uplift and subsidence rates in the orogen and foreland basin respectively;
- reconstruction of orogenic evolution through time from the sedimentary record;
- computation of the energy balance of the continental subduction and collision;
- modeling of different types of dissipation by ductile deformation and earthquakes.
The integration of the results will allow to move forward into the comprehension of plate tectonics and on its relations with
natural hazards that we must face.

Risultati e pubblicazioni

2018

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CAROSI R., MONTOMOLI C., IACCARINO S., VISONA' D.. (2018). Structural Evolution, Metamorphism and Melting in the Greater Himalayan Sequence in  Central-Western Nepal. GEOL. SOC. LONDON SP. PUBL., in press.

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MONTEMAGNI A, IACCARINO S., MONTOMOLI C, CAROSI R., JAIN A.K., VILLA I M. (2018). Age constraints on the deformation style of the South Tibetan Detachment System in Garhwal Himalaya. Italian Journal of Geosciences, in press, https://doi.org/10.3301/IJG.2018.07

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SIMONETTI M., CAROSI R., MONTOMOLI C., LANGONE A. , D'ADDARIO E. , MAMMOLITI E. (2018). Kinematic and geochronological constraints on shear deformation in the Ferriere-Mollières shear zone (Argentera-Mercantour Massif, Western Alps): implications for the evolution of the Southern European Variscan Belt. International Journal of Earth Sciences, in press, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-018-1593-y.

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CAROSI. R., MONTOMOLI C., IACCARINO S. (2018). 20 years of geological mapping of the metamorphic core across Central and Eastern Himalayas. Earth Science Reviews, 177,124-138. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012825217304191

2017

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SIMONETTI M., CAROSI R., MONTOMOLI C. (2017). Variscan shear deformation in the Argentera Massif: a field guide to the excursion in the Pontebernardo valley (CN, Italy). Atti Soc. Tosc. Sci. Nat., Mem. Serie A, 124 (2017), 151-179.

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MONTEMAGNI C., MONTOMOLI C., IACCARINO S.,CAROSIR. A.K.JAIN, MASSONNE H-J., VILLA I. M. (2017).  Dating protracted fault activities: microstructures, microchemistry and geochronology of the Vaikrita Thrust, Main Central Thrust zone, Garhwal Himalaya, NW India. IN "Crustal Architecture and Evolution of the Himalaya-Karakoram-Tibet Orogen2 Geol. Soc. London Sp. Publ., in press.

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SIMONETTI M., CAROSI R., MONTOMOLI C. (2017). Variscan shear deformation in the Argentera Massif: a field guide to the excursion in the Pontebernardo valley  (CN, Italy). Atti Soc. Toscana Sc. nat. serie A, in press.

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GHEZZI L., PETRINI R., MONTOMOLI C., CAROSI R., PAUDYAL K., CIDU R. (2017). Findings on water quality in Upper Mustang (Nepal) from a preliminary geochemical and geological survey. Environmental Earth Sciences, in press.

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PICCOLO A., FACCENDA M., CAROSI R., MONTOMOLI C., VISONA' D. (2017). Crustal strength control on structures and metamorphism in collisional orogens. Tectonophysics, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2017.09.018

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DECARLIS A., BELTRANDO M.,  MANATSCHAL G., FERRANDO S., CAROSI R. (2017). Architecture of the distal Piedmont-Ligurian rifted margin in NW-Italy: hints for a flip of the rift system polarity. Tectonics, DOI: 10.1002/2017TC00456.

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IACCARINO S.,  MONTOMOLI C. CAROSI C. MONTEMAGNI C., MASSONNE H-J., LANGONE A., JAIN. A.K., VISONA' D. (2017). Pressure-temperature-deformation-time constraints on the South Tibetan Detachment System in the Garhwal Himalaya (NW India). Tectonics DOI: 10.1002/2017TC004566

IACCARINO S., MONTOMOLI C., CAROSI R., MASSONNE H-J, VISONA' D. (2017). Geology and tectono-metamorphic evolution of the Himalayan metamorphic core: insights from the Mugu Karnali transect, Western Nepal (Central Himalaya). Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 35 (3), 301-325. DOI: 10.1111/jmg.12233

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Montomoli C., Carosi R., Rubatto D., VISONA' D., Iaccarino S. (2017). Tectonic activity along the inner margin of the South Tibetan Detachment constrained by syntectonic leucogranite emplacement in Western Bhutan. Italian Journal of geosciences, 136, 1, 5-14.

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Montomoli, C., Iaccarino, S., Antolin, B., Appel, E., Carosi, R., Dunkl, I., Ding, L., Visonà, D. (2017). Tectono-metamorphic evolution of the Tethyan Sedimentary Sequence (Himalayas, SE Tibet). Italian Journal of Geosciences, 136, 1, 73-88.