RESEARCH LINES
Main researches include the sedimentary geology, the physical stratigraphy, the palaeoclimatology and the palaeoceanography of the Neogene deposits of the peri-Mediterranean area.
A particular focus is dedicated to the Messinian salinity crisis, one of the most amazing geological issues. The complexity of this scientific problem has been faced through multidisciplinary studies comprising:
• Integrated Stratigraphy: physical-, cyclo-, bio-, magneto-, sequence-, chrono- stratigraphic revision of the Messinian salinity crisis stratigraphic framework in the Mediterranean area
• Sedimentology of the evaporites and hybrid deposits: facies analysis of primary and clastics evaporites (sulfates, carbonates and halite) and mixed evaporitic-terrigenous and/or gypsiferous-carbonate deposits
• High-frequency cyclicity on evaporites: study of the short-term modulation of evaporite deposits
• Shallow clastics sedimentology: facies analysis on shelf and fluvio-deltaic siliciclastic deposits
• Turbitites: facies analyses and basin analysis on the Marnoso-arenacea (Miocene, Northern Apennines) and Laga (Messinian, Central Apennines) turbiditic systems
• Mass Transport deposits: focus on the evaporites-bearing chaotic deposits
• Geomicrobiology of the evaporites: relationships between evaporites and microbial communities
• Isotope geochemistry: 13C, 18O, 34S, 87Sr/86Sr, isotopes of evaporites and associated deposits
• Paleomagnetism: magnetic properties of sediments for integrated stratigraphy
• Mars sulphate: providing Earth analogs for interpretation of evaporites on Mars