Italy hosts two of Europe's most prominent mountain chains, the Appenines and the Alps, and so is a great for those students who want to study slightly more complex structural geology. Italy also hosts a large variety of different rock types, with its explosive volcanic history providing many areas of igneous rock, as well as areas that are predominantly sedimentary or metamorphic, depending on where you end up choosing to map. In addition, with its warm climate, scenic views, and incredible food and festivities, it's no wonder that so many undergraduates have flocked to Italy to do their mapping projects in the past!
Poggio San Vicino, Marche Region
Outline of Geology: Umbria - Mrache limestone sequence, Jurassic - Tertiary. Platform carbonates rifted and drowned during opening of Tethys; shallow water mounts and pelagic basin facies; then compression and thrusting during Apennine orogeny. K-T boundary exposed nearby, but both K and T exposed in the mapping area.
Topographic description: 500 - 1000m elevation, hills and gorges, with many cliffs and gorges. Exposure variable, typically excellent, except in forested areas.
Accommodation: Observatorio Geologico di Coldigioca, cost about £15 per day
Food: Various grocery stores nearby, 3km.
Transport: Travelled to area by plane, used a motorscooter within area and to get to shops.
Weather: Sunny almost non stop, no rain, barely any wind, snow and ice unlikely, temperatures about 32 - 38 C.
Total cost: about £650: £350 travel; £250 accommodation, £50 food.
Year Mapped: 1998
Topographic description: 500 - 1000m elevation, hills and gorges, with many cliffs and gorges. Exposure variable, typically excellent, except in forested areas.
Accommodation: Observatorio Geologico di Coldigioca, cost about £15 per day
Food: Various grocery stores nearby, 3km.
Transport: Travelled to area by plane, used a motorscooter within area and to get to shops.
Weather: Sunny almost non stop, no rain, barely any wind, snow and ice unlikely, temperatures about 32 - 38 C.
Total cost: about £650: £350 travel; £250 accommodation, £50 food.
Year Mapped: 1998
Rio Nell Elba, on the North Eastern Peninsula of Elba Island, Tuscany
Outline of Geology: A series of Westwardly dipping thrust sheets, forming a tectonic pile related to subduction. Thrust sheets are made up of an Ophiolite complex, with Serpentinite, Gabbro, Pillow Basalts, Cherts grading upward into pelagic limestones (CCD stuff); Various Metamorphosed sediments and a Dolomite (inside a Half Graben). Structurally interesting. Rocks are great, include good pillow basalts and a real Italian marble. Mineral deposits occur all over the island, with a huge number of tourmalines and other minerals to die for! (You might have noticed that I quite like this area, that's because I mapped here, and have seen the stuff...)
Topographic description: 500 - 1000m elevation, hills and gorges, with many cliffs and gorges. Exposure variable, typically excellent, except in forested areas.
Topographic description: 500 - 1000m elevation, hills and gorges, with many cliffs and gorges. Exposure variable, typically excellent, except in forested areas.
Year Mapped: 2003
Accommodation: Hotel £26 per day half board. (Albergo Santo Stefano) (Deal struck with owner based on length of stay) Food: Snacks nicked from breakfast, plus extras from supermarkets about 5km. Transport: Plane to Pisa, Train to Piombino, Ferry to PortoFerraio, Taxi to hotel. Walked within area for a few days, used a hire car afterwards, used a bus a few times (same for shops) Weather: Constantly Hot and Sunny, 1 hour of rain (in 1 thunderstorm), wind varied with height (welcome breeze some days), no chance of skiing here!, temperatures about 25 - 50 C (Heatwave). (No complaints here, was great!!!) Total cost: about £1400: £300 travel; £1100 accommodation, £30 food. |
Year Mapped: 2001
Accommodation: Rented apartment £14 per day. Food: Local supermarket. about 200m. Transport: Plane to Pisa, Train to Piombino, Ferry to Rio Marina, bus to Rio Nell Elba, walked within area and to go to shops. Weather: Constantly Sunny (hot), 1 hour of rain, wind varied with altitude, snow and ice unlikely, temperatures about 25 - 35 C. Total cost: about £950: £150 travel; £550 accommodation, £250 food. Vertical Divider
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Year Mapped: 1999
Accommodation: Camping Canapai, Ortano, near Rio Marina. Cost £5 per day. (deal struck with owner based on length of stay). Food: Rio Marina supermarket. about 3km. Transport: Plane, train then Ferry to Island, walked, biked and used bus within area and to go to shops. Weather: Constantly Sunny, 1 day of rain (showers), barely any wind, snow and ice unlikely, temperatures about 28 - 36 C. Total cost: about £625: £250 travel; £225 accommodation, £150 food. |
Year Mapped: 1994
Accommodation: Hotel £12 per day bed and breakfast. Food: Local supermarket. about 3km. Transport: Car used to get to area, within area and to go to shops. Weather: Constantly Sunny, 2 days of rain, barely any wind, snow and ice unlikely, temperatures about 70 - 90 F. Total cost: about £1300: £400 travel; £700 accommodation, £150 food. Vertical Divider
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