Criteri e metodi applicati nel Coordinamento del Comitato d'area per l'Appennino meridionale

Rinalda Di Stefano (*), Andrea Fiorentino (*), Maurizio Marino (*) & Paolo Perini (*)
(*) Dipartimento Difesa del Suolo-Servizio Geologico d'Italia, ISPRA, Via Curtatone 3, 00185 Roma. E-mail: rinalda.distefano@isprambiente.it

The activity of the regional Committee for the geological mapping of Southern Apennines has been particularly intense in the years 2004 and 2005, ending up in a series of meetings between the late 2005 and Spring 2006. At that time most Geological maps of the area had reached a stage of realization that allowed the comparison among neighbouring sheets. In order to coordinate the cartographic representation, it was necessary to study in detail the available literature and the descriptions of lithostratigraphic units provided in the explanatory notes of each map. The criteria applied to fulfil this task derive from the Italian Code of Stratigraphical Nomenclature (Azzaroli & Cita, 1969), the International Stratigraphic Guide (Hedberg, 1976; Salvador, 1994) and the North American Stratigraphic Code (NASC, 1983), as exposed and integrated in the Quaderni del SGN, Serie III. Firstly the main problems have been identified; secondly a priority in the application of criteria was established; then each single case was examined, trying to elaborate the most appropriate solution. The cooperation of all participants to the meetings and contributors to the works of the Geological Map of Italy at the 1:50.000 scale was essential to achieve the results expected. It was therefore possible to agree upon a stratigraphic frame common to every map, to establish a unique hierarchy for lithostratigraphic units, to identify units by specific and recurring characteristics and to reduce the number and names of units from approximately 114 to 28. Out of them, 8 units have been validated by the Italian Commission of Stratigraphy among the traditional names, which are definitions not fulfilling the requirements of the stratigraphic code but already become of common use. These names and descriptions are available on the website of the "Italian Geological Formations Catalogue", at the address: http://www.accordocarg.it/ A few examples of the procedure applied ant the results obtained are illustrated in the paper; the erection of the Argille Variegate Group (AV), previously considered at the level of formation and the adoption in most maps of the name Flysch Rosso were particularly relevant, for the geographical extension and stratigraphical range of the two units within the areas and the successions studied and beyond.

CARG, Comitato d'area, Appennino meridionale, formazione