DOCSLIB.ORG

Transactions of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh I. Notes on the Botany

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Transactions of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh I. Notes on the Botany This article was downloaded by: [UQ Library] On: 14 March 2015, At: 14:07 Publisher: Taylor & Francis Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK Transactions of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tped18 I. Notes on the Botany and Agriculture of Malta and Sicily H. Cleghorn M.D. Published online: 01 Dec 2010. To cite this article: H. Cleghorn M.D. (1870) I. Notes on the Botany and Agriculture of Malta and Sicily , Transactions of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh, 10:1-4, 106-139, DOI: 10.1080/03746607009468660 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03746607009468660 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and- conditions Downloaded by [UQ Library] at 14:07 14 March 2015 1 . 06 Dr H. Cleghorn on the Botany and 6. Professor Dickie sent specimens of the spermatozoids of Sphagnum cymbifolium, which were exhibited under the microscope. 7. Mr Gorrie made some remarks on the roots of Oxalis crenata, the Okas of the Peruvians, and presented speci- mens to the Museum. 8. Dr Post presented a collection of dried plants from Beyrout ; Dr Buchanan White, alpine plants collected in Ross-shire; and Miss Beever, forked specimens of Blechnum boreale and Asplenium viride. 11th March 1869.—Dr CLEGHORN, President, in the Chair. The following Gentlemen were elected as Resident Fellows :— W. F. FORSYTH, Esq. ROBERT SCOT-SKIRVING, Esq. Donations to the Library, Herbarium, and Museum, at the Royal Botanic Garden, were announced. The following Communications were read I. Notes on the Botany and Agriculture of Malta and Sicily. By H. CLEGHORN, M.D.* Downloaded by [UQ Library] at 14:07 14 March 2015 The island of Malta lies in 35° N . lat. and 14° E. long. Its greatest length is 17 miles, its breadth 9, the cir- cumference 60, and the entire superficies under 200 square miles. The rock is calcareous, dry, and bare ; the soil consists of a thin covering of earth, five or six inches in depth, on a soft whitish sandstone, and is increased by breaking up the sur- face of the stone into a sort of sandy debris, and mixing it * These Notes were made during the months of December 1867 and January and February 1868. The pleasure of my stay in Malta was much enhanced by the kindness of His Excellency Sir Patrick Grant, G.C.B., from whom I received cordial assistance in my inquiries. Agriculture of Malta and Sicily. 107 through the earth. A considerable portion of the area of the island is so rocky as to be incapable of cultivation. Climate..—There is an average rainfall of eighteen inches from October to March. Taken as a whole, the climate is not one of extremes. In February, the coldest month, the mean temperature is 56° Fahr., and in August, the hottest season, it is 83°. The mean temperature of the year is 68°. A full account of the climate is given in Dr John Davy's work on Malta ; in Hennen's " Medical Topography of the Mediterranean" (1830) ; and more recently in Dr Scoresby- Jackson's " Medical Climatology," p. 477 (1862), and in Dr Sutherland's " Report to Parliament on Barrack and Hospital Improvement of the Sanitary Condition of the Mediterranean Stations," part ii. Malta and Gozo, 1863. Want of Trees.—Dr Sutherland remarks truly, " The great improvement required everywhere, but particularly in the vicinity of the barracks, is shade from trees ; this can only be obtained at considerable labour and cost," owing to the nature of the soil. A good beginning has, however, been made in the public gardens of Florian, and several parts of Valetta have been successfully planted with beauti- ful trees by the late governor, Sir J. Gaspard Le Marchant. The subject of planting has lately been under the consider- ation of the local Government, and, I believe, the chief difficulties are to set aside a sufficient area of land for the cultivation of wood, and to allow an adequate supply of water for the first three years, which is an essential to success. All timber for building is imported from Trieste Downloaded by [UQ Library] at 14:07 14 March 2015 or America, while charcoal is brought from Sicily and Greece. There is no evidence to show that Malta ever was a wooded island, and the tradition that its soil was im- ported from Sicily tends to confirm this view. In Sandys' time (1611) there were no woods in the island, which he describes as " a country altogether champion, being no other than a rocke covered over with earth, but two feete deep where the deepest ; having but few trees but such as beare fruite . so that their wood they have from Sicilia." (" Sandys' Travels," p. 412.) Water Supply. —The Bengemma Hills, containing the fertile valleys of Boschetto and Entahleb, from the pre- sence of the soft marl and porous sandstone, which retain 108 Dr H. Cleghorn on the Botany and the rain-water, form the great sponge or reservoir for the supply of Valetta. The only permanent stream in the island flows from the Bengemma Hills, and is conducted by a fine aqueduct of several thousand arches and nine miles in length, to Valetta. This great and admirable work was begun in 1610, by Grandmaster Vignacourt, and completed in five years. From the source to the city there is a fall of 192 feet, and the supply of water is about 425,000 gallons a day. The gratitude of the inhabitants of Valetta is due to the founder of this, the most useful public work which the city possesses. The following inscription is on the main arch of the aqueduct :— " }lac Valetta tenus functum jacuisse cadaver visa est, nunc laticis spiritus intus alit, incubuit primus olim ceu spiritus undis spiritus evixa, sic modo fertur acqua Bontadino de Bonta- dinis." The reverse side of the arch bears the following : — " Fri. Alophio de Wignacourt magno magistro Valletam urbem et arcem dulcissimis acquis vivificanti xterna salus. Hen. in 1739." Additional-water is obtained by rocky cisterns, in which the rain is collected. These are sometimes cemented, and the water is led off as required to terraces and fields. Great efforts are now being made to increase the supply of water by tapping new springs, and very considerable suc- cess has followed these attempts, which promise to be of lasting benefit to the island. It is hoped that there may be no return of the scarcity experienced in 1866 and 1867. Downloaded by [UQ Library] at 14:07 14 March 2015 Agriculture.—Notwithstanding the thinness of the soil and the smallness of the rainfall, the crops, by aid of irrigation, are in general abundant. The fertility of the island was noted by Ovid- " Fertilis est Melite, sterili vicina Cosyra, Insula, quam Lybici verberat unda freti." Ovid, Fast. i. 3. And, again, by Cornelius a Lapide : — " Altera est vicina Sicilia vulgo Malta dicta, et hic intelligitur, glue coelo est Clemente, aquis salubribus, agro benigno at frugifero, a bonitate mellis laudata, indeque Malta ut videtur appellata." P. Cornelius a Lapide in Comm. 1 Act. Ap. cap. 28. Agriculture of Malta and Sicily. 109 The fields are small, and generally enclosed with high stone walls, built so as to form terraces, thus preventing the rain from washing away the soil, and also keeping out tres- passers. These walls are formed of the broken stones from the quarries, or from the fields, and they give an irksome appearance of sameness to the country, concealing the crops, and reflecting the sun's rays. There is no game on the island, except occasionally birds of passage, particularly quail and plover, which visit it in incredible numbers. The principal staples are cotton, wheat, carob beans, and various fruits. Cotton must have been an early production of Malta, as it is mentioned by Cicero.* Two species are cultivated—Gossypium herbaceum and religiosum. The cul- ture of cotton was much extended during the American war. Wheat, maize, and barley are raised. Of the first the annual crop is estimated at 100,000 beet. : the other two are produced in smaller quantities. Immense subterranean granaries, cut out of the rock by the Knights of St John, are stored with corn for the use of the garrison. The apertures are closed with square blocks of stone, and sealed up.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Geologia Della Sicilia - Geology of Sicily IV - Vulcanismo - Volcanism
    Geologia della Sicilia - Geology of Sicily IV - Vulcanismo - Volcanism BRANCA S. (*) 1. - VuLCANISMO QuATERNARIO DELLA ratterizzavano questo settore dell’Altipiano Ibleo SICILIA ORIENTALE (SChMINCkE et alii, 1997). La prosecuzione dell’at- tività vulcanica verso nord durante il Pleistocene La fase più recente del vulcanismo ibleo è da- inferiore-medio è evidenziata da anomalie magne- tata Pliocene inferiore-Pleistocene inferiore, ed è tiche (GRASSO & BEN-AVRAhAM, 1992) e da dati caratterizzata da un’attività vulcanica sia sottoma- di pozzi perforati dall’AGIP (LONGARETTI et alii, rina che subaerea ad affinità da alcalina a subalca- 1991; TORELLI et alii, 1998) in corrispondenza della lina (CARBONE et alii, 1986, 1987; CARVENI et alii, Piana di Catania, che mostrano la presenza di 1991; SChMINCkE et alii, 1997). grossi corpi di vulcaniti, con spessori di alcune Le vulcaniti affiorano estesamente lungo il centinaia di metri, che si approfondiscono verso bordo settentrionale dell’Avampaese Ibleo mo- nord per la presenza di sistemi di faglie dirette. In strando una leggera migrazione verso nord rispetto particolare, le vulcaniti più recenti in sottosuolo, alle manifestazioni vulcaniche del Miocene supe- attribuite al Pleistocene inferiore (LONGARETTI et riore (CARBONE et alii, 1982c). Le vulcaniti plioce- alii, 1991), sono localizzate nella parte più setten- niche del margine occidentale dell’Altipiano Ibleo, trionale della Piana di Catania in prossimità della sono rappresentate da una potente successione, periferia meridionale dell’Etna fra Paternò e Cata- costituita da prevalenti ialoclastiti e da brecce vul- nia. Tali vulcaniti presentano una composizione canoclastiche e colate a pillow. Lungo il bordo basaltica ad affinità sia tholeiitica che alcalina orientale del plateau si rinvengono prevalentemente (LONGARETTI & ROCChI, 1990).
    [Show full text]
  • And Correlation to the Late Triassic Newark Astrochronological Polarity Time Scale
    Tethyan magnetostratigraphy from Pizzo Mondello (Sicily) and correlation to the Late Triassic Newark astrochronological polarity time scale Giovanni Muttoni† Department of Earth Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 34, I-20133 Milan, Italy Dennis V. Kent Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Palisades, New York 10964, USA and Department of Geological Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA Paul E. Olsen Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Palisades, New York 10964, USA Piero Di Stefano Department of Geology and Geodesy, University of Palermo, Corso Tukory 131, I-90134 Palermo, Italy William Lowrie Stefano M. Bernasconi Fátima Martín Hernández Departement Erdwissenschaften, ETH-Zentrum, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland ABSTRACT early part of the Newark APTS. We prefer marine stages, historically based on ammonoid option #2 in which the Carnian-Norian biostratigraphy, to continental successions. For We present the magnetostratigraphy and boundary based on conodonts, as well as the Late Triassic, an astrochronology anchored stable isotope stratigraphy from an expanded its closely associated positive δ13C shift, cor- to magnetostratigraphy and radiometric dates is (~430-m-thick) Upper Triassic marine lime- respond to Newark magnetozone E7 at ca. available from the Newark continental section stone section at Pizzo Mondello, Sicily, and 228–227 Ma (adopting Newark astrochronol- (Kent et al., 1995; Kent and Olsen, 1999; Olsen review published biostratigraphic informa- ogy), implying a long Norian with a duration and Kent, 1999), while magnetostratigraphy is tion that can be used to defi ne the location of ~20 m.y., and a Rhaetian of ~6 m.y. dura- thus far available in conjunction with marine of the conodont Carnian-Norian and Norian- tion.
    [Show full text]
  • Paleozoic Evolution of Pre-Variscan Terranes: from Gondwana to the Variscan Collision
    Geological Society of America Special Paper 364 2002 Paleozoic evolution of pre-Variscan terranes: From Gondwana to the Variscan collision Gérard M. Stamp×i Institut de Géologie et Paléontologie, Université de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland Jürgen F. von Raumer Institut de Minéralogie et Pétrographie, Université de Fribourg, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland Gilles D. Borel Institut de Géologie et Paléontologie, Université de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland ABSTRACT The well-known Variscan basement areas of Europe contain relic terranes with a pre-Variscan evolution testifying to their peri-Gondwanan origin (e.g., relics of Neo- proterozoic volcanic arcs, and subsequent stages of accretionary wedges, backarc rift- ing, and spreading). The evolution of these terranes was guided by the diachronous subduction of the proto-Tethys oceanic ridge under different segments of the Gond- wana margin. This subduction triggered the emplacement of magmatic bodies and the formation of backarc rifts, some of which became major oceanic realms (Rheic, paleo- Tethys). Consequently, the drifting of Avalonia was followed, after the Silurian and a short Ordovician orogenic event, by the drifting of Armorica and Alpine domains, ac- companied by the opening of the paleo-Tethys. The slab rollback of the Rheic ocean is viewed as the major mechanism for the drifting of the European Variscan terranes. This, in turn, generated a large slab pull force responsible for the opening of major rift zones within the passive Eurasian margin. Therefore, the µrst Middle Devonian Variscan orogenic event is viewed as the result of a collision between terranes detached from Gondwana (grouped as the Hun superterrane) and terranes detached from Eurasia.
    [Show full text]
  • (Globigerina Limestone Formation): New Preliminary Data Based on Calcareous Plankton
    Bollettino della Società Paleontologica Italiana, 46 (2-3), 2007, 175-181. Modena, 15 gennaio 2008175 Biostratigraphy and chronostratigraphy of the Maltese Lower Globigerina Limestone Member (Globigerina Limestone Formation): new preliminary data based on calcareous plankton Luca Maria FORESI, Roberto MAZZEI, Gianfranco SALVATORINI & Francesca DONIA L.M. Foresi, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Siena, Via Laterina 8, I-53100 Siena, Italy; [email protected] R. Mazzei, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Siena, Via Laterina 8, I-53100 Siena, Italy; [email protected] G. Salvatorini, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Siena, Via Laterina 8, I-53100 Siena, Italy. F. Donia, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Siena, Via Laterina 8, I-53100 Siena, Italy; [email protected] KEY WORDS - Calcareous plankton biostratigraphy, Chattian, Lower Globigerina Limestone, Maltese Islands. ABSTRACT - The preliminary results of the study carried out on calcareous plankton (foraminifera and nannofossils) assemblages from the Maltese Lower Globigerina Limestone are presented here. The Lower Globigerina Limestone (LGL) is the lowermost member of the Globigerina Limestone Formation, widely outcropping in the Maltese Archipelago; this member has been generally referred to the Early Miocene (Aquitanian). The investigation of 78 samples from 11 sections (encompassing the whole succession of the unit) on Gozo and Malta islands (one of them close to the type section of the formation) has allowed us to assign a Chattian age (Late Oligocene) to the Lower Globigerina Limestone Member (LGLM). Globigerinoides primordius, Paragloborotalia opima nana, P. pseudokugleri, Subbotina gortanii, Globoturborotalita angulisuturalis, G. anguliofficinalis, and Coccolithus miopelagicus, Cyclicargolithus abisectus, Dictyococcites bisectus, D. scrippsae, Helicosphaera recta, Sphenolithus cf.
    [Show full text]
  • Karst Heritage
    Unit 4 – Karst Heritage Dirk De Ketelaere, Josianne Vella and Anna Spiteri Preamble In this unit, we examine the relation between hydrological processes, the geology of karst rock and the resultant landforms. While being described as ‘unusual’, the landforms may take such dramatic proportions that they merit the designation of a World Heritage Conservations Site. The Qawra/Dwejra area in Gozo is presented as a case study. “The importance of conserving representative karst areas for science and recreation has been recognized in many countries by the designation of national parks and reserves” (Ford et al., 1989) “Some of the best examples of normal faulting, karstification and solution subsidence, cliff recession, cave formation as a result of marine erosion, and incision of steep-sided valleys to be found in the Maltese Islands occur here” (Cassar et al, 2004) on the Qawra/Dwejra area in Gozo Karst Landscapes Karst landscapes or terrains represent a distinctive topography in which the landscape is largely shaped by the dissolving action of water on carbonate bedrock. This geological process, occurring over many thousands of years, results in unusual surface and subsurface features ranging from sinkholes, dolines, vertical shafts, disappearing streams and springs, to complex underground drainage systems and caves. The ‘engine’ that powers this natural process is the hydrological cycle, starting with the constant flow of rainfall over the rock surface which causes the chemical dissolution of the rock along fissures. Over time, these fissures gradually enlarge into veritable shafts and conduits, which allow a larger part of the rainwater to feed into the aquifers within a shorter period of time.
    [Show full text]
  • Ph.D Thesis: Stratigraphic, Structural and Geomorphological Features of the Sicilian Continental Shelf: Study Cases from Southern Tyrrhenian and Sicily Channel
    Ph.D Thesis: Stratigraphic, structural and geomorphological features of the Sicilian continental shelf: study cases from Southern Tyrrhenian and Sicily Channel. Ph.D Thesis: Stratigraphic, structural and geomorphological features of the Sicilian continental shelf: study cases from Southern Tyrrhenian and Sicily Channel. Ph.D Thesis: Stratigraphic, structural and geomorphological features of the Sicilian continental shelf: study cases from Southern Tyrrhenian and Sicily Channel. INDEX GENERAL INTRODUCTION PART I: METHODOLOGY 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 SONAR PRINCIPLES IN THE WATER 1.2 ECHOSOUNDING 1.3 MULTIBEAM 1.4 CHIRP SUB-BOTTOM 1.5 SPARKER SYSTEM 1.6 BATHYMETRIC AND SEISMIC INTERPRETATION SOFTWARES 1.6.1 GLOBAL MAPPER 1.6.2 SWANPRO™ 1.6.3 GEOSUITE ALLWORKS 1.7 SEISMIC STRATIGRAPHY PRINCIPLES 1.8 THE SEISMIC RESOLUTION PART II: CONTINENTAL SHELF ENVIRONMENT: STRUCTURAL-STRATIGRAPHIC EVOLUTION OF LAMPEDUSA ISLAND AND SOUTH-EAST SICILY OFFSHORE 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 PHYSIOGRAPHIC FEATURES OF THE CONTINENTAL SHELF 2.2 DEPOSITIONAL ENVIROMENTS: AUTOGENIC AND ALLOGENIC CONTROLS 2.3 SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY 2.3.1 SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHIC UNITS 2.3.2 SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHIC SURFACES 2.4 LATE MIOCENE TO QUATERNARY STRUCTURAL EVOLUTION OF THE LAMPEDUSA ISLAND OFFSHORE 1 Ph.D Thesis: Stratigraphic, structural and geomorphological features of the Sicilian continental shelf: study cases from Southern Tyrrhenian and Sicily Channel. 2.4.1 GEOLOGICAL SETTING 2.4.2 DATA DESCRIPTION AND INTERPRETATION 2.4.2.1 Northern sector 2.4.2.2 Southern Sector 2.4.2.3 Eastern
    [Show full text]
  • A Landscape Assessment Study of the South Gozo Fault Area Mariella Xuereb James Madison University
    James Madison University JMU Scholarly Commons Masters Theses The Graduate School Fall 12-18-2010 A landscape assessment study of the South Gozo Fault area Mariella Xuereb James Madison University Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/master201019 Part of the Environmental Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Xuereb, Mariella, "A landscape assessment study of the South Gozo Fault area" (2010). Masters Theses. 434. https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/master201019/434 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the The Graduate School at JMU Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of JMU Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A Landscape Assessment Study of the South Gozo Fault Area Mariella Xuereb Master of Science in Sustainable Environmental Resource Management University of Malta 2010 A Landscape Assessment Study of the South Gozo Fault Area A dissertation presented in part fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Sustainable Environmental Resource Management Mariella Xuereb November 2010 Supervisor: Dr. Louis. F. Cassar Co-Supervisors: Ms. Elisabeth Conrad; Dr. Maria Papadakis University of Malta – James Madison University ii. This research work disclosed in this publication is partly funded by the Strategic Educational Pathways Scholarship (Malta). Operational Programme II – Cohesion Policy 2007-2013 Empowering People for More Jobs and a Better Quality of Life Training part-financed by the European Union European Social Fund Co-financing rate: 85% EU Funds; 15% National Funds Investing in your future iii. ABSTRACT Mariella Xuereb A Landscape Assessment Study of the South Gozo Fault Area The South Gozo Fault region features a heterogeneous landscape which extends from Ras il-Qala on the east, to „Mgarr ix-Xini‟ on the south-eastern littoral.
    [Show full text]
  • K2SO4 Across the Neogene: Implications, Part 4 of 4
    www.saltworkconsultants.com Salty MattersJohn Warren - Tuesday, May 12, 2015 Danakil potash: K2SO4 across the Neogene: Implications, Part 4 of 4 marine brine feeds that most of the world’s larger Phaneorzo- How to deal with K2SO4 ic (SOP) potash ore deposits were precipitated (Warren, 2015). In this the fourth blog focusing on Danakhil potash, we look SOP is also produced from Quaternary Lake brines in China at the potash geology of formerly mined Neogene deposits in and Canada (see Cryogenic salt blog; 24 Feb. 2015). Sicily and the Ukraine, then compare them and relevant pro- cessing techniques used to exploit their K2SO4 ore feeds. This information is then used to hlep guide a discussion of process- ing implications for potash extraction in the Danakhil, where SOP in Messinian evaporites, Sicily kainite is the dominant widespread potash salt. As seen in the A number of potash mines on the island extracted kainitite from previous three blogs there are other potash mineral styles present the late Miocene Solofifera Series of Sicily (Figure 1). The last in the Danakhil, which constitute more re- stricted ore fairways than the widespread bedded kainaite, these other potash styles Sicilian-Maghrebian units (deep meteoiric -blog 2 of 4 and hydro- thermal - blog 3 of 4), could be processed Palermo X Kabylian-Calabrian units to extract MOP, but these other potash Calatami inner C styles are also tied to high levels of MgCl2, im Madonie M. in Petralia Nebrodi M. na b which must be dealt with in the brine pro- S. Ninfa asin Nicosia Be M.
    [Show full text]
  • A Seismic Model for Moho and Crustal Structure in Europe, Greenland, and the North Atlantic Region☆
    Tectonophysics 609 (2013) 97–153 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Tectonophysics journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/tecto Review Article EUNAseis: A seismic model for Moho and crustal structure in Europe, Greenland, and the North Atlantic region☆ Irina M. Artemieva ⁎, Hans Thybo IGN, University of Copenhagen, Denmark article info abstract Article history: We present a new digital crustal model for Moho depth and crustal structure in Europe, Greenland, Iceland, Received 27 November 2012 Svalbard, European Arctic shelf, and the North Atlantic Ocean (72W–62E, 30N–84N). Our compilation is based Received in revised form 18 July 2013 on digitization of original seismic profiles and Receiver Functions from ca. 650 publications which provides a Accepted 4 August 2013 dense regional data coverage. Exclusion of non-seismic data allows application of the database to potential Available online 15 August 2013 field modeling. EUNAseis model includes Vp velocity and thickness of five crustal layers, including the sedimen- tary cover, and Pn velocity. For each parameter we discuss uncertainties associated with theoretical limitations, Keywords: Moho regional data quality, and interpolation. Crustal thickness By analyzing regional trends in crustal structure and links to tectonic evolution illustrated by a new tectonic map, Crystalline crust we conclude that: (1) Each tectonic setting shows significant variation in depth to Moho and crustal structure, Sedimentary cover essentially controlled by the age of latest tectono-thermal processes; (2) Published global averages of crustal pa- Pn velocity rameters are outside of observed ranges for any tectonic setting in Europe; (3) Variation of Vp with depth in the Crustal evolution sedimentary cover does not follow commonly accepted trends; (4) The thickness ratio between upper-middle (Vp b 6.8 km/s) and lower (Vp N 6.8 km/s) crystalline crust is indicative of crustal origin: oceanic, transitional, platform, or extended crust; (5) Continental rifting generally thins the upper-middle crust significantly without changing Vp.
    [Show full text]
  • Geo-Risks in the Mediterranean and Their Mitigation
    Geo-Risks in the Mediterranean and their Mitigation 1 Geo-Risks in the Mediterranean and their Mitigation Proceedings of the International Conference: GEORISKS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AND THEIR MITIGATION University of Malta - Valletta Campus 20-21 July 2015 Organizing Committee Volume Edited by: Galea P., Borg Dr. Pauline Galea R.P., Farrugia D., Agius M.R., Dr. Sebastiano D‘Amico D'Amico S., Torpiano A., Bonello M.. Dr. Ruben P. Borg Dr. Matthew R. Agius Ms. Daniela Farrugia Prof. Alex Torpiano Dr. Marc Bonello Ms Ann-Marie Ellul Ms Alison Darmanin Ms. Lucienne Bugeja An international scientific conference organised jointly by the Seismic Monitoring and Research Unit, Department of Geoscience, Faculty of Science and Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, Faculty of the Built Environment, University of Malta. Part of the SIMIT project: Integrated civil protection system for the Italo-Maltese cross-border area. Italia-Malta Programme – Cohesion Policy 2007-2013 A sea of opportunities for the future Tender part-financed by the European Union European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Co-financing rate: 85% EU Funds; 15% National Funds. Investing in your future. 2 Geo-Risks in the Mediterranean and their Mitigation Proceedings of the International Conference: GEORISKS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AND THEIR MITIGATION Edited by: Galea P., Borg R.P., Farrugia D., Agius M.R., D'Amico S., Torpiano A., Bonello M. Published by Mistral Service sas, Via U. Bonino, 3, 98100 Messina (Italy) Printed by Gutenberg Press Ltd, Gudja Road, Tarxien, GXQ 2902, Malta, This book is distributed as an Open Access work. All users can download copy and use the present volume as long as the author and the publisher are properly cited.
    [Show full text]
  • GEOLOGY of MALTA Victoria Griffiths
    GEOLOGY OF MALTA Victoria Griffiths The Maltese Archipelago consists of a group of point on the archipelago is 253m above mean small, low-lying islands located in the central sea level and is situated at Dingli Cliffs on the Mediterranean, approximately 96km South of south-western coast. The tilt of the archipelago Sicily and 320km north of North Africa. The is responsible for the predominant north- archipelago extends for 45km in a NW-SE eastern trend of drainage channels on Malta. direction. The largest islands are Malta and Gozo. The other islands of the archipelago are Malta is crossed by two main fault systems much smaller and comprise Comino, St Paul's representing the effects of two separate rifting Islands, Cominotto, Filfla and General's Rock. episodes in the vicinity of the archipelago. The older of the two, the Great Fault, trends SW to The rocks of the Maltese Islands are all NE, while the Maghlaq Fault system trends sedimentary and result from the accumulation approximately NW to SE along the southern of carbonate sediments in a relatively shallow coast of the island and has been responsible for marine environment. Various types of rocks the downthrow of Filfla to sea level. A system correspond to different palaeo-environments of of horst and graben structures of East- deposition. A second class of rocks, quaternary Northeast trend characterises Malta north of the deposits, represent sediments that were Great Fault. These structures are indicated by deposited in a terrestrial environment prominent ridges and valleys. No well-defined following the emergence of the Maltese Islands horst and graben systems occur south of the above sea level.
    [Show full text]
  • Catalan82 a Colori.Qxd
    Geology of Sicily: an introduction Raimondo Catalano Introduction This brief paper wants to introduce the fundamentals of the Sicily structure and stratig- raphy, as acquired from the more recent studies and researches. Sicily is part of the western central Mediterranean and develops along the African- European plate boundary. It is a segment linking the African Maghrebides with Southern Apennines across the Calabrian accretionary wedge (Fig. 1). The chain and its submerged western and northern extension are partly located between the Sardinia block and the Pelagian-Ionian sector and partly beneath the central southern Tyrrhenian sea (Fig. 1). In this sector of the Mediterranean area the main compressional movements, after the Paleogene Alpine orogeny, began with the latest Oligocene-Early Miocene counterclockwise rotation of Corsica-Sardinia, believed to represent a volcanic arc, and its collision with the African continental margin. Thrusting was in connection with the westward subduction of the Adriatic and Ionian lithosphere beneath the Corsica-Sardinia block. Today, westward sub- duction is indicated by a North dipping Benioff zone west of Calabria and the Apennines, as deep as 400 km, and the related calc-alkaline volcanism in the Eolian Islands. Subduction and thrusting are contemporaneous with back arc-type extension in the Tyrrhenian Sea. The structure of the mainland of Sicily is here illustrated by a number of deep geolog- ic profiles crossing both Western and Eastern Sicily from North to South (Pl. 1). The geo- logical sections integrate the recents interpretations of several reflection seismic profiles (AGIP) with the available stratigraphic, paleomagnetic and structural surface data, as well as those of the, mostly reinterpreted, hydrocarbon exploration well logs.
    [Show full text]