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The paleosalinity of water from which the gypsum precipitated during the Messinian salinity crisis is a controversial issue. Recent microthermometry studies on primary fluid inclusions in gypsum provided very low salinity values not compatible with precipitation from seawater, and suggested strong mixing between seawater and nonmarine waters enriched in calcium sulfate. We applied a new microthermometric protocol on gypsum crystals from nine Mediterranean sections that were experimentally stretched to measure a larger population of fluid inclusions. The results show salinities ranging from 9 to 238 wt‰ NaCl equivalent, largely falling within the evaporation path of normal seawater. The data from previous studies were obtained mostly from those fluid inclusions capable of nucleating a stable bubble after a weak stretching, which probably correspond to those having a lower salinity acquired through post-depositional crack-and-seal processes. Our data suggest instead that the primary gypsum precipitated from a marine brine, later modified by post-trapping processes during tectonics and exhumation.

Since the modern trampoline was built by George Nissen and Larry Griswold around, 1934 in USA, this equipment and its use has suffered drastic changes. Its development was decisive in order to Trampoline Gymnastics to be included at the Olympic Games program in 2000. In Brazil its practice started in the 1980’s, and has been only integrated the Brazilian Gymnastics Federation in 1999. The purpose of the study is to analyze the Brazilian participation in the international trampoline gymnastics championships. Data collection was performed by the documental and bibliographic research of main international trampoline gymnastics competitions. The results show that, even though Brazil is the leader in South America with relevant participation in the continental level, the first participation at an Olympic Games had only been possible in 2016, because Brazil was the host country. We conclude that the Brazilian participation in World Championships and in the Olympic Games is not relevant. Finally, the lack of adequate equipment, the bad condition of the training centers, the absence of regular and official coaching education programs and the lack of support for the clubs, shows that this gymnastics discipline is not a current priority for the National Sports authorities, hindering its development internally.

The interplay between carbonate and siliciclastic sediment production in shallow marine environments may result in the development of mixed depositional systems showing a cyclical arrangement of sedimentary facies. The palaeoenvironmental record associated with these cyclical facies changes is not always univocally correlated with eustatic oscillations, suggesting that other forcing processes have played an additional role. The Castell'Arquato Basin (CAB: Pliocene-Pleistocene, Northern Apennines, Italy) offers the opportunity to integrate the study of small and large-scale stratigraphic architectures with that of shell beds in shelf to deep-water successions. The analysis of diversity trends allows a first insight into the structure of CAB benthic communities associated with minor and major biocalcarenites. Biofacies types are identified through a multivariate analysis of a large quantitative database including shells of all molluscs, serpulids and brachiopods. The study shows that these bio-detrital deposits and their bracketing marine mudstones developed at inner-shelf settings and that taphonomic feedback played an important role in the stratigraphic distribution of biofacies. Benthic communities from shelly bottoms depend on the winnowing of fines by bottom currents, a factor that is not related to water depth in a simple manner. Heterogeneity of the seafloor is associated to high-diversity of communities of topset strata of major biocalcarenites. Communities living in siliciclastic bottoms depend on factors that are largely depth-dependant. The study confirms the correlation of major biocalcarenite cycles with coeval deep-water sapropels, supporting the hypothesis of a more effective role of high-amplitude climatic changes driven by orbital forcing. This affects the source-to-sink dynamics of the whole basin and the biological structuring processes of shelfal depositional settings and related ecosystems.

This integrated study (field observations, micropalaeontology, magnetostratigraphy, geochemistry, borehole data and seismic profiles) of the Messinian–Zanclean deposits on Zakynthos Island (Ionian Sea) focuses on the sedimentary succession recording the pre-evaporitic phase of the Messinian salinity crisis (MSC) through the re-establishment of the marine conditions in a transitional area between the eastern and the western Mediterranean. Two intervals are distinguished through the palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the pre-evaporitic Messinian in Kalamaki: (a) 6.45–6.122 Ma and (b) 6.122–5.97 Ma. Both the planktonic foraminifer and the fish assemblages indicate a cooling phase punctuated by hypersalinity episodes at around 6.05 Ma. Two evaporite units are recognized and associated with the tectonic evolution of the Kalamaki–Argassi area. The Primary Lower Gypsum (PLG) unit was deposited during the first MSC stage (5.971–5.60 Ma) in late-Messinian marginal basins within the pre-Apulian foreland basin and in the wedge-top (

TheMiocene-Pliocene boundary in the Northern Apennine was the object of several studies prior to the definition of the GSSP of the Zanclean stage in the Eraclea Minoa section (Sicily, Italy). This definition came at the end of the ’90s, after an accurate and Mediterranean wide high resolution biostratigraphic study of the basal Pliocene deposits. Since then calcareous plankton biostratigraphy allows to correlate the very base of the Zanclean through the occurrence of two consecutive sinistrally coiled Neogloboquadrina acostaensis influxes, respectively placed within the 1st/2nd cycle and the 2nd/3rd cycle from the base astronomically dated at 5.33Ma (insolation peak 510). Besides these bioevents, the classical Spheroidinellopsis spp. acme interval, the base of subchron Thvera and the cyclic signal of both biota and lithology help recognize the base of the Zanclean stage. Several sections and boreholes were studied in an east (Marche region) to west (Emilia region) transect along the Northern Apennine. Despite different sampling resolution, the two N. acostaensis sinistral influxes were recognized in each sites except the Montepetra borehole were the definition of the Zanclean base was achieved through cyclostratigraphic features. Some nannofossil bioevents, such as the drop of abundance of D. variabilis and the beginning of a paracme interval of R. pseudoumbilicus, revealed to be useful for a better constraining of the basal Zanclean. Thus the sedimentary succession across the Messinian – Zanclean boundary was recognized to be continuous and the base of the Zanclean stage coeval to its GSSP at Eraclea Minoa, thus dated at 5.33 Ma. This demonstrates that the Zanclean restoration of marine condition that ended the Messinian salinity crisis was a synchronous event, geologically speaking within the present resolution power, throughout the entire Mediterranea region.

A geological transect from the abyssal plain of the Ligurian Sea to the Po Plain, realised integrating seismic profiles (ENI, BG Group and CROP data set), well data and surface geology, is presented and discussed in order to highlight Messinian deposits and their structural-stratigraphic features in different structural domains, as a contribute to better define the geodynamic and tectonic implication of the Messinian salinity crisis (MSC) within the Northern Apennines (NA) evolution. In late Tortonian-early Pliocene time three main tectonic pulses caused the uplift of the emerging NA orogenic wedge and the outward migration of its associated basins (foredeep and wedge top basins), while a coeval extensional tectonic regime developed in hinterland areas (Tuscany region and Northern Tyrrhenian sea). The frontal zone of the NA orogenic wedge, thrusting over the west-dipping Adriatic monocline, is imaged in the NE part of the transect. Its thrust front is now buried under a thick succession of Plio-Pleistocene synorogenic deposits in the subsurface of the Po Plain. The Ligurian Units, the uppermost nappe of the tectonic pile, overly Oligo-Miocene foredeep turbidites which are tectonically stacked and accreted to the chain, together with their Mesozoic carbonatic substratum. In the NA foreland basin system two distinctive wedge-top basin types, with different morphostructural setting and Messinian stratigraphy, have been recognised: 1) closed marginal basins, where shallow-water primary evaporites, deposited during the first phase of the MSC, underwent deformation, uplift and erosion during the intra-Messinian tectonic phase (i.e. the Vena del Gesso basin, western Romagna area); 2) deeper and more subsiding basins where organicrich shales and thin limestones, coeval to marginal basins evaporites, were overlain by relatively deep-water resedimented evaporites during the intra-Messinian tectonic phase (i.e. the Cortemaggiore basin, in the Emila area). In deep basinal settings primary evaporites are never found. During the intra-Messinian tectonic phase the main foredeep depocentre shifted toward the NE and the late Tortonian-early Messinian foreland ramp areas were drowned. The axial zone of the chain occurs in the central part of the transect. No Messinian deposits are found here because this area underwent strong uplift and emersion during this time interval. Hinterland areas of the NA chain, characterised by peculiar Messinian deposits, occur in the SW portion of the transect: the Ligurian Basin and extensional basins pertaining to the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea and Tuscany region. The late Oligocene-early Miocene Ligurian Basin syn-rift sequences are highlighted in the Ligurian Basin. The Alpine units are interested by extensional west-dipping listric faults. An undifferentiated Messinian unit, including evaporites, salt and late Messinian deposits, has been recognised. Its deposition is related to a post-rift thermal subsidence regime that took place after the counterclockwise rotation of the Corsica-Sardinia Block. This well-stratified seismic unit shows evidence of deformations due to salt diapirism and gravitational tectonics, driven by shallow low-angle listrict faults that sole out at its base or immediately beneath. Moving NE-ward the intra-Messinian unconformity is sealed by the latest Messinian “Lago Mare” units, as recognized in the Gorgona High. The Northern Tyrrhenian Sea and Tuscany region in upper Tortonian-lower Pliocene time underwent extensional tectonic regime, with the developement of basins bounded by main west-dipping low-angle listric faults. In these basins, actually poor represented in our transect, primary evaporites are preserved under upper Messinian-Pliocene deposits. The Viareggio basin, imaged on this transect, displays evidence of important extensional tectonic regime only in Plio-Pleistocene time. At the base of these syn-rift deposits a probable undifferentiated Messinian unit has been traced. These sediments may represent the onset of the extensional tectonic phase in this area.

The Legnagnone section (North-eastern Apennines) represents one of the few shallow water records of the onset of the Messinian salinity crisis. Here we present a detailed description of a ~200 kyr time interval encompassing the pre-/syn-evaporitic transition based on a multidisciplinary approach, integrating sedimentological, bio-magnetostratigraphical, palaeontological and stable isotope data. Such a shallow water setting is potentially more sensitive to the palaeoenvironmental change leading to the MSC than the more often studied deeper Mediterranean basin. The aquatic palaeoenvironmental reconstruction proposed here is based on the study of foraminifer, ostracod and mollusc assemblages. It depicts a change from infralittoral (20–50 m) to inner circalittoral environment (60–100 m) that, since 6.12 Ma, was progressively affected by a reduction of oxygen at the sea floor punctuated by short-lived anoxic events. At least three cooling events have been recognized on the basis of relative abundance data in mid to high altitude pollen, which, before 6.03 Ma, are in phase with abundance peaks of Turborotalia spp., a taxon indicating eutrophic and cool surface waters. The absence of stress-tolerant benthic foraminifers during these peaks points to strong ventilation episodes triggered by a generally cooler climate. The proximity of a deltaic system and the consequent riverine input probably caused a salinity decrease of the surface waters, hindering the proliferation of planktonic foraminifers in the water column, which prevalently occur in short influxes and disappear at ca. 6 Ma. Our results suggest that the onset of the crisis occurred during a phase of relative sea level high stand, whereas no evidences of sea level drop can be envisaged. The palaeoclimatic reconstruction based on palynological data indicates the dominance of a “subtropical humid forest” vegetation type, where fresh water swamps are well represented. From 6.03 Ma onward, the transition to the salinity crisis is marked by more pronounced cyclical expansions of the temperate broad-leaved deciduous forest, along with herbaceous taxa. The establishment of the strongly evaporative condition at the crisis onset is not associated with major vegetational changes towards drier conditions, but linked to a sudden increase of δ18O and the disappearance of benthic foraminifers just prior to the deposition of the 1st laminated carbonate, which represents the base of the Primary Lower Gypsum unit.

L’indagine conoscitiva realizzata in una area di 12,5 ettari, sita nel comune di Carpiano, ha permesso di ottenere uno schedario molto ampio di dati chimici e fisici quali metalli pesanti, metalloidi, macroelementi, radionuclidi, sostanza organica (carbonio totale e carbonio organico), diossine, furani, DDT, PCBs, pesticidi orgaclorurati, erbicidi, pH e tessitura. I parametri biologici hanno insistito sugli aspetti connessi alla Biodiversità e alla Bioindicazione come ad esempio i batteri e i funghi, l’utilizzo dei biosensori e degli artropodi, l’analisi dell’attività enzimatica e i lombrichi sino alla coltivazione di piantine di trifoglio per valutare eventuali variazioni del patrimonio genetico (DNA) causate dai contaminanti presenti nel suolo. Le informazioni, nel loro concetto olistico, hanno permesso di osservare uno stato di compromissione del suolo e della stessa vita degli organismi vegetali e animali che sono presenti nel suolo. Tale malessere del suolo è presente a differenti livelli di intensità e copre buona parte dell’area oggetto di indagine.

Note Illustrative della Carta Geologica D’Italia alla scala 1:50.000 foglio 205 Comacchio

International audience; Forty years after the image of the Mediterranean transformed into a giant salty lake was first conceived, the fascinating history of the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC) still arouses great interest across a large and diverse scientific community. Early outcrop studies which identified severe palaeoenvironmental changes affecting the circum-Mediterranean at the end of the Miocene, were followed by investigations of the marine geology during the 1950s to 1970s. These were fundamental to understanding the true scale and importance of the Messinian event. Now, after a long period of debate over several entrenched but largely untested hypotheses, a unifying stratigraphic framework of MSC events has been constructed. This scenario is derived mainly from onshore data and observations, but incorporates different perspectives for the offshore and provides hypotheses that can be tested by drilling the deep Mediterranean basins.The MSC was an ecological crisis, induced by a powerful combination of geodynamic and climatic drivers, which had a great impact on the subsequent geological history of the Mediterranean area, and on the salinity of the global oceans. These changed the Mediterranean's connections with both the Atlantic Ocean and the freshwater Paratethyan basins, causing high-amplitude fluctuations in the hydrology of the Mediterranean. The MSC developed in three main stages, each of them characterized by different palaeoenvironmental conditions. During the first stage, evaporites precipitated in shallow sub-basins; the MSC peaked in the second stage, when evaporite precipitation shifted to the deepest depocentres; and the third stage was characterized by large-scale environmental fluctuations in a Mediterranean transformed into a brackish water lake.The very high-resolution timescale available for some Late Miocene intervals in the Mediterranean makes it possible to consider environmental variability on extremely short time scales including, in some places, annual changes. Despite this, fundamental questions remain, some of which could be answered through new cores from the deepest Mediterranean basins. Improvements in seismic imaging and drilling techniques over the last few decades make it possible to plan to core the entire basinal Messinian succession for the first time. The resulting data would allow us to decipher the causes of this extreme environmental change and its global-scale consequences.

Based on 87Sr/86Sr data of the Primary Lower Gypsum (PLG) deposits in the Vena del Gesso basin—a marginal basin of the Mediterranean during the Messinian Salinity Crisis—a correlation between 87Sr/86Sr values and precessional forcing has recently been proposed but not yet confirmed. In this study, a box model is set up to represent the Miocene Mediterranean deep basin and a connected marginal basin. Measurements of 87Sr/86Sr in the Vena del Gesso and estimated salinity extrema are used to constrain model results. In an extensive analysis with this model, we assess whether coeval 87Sr/86Sr and salinity fluctuations could have been forced by precession-driven changes in the fresh water budget. A comprehensive set of the controlling parameters is examined to assess the conditions under which precession-driven 87Sr/86Sr variations occur and to determine the most likely setting for PLG formation. Model results show that precession-driven 87Sr/86Sr and salinity fluctuations in marginal basins are produced in settings within a large range of marginal basin sizes, riverine strontium characteristics, amplitudes of precessional fresh water budget variation, and average fresh water budgets of both the marginal and deep basin. PLG deposition most likely occurred when the Atlantic-Mediterranean connection was restricted, and the average fresh water budget in the Mediterranean was significantly less negative than at present day. Considering the large range of settings in which salinities and 87Sr/86Sr fluctuate on a precessional timescale, 87Sr/86Sr variations are expected to be a common feature in PLG deposits in marginal basins of the Mediterranean.