Igneous amphibole as window on the secular Earth’s mantle evolution
Planet Earth since its formation underwent a complex evolution that progressively changed its original composition. All the early differentiation events left an indelible mark on the Archean Earth’s mantle. However, our knowledge on the Archean mantle composition is still fragmentary arising a series of problems spanning from the effective chondritic composition of the Earth to how volatile elements were added to the Earth and how their deep cycle evolved through time giving origin to life. Here we propose a novel approach in deciphering the Archean mantle geochemical signature that consists in deriving the geochemical fingerprint of the Archean mantle from amphibole and phlogopite of Archean igneous ultramafic rocks. The project aims to bring new knowledge on secular changes in composition and oxidation state of the Archean mantle and in particular in the volatile content to highlight the transition from a hazy, greenhouse Archean Earth to an oxygen-rich atmosphere sustaining life.
Principal Investigator: Tiepolo M. (University of Milano)
Funding agency: MUR (251.199€)
Sampling Archean rocks in Greenland (see photos)
Exploring new volcanological perspectives at the Marsili seamount: from magma generation to eruption and implications for the volcanic hazard in Southern Italy
Marsili seamount is one of the largest volcanic systems in the Mediterranean region and catches the attention of the scientific and civil communities mainly for its potentiality to generate tsunamis due to gravitational flank collapses. The position of Marsili seamount, nearly at the center of the Tyrrhenian Sea, increases the value of the exposition when considered in terms of natural risks. By contrast, the volcano hazard related to the onset of a submarine eruption has never been considered, mainly due to the lack of data and models related to pre-to-syn eruptive working modes of the magma feeding system of Marsili. The AWARE project starts from lava samples collected on different areas of the seamount during the CNR cruises of 1998-2000 and points to the first volcanological and petrological exploration of the pre-to-syn eruptive processes with implications on the possible eruptive scenarios.
Principal Investigator: Nicotra E. (University of Cosenza) / vice PI: Cannaò E. (University of Milano)
Funding agency: MUR (271.249€)