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Mem. Descr. Carta Geol. d’It.
LVIII (2002), pp. 111-116

Submerged depositional terraces along the Italian coasts - conclusion

CHIOCCI F.L.*, D'ANGELO S.**, ROMAGNOLI C.***, RICCI LUCCHI F.*** AND SDT
:WORKING GROUP M. AGATE1, F. BUDILLON2, A. CORREGGIARI3, G.C. CRISTOFALO2, F.FERRARO4, F. MASSARI5, L. ORLANDO6,

M.ROVERI3, M.R. SENATORE7, A. SPOSATO8, F. TRINCARDI3

INTRODUCTION
The census of the Submerged Depositional Terraces (SDT), of which this volume is the final pro-

duct, allowed the positive identification of depositional bodies with similar features, in several tract of
Tyrrhenian Sea (mainly), Ionian Sea and Sicily Channel coasts.

In at least 12 places (but the number increases if we consider the cases briefly described in the final
section of the Atlas) the presence of SDT has been revealed: they have very similar morphologic and
stratigraphic features, even they are found in very different lithologic contests and tectonic settings.

Obviously the number and the location of the SDT reported in the Atlas does not mean to repre-
sent the complete distribution of these forms along the Italian coasts, as the reported contributions
depends on the availability of the data and on the will of the researcher to take part in the initiative,
that has, however, involved most of the scientific Italian groups working in the marine geology field.

On the contrary, the demonstrated correlation between SDT presence and seafloor steepness,
(which is a very frequent condition along the Italian coasts especially on the flank of volcanic isles),
could mean that SDTs represent an "usual" depositional-morphologic element of the Italian sea
floors.

Therefore, after the illustration of the different case history, which is the main target of this volu-
me, we attempted to make a synthesis of the obtained knowledge on morphology, age probable gene-
sis of SDT and to the possible application of the study of these forms.

What follows is the result of two meetings, held in Bologna on October 3, 1995 and in Rome on
July 8, 1997, respectively at the beginning and at the end of the period of collection and critical revi-
sion of the articles of the Atlas.

*Dip. Scienze della Terra, Università di Roma "La Sapienza",CNR-IGAG, Roma
** Servizio CARG Rilevamento geologico e analisi di laboratorio, APAT - Roma;
***Dip. di Scienze della Terra e Geologico-Ambientali, Università di Bologna.
1Istituto Geomare Sud, CNR, Napoli; 2Istituto Geologia Marina, CNR, Bologna; 3Dip. Scienze della Terra, Uni. di Cagliari; 4Dip. Scienze della Terra, Uni. di
Padova; 5Dip. Idraulica, Tras. e Strade, Università di Roma "La Sapienza"; 6Dip. Scienze della Terra, Uni. di Napoli, 7Istituto Tettonica Recente, CNR, Roma.