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Morpho-bathymetric data have been analyzed in order to provide new geological evidence on the Gulf of Naples i.e. on the southern Ischia slope, on the Naples canyons and on the Capri-Sorrento slope, representing main morphological and depositional domains of the Gulf of Naples through shaded relief and slope maps constructed through Multibeam bathymetric data resulting in a newly constructed Digital Elevation Model of the bay. A slope gradient map has allowed for the identification of the main slope classes on the offshore of Naples town and their correlation with regional morpho-structural lineaments in both the offshore of Naples and Ischia. A high slope map is herein shown in order to individuate the areas potentially prone to slide. The cluster of the slope gradients distribution and the consequent re-classification process have allowed us to define six slope classes, resulting in a thematic map of the seabed morphological structures and in further detail, in a map of the structure classes of the Naples canyons. Three districts have been distinguished from high gradients on the slope map, suggesting a high geologic hazard of submarine features (southern Ischia slope, Naples canyons, southern Capri-Sorrento slope). Detailed geomorphological maps of these districts have been assembled based on the geological interpretation of morpho-bathymetry and the structure classes defined by the Bathymetric Position Index (BPI). These maps could provide a useful tool for planning and management of coastal zones in the submarine portions of the Naples Bay.

High-resolution seismoacoustic data represent a useful tool for the investigations of gas-charged sediments occurring beneath the seabed through the identification of the diagnostic intrasedimentary features associated with them. Acoustic blanking revealed shallow gas pockets in the seismostratigraphic units of the inner shelf off the Northern Cilento promontory. Six main seismostratigraphic units were recognized based on the geological interpretation of the seismic profiles. Large shallow gas pockets, reaching a lateral extension of 1 km, are concentrated at the depocenter of Late Pleistocene–Holocene marine sediments that are limited northwards by the Solofrone River mouth and southwards by the Licosa Cape promontory. A morphobathymetric interpretation, reported in a GIS environment, was constructed in order to show the main morphological lineaments and to link them with the acoustic anomalies interpreted through the Sub-bottom chirp profiles. A newly constructed workflow was assessed to perform data elaboration with Seismic Unix software by comparing and improving the seismic data of the previously processed profiles that used Seisprho software. The identification of these anomalies and the corresponding units from the offshore Cilento promontory represent a useful basis for an assessment of marine geohazards and could help to plan for the mitigation of geohazards in the Cilento region.

Ischia shows intriguing and complex geology, which has been deeply investigated. In this paper, a reappraisal of the Quaternary geologic evolution of Ischia based on literature data is advised, concentrating on the volcanology of the island, based on field data and geochemistry, due to the happening of active fumarolic systems on the island and the marine geology and geophysics, which are intensively studied in the frame of the CARG Project. The literature studies have been incorporated with the geological interpretation of high-resolution seismic profiles, partly previously published and herein reorganized with the aim to highlight the geologic evolution of the different sectors of the island (northern Ischia, southern Ischia). The outcrop data have shown the deposits of ten explosive eruptions: among them, we focused on the S. Angelo Tephra. The laccolith model has been described in order to explain the resurgence of Ischia starting from 55 ky B.P. Geochemical information has been synthesized to reconstruct the volcano-tectonic development of Ischia during the last 55 ky B.P. Different models of block resurgence of Ischia have been discussed, based on literature studies. These aspects have supplemented the Quaternary geologic evolution of Ischia. While the northern Ischia offshore shows complex stratigraphic relationships between buried volcanic edifices, the southern Ischia offshore has been mainly commanded by erosional activities, progressive next to a dense system of submarine channels, and by the volcano-tectonic activities, which have triggered off the location of the Ischia Debris Avalanche.

Advances in Sedimentology and Coastal Marine Geology is a Special Volume of Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (MDPI), in which several geologic and sedimentological studies have been collected.

E' stata eseguita in qualità di Editor in Chief, l'attività di curatela della monografia "Advances in Sedimentology and Coastal and Marine Geology" - Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (MDPI), in corso di pubblicazione ed aperto per la sottomissione di articoli scientifici fino a marzo 2022.

Geochemistry is a branch of geological sciences that deals with chemistry rocks and minerals in various igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary processes, from high to low temperatures and in various environments. Geochemistry is also an important background for a detailed description of rocks' origin and evolution. Geochemistry is also significant for other geological sciences, especially for dating various rock formations, geological processes and exploration of various mineral deposits. Geochemistry includes thirteen chapters that discuss the chemical composition of various rock complexes, their structural evolution, the methodology of specific geochemical methods (isotopic geology) and use of geochemical methods for the exploration of mineral deposits, structural geology, stratigraphy and lithology. Chapter 1, "Geochemistry of Granitic Rocks of the Moldanubian Batholith (Central European Variscides)," by Milo? René focuses on detailed geochemistry of four magmatic suites evolved in one of the largest plutonic complexes within the European Variscan Belt. Chapter 2, "An Overview on the Classification and Tectonic Setting of Neoproterozoic Granites of the Nubian Shield, Eastern Desert, Egypt," by Gaafar A. El Bahariya presents a comprehensive description of granitoid rocks exposed in the Eastern desert of Egypt and their geotectonic classification. Chapter 3, "Microstructure Features in Paleo and Neoproterozoic Granitic Rocks, Southeastern Region of Brazil," by Leonardo Gon?alves and Christiane Castro Gon?alves provides a mineralogical and microstructural description of granitic rocks exposed in the south-eastern region of Brazil, including detailed information on the geochemical evolution of feldspars during magmatic differentiation and high-temperature deformation. Chapter 4, "Deformation Features and Structures in Some Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks: A Case Study of Central African Fold Belt in Cameroon," by Benjamin Ntieche, Wokwenmendam Nguet, Zakari Nchouwet, Mahomed Azis Mounjouohou and Daouha Mfepat, is a detailed tectonic study of selected magmatic and metamorphic complexes in Central Africa. Chapter 5, "The Importance of Mechanical Transport, Rock Texture, and Mineral Chemistry in Chemical Weathering of Granites: The Melechov Massif, Czech Republic," by Václav Procházka, Miroslav ?á?ek, Petr Sulovský, Tomá? Vaculovi?, Lenka Rukavi?ková and Dobroslav Mat?jka describes the geochemical evolution of selected granitic rocks from the northern part of the Moldanubian batholith, Central European Variscan Belt, during their chemical weathering. The study also partly focuses on the fractionation of the rare-earth elements in these granites. Chapter 6, "Changes of Granite Rapakivi under the Biofouling Influence," by Dmitry Yu. Vlasov, Elena G. Panova, Marina S. Zelenskaya, Oksana A. Rodina, Alexey D. Vlasov and Katerina V. Sazanova is a detailed study of the influence of biochemical weathering on the destruction of rapakivi granite stones in several Russian and Finish cities. A significant part of this study presents the chemical composition of fresh rocks in comparison with the composition of crusts evolved during the biodegradation of these granitic rocks. Chapter 7, "Geochemistry of Radioactive Isotopes," by Salih Muhammad Awadh examines the geochemistry of selected isotopes of argon, carbon, kalium, neodymium, rubidium, samarium, strontium, uranium, and thorium, which are predominantly used to date magmatic, metamorphic and sedimentary rock complexes. The chapter also contains the basic characteristics of radioactivity, radioactive decay, and the methodology of rock dating. Chapter 8, "Exploration for Fe-Mn Oxides Using Geochemical Signatures in Soil: A Case Study of Part of Northwestern Nigeria," by Olufemi Sijuade Bamigboye focuses on detailed geochemical analyses of soil samples for geochemical exploration of Fe-Mn mineralization evolved in north-western Nigeria. It also presents results of detailed multi-componential geochemical analyses using principal component analysis. Chapter 9, "Main Features of Sedimentogenesis and Ecogenesis in Late Paleozoic Sea Pools of Northeast Asia," by Victor Gdal'evich Ganelin presents sedimentological analyses of Late Paleozoic sediments of the Taimyr-Kolyma paleogeographic region. The evolution of limestone bodies is characterized using the composition of carbon and oxygen isotope ratios. Chapter 10, "Structural Differentiation and Sedimentary System of the Permian Sichuan Cratonic Basin," by Haofu Zheng and Bo Liu focuses on detailed sedimentological and structural analyses of the Sichuan basin evolved in the western region of the Yangtze tectonic block. Chapter 11, "Late Neo-Proterozoic Tectono-Sedimentary Evolution of the Tarim Block, NW China," by Kaibo Shi, Bo Liu, Weimin Jiang, Jinxing Yu, Yue Kong, Tong Li and Changhai Li presents a sedimentology study of the Late Neo-Proterozoic and Early Cambrian sediments. It also characterizes the geochemical evolution of carbonate rocks by fractionation of carbon isotopes. For some sediments enriched inorganic matter, the content of total carbon is presented. Chapter 12, "The Onshore Southern Carnarvon Basin in Coastal Western Australia during the Quaternary: Tectonic Setting and Facies-Complicated Heterogeneous Stratigraphic Patterns," by Vic Semeniuk and Margaret Broex present very detailed stratigraphy, lithology, and sedimentology of the Quaternary sediments. Chapter 13, "Middle Miocene Evaporites from Northern Iraq: Petrography, Geochemistry, and Cap Rock Efficiency," by Ali I. Al-Juboury, Rana A. Mahmood, and Abulaziz M. Al-Hamdani examines petrography, geochemistry, and petroleum cap rock potential of middle-Miocene evaporites (gypsum and anhydrite). The gypsum enriched evaporites are characterized by their chemical composition. Chapter 14, "Bioclastic Deposits in the NW Gulf of Naples (Southern TyrrhenianSea, Italy): A Focus on New Sedimentological and Stratigraphic Data around the Island of Ischia," by Gemma Aiello discusses sedimentology and stratigraphic studies of bioclastic deposits evolved in some parts of the Gulf of Naples.

Marine geological maps of the Campania region have been constructed both to a 1:25.000 and to a 1:10.000 scale in the frame of the research projects financed by the Italian National Geological Survey, focusing, in particular, on the Gulf of Naples (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea), a complex volcanic area where volcanic and sedimentary processes strongly interacted during the Late Quaternary and on the Cilento Promontory offshore. In this paper, the examples of the geological sheets n. 464 “Isola di Ischia” and n. 502 “Agropoli” have been studied. The integration of the geological maps with the seismo-stratigraphic setting of the study areas has also been performed based on the realization of interpreted seismic profiles, providing interesting data on the geological setting of the subsurface. The coastal geological sedimentation in the Ischia and Agropoli offshore has been studied in detail. The mapped geological units are represented by: i) the rocky units of the acoustic basement (volcanic and/or sedimentary); ii) the deposits of the littoral environment, including the deposits of submerged beach and the deposits of toe of coastal cliff; iii) the deposits of the inner shelf environment, including the inner shelf deposits and the bioclastic deposits; iv) the deposits of the outer shelf environment, including the clastic deposits and the bioclastic deposits; v) the lowstand system tract; vi) the Pleistocene relict marine units; vii) different volcanic units in Pleistocene age. The seismo-stratigraphic data, coupled with the sedimentological and environmental data provided by the geological maps, provided us with new insights on the geologic evolution of this area during the Late Quaternary.

The correlation between onshore and offshore of the volcanic features in a complex volcanic field area is a difficult task, however, it is a fundamental step in order to better understand the geological evolution of such a complex area and for an assessment of geologic hazards. Ischia is a well exposed and densely populated volcanic field located in the Campania volcanic province of Italy. In order to improve our understanding of the recent volcanic history of Ischia Island, high-resolution seismic reflection profiles were used to identify volcanic and sedimentary features in the northern offshore. The volcano stratigraphy interpretation permitted us to recognize seismic units with a reflection-free/chaotic facies. These latter units have been associated with volcanic deposits and correlated to the main volcanic units outcropping on the northern coast of Ischia Island. They are limited in extent and interlayered with eight seismic units with continuous reflectors corresponding to clastic sedimentary units that were deposited during inter-eruptive phases. The main result of this work is the documentation of volcanic activity during the Holocene in the area offshore between Castello d'Ischia, Ischia Porto (mainly effusive products) and Punta della Scrofa (mainly shallow lava domes and dykes). The key volcanic units were mapped and 3D geological models were reconstructed. The reconstruction of the stratigraphic framework offshore a volcanic coast provides a pathway to the investigation of the stratigraphic relationships between inter-eruptive sedimentary deposits and volcanic units, and permits the assessment of a wide and continuous chronostratigraphic framework in a complex area. Furthermore, the onshore-offshore correlation of the main Holocene volcanic units allows us to better estimate their areal distribution, a critical factor in the hazard evaluation of a coastal volcanic area. The application of seismic volcano stratigraphy illustrates the remarkable possibilities that the study of submarine volcanic fields offers.

Bioclastic deposits in the Gulf of Naples have been studied and compared based on new sedimentological and stratigraphic data, particularly referring to the rhodolith layers. They represent detrital facies deriving mainly from in situ rearrangement processes of organogenic material on rocky sea bottoms. These deposits are composed of medium-coarse-grained sands and bioclastic gravels in a scarce pelitic matrix and crop out at the sea bottom in a portion of the inner shelf located at water depths between −20 m and −50 m. Below water depths of −30 m the bioclastic deposits are rhodolith, characterized by gravels and lithoclastic sands. Rhodolith deposits are often found near the Posidonia oceanica meadows and/or in protected areas near the rocky outcrops. The Ischia Bank represents an excellent natural laboratory for studying the rhodolith layers. On the Ischia Bank, below the Posidonia oceanica meadow, both bioclastic sands immersed in a muddy matrix and volcaniclastic gravels were sampled. Both the Mollusk shells and the volcaniclastic fragments, where the contribution of the silty and sandy fractions is lower than 20%, were colonized by some species of red algae, while in the marine areas with a low gradient a maërl facies was deposited.

Prefazione al volume Geochemistry

Submarine canyons are geomorphologic lineaments engraving the slope/outer shelf of continental margins. These features are often associated with significant geologic hazard when they develop close to densely populated coastal zones. The seafloor of Naples Bay is deeply cut by two incisions characterized by a dense network of gullies, namely the Dohrn and Magnaghi canyons, which develop from the shelf break of the Campania margin, down to the peripheral rise of the Eastern Tyrrhenian bathyal plain. Seismic-stratigraphic interpretation of multichannel seismic reflection profiles has shown that quaternary tectonics and recent to active volcanism have exerted a significant control on the morphological evolution and source-to sink depositional processes of the Dohrn and Magnaghi submarine canyons. The Dohrn canyon is characterized by relatively steep walls hundreds of meters high, which incise a Middle-Late Pleistocene prograding wedge, formed by clastic and volcaniclastic deposits associated with the paleo-Sarno river system during the Mid-Late Pleistocene. The formation of the Dohrn canyon predates the onset of the volcanic eruption of the Neapolitan Yellow Tuff (NYT), an ignimbrite deposit of ca. 15 ka that represents the bedrock on which the town of Napoli is built. Integrated stratigraphic analysis of high-resolution seismic profiles and marine gravity core data (C74_12) collected along the flanks of the eastern bifurcation of the head of Dohrn Canyon suggests that depositional processes along the canyon flanks are dominated by gravity flows (e.g., fine-grained turbidites, debris flows) and sediment mass transport associated with slope instability and failure.

This is the introductory chapter of the book "Sedimentary Processes - Examples from Asia, Turkey and Nigeria." In this book, different topics on the sedimentary processes have been treated, focusing, in particular, on the geological characteristics and production response of a sandstone reservoir located offshore the Niger Delta (Nigeria), on coastal lacustrine sedimentary archives with the example of Lake Bafa (Mediterranean Sea), on the riparian zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir (China), representing a transitional area located between aquatic and terrestrial environments, on the long-lasting changes of the beach environments along the Kaike coast (Japan) and finally, on the role of the mangroves in coastal and estuarine sedimentary environments.

A regional seismic section on the Campania continental margin is herein presented, showing the main regional morpho-structural lineaments of the Naples and Salerno Gulfs. New data on the geological structure of the Gulf of Naples have been obtained by using a section composed of several seismic lines recorded along the structural trend running from the Ischia Island towards the Capri Island and the Volturno basin, located on the northern Campania continental margin offshore the Volturno plain. In the general setting of Naples and Salerno Bays fifteen seismic units have been distinguished, whose reconstruction has improved the geologic and stratigraphic knowledge of the Campania continental margin.

This book contains six chapters dealing with the sedimentary processes with examples from Asia, Turkey and Nigeria, particularly referring to the geological characteristics, to the beach processes, to the coastal and lacustrine sedimentary archives and to the role of the mangroves in controlling the coastal sedimentation, pertaining, in particular, the geological characteristics and the production response of a reservoir located offshore the Niger Delta (Nigeria), the coastal lacustrine geo-archives with the example of the Lake Bafa (Turkey), the sedimentary processes in the riparian zone of the Ruxi Tributary Channel (Three Gorges Reservoir, China), the beach morphological changes studied by means of a contour-line change model and finally, the role of the mangroves in controlling the sedimentary accretion of coastal and marine environments with the regional example of the south-eastern Asia. The first chapter introduces the sedimentary processes and related geological controls, examining the role of the deltas (Niger Delta), the coastal and lacustrine geo-archives, the beach systems and their morphological variations and the geological role of mangroves. Using geophysical techniques as the analysis of the seismic attributes, in the second chapter it has been established that the N5.2 reservoir is a massive sandy unit, located in the Agbada Formation, representing a structural high, characterized by two main peaks. The correlation of well logs has been performed, highlighting the occurrence of sandstones with traces of glauconites. In the third chapter, the coastal and lacustrine sedimentary archive of the Lake Bafa has been analyzed, individuating four main depositional stages, ranging in age from 4.5 ky B.P. to 0.8 ky B.P. The ecosystem characteristics of the basin have been controlled by hydroclimatic and geotectonic processes. The fourth chapter has applied a fingerprinting technique to the sediment sources of the riparian zone, taking into account several depths of a tributary channel. The main sediment sources are represented by the topsoil above the riparian zone, by the sediments suspended by the Yangtze river and by the sediment suspended by the Ruxi river. The fifth chapter has studied the long-term variations of the beach of the Kaike coast (Japan), starting from the analysis of aerial photographs and then producing a contour-line change model, which has considered the variations of sediment grain-size. In the sixth chapter, marker horizon techniques and surface elevation table (SET) tests have highlighted the spatial variability in the sedimentary patterns by examining several coastal sites, especially located in Malaysia and Thailand (south-eastern Asia).

Quaternary marine deposits of the Ischia island have been analyzed based on marine geological survey and sedimentological data. The Ischia island represents the emerged part of a large volcanic field, extending from the Procida island to the submerged volcanoes of the western Ischia offshore. The volcanic field develops over an area of about 42 km2, E-W trending, composed of calderas, such as the Ischia caldera, linked to the great explosive eruptions, plinian and ignimbritic ("Sintema del Rifugio di S. Nicola"). The grain-size analyses of sea bottom samples have evidenced the occurrence of gravelly sands, sands, silty sands, muddy sands, sandy silts and silts. The comparison of the obtained results with previous sedimentological data collected in the Ischia offshore, coupled with the construction of marine geological maps at the 1:10.000 scale has shown that the sands seem to prevail in the eastern Ischia offshore, while the gravelly sands, mainly bioclastic are located at the top of relict volcanic edifices, such as the Forio Bank (western Ischia offshore) and the Ischia Bank (south-eastern Ischia offshore). Moreover, the obtained data have evidenced the occurrence of rhodolith beds on the relict volcanic edifice of the Ischia Bank and the on the related parasitic vent and in the Ischia Channel, a morphological saddle located between the Ischia and Procida islands.

A main volcanic marker has been identified for the first time on the continental shelf of the northern Phlegraean Fields in the Gaeta Gulf (Campania region, eastern Tyrrhenian margin, Italy) by means of Subbottom Chirp profile grid and stratigraphic analysis of a core collected on the slope. In the seismic sections, the core bottom corresponds to the top of a continuous and parallel reflector (V) interbedded within the transgressive deposits of the Late Quaternary-Holocene depositional sequence. The Transgressive System Tract deposits are particularly thick compared to the majority of the transgressive deposits of other shelf settings. This might be due to the input of pyroclastic and volcanoclastic deposits related to the intense eruptive activity of the Campania Plain during the Late Pleistocene-Holocene time span. Undulations and pockmarks are the main morphological features of the sea floor and they might be linked to gas uprising, widely detected in the study area. The V reflector is located on the shelf from northeast to southwest at different depths, ranging from 10 ms (about 8 m) to 30 ms (about 25 m) below sea floor and it can be mapped down to the continental slope. The geological calibration of this continuous reflector coupled with tephrostratigraphic analysis, allowed to correlate it with the Neapolitan Yellow Tuff deposits emplaced at Phlegraean Fields at ca. 15 ka.

This is the introductory chapter of the book “New insights into the stratigraphic setting of Paleozoic to Miocene deposits: case studies from the Persian Gulf, Peninsular Malaysia and south-eastern Pyrenees.” In this chapter, the research themes studied in this book have been introduced referring to the paleoecological and facies analysis techniques and methodologies, pertaining, in particular, an Oligo-Miocene carbonate succession of the Persian Gulf (Asmari Formation), the chemostratigraphy of Paleozoic carbonates of Peninsular Malaysia through the integration of stratigraphic, sedimentologic, and geochemical data, and the chronostratigraphy of a small ice-dammed paleolake in Andorra, applying the FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) analysis, resulting in sixth-order stratigraphic cycles, which have outlined the occurrence of glacially controlled system tracts and unconformities.

Deep multichannel profiles located on the Campania continental margin have been processed and interpreted with the aim to highlight new evidence on the tectono-stratigraphic setting of this sector of Southern Italy Tyrrhenian margin. In particular, the interpreted seismic profiles have crossed the geological structures of the Ischia and Capri Islands and the Volturno offshore. The regional geological structure of the Campania continental margin is characterized by several geological structures and corresponding seismic units, both volcanic and sedimentary in nature. The interpreted seismic sections have been divided in different sectors due to their different reflectivity, respectively good next to the Sorrento Peninsula and to the Volturno river mouth and low next to the Magnaghi canyon and the Ischia structural high due to volcanic and volcaniclastic layers. The continental slope of Capri Island-Bocca Piccola is distinguished from the occurrence of a carbonate structure controlled by the related deep carbonatic seismic unit, overlain by thick sedimentary seismic units, represented by relict prograding wedges, probably Middle-Late Pleistocene in age. These units, are, in turn, overlain by a thin Holocene drape, suggesting a starvation on the continental slope off Bocca Piccola during the Late Quaternary, when this area was a structural high, characterized by Meso- Cenozoic carbonates northwestwards dipping and representing the seawards prolongation of the Capri structural high. Acoustically-transparent seismic facies have been observed in the Magnaghi canyon- Ischia offshore sector, located in correspondence to the volcanic Ischia structural high. Seismic interpretation has shown that the incision of the Magnaghi canyon, characterized by a depth of maximum cut of 450 m, has mainly involved the volcanic deposits, lacking of internal reflectivity. Another main sector is represented by the Volturno basin, where three seismic units have been identified, representing the basin filling. They have been respectively interpreted as Pleistocene coastal shales alternating with volcaniclastic deposits, as Middle Pleistocene deltaic and marine deposits and as Miocene flysch deposits, genetically related with the Frosinone Flysch. The Magnaghi basin, herein recognized and previously unknown, is a small basin located in the Ischia offshore, whose infilling is characterized by parallel and continuous seismic reflectors. A morpho-structural high (“Banco di Fuori” or “Banco di Bocca Grande”), bounding southwards the Naples Bay and high about 800 m, is characterized by the occurrence of the deep carbonate seismic unit, representing its stratigraphic bulk. While its north-western flank is characterized by the occurrence of thick relict prograding wedges, the south-eastern one is downthrown by the Acerra-Dohrn canyon normal fault, one of the most significant counter-Apenninic (NE-SW) trending regional faults controlling the structure of the Naples Bay. The high is laterally bounded by the Dohrn canyon in its southern part and by the Magnaghi canyon in its northern part. The Capri structural high is characterized by marked reflectors, parallel and continuous, interpreted as the upper relict prograding wedge (B unit), overlying the lower relict prograding wedge (A unit). Both the wedges unconformably overlie the deep carbonate unit. The passage to the Salerno Valley happens through the Capri-Sorrento regional normal fault, NNW-SSE trending, characterized by a throw of about 1 km and active during the Pleistocene. This fault separates the Salerno Bay from the Naples Bay. The Salerno Valley is filled by four seismic units. The most recent one is characterized by continuous and parallel seismic reflectors and has been put in relationships with Quaternary marine and continental deposits, overlying Pleistocene deposits, showing the same seismic characteristics and representing the second seismic unit. The third unit shows discontinuous reflectors interpreted as Miocene flysch deposits, genetically related with the Cilento Flysch, while the deepest one has been interpreted as Mesozoic carbonate deposits., Alcuni profili sismici multicanale sul margine continentale della Campania sono stati elaborati ed interpretati con lo scopo di fornire nuove evidenze geologiche sull’assetto tettono­stratigrafico di questo settore del margine tirrenico dell’Italia meridionale. In particolare, i profili sismici interpretati hanno attraversato le strutture geologiche delle Isole di Ischia e Capri e l’offshore del Volturno. La struttura geologica regionale del margine continentale della Campania è caratterizzata da varie strutture geologiche e dalle corrispondenti unità sismiche, di natura sia vulcanica che sedimentaria. Le sezioni sismiche interpretate sono state suddivise in settori differenti in base alla diversa riflettività, rispettivamente buona presso la Penisola Sorrentina e la foce del Volturno e scarsa presso il canyon Magnaghi e l’alto strutturale di Ischia per la presenza di livelli vulcanici e vulcanoclastici. La scarpata continentale dell’Isola di Capri­Bocca Piccola è contraddistinta dalla presenza di una struttura carbonatica controllata dall’unità sismica carbonatica profonda, geneticamente collegata, ricoperta da spesse unità sismiche sedimentarie, rappresentate da cunei progradanti relitti, di probabile età medio­tardo pleistocenica. Queste unità sono a loro volta ricoperte da un sottile drappeggio di depositi olocenici, che suggerisce una sotto­alimentazione della scarpata continentale al largo di Bocca Piccola durante il tardo Quaternario, quando quest’area era un alto strutturale, caratterizzato da carbonati meso­cenozoici inclinati verso nord­ovest, che rappresentavano il proseguimento in mare dell’alto strutturale di Capri. Facies sismiche acusticamente trasparenti sono state osservate nel settore del canyon Magnaghi­offshore di Ischia, localizzato in corrispondenza dell’alto strutturale vulcanico di Ischia. L’interpretazione sismica ha mostrato che l’incisione del canyon Magnaghi, caratterizzato da una profondità di massima incisione di 450 m, ha prevalentemente coinvolto i depositi vulcanici, mancanti di riflettività interna. Un altro settore principale è rappresentato dal Bacino del Volturno, dove sono state identificate tre unità sismiche, che formano il riempimento del bacino. Queste unità sono state rispettivamente interpretate come argille costiere pleistoceniche in alternanza con depositi vulcanoclastici, come depositi marini e deltizi del Pleistocene medio e come depositi miocenici di flysch, geneticamente collegati con il Flysch di Frosinone Auct. Il Bacino del Magnaghi, qui riconosciuto e precedentemente non noto, è un piccolo bacino sedimentario localizzato nell’offshore di Ischia, il cui riempimento è caratterizzato da riflettori sismici paralleli e continui. Un alto morfo­strutturale (“Banco di Fuori” o “Banco di Bocca Grande”), che delimita verso sud il Golfo di Napoli, alto circa 800 m, è caratterizzato dalla presenza dell’unità sismica carbonatica profonda, che ne rappresenta l’ossatura stratigrafica. Mentre il suo fianco nord­occidentale è contraddistinto dall’esistenza di spessi cunei progradanti relitti, quello sud­orientale è ribassato dalla faglia diretta Acerra­canyon Dohrn, una delle faglie regionali anti­appenniche (NE­SW) più significative nel controllo della struttura geologica regionale del Golfo di Napoli. L’alto è delimitato lateralmente dal canyon Dohrn nella sua parte meridionale e dal canyon Magnaghi nella sua parte settentrionale. L’alto strutturale di Capri è distinto da riflettori marcati, paralleli e continui, interpretati come il cuneo progradante relitto superiore (unità B), che ricopre il cuneo progradante relitto inferiore (unità A). Entrambi i cunei ricoprono in discordanza l’unità carbonatica profonda. Il passaggio alla Valle di Salerno avviene attraverso la faglia diretta regionale Capri­Sorrento, con andamento NNW­SSE, caratterizzata da un rigetto di circa 1 km ed attiva durante il Pleistocene. Questa faglia separa il Golfo di Salerno dal Golfo di Napoli. La Valle di Salerno è riempita da quattro unità sismiche. La più recente presenta riflettori sismici continui e paralleli ed è stata messa in relazione con depositi marini e continentali del Quaternario, che ricoprono depositi pleistocenici che mostrano le stesse caratteristiche sismiche e rappresentano la seconda unità sismica. La terza unità mostra riflettori discontinui interpretati come depositi miocenici di flysch, geneticamente collegati con il Flysch del Cilento Auct., mentre l’unità più profonda è stata interpretata come costituita dai carbonati meso­cenozoici.

The processing and the geologic interpretation aimed at marine geological mapping (realization of the marine map of the sheet n. 502 "Agropoli", ISPRA, National Geological Survey of Italy) of a detailed grid of very high resolution seismic profiles (Subbottom Chirp) recorded in the Campania continental shelf between the Solofrone river mouth and the Agnone town have been carried out. The seismic profiles, recorded through the Subbottom Chirp profiler, have been processed using an open-source software for single-channel seismic data processing, the SeisPrho, licensed by the Institute of Marine Sciences of the National Research Council of Bologna, Italy and made available. In particular, more than one hundred seismic sections, previously recorded onboard of the R/V Urania (CNR) have been read and processed through the application of a vertical linear gain, allowing for a significant improvement of the seismic signal. The study area can be divided in three zones, which have been distinguished based on the trend of the seismic profiles and on the line spacing. The interpretation of the seismic profiles, carried out accordingly to the criteria of the seismic stratigraphy, has allowed to distinguish the main seismo-stratigraphic units occurring in the subsurface, which are separated by significant seismic reflectors,corresponding with unconformities and/or conformities. In the Cilento inner continental shelf between the Solofrone river mouth and the Licosa Cape the seismo-stratigraphic analysis has shown that the recent sedimentary cover, ranging in age from the Late Pleistocene and the Holocene is organized in three main seismo-stratigraphic units. In its northern sector this shelf represents a depocentral area of marine deposits, mainly sands. Coarse-grained sandy belts have been identified parallel to the shoreline, suggesting the activity of alongshore currents. In its southern sector this shelf represents the seaward prolongation of the Licosa Cape structural high and is characterized by wide outcrops of rocky acoustic basement, genetically related with the Cilento Flysch Auct.

An integrated analysis of volcanic structures located in the subsurface of Naples and Gaeta Gulfs (Eastern Tyrrhenian margin, Southern Italy) based on the geologic interpretation of seismic profiles is herein presented. This study is aimed at improving the seismo-stratigraphic knowledge of volcanic structures occurring in this sector of the Tyrrhenian offshore and at highlighting the relationships between these structures and the regional tectonics of Campania-Latium offshore. The Pithecusa volcano, located in the Northern Campania offshore, the buried volcanic structures occurring in the Procida Channel and the Ischia Bank, a wide relict volcanic edifice of the Ischia south-eastern offshore have been analyzed. The Pithecusa volcano is related with the Massico normal faults down throwing the volcanic acoustic basement. A large, previously unknown, buried volcanic edifice has been identified offshore the Miliscola town (northern Phlegraean Fields offshore), while a smaller buried volcanic edifice has been recognized in the Procida Channel. The tectonic control on these volcanoes is not completely clear and additional geological interpretations are still in progress. The Ischia Bank is probably controlled by NE-SW striking normal faults.

The techniques of seismic surveying, especially reflection seismic, considerably varied during last year's. The contribution to this variation mainly came from the oil industry, which has developed the geophysical methods for oil searching. The basic techniques of seismic exploration consist of the generation of seismic waves artificially in the ground (source) and of the measurement of the requested times to cover the source-receiver path. Seismic data processing of three multichannel seismic profiles located in the Gulf of Naples for an overall length of 150 kilometers is herein presented. The techniques of seismic processing used for the elaboration of the seismic data are up-to-date. Some of them are based on complex mathematical models, allowing obtaining good velocity analysis for the production of stacked sections, ready to be interpreted. In this paper the procedures of processing of multichannel seismic data starting from the field data are shown. Sketch diagrams of the elaboration processes applied during several phases of the whole processing have been constructed. The used software are the Promax2D (Landmark Ltd.) and the Seismic Unix (Colorado School of Mines). The steps of the seismic data processes included the pre-processing, the sorting, the velocity analysis, the normal move-out (NMO), the stacking, the band-pass filtering, the multiple removals, the predictive de-convolution and the spiking de-convolution.

This book is focused on the stratigraphic analysis and related methodologies, both onshore and offshore and will host both Mediterranean and extra-Mediterranean case histories. The applied methodologies will include the seismic and sequence stratigraphy, sequence the field stratigraphic analysis, the integrated stratigraphy, the tephrostratigraphy,focusing on the petrographic analysis of volcanic deposits interlayered in sedimentary sequences. Chronostratigraphic correlations among different depositional sequences and regional unconformities to a basin scale are also invited, together with stratigraphic and tectono-stratigraphic analyses on sedimentary basins, both in compressional and extensional tectonic settings.

Il Progetto CARG prevede la realizzazione di una banca dati dalla quale poter ricavare carte geologiche e geotematiche di maggiore dettaglio per l'utilizzo del dato cartografato in molteplici applicazioni. In questo modo vengono sviluppati gli strumenti conoscitivi, quali i dati geologici, indispensabili per una corretta pianificazione e gestione del territorio e, più in particolare, per la prevenzione, la riduzione e la mitigazione del rischio idrogeologico. Nel presente rapporto tecnico viene discussa l'applicazione la banca dati ASC del progetto CARG ed in particolare la sua applicazione ai fogli geologici (parte mare) n. 446-447 (Napoli), n. 466 (Sorrento), n. 465 (Isola di Procida), n. 464 (Isola d'Ischia), n. 484 (Isola di Capri), n. 486 (Foce del Sele), n. 502 (Agropoli), n. 519 (Capo Palinuro), n. 520 (Sapri). Il progetto CARG-Campania è stato svolto e supportato economicamente dalla Regione Campania (Settore Difesa del Suolo - Geotermia e Geotecnica), che ha svolto un ruolo di coordinamento in numerose carte geologiche, incluse quelle discusse nel presente rapporto tecnico. Il Progetto CARG (CARtografia Geologica), avviato nel 1988 dal Servizio Geologico Nazionale - ISPRA, ha previsto la realizzazione di 652 fogli geologici alla scala 1:50.000 per la copertura dell'intero territorio nazionale, corredati da una banca dati geologica e geotematica in scala 1:25.000 che consente l'utilizzo del dato cartografato in applicazioni di tipo Gis e Webgis. Il progetto CARG si è sviluppato secondo normative e criteri uniformi a scala nazionale (Quaderni del Servizio Geologico Nazionale - Terza Serie) per il processo di rilevamento, informatizzazione e restituzione formale dei dati. Al Progetto hanno collaborato numerose strutture fra Regioni e Province Autonome, Enti territoriali, CNR, Dipartimenti ed Istituti Universitari. Il Servizio Geologico della Regione Campania ha realizzato la stampa delle carte 1:10.000 con le Note Illustrative, dei seguenti fogli: 464 Isola d'Ischia 465 Isola di Procida, 484 Isola di Capri, oltre che di numerosi fogli geologici a terra. La pubblicazione in rete delle cartografie geologiche, prodotte nel contesto del Progetto CARG, rende consultabili i fogli geologici stampati in scala 1:50.000, 1.25.000 e 1:10.000. I dati geologici aggiornati, in essi contenuti, permettono di approfondire le problematiche connesse alla geologia di superficie, alla geologia costiera e marina, alla geologia del sottosuolo delle aree di pianura ed urbane. Gli strumenti conoscitivi geologici e geotematici così forniti risultano inoltre indispensabili per una corretta pianificazione e gestione del territorio e per la prevenzione e la mitigazione del rischio idrogeologico, vulcanico e sismico.

This book contains four chapters dealing with the investigation of facies analysis and palaeo-ecology, chemostratigraphy and chronostratigraphy referring to the palaeoecological and facies analysis techniques and methodologies, pertaining, in particular, an Oligo-Miocene carbonate succession of the Persian Gulf (Asmari Formation), the chemostratigraphy of Paleozoic carbonates of Peninsular Malaysia through the integration of stratigraphic, sedimentologic and geochemical data and the chronostratigraphy of a small ice-dammed palaeolake in Andorra (Spain), applying the FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) analysis, resulting in 6th order stratigraphic cycles, which have outlined the occurrence of system tracts and unconformities controlled by glacio-eustasy. Book chapters are separated into four main sections: i) introduction; ii) facies analysis and palaeo-ecology; iii) chemostratigraphy; iv) chronostratigraphy. There is one chapter in the first section, introducing the stratigraphic setting of Paleozoic to Miocene deposits based on different stratigraphic methodologies, including the facies analysis, the palaeecology, the chemostratigraphy and the chronostratigraphy. In the second section, there is one chapter dealing with the Oligocene-Miocene Asmari Formation, allowing for the recognition of several depositional environments based on sedimentological analysis, distribution of foraminifera and micropaleontological study. In the third section, there is one chapter aimed at addressing researches about the chemostratigraphy of cores, allowing for a significant increase of the stratigraphic knowledge existing on the Kinta Valley (Malaysia), coupled with an extensive field work on Paleozoic carbonates. In the fourth section, there is a chapter dealing with the high resolution chronostratigraphic setting of a palaeo-lake located in Andorra (Spain) and the inference with the MIS2 isotopic stage of Atlantic and Mediterranean regions in the regional geological setting of the south-eastern Pyrenees.

Magnetic theory and application to a complex volcanic area located in Southern Italy are here discussed showing the example of the Gulf of Naples, located at Southern Italy Tyrrhenian margin. A magnetic anomaly map of the Gulf of Naples has been constructed aimed at highlighting new knowledge on geophysics and volcanology of this area of the Eastern Tyrrhenian margin, characterized by a complex geophysical setting, strongly depending on sea bottom topography. The theoretical aspects of marine magnetometry and multibeam bathymetry have been discussed. Magnetic data processing included the correction of the data for the diurnal variation, the correction of the data for the offset and the leveling of the data as a function of the correction at the cross-points of the navigation lines. Multibeam and single-beam bathymetric data processing has been considered. Magnetic anomaly fields in the Naples Bay have been discussed through a detailed geological interpretation and correlated with main morpho-structural features recognized through morpho- bathymetric interpretation. Details of magnetic anomalies have been selected, represented and correlated with significant seismic profiles, recorded on the same navigation lines of magnetometry. They include the continental shelf offshore the Somma-Vesuvius volcanic complex, the outer shelf of the Gulf of Pozzuoli offshore the Phlegrean Fields volcanic complex, the relict volcanic banks of Pentapalummo, Nisida and Miseno, the Gaia volcanic bank on the Naples slope, the western slope of the Dohrn canyon, the Magnaghi canyon’s head and the magnetic anomalies among the Ischia and Procida islands.

New morpho-bathymetric and tectono-stratigraphic data on Naples and Salerno Gulfs, derived from bathymetric and seismic data analysis and integrated geologic interpretation are here presented. The CUBE(Combined Uncertainty Bathymetric Estimator) method has been applied to complex morphologies, such as the Capri continental slope and the related geological structures occurring in the Salerno Gulf.The bathymetric data analysis has been carried out for marine geological maps of the whole Campania continental margin at scales ranging from 1:25.000 to 1:10.000, including focused examples in Naples and Salerno Gulfs, Naples harbour, Capri and Ischia Islands and Salerno Valley. Seismic data analysis has allowed for the correlation of main morpho-structural lineaments recognized at a regional scale through multichannel profiles with morphological features cropping out at the sea bottom, evident from bathymetry.Main fault systems in the area have been represented on a tectonic sketch map, including the master fault located northwards to the Salerno Valley half graben. Some normal faults parallel to the master fault have been interpreted from the slope map derived from bathymetric data. A complex system of antithetic faults bound two morpho-structural highs located 20km to the south of the Capri Island. Some hints of compressional reactivation of normal faults in an extensional setting involving the whole Campania continental margin have been shown from seismic interpretation.

A geologic and geomorphologic study aimed at solving some geological and geotechnical problems, regarding the massive seepage of meteoric waters in the coastal cliffs of the Island of Procida (Naples Bay, southern Italy), composed of both tuffs and loose pyroclastic deposits, has been carried out in the geosites of Terra Murata (Middle Ages village and coastal cliff towards the Corricella Bay) and Centane-Panoramica (coastal cliff facing on the Tyrrhenian sea). A detailed geologic and geomorphologic survey has allowed to suggest solutions to the applied geological and geotechnical problems related to the occurrence of massive seepages of waters at the physical interface between pyroclastic rocks and loose pyroclastic deposits, characterized by different density, permeability and porosity and also controlled by a dense network of fractures, involving the pyroclastic deposits cropping out in the selected areas. Field sampling and geotechnical laboratory analyses have been carried out to calculate the values of main geotechnical parameters of the yellow tuffs cropping out at the Terra Murata promontory. At the same time, a detailed monitoring of the seepages of waters has been carried out through a detailed geological survey of the tuff outcrops of the promontory. The obtained results have suggested a strong control from both the geomorphologic instability of the coastal cliff and tectonic setting. At the Centane-Panoramica geosite the geological survey, coupled with geotechnical analyses and standard penetrometric tests, has accordingly evidenced that the geomorphologic instability was mainly concentrated in the sectors of the tuff coastal cliffs facing seawards towards the Tyrrhenian sea.

This book contains twelve chapters dealing with the studies on volcanoes, their geological and geophysical setting, the theoretical aspects and the numerical modeling on volcanoes, the applications of volcanoes to industry and the impact of volcanoes on the human health, in different geological settings and using several techniques and methods, including the volcanology, the seismology, the statistical methods to assess the correlation between seismic and volcanic activity (modified Ripley's K-function to regional seismicity), the field geological survey of volcanic successions, the analytical methods for petrologic analysis, the petrography of the volcanic rocks with the individuation of the modal compositions of volcanic rocks and their comparison with major elements and trace elements in variation diagrams and the argon isotopic measurements performed through the peak height comparison (unspiked) method. The oceanographic methods have also been applied to case studies of submarine volcanic edifices located in the Canary Islands (Atlantic Ocean), including the sampling of the water column with a conductivity-temperature-depth sensor (CTD) rosette with 24 Niskin bottles, in order to determinate key physical and chemical parameters, such as the total-scale pH, the total dissolved inorganic carbon (C), the total alkalinity (A), the total dissolved inorganic carbon (C), the total alkalinity (A), the temperature, the salinity and the dissolved oxygen. Problems of volcanic risk mitigation have also been treated, regarding the eruption disasters in Indonesia, a country where a high number of people lives next to the volcanoes and characterized by the lacking of a public awareness of the eruption disasters. Petrographic methods have been successfully applied to the study of the Cretaceous magmatism of the layered gabbroids of the Chukotka region (Pekulney Ridge, Russia) and geodynamic implications have been successfully established through geological and petrographic studies. The relationships between the mantle wedge, the convective heat and mass transfer, the infiltration metasomatism, the zoning and the mathematical models have been applied to the comprehension of complex volcanic areas through the theoretical aspects of volcanic studies on magmatic chambers coupled with numerical modeling, including FEMs (Finite Element Models) in the individuation of volcanic deformations. Book chapters are separated into five main sections: (i) introduction, (ii) geological and geophysical setting of volcanoes, (iii) theoretical aspects and numerical modeling of volcanoes, (iv) applications of volcanoes to industry and (v) impact of volcanoes on the human health. There is one chapter in the first section on the Introduction, the Introductory Chapter. In the second section there are five chapters, dealing with the correlation between seismic and volcanic activity at the Vesuvius volcano, with the exploration of the base of the Zao stratovolcano in the north-eastern Japan, with the volcanic emissions of the Tagoro submarine volcano in the Canary Islands and their impact on the physical and chemical properties of the oceanic waters, with the characteristics of the volcanic eruptions in Indonesia and the problems of risk mitigation of volcanic disasters, and finally, with the geologic and petrographic study of Cretaceous volcanites of the Pekulney Ridge (Russia) and corresponding geodynamic implications. In the third section there are three chapters, the first one dealing with the dynamics of convective heating of the mantle and crustal rocks in the seismic focal zone of the Kamchatka region and the genetically-related volcanic arcs, characterized by the occurrence of compressive stresses and by the compaction of the heterophase medium, the second one regarding the numerical methods of volcanic deformation through InSAR methods, showing a systematic approach to the quantitative simulation of geodetic data with finite element models (FEMs) in the general framework of a protocol for the modeling of deformations in volcanic areas and the third one showing the mechanics of the magmatic chambers under the volcanoes, referring to the Yellowstone caldera, which, due to its large volume, owes the critical overpressure necessary to start the volcanic eruption, requiring large volumes of magmas and fluids. In the fourth section there are two chapters, the first one dealing with the use of volcanic scoriae in the cement replacement, a common practice in the construction industry, as concrete mixes, showing the chemical and mineralogical composition of the scoria samples coming from 36 different countries and calculating some equations of estimated depending on the analyzed data and the second one regarding the use of volcanic glasses or obsidians as absorbents, highlighting that the volcanic glasses represent amorphous phyllosilicates formed through a rapid magmatic cooling and that the macroporosit. y of the volcanic glasses allows to host biomolecules, tensioactives and dyes.

The sedimentary basins of the Campania-Latium Tyrrhenian margin have been investigated in detail aimed at studying and reconstructing their Quaternary geologic evolution through seismo-stratigraphic data calibrated with deep lithostratigraphic wells. The Terracina and Gaeta basins are located on the Latium Tyrrhenian margin, where a thick Quaternary deposition has been detected. The tectonic setting of these basins is characterized by counter-Apenninic (NE-SW) trending normal faults and by E-W trending normal faults. Based on multichannel seismic data collected by the Italian Ministry of Industry (Videpi Project) these faults appear to downthrow both the acoustic basement, composed of Meso-Cenozoic tectonic units ("Latium-Abruzzi carbonate platform deposits", Mesozoic in age and "Flysch di Frosinone" Auct., Miocene in age) and the Quaternary deposits, which are organized in different seismo-stratigraphic units. One of the most important faults is represented by the Massico fault, NW-SE trending, whose offshore prolongation bounds southwards the Gaeta basin towards the Campania continental margin. The stratigraphic and tectonic setting of the Napoli basin has been deeply studied based on both single-channel and multichannel seismic profiles. It is a Pleistocene half-graben which can be compared, from a geodynamic point of view, to the other peri-tyrrhenian basins of the Campania-Latium Tyrrhenian margin. The Napoli Bay, including the Napoli basin, is a significant part of a belt of coastal tectono-stratigraphic depressions, including the Campania Plain, the Volturno Plain and the Sele Plain. The Campania Plain is bounded by important normal faults, whose tectonic activity is concentrated at the margins of the coastal plain. The onshore basin is filled by several thousand of meters of Quaternary sediments and volcanic rocks, emplaced during the eruptive activity of the Vesuvius, Phlegrean Fields and Ischia and Procida volcanic complexes. Different seismo-stratigraphic units have been distinguished, representing the Naples basin filling. The first unit is distinguished by progradational to parallel reflectors, overlying the Meso-Cenozoic carbonates and downthrown by normal faults, probably Early Pleistocene in age. The second unit is represented by a syntectonic wedge, deposited during the tectonic tilting of the carbonate strata pertaining to the acoustic basement and is probably Middle Pleistocene in age.. The third unit is distinguished from progradational to parallel seismic reflectors and is probably Late Pleistocene in age. The NE-SW trending horst of the Sorrento Peninsula, which separates the Naples and the Salerno Bays is long about 20 kilometers and is characterized by the occurrence of listric faults, which downthrow towards north some main blocks composed of Meso-Cenozoic units of carbonate platform pertaining to the Southern Apennines. The Naples Bay, including the Napoli basin, is crossed by two main systems of normal faults, both NE-SW and NW-SE trending, along which the Nisida and Pentapalummo volcanic banks are located. A complex fault system with a NNE-SSW trend offshore the Vesuvius has been individuated in correspondence with the Torre del Greco volcanic structure, representing the offshore prolongation of the volcanic complex.

Aims of this book are to describe the relationships between volcanology, tephrostratigraphy and volcanic stratigraphy in selected case histories of the Mediterranean sea. Particular attention will be focused on case histories located in Vesuvius, Ischia and Phlegraean Fields volcanic complexes of Southern Italy. Different models on the geological structure of the active calderas of Southern Italy and their present-day unrest state are taken into account in order to improve the discussion of the volcanological aspects related with the seismo-stratigraphic setting of the Gulf of Pozzuoli, representing the submerged border of the Phlegrean caldera. In the frame of research themes pertaining to the volcanic geology of the Campania continental margin, a stratigraphic correlation between the Gulf of Pozzuoli and Ischia island volcanic areas, whose geological data have been previously collected, has been performed and is herein presented, highlighting new interesting implications and results on the geology of the Naples Gulf. Important marker horizons studied through tephrostratigraphy should be recognized using integrated studies including petrography, petrology, geochemistry and tephrostratigraphy, which, coupled with seismic stratigraphy, could give new insights on the knowledge of volcanically-controlled sedimentary basins of Southern Italy and widely of the Mediterranean area.

This is the introductory chapter of the book "Volcanoes: geological and geophysical setting, theoretical aspects and numerical modelling, applications to industry and their impact on the human health". In this chapter, the research themes studied in this book have been introduced referring to the geological and geophysical setting of volcanoes, pertaining, in particular, the correlation between seismic and volcanic activity in volcanic edifices of Southern Italy (Somma-Vesuvius) carried out to a regional scale, the volcanic emissions of the submarine edifice of the Tagoro volcano (Canary Islands, Atlantic Ocean) and the corresponding implications on the chemical and physical properties of the oceanic water, the volcanological studies on the base of the volcanoes and the discovery of a new volcanic edifice, namely the Hiyamizuyama volcano, allowing to evaluate the long-term variations of volcanic and magmatic processes in the north-eastern Japan, the volcanic eruptions in Indonesia, a land hosting 147 volcanoes (76 active volcanoes) spreading along the islands of Java, Lesser Sunda, Sumatra and Celebes and mostly characterized by stratovolcanoes and finally, the geologic, petrographic and geodynamic study of the layered gabbroids of the Pekulney Ridge, a complex volcanic structure located in the north-eastern Russia. Moreover, in this book, significant theoretical aspects and numerical modelling of volcanoes have been addressed, including, in particular, the volcanic dynamics of the convective heat and of the mass transfer in the seismo-focal areas of the Kamchatka Region, including the related volcanic arcs, the modelling of the elastic deformation of volcanoes through the development of computational tools for inverse analyses of geodetic data, which have evidenced the mechanical complexity of the volcanic systems and finally, the mechanical aspects of the magmatic chambers and their relationships with the fluxing of CO2, referring to the Yellowstone magmatic chamber, whose large volume has required additional large volumes of magmas and fluids in order to trigger the volcanic eruption. In this book, significant applications of volcanic studies to industry have also been presented, focusing, in particular, on the use of volcanic scorias and natural pozzolans as cement replacement in the construction industry based on the concrete mixes by analyzing their setting times, the compressive strength, the water permeability and the chloride penetrability and moreover, on the use of volcanic glasses as adsorbents for industrial aims and scopes, being materials displaying a low thermal conductivity, a low density and a high resistance to the fire and perlite aggregate plasters. The volcanic glasses have also been often used as starting materials in the synthesis of clay minerals, as the smectites and the zeolites. The impact of volcanoes on the human health is significant, referring to both the volcanic deposits and to the volcanic emissions. In this book, the impact of the volcanic emissions on the human health has been mainly examined, highlighting that the exposure to volcanic emissions can influence the health of people living in the surroundings of the volcano in many ways (dermal and ocular irritation, cardiologic and pulmonary exacerbations and cancer). Moreover, the volcanic ashes which have been deposited in a subaqueous environment may produce significant variations in the chemistry of the surface waters and may increase the risk of exposure to metals by drinking the water.