Zonation of a mixed siliciclastic-bioclastic shallow-marine depositional system: Acerenza (Pliocene, Lucanian Apennine)

Shallow water depositional environments are dynamic systems that are mostly influenced by a number of interacting hydrodynamic processes as waves, tides, and surficial termoaline currents. Since siliciclastic and bioclastic sediments are characterized by a different density, a consequent different response is expected when they are involved in same hydrodynamic processes. Therefore, mixed sediments may be organized into specific sedimentary structures showing a different degree of segregation between the two heterolithic components depending on the type of hydrodynamic process (CHIARELLA & LONGHITANO, 2012). The present study describes a siliciclastic-bioclastic unit comprised in the Pliocene marine succession cropping out near the Acerenza village along the front of the Lucanian Apennine (Southern Italy)