Field Leaders: Paolo Giannandrea1, Daniela Mele2, Fabio Dioguardi2, Francesco Neglia2
1Università della Basilicata.
2Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro.
Date: 6 September 2024.
Cost: 95€
Minimum number of participants: 10
Maximum number of participants: 25
Description and Itinerary
Vulture volcano is a composite volcano located at the easternmost border of the Apennine Chain in Southern Italy. The volcanic rocks cover an area of approximately 150 km2 in the Mount Vulture and are the result of both explosive and effusive activity that took place from the middle Pleistocene. Compared with other major Quaternary volcanoes of Italy that are scattered along the Tyrrhenian margin, Mount Vulture is the only volcano located to the east of the Apennine chain on an along-dip vertical slab window. Volcanic activity at Mt Vulture started at 698 ± 8 ka and continued until 141 ± 11 ka, although this interval was characterized by a number of quiescent periods, in which the sedimentation of alluvial and lacustrine deposits in the Venosa Basin have been realized.
The Mount Vulture is one of the more important aquifers in southern Italy and the main Italian reservoir of effervescent-mineral waters that are pumped for drinking and irrigation purposes. It is characterized by the presence of numerous CO2-rich mineral springs and wells, and the two volcanic maars-called "Monticchio Lakes". The Lago Piccolo and Lago Grande were created by intense explosive volcanic activity when a relatively small volume of erupted magma sprayed out over a large area.
This fieldwork is aimed at providing a general overview of the Mount Vulture eruptive history, its relationship in the geological context of the area and the volcanic activity styles, with an analysis of the products of both effusive and explosive phases. The fieldwork will conclude with a visit to the "Cantine del Notaio" winery, which produces the famous Aglianico wines that are refined in volcanic tuff caves.
Itinerary: Departure from Campus Universitario Via E. Orabona 4, Bari 7:30 am; Stop 1 – on the road to Melfi. First panoramic and introductive stop; Stop 2 Melfi "Hauynofiro"; Stop 3 – Gaudianello outcrops;
Stop 4 – Panoramic view of the Monticchio Lake, St Michael's Abbey; Stop 5- Sant'Antonio quarry outcrop (Rionero in Vulture); Stop 6 – Visit to the "Cantine del Notaio" winery and Aglianico wine tasting.
Further indications
Clothes and shoes suitable for hiking are mandatory. Early September can still be very hot and sunny, therefore caps, sunglasses and sunscreen are strongly recommended. Costs cover lunchbox, bus transfer, tour of the winery and wine tasting. The cost incudes insurance policy.
Field trip contact: daniela.mele@uniba.it