Search

Understanding how the lithosphere accommodates deformation along oblique convergent plate boundaries is an important issue for unveiling orogenic belt exhumation. The Variscan belt exposed in Sardinia represents an area where it is possible to investigate the inner part of this orogen and a km-scale transpressive shear zone, i.e. the Posada-Asinara shear zone, that drove the exhumation of the metamorphic core of the belt. Even though the Asinara island offers very good exposure of main tectonic units building up the Variscan belt of Sardinia, a detailed geological map of the island is still lacking, due to a former limitation of access that lasted for many years. In this contribution, we compile a new 1:25.000 geological-structural map of the entire Asinara island useful to better understand this key sector of the Variscan belt in Sardinia.

ABSTRACTThis paper presents the structural map of the Barrabisa Complex, an E-W ribbon-like migmatitic massif exposed in the northern part of Sardinia. The migmatites consist of metatexites and diatexites with variable melt proportion, grading in the central part of the complex to a foliated peraluminous granodiorite. Xenotime/monazite dating indicates that the foliated granodiorite pluton emplaced in upper Carboniferous times (≈307–313 Ma) within a narrow E-W ductile top-to-the east shear zone cutting through a Variscan high-grade metamorphic basement composed of orthogneisses, metasedimentary-derived migmatites and subordinate amphibolites. Field geological mapping, coupled with structural and micro-structural analysis, allowed us to distinguish the granodioritic pluton and three metamorphic units characterized by variable melt to protholith ratio, that represent a continuous transition from metatexite to diatexite with high melt concentration, to foliated granodiorite.

This paper deals with the geological mapping of the late-Variscan Sàrrabus pluton, (south-eastern Sardinia), a shallow multiple and composite igneous complex dominated by several generations of granodiorites, metaluminous and peraluminous granites and repeated pulses of mantle-derived mafic magmas. The map has been compiled based on geological surveys at 1:10,000 and 1:5,000 scales, assisted by in situ gamma-ray spectrometry and detailed petrographic investigations. Granite-related ore deposits have been also reported. The emplacement age of the pluton can be constrained by U/Pb dating on zircons of Cala Regina granodiorite, yielding an age of 286 ± 9 Ma. The resulting scenario documents a bimodal magmatism controlled by an EW trending shear zone, followed by the shallower emplacement of several pulses of independent granite magmas.

A geochemical comparison of early Palaeozoic felsic magmatic episodes throughout the south-western European margin of Gondwana is made and includes (i) Furongian–Early Ordovician (Toledanian) activities recorded in the Central Iberian and Galicia–Trás-os-Montes zones of the Iberian Massif, and (ii) Early–Late Ordovician (Sardic) activities in the Eastern Pyrenees, Occitan Domain (Albigeois, Montagne Noire and Mouthoumet massifs) and Sardinia. Both phases are related to uplift and denudation of an inherited palaeorelief, and stratigraphically preserved as distinct angular discordances and paraconformities involving gaps of up to 22 million years. The geochemical features of the predominantly felsic Toledanian and Sardic activities point to a predominance of magmatic byproducts derived from the melting of metasedimentary rocks, rich in SiO2 and K2O and with a peraluminous character. Zr ∕ TiO2, Zr ∕ Nb, Nb ∕ Y and Zr vs. Ga ∕ Al ratios, and rare-earth element (REE) and εNd(t) values suggest the contemporaneity, for both phases, of two geochemical scenarios characterized by arc and extensional features evolving to distinct extensional and rifting conditions associated with the final outpouring of mafic tholeiite-dominant lava flows. The Toledanian and Sardic magmatic phases are linked to neither metamorphism nor penetrative deformation; on the contrary, their unconformities are associated with foliation-free open folds subsequently affected by the Variscan deformation. The geochemical and structural framework precludes subduction-generated melts reaching the crust in a magmatic arc-to-back-arc setting and favours partial melting of sediments and/or granitoids in the lower continental crust triggered by the underplating of hot mafic magmas related to the opening of the Rheic Ocean.

Throughout the Mediterranean, salinization threatens water quality, especially in coastal areas. This salinization is the result of concomitant processes related to both seawater intrusion and water–rock interaction, which in some cases are virtually indistinguishable. In the Nurra region of northwestern Sardinia, recent salinization related to marine water intrusion has been caused by aquifer exploitation. However, the geology of this region records a long history from the Palaeozoic to the Quaternary, and is structurally complex and comprises a wide variety of lithologies, including Triassic evaporites. Determining the origin of the saline component of the Jurassic and Triassic aquifers in the Nurra region may provide a useful and more general model for salinization processes in the Mediterranean area, where the occurrence of evaporitic rocks in coastal aquifers is a common feature. In addition, due to intensive human activity and recent climatic change, the Nurra has become vulnerable to desertification and, in common with other Mediterranean islands, surface water resources periodically suffer from severe shortages. With this in mind, we report new data regarding brackish and surface waters (outcrop and lake samples) of the Na-Cl type from the Nurra region, including major ions and selected trace elements (B, Br, I, and Sr), in addition to isotopic data including δ18O, δD in water, and δ34S and δ18O in dissolved SO4. To identify the origin of the salinity more precisely, we also analysed the mineralogical and isotopic composition of Triassic evaporites. The brackish waters have Cl contents of up to 2025 mg L−1 , and the ratios between dissolved ions and Cl, with the exception of the Br / Cl ratio, are not those expected on the basis of simple mixing between rainwater and seawater. The δ18O and δD data indicate that most of the waters fall between the regional meteoric water line and the global meteoric water line, supporting the conclusion that they are meteoric in origin. A significant consequence of the meteoric origin of the Na-Cl-type water studied here is that the Br / Cl ratio, extensively used to assess the origin of salinity in fresh water, should be used with care in carbonate aquifers that are near the coast. Overall, δ34S and δ18O levels in dissolved SO4 suggest that water–rock interaction is responsible for the Na-Cl brackish composition of the water hosted by the Jurassic and Triassic aquifers of the Nurra, and this is consistent with the geology and lithological features of the study area. Evaporite dissolution may also explain the high Cl content, as halite was detected within the gypsum deposits. Finally, these Na-Cl brackish waters are undersaturated with respect to the more soluble salts, implying that in a climate evolving toward semi-arid conditions, the salinization process could intensify dramatically in the near future.

The objective of this study is to analyze the geochemical conditions associated with the presence of fluoride (F−) in the groundwater of an area of Northern Tanzania. The studied aquifers are composed of volcanic rocks such as phonolitic and nephelinitic lavas, basalts, lahars of various ages and mantling ash. Sedimentary rocks consisting of fine-grained alluvial and lacustrine deposits occur as well. Samples collected from springs, borehole and surface water, during two monitoring surveys, were analyzed for the various physico-chemical and isotopic parameters. The geochemical composition of water is typically sodium bicarbonate. High values of F− (up to 68 mg l−1) were recorded. The highest values of fluoride agreed with the highest values of pH, sodium and bicarbonate. Dissolution of major ions, exchange processes and precipitation of Ca2+ from super-saturated solutions joined with the local permeability and hydraulic gradients, control the fluoride mobilization and the contamination of the area.

A multidisciplinary research effort, including geological, hydrogeological, hydro-chemical, geophysical and hydrological investigations, was aimed at locating a source of safe groundwater for a district of northern Tanzania, within the western branch of the East Africa Rift Valley, where water shortage is common and much of the surface water carries unacceptable levels of dissolved fluoride. The 440 km2 study area lies in the northern part of Arumeru district and is dominated by Mt. Meru (4565 m a.s.l.). The local climate is semi-arid, with distinct wet and dry seasons. Four hydrogeological complexes were identified, occurring within different volcanic formations, either alone or superimposed upon one another. The groundwater flow system was interpreted from the spatial distribution of the springs, combined with a lithology- and geometry-based reconstruction of the aquifers. The dominant pattern consists of a multi-directional flow from the higher elevations in the south towards the lower areas in the north, but this is complicated by structures such as grabens, faults, lava domes and tholoids. After the identification of the major fluoride source, an interference pattern between groundwater and high fluoride surface water was drawn. Finally, vertical electrical soundings were performed to define the location of aquifers in regions where release of fluoride was prevented. The methodological approach for the prospecting of safe water in a semi-arid, fluoride polluted region was validated by the drilling of a 60 m deep well capable of supplying at least 3.8 l/s of low fluoride, drinkable water.

The binding of ubiquitous serum ligands (free fatty acids) to human serum albumin (HSA) or its glycation can affect thiol group reactivity, thus influencing its antioxidant activity. The effects of stearic acid (SA) and glucose binding on HSA structural changes and thiol group content and reactivity were monitored by fluoroscopy and the Ellman method during a 14-day incubation in molar ratios to HSA that mimic pathophysiological conditions. Upon incubation with 5 mM glucose, HSA glycation was the same as HSA without it, in three different HSA:SA molar ratios (HSA:SA-1:1-2-4). The protective effect of SA on the antioxidant property of HSA under different glucose regimes (5-10-20 mM) was significantly affected by molar ratios of HSA:SA. Thiol reactivity was fully restored with 5-20 mM glucose at a 1:1 HSA:SA ratio, while the highest thiol content recovery was in pathological glucose regimes at a 1:1 HSA:SA ratio. The SA affinity for HSA increased significantly (1.5- and 1.3-fold, p < 0.01) with 5 and 10 mM glucose compared to the control. These results deepen the knowledge about the possible regulation of the antioxidant role of HSA in diabetes and other pathophysiological conditions and enable the design of future HSA-drug studies which, in turn, is important for clinicians when designing information-based treatments.

The Einstein Telescope (ET) is a proposed next-generation, underground gravitational-wave detector to be based in Europe. It will provide about an order of magnitude sensitivity increase with respect to the currently operating detectors and, also extend the observation band targeting frequencies as low as 3 Hz. One of the first decisions that needs to be made is about the future ET site following an in-depth site characterization. Site evaluation and selection is a complicated process, which takes into account science, financial, political, and socio-economic criteria. In this paper, we provide an overview of the site-selection criteria for ET, provide a formalism to evaluate the direct impact of environmental noise on ET sensitivity, and outline the necessary elements of a site-characterization campaign.

The general environmental conditions of Santa Giusta Lagoon, an important Sardinian coastal lagoon often affected by dystrophic crises, are examined. The study considers both the monitoring data collected over the past ten years on the relevant water quality parameters and the preliminary results on the structure and heavy metal content of the surface sediments of the lagoon. These data emphasised its elevated trophic level, due to the excessive presence of plant nutrients in water, and a relative low level of heavy metal contamination. At the moment, the eutrophy--brought about the urban and industrial wastes from Oristano and Santa Giusta--can be considered the main environmental issue of the lagoon.