Sicily: Stratigraphy, Seismicity, Salt and Civilization
2008 Exploration Seminar in Sicily

Program Directors: Charlotte Schreiber & Jody Bourgeois
Dates of Instruction: August 31 - September 21, 2008

Just as Sicily has a diverse cultural history meshing Phoenician, Greek, Roman and other colonizing groups, its geological history meshed several different terrains as, through time, Africa approached Europe. Sicily's geology has given rise to important concepts in Earth sciences, and it was the very place where the study of stratigraphy was born through the studies of Charles Lyell, more than one and a half centuries ago. Our first study areas will be Lyell's original measured sites, just south of Mt. Etna. The earthquakes and then the development of Etna undoubtedly caused tsunamis to develop within the Mediterranean. We plan to visit the Etna area, go up the huge mountain itself, look at some ancillary volcanic structures and then study the deposits formed by tsunami waves generated by the many quakes that have affected this region through time.

Sicily also remains a hotbed of geological debate about whether the Mediterranean dried up about 5 million years ago leaving behind spectacular reefs, thick salt and gypsum deposits covering much of Sicily. It is perhaps the best place in the world to see ancient evaporites, many of which are in unaltered, nearly pristine condition. Whatever really took place it was a very different world from today but the deposits are only a little deformed or altered in many areas. In other parts of Sicily tectonics created vast tilted zones with huge slides and flows that remain as they tumbled down the deformed slopes, a testament to the enormous quakes that began five million years ago but also continue today (destroying the towns of Belice and Gibellina, in 1968).

In order to understand these unusual sediments we will visit modern evaporites (in a salt works near Trapani), then go to the south and central part of Sicily to see the 5 million year old evaporites (scarcely altered). The first visited sections of these deposits will be undeformed and then we will move into more and more deformed and reworked areas where the evaporites slid or flowed down into the newly formed basins (5 my years ago). We will also visit a salt mine, cut into salt that formed during this same period).

Not long after the formation of the thick evaporites (up to 2,000 m, out on the floor of the Mediterranean), normal seas returned to the Mediterranean and deep-sea marine limestones and chalks covered much of the area of Sicily, the rest of Italy, as well as the deep ocean floor. We will examine the overlying (younger) chalks and limestones, seen in many exposures along the south coast, that show clear stratigraphic sequences with little or no deformation. These chalks have already been studied in great detail from the view of magnetostratigraphy and the holes where the samples were drilled are still visible on the outcrop, so the students will actually be able to follow the sampling and thought processes of the scientists who have studied the area before them.

Along the way the students will have the opportunity to visit the ancient Greek temples and amphitheaters (Syracuse, Agrigento and Segesta) and the museums housing their pottery and work implements. Additionally they will enjoy the local food, have the opportunity to visit shops, and even attend concerts.

Students will receive 5 credits of ESS 404 (NW), or CHID 471 Europe Study Abroad (I&S). Participants should check with their academic advisors to determine how these credits may apply to major requirements.

Student costs:  
$3,275 Program Fee
$200 IPE Fee
Additional costs include: Round trip air/travel to Catania (Sicily), some meals, personal spending money, immunizations and insurance.

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