Most ophiolitic mélanges and chaotic rock units in exhumed subduction zone complexes and orogenic... more Most ophiolitic mélanges and chaotic rock units in exhumed subduction zone complexes and orogenic belts are commonly interpreted as the products of tectonic processes (e.g., underplating and return flow) acting at intermediate to great depths (depth > 10–15 km, T > 250 °C) at convergent margins. Conversely, observations from modern and ancient, non- to poorly metamorphosed subduction–accretion complexes (recognized as mélanges and chaotic rock units) around the world show that these rock associations: (1) likely formed at shallow structural levels first, and (2) were later subducted and became tectonically reworked. As such, they mainly consist of broken formations (> 21.5%), and sedimentary (c. 20%), polygenetic (> 13.7%) and/or diapiric (c. 6.7%) mélanges. Tectonic mélanges are limited to <3.0% (in surface distribution), suggesting that tectonic processes do not make efficient mixing mechanisms at shallow structural levels. Subduction of structural inheritances (e.g...
Geological mapping, stratigraphic observations, and U/Pb dating allow reconstructing the pre-orog... more Geological mapping, stratigraphic observations, and U/Pb dating allow reconstructing the pre-orogenic setting of the transition zone between the distal European passive margin and the Alpine Tethys in the southwestern Alps. Although convergent tectonics overprinted the syn-rift Jurassic tectonic features, our data document an articulated Jurassic physiography. From the distal European passive margin oceanward, we distinguished: the Dronero Unit (the southernmost Dora Maira massif), represents a continental margin composite basement wherein monometamorphic metasediments are interlayered with Late Permian (253.8 ± 2.7 Ma) metavolcanic rocks; the Sampeyre Unit, represents a structural high consisting of Lower Triassic Verrucano-facies siliciclastic metasediments unconformably sealed by Cretaceous calcschist bearing Globotruncana sp.; the Maira Unit, corresponds to a Middle Triassic platform succession detached from the Sampeyre Unit; the Grana Unit, corresponds to a Late Triassic–Late ...
Travaux et Documents des Laboratoires de Géologie de Lyon, 2002
Irace Andrea, Clari Pier Angelo, Dela Pierre Francesco, Bicchi Erica, Cavagna Simona, Festa Andre... more Irace Andrea, Clari Pier Angelo, Dela Pierre Francesco, Bicchi Erica, Cavagna Simona, Festa Andrea. The Moncucco quarry : a key area to understand the Messinian evolution of the Torino Hill, tertiary Piemonte Basin, NW-Italy. In: Documents des Laboratoires de Géologie, Lyon, n°156, 2002. STRATI 2002. 3ème congrès français de stratigraphie. Lyon, 8-10 juillet 2002. pp. 131-132
The southern Dora-Maira Massif is a (ultra)-high pressure ((U)HP) tectonic nappe stack consisting... more The southern Dora-Maira Massif is a (ultra)-high pressure ((U)HP) tectonic nappe stack consisting of different continental crust units which underwent (U)HP metamorphism during the Alpine orogenesis. The study area is located immediately south of the world-famous UHP Brossasco-Isasca Unit and exposes, from the lower to the upper structural level, a quartzeclogitic unit (i.e the Rocca Solei Unit: RSU) and a blueschists-facies unit (i.e. the Dronero-Sampeyre Unit: DSU), relatively poorly known in terms of lithostratigraphy and metamorphic conditions. Such a geological setting, in which a blueshistsfacies metamorphic unit overlays eclogitic metamorphic units, is a unique feature in the Internal Cristalline Massifs and the geodynamic processes responsible for its formation are still debated. Moreover, lithologies apparently related to an oceanic setting (already reported by Carraro et al., 1971 and Henry, 1990) are tectonically interposed between the RSU and the DSU, and their origin ha...
Most ophiolitic mélanges and chaotic rock units in exhumed subduction zone complexes and orogenic... more Most ophiolitic mélanges and chaotic rock units in exhumed subduction zone complexes and orogenic belts are commonly interpreted as the products of tectonic processes (e.g., underplating and return flow) acting at intermediate to great depths (depth > 10–15 km, T > 250 °C) at convergent margins. Conversely, observations from modern and ancient, non- to poorly metamorphosed subduction–accretion complexes (recognized as mélanges and chaotic rock units) around the world show that these rock associations: (1) likely formed at shallow structural levels first, and (2) were later subducted and became tectonically reworked. As such, they mainly consist of broken formations (> 21.5%), and sedimentary (c. 20%), polygenetic (> 13.7%) and/or diapiric (c. 6.7%) mélanges. Tectonic mélanges are limited to <3.0% (in surface distribution), suggesting that tectonic processes do not make efficient mixing mechanisms at shallow structural levels. Subduction of structural inheritances (e.g...
Geological mapping, stratigraphic observations, and U/Pb dating allow reconstructing the pre-orog... more Geological mapping, stratigraphic observations, and U/Pb dating allow reconstructing the pre-orogenic setting of the transition zone between the distal European passive margin and the Alpine Tethys in the southwestern Alps. Although convergent tectonics overprinted the syn-rift Jurassic tectonic features, our data document an articulated Jurassic physiography. From the distal European passive margin oceanward, we distinguished: the Dronero Unit (the southernmost Dora Maira massif), represents a continental margin composite basement wherein monometamorphic metasediments are interlayered with Late Permian (253.8 ± 2.7 Ma) metavolcanic rocks; the Sampeyre Unit, represents a structural high consisting of Lower Triassic Verrucano-facies siliciclastic metasediments unconformably sealed by Cretaceous calcschist bearing Globotruncana sp.; the Maira Unit, corresponds to a Middle Triassic platform succession detached from the Sampeyre Unit; the Grana Unit, corresponds to a Late Triassic–Late ...
Travaux et Documents des Laboratoires de Géologie de Lyon, 2002
Irace Andrea, Clari Pier Angelo, Dela Pierre Francesco, Bicchi Erica, Cavagna Simona, Festa Andre... more Irace Andrea, Clari Pier Angelo, Dela Pierre Francesco, Bicchi Erica, Cavagna Simona, Festa Andrea. The Moncucco quarry : a key area to understand the Messinian evolution of the Torino Hill, tertiary Piemonte Basin, NW-Italy. In: Documents des Laboratoires de Géologie, Lyon, n°156, 2002. STRATI 2002. 3ème congrès français de stratigraphie. Lyon, 8-10 juillet 2002. pp. 131-132
The southern Dora-Maira Massif is a (ultra)-high pressure ((U)HP) tectonic nappe stack consisting... more The southern Dora-Maira Massif is a (ultra)-high pressure ((U)HP) tectonic nappe stack consisting of different continental crust units which underwent (U)HP metamorphism during the Alpine orogenesis. The study area is located immediately south of the world-famous UHP Brossasco-Isasca Unit and exposes, from the lower to the upper structural level, a quartzeclogitic unit (i.e the Rocca Solei Unit: RSU) and a blueschists-facies unit (i.e. the Dronero-Sampeyre Unit: DSU), relatively poorly known in terms of lithostratigraphy and metamorphic conditions. Such a geological setting, in which a blueshistsfacies metamorphic unit overlays eclogitic metamorphic units, is a unique feature in the Internal Cristalline Massifs and the geodynamic processes responsible for its formation are still debated. Moreover, lithologies apparently related to an oceanic setting (already reported by Carraro et al., 1971 and Henry, 1990) are tectonically interposed between the RSU and the DSU, and their origin ha...
An examination of ancient and contemporary submarine landslides and their impact.
Landslides are ... more An examination of ancient and contemporary submarine landslides and their impact. Landslides are common in every subaqueous geodynamic context, from passive and active continental margins to oceanic and continental intraplate settings. They pose significant threats to both offshore and coastal areas due to their frequency, dimensions, and terminal velocity, capacity to travel great distances, and ability to generate potentially destructive tsunamis. Submarine Landslides: Subaqueous Mass Transport Deposits from Outcrops to Seismic Profiles examines the mechanisms, characteristics, and impacts of submarine landslides. Volume highlights include: Use of different methodological approaches, from geophysics to field-based geology Data on submarine landslide deposits at various scales Worldwide collection of case studies from on- and off-shore Potential risks to human society and infrastructure Impacts on the hydrosphere, atmosphere, and lithosphere
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Papers by Andrea Festa
Landslides are common in every subaqueous geodynamic context, from passive and active continental margins to oceanic and continental intraplate settings. They pose significant threats to both offshore and coastal areas due to their frequency, dimensions, and terminal velocity, capacity to travel great distances, and ability to generate potentially destructive tsunamis.
Submarine Landslides: Subaqueous Mass Transport Deposits from Outcrops to Seismic Profiles examines the mechanisms, characteristics, and impacts of submarine landslides.
Volume highlights include:
Use of different methodological approaches, from geophysics to field-based geology
Data on submarine landslide deposits at various scales
Worldwide collection of case studies from on- and off-shore
Potential risks to human society and infrastructure
Impacts on the hydrosphere, atmosphere, and lithosphere