A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE QUATERNARY EVOLUTION OF THE MESSINA STRAIT AREA

The geological context of the Messina Strait is an extremely complex one. The very high degree of seismicity and variability of geomorphological features of the area clashes with dense urbanization and the need for infrastructures for the development and growth of social and productive activities, and for transportation between the two shores of the Strait. For this reason, our intent is to provide a geological map of this area containing basic geological elements but also useful tools for future territorial development. Our purpose is to provide a prototype of a map drawn up using a multidisciplinary approach which takes in account not just hypothesis and interpretations, but mainly data and constraints. For this reason a new geological survey was carried out with the aim of refining the stratigraphic and structural data derived from the literature. This led to recognition of the fault systems, giving them a temporal sequence by dating the Plio-Pleistocene deposits on the basis of their nannofossil content, which provides an optimal biostratigraphic and chronostratigraphic resolution, especially in the Quaternary. Stratigraphic and structural data have been integrated with geomorphological elements;furthermore, geophysical off-shore data have allowed the extension of field evidences to submarine areas, thus connecting the two shores of the Strait.