Corsi di Studi in Scienze Geologiche (L-34 e LM-74)

The arguments of the course are preparatory for the achievement of the educational scopes of the master degree concerning practical and applicative aspects of stratigraphy, with particular focus on stratigraphic correlations, on geological mapping and on research and exploitation of natural resources in sedimentary rocks.

Knowledge and comprehension skills.

• At the end of this course the following knowledge will be acquired:
  the causes and mechanisms that determine the sedimentary cyclicity;
• the main methodologies of integrated, seismic and sequence stratigraphy;
• the main applications of stratigraphic methods for the research and exploitation of subsurface natural resources;
• the main methodologies and appllications of chemostratigraphy in stratigraphic correlations.

Ability to apply knowledge and comprehension:

At the end of this course the following competences will be acquired:

• interpret the stratigraphic sequence of sedimentary basins and to establish the geometries and genetic relationships between sedimentary bodies;
• use discontinuity surfaces for correlating events in sedimentary basins and to reconstruct their tectonic-sedimentary evolution;
• use seismic and sequence stratigraphy to reconstruct the geometry of buried and outcropping sedimentary sequences;
• use isotope and major and minor element stratigraphy for stratigraphic correlations and to recostruct paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic changes in the geological record.

Autonomy of critical evaluation

At the end of this course it will be possible to evaluate critically:

• the stratigraphic methodologies most suitable to investigate different geological settings;
• the quality of the acquired data and their interpretation.       

Communication skills

At the end of the course the following skills will be acquired:

• use the appropriate technical language for stratigraphy, seismic and sequence stratigraphy, chemostratigraphy and geological mapping;
• coordinate with different specialists in the field of the research and exploitation of the Earth natural resources.

Learning skills

At the end of this course, the ability to study autonomously and to critically evaluate the techniques necessary to make geological maps in sedimentary areas and to investigate the natural resources in sedimentary rocks will be acquired.

Stratigraphy: definition and scopes. Classical stratigraphic units and magnetostratigraphic units; radiometric dating and its use in stratigraphy.
Stratigraphic correlations: definition and scopes. Regional examples (Tertiary Piedmont Basin, Central Apennines).

Physic and sequence stratigraphy. Unconformity bounded stratigraphic units (UBSU) and their use in geologic mapping. The discontinuity surfaces: definition, recognition, and correlation. Stratigraphic unconformities: definition, classification and correlation. Examples from the Messinian successions of the Mediterranean area.

Sedimentary cycles: hierarchy and causes. Relative sea level curve. Accomodation space. Transgression and regression. Depositional and forced regressions. 

Seismic stratigraphy: termination of seismic reflectors, tools for interpretation of seismic lines and analysis of seismic facies. Sequence stratigraphy: retrogradational, aggradational and progradational systems, depositional sequences and main types of discontinuity surfaces.  Systems tracts (lowstand, trasgressive, highstand). Notions of sequence stratigraphy of carbonate systems. Analysis and interpretation exercises on seismic line.

Well-log analyses: a tool for stratigraphic correlation of deep sedimentary sequences.  

Chemostratigraphy: use of stable isotopes and major and minor elements for stratigraphic correlations and to recostruct paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic changes in the geological record.

Circulation of hydrocarbon-rich fluids in sedimentary successions and related sedimentary products (methane-derived carbonates).

Field activities in the Tertiary Piedmont Basin and in the Alpine Foreland Basin succession.

The exam will consist of at least three questions on the subjects explained during the lectures. 

The oral exam will also include a question on the interpretation of a seismic line and its sequence stratigraphy interpretation, as well as a presentation (prepared in group) of the field trip to the high Stura Valley.

The exams are held in person. The University will organize exams remotely for students in the following conditions:

⮚ positive for COVID 19

⮚ resident abroad if unable to return to Italy due to restrictions on international travel.

The course material presented in class is available at: Department of Earth Sciences.
The recommended basic texts for the course are: handouts and notes provided by
teachers. 

Commissione Italiana di Stratigrafia (2003). Guida Italiana alla
Classificazione e alla terminologia stratigrafica. APAT, Quaderni serie III,
vol. 9, 155 pp.

Suggested website: www.sepmstrata.org