Preliminary Geochemical Results from Sediments of Pantelleria, Linosa, and Malta Basins (Sicily Channel)

The Sicily Channel is an NW–SE trending area characterized by three primary tectonic depressions (i.e., Pantelleria, Linosa, and Malta basins). Five gravity cores collected in these basins were studied. Through geochemical analyses, the main elements characterizing the sampled sediments were recognized. The normalized values of Ti and K allowed identifying some changes in sediment composition and potential source areas controlling the more recent sedimentation. These source areas were identified as the Pantelleria soil and rocks, Linosa rocks, Sicily stream sediments, Libyan soil and Saharan dust, which differently occur as control factors of the sedimentation in different sectors.