Mapping Geology in Italy

This volume is a collection of some of the most recent, geological and geomorphologic cartographic representations of key areas of the Italian territory and its evolution, illustrated by means of state-of-the-art methodologies, appropriate to each site-specific geological condition; it contains 38 contributions, centred on areas that are representative of the main geological aspects of the Italian territory. The main purpose of the present work is to combine data, cartographic representations and evolutive interpetations, with the related research methodologies. Moreover, this volume is intended to foster dialogue between experts in the field of geological cartography, and serve as a didactic tool for Earth Science students and Earth scientists. We believe the above mentioned approach was agreed upon by all of the contributors of the present work, despite the inevitable differences in style and expression. The first section of the volume provides a brief description of the geologic evolution of the Italian territory, and the final one contains a physical map of Italy where the location of the studied areas is indicated. Their cartographic representation is the ultimate synthesis of the methodologies adopted and described by the contributors. The contributions that compose the present volume are arranged following thematic areas, starting from the ones dedicated to the Quaternary (marine geology, geomorphology, neotectonics and surface deposits analysis), to the ones related to recent and active volcanism, and then to stratigraphic, tectonic and kinematic topics related to the classic Apenninic Meso-Cenozoic successions. Finally, the deformative features of different Alpine basements are considered. A special conclusive section is dedicated to the cartographic illustration of two geosite case studies, for which a graphical project targeted to the lay public has been elaborated.