Evidenze di un apparato glaciale pleistocenico sul massiccio del Catria (Appennino marchigiano)

Evidence of a Pleistocene glacier on M. Catria (Marche Apennines)

Abstract

On the Catria calcareous massif (1.701 m), glacial landforms and deposits were recognized for the first time. These are consistent with a Pleistocene glacier more than 3 km long, having three source areas. The very good preservation of the morainic ridges and hummocky topography and the scarce weathering of the till attest recent glacial activity, perhaps lasting until the end of the last Glacial. An advance previous to the last Glacial could be suggested by a small patch of strongly weathered till covered by oxisols. Supraglacial morainic till and till likely aggregated by subglacially derived debris consistent with a temperate valley glacier depositional environment have been recognized. The reported features represent the first evidence in the Marche Apennines of glaciers flowing down to altitudes considerably lower than 1.000 m.