Holocene morpho-sedimentary evolution of the Mar Piccolo basin (Taranto, southern Italy)

Abstract

The Mar Piccolo basin (Gulf of Taranto, northern Ionian Sea) is well-known in literature for the detailed records of Late Pleistocene sea-level changes. The Holocene deposits, however, have never been analysed in detail. In this paper, new geophysical datasets and the data from two wells have been used to investigate the morpho-sedimentary Holo¬cene evolution of this basin. In addition, dating of peat samples and the occurrence of a tephra (“Pomici di Mercato” event – ca 8900 BP) provide the timing of the different evolution stages. Morphological features of the basal unconformity, sedimentological data from core analysis, and the areal distribution of lithofacies have allowed the identification/recognition of an incised-valley system occurrence which had formed during the last sea-level cycle. Furthermore, a polyphasic basal erosional surface, formed during fluvial incision and successive ravinement processes, has been identified. The sedimentary infill records fluvial to transitional environment units of a low energy semi-enclosed basin.