The study of large erratic boulders casts new light on some glacial palaeogeography problems in the Apuan Alps (Tuscany, Italy)

Federici, Paolo Roberto and Fontanini, Barbara (2010) The study of large erratic boulders casts new light on some glacial palaeogeography problems in the Apuan Alps (Tuscany, Italy). Italian journal of geosciences, 129 (1). pp. 91-100. ISSN 2038-1727

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Abstract

Erratic boulders of glacial origin, mainly made of jasper, marble and cherty limestone, are found in the main valleys of the Apuan Alps. Such boulders are especially widespread in the north-eastern sector of the Apuan Alps, sometimes in great number, and they bear witness to a 6 km long journey. Their size may vary greatly, but several erratic boulders are quite large, sometimes even larger than hundreds of cubic metres. The size of the boulders, in comparison to the limited dimensions of the small Apuan glaciers, as well as their number, leads to the hypothesis that they are the result of synglacial landslides, having fallen down on the ridges of moving glaciers. The types and distribution of the erratic boulders allow one to outline the dimensions of the main glacial bodies and assess the relationships between them. Moreover, the presence of erratic boulders opens new avenues of research in order to complete the description of the Apuan glaciation and its chronology by using the techniques of exposure age dating, which can be easily applied to erratic boulders

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Abstract anche in italiano
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Glaciation, erratic boulders, palaeogeography, Apuan Alps (Italy)
Subjects:	500 Scienze naturali e Matematica > 550 Scienze della Terra > 551 Geologia, Idrologia, Meteorologia > 551.4 Geomorfologia e idrosfera > 551.41 Geomorfologia (Classificare qui la Geomorfologia dei continenti, le opere d'insieme sulle forme della superficie terrestre) (per la geomorfologia sottomarina, vedi 551.4683) 500 Scienze naturali e Matematica > 550 Scienze della Terra > 551 Geologia, Idrologia, Meteorologia > 551.7 Geologia storica (Classificare qui la Paleogeografia, la Stratigrafia)
Depositing User:	Users 66 not found.
Date Deposited:	31 May 2012 07:55
Last Modified:	31 May 2012 07:55
URI:	http://eprints.bice.rm.cnr.it/id/eprint/3543

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