ANNALS OF GEOPHYSICS, VOL. 49, N. 4/5, August/October 2006 Magneto-seismic interpretation of subsurface volcanism in the Gaeta Gulf (Italy, Tyrrhenian Sea) Giovanni de Alteriis (1)(2), Maurizio Fedi (3), Salvatore Passaro (1) and Agata Siniscalchi (4) (1) Istituto Ambiente Marino Costiero (IAMC), CNR, Napoli, Italy (2) GeoLab srl, Marine Surveys, Pozzuoli (NA), Italy (3) Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Napoli «Federico II», Napoli, Italy (4) Dipartimento di Geologia e Geofisica, Università degli Studi di Bari, Italy Abstract The occurrence of a former subaerial volcanic edifice off the Volturno River (Tyrrhenian Sea, Gulf of Gaeta) in the 41°N parallel is suggested by joint interpretation of multichannel seismic lines and ship-borne magnetic data. In the Campanian region igneous (volcanic) rocks are very close to the carbonate Mesozoic basement and seismics cannot always discriminate between them. A joint seismic-magnetic analysis was very effective in assessing the lithological nature of the bodies evidenced by both geophysical methods. Distortion analysis showed that the main magnetic source in the area is characterised by a not normal-polarity direction of the magnetization, similar to oth- er Pleistocene volcanoes in the Tyrrhenian region. Hence we argued that the overall magmatic emplacement for this source occurred during a reverse-polarity chron, very likely the 0.78-1.78 Ma time span. This magnetically-derived time constraint is in agreement with seismic stratigraphy that shows that the entire volcano is sealed by the Volturno River prograding delta from Middle Pleistocene to Present in age. Our interpreted volcano belongs to a set of in- ferred onshore and offshore volcanic edifices all lying along the 41°N parallel. Key words Gaeta Gulf – 41°N parallel – buried clastic sequences embedded in marine deposits volcanism – inverted magnetic anomalies – reflec- or buried pyroclastic tuff edifices may, in a few tion seismics instances, be distinguishable from seismics. On the other hand, the total magnetisation of these pyroclastic edifices is generally lower than that 1. Introduction of composite volcanoes or that of igneous intru- sions, mostly due to the greater susceptibility of Seismic and magnetic prospecting are compact igneous rocks compared to pyroclastic among the most suitable methods for exploring rocks. Advanced boundary analysis techniques volcanic areas and their integration may signif- of the magnetic field, e.g., EHD Enhanced Hor- icantly improve detection of buried bodies. The izontal Derivative (Fedi and Florio, 2001) and internal structure of strato-volcanoes is general- AS Analytic Signal (Roest et al., 1992; Hsu ly not well seismically layered, whereas pyro- et al., 1996) can provide useful constraints to the extent of buried igneous bodies. Further- more, distortion analysis (Fedi et al., 1994; Naidu and Matthew, 1998) may help in search- ing for the paleo-declination and inclination at Mailing address: Dr. Giovanni de Alteriis, GeoLab srl, Marine Surveys, Via Monteruscello 75, 80078 Pozzuoli (NA), the time of emplacement of the igneous mass, Italy; e-mail: [email protected] thus providing an age range for the source. 929 Giovanni de Alteriis, Maurizio Fedi, Salvatore Passaro and Agata Siniscalchi Magnetic boundary analysis may be matched 2. Geologic and geophysical setting with constraints imposed by seismic data and their interpretation (e.g., seismic stratigraphy). The Campania-Latium offshore belongs to In this paper we used such techniques over an the Eastern Tyrrhenian Margin (ETM), charac- area of the Latium-Campania offshore (Tyrrhen- terised by lithospheric thinning and volcanism ian Sea) located across the 41°N parallel. This during most of the Plio-Quaternary as a conse- area was relatively well known through seismics quence of the Tyrrhenian sea opening (Trincardi (Bartole et al., 1984; Aiello et al., 2000; Bruno et and Zitellini, 1987). It includes three Plio-Quater- al., 2000) but poorly constrained by magnetic nary extensional basins corresponding to the data. The close coexistence of carbonates and Salerno, Napoli and Gaeta Gulfs and their coastal volcanic edifices, characterised by similar seis- plains. In the Gaeta Gulf the continental shelf is mic velocity values, makes this site particularly the seaward extension of the Garigliano and suitable for a joint magneto-seismic interpreta- Volturno coastal alluvial plains filled by Plio- tion. The dataset consists of shipborne magnetic Quaternary clastic and volcanics. It narrows from data collected during two oceanographic cruises NW to SE (from some 10 km to few kilometres in 1992 and 1993 on board of R/V Urania (CNR, north of Ischia Island). The estimated Pleistocene Italy) and a partially unpublished multichannel tectonic subsidence-rate is in the order of 1600 seismic grid (courtesy of Agip, Eni division, Mi- m/My based on subsurface well stratigraphy (Ip- lan-Italy). polito et al., 1973; Brancaccio et al., 1991). Fig. 1. Location of the surveyed area (outlined) in the frame of the Campania offshore along the Eastern Tyrrhenian margin at 41°N. Filled, gray-scale contour represents the aeromagnetic anomaly field with scale bar in nT. Note the two sharp Magnetic Boundaries (MB) along the 41°N parallel and across the Bay of Naples defining a triangular region, where most volcanic activity has occurred during Plio-Quaternary. The two mag- netic boundaries converge towards the area of the Parete subsurface volcano. The extension of the fault- bordered Campanian alluvial plain is outlined (oblique texture) as well as subaerial volcanic districts. 930 Magneto-seismic interpretation of subsurface volcanism in the Gaeta Gulf (Italy, Tyrrhenian Sea) The area is marked by a well evident region- 3. Seismic and magnetic data-sets al magnetic lineament (fig. 1), occuring along the 41°N parallel, first recognised by Savelli and 3.1. Seismic dataset Wezel (1979) and Wezel (1985) that interpreted it as a strike-slip zone. Other authors interpreted The seismic dataset includes 11 multichan- this lineament as a transform fault (Selli, 1981) nel seismic profiles acquired in the course of or as a transfer fault (Bruno et al., 2000). Unlike two surveys characterised by the same energy other magnetic/morphologic discontinuities (e.g., source (Aquapulse©) but different acquisition the NE-SW «Selli line» running across the entire and processing parameters (fig. 2). The older Tyrrhenian Basin), the 41°N line does not show seismic grid (24-channels, 1630 m long stream- a clear morphologic signature, as recently con- er, 4 ms sample rate, 68 m shot and group inter- firmed by swath bathymetry (Marani and Gam- val, 10-80 Hz, 1200% coverage) was acquired beri, 2004). On the other hand, in the subsurface, by Western Geophysical Company in 1968 on a structural high about 80 km long, running from commitment of Italy’s Minister of Industry in the Zannone Island to Volturno River was for- the frame of a regional survey over the entire merly recognised in the Gulf of Gaeta by Bartole Eastern Tyrrhenian continental shelf. et al. (1984) and named the «Zannone-Volturno It includes, in the Gulf of Gaeta, 9 lines to- overthrust». talling 330 km, that we interpreted in their orig- Magmatism related to crustal extension along inally processed version (basically pre-stack normal or partially strike-slip faults is represent- deconvolution and 1200% stack). ed in the region by widespread volcanic activity A more recent unpublished dataset acquired onshore and offshore. Major subaerial composite in 1980 by western and kindly provided by volcanoes or poligenic edifices (Roccamonfina, Agip offers higher resolution acquisition pa- Phlegraean Fields and Somma-Vesuvius) lie in rameters (96 channel-2400 m long streamer, 25 the Campanian alluvial plain in structural NE- m shot and group interval, 2 ms sample rate, SW and NW-SE conjugate structural systems 30-50 Hz band-pass frequency range, 4800% with age ranging from 0.7 Ma to Present. At sea coverage (E80-31 and E80-40 profiles). Pro- early Pliocene-Pleistocene rhyolitic magmatism cessing included: predictive deconvolution be- characterizes Ponza, Palmarola and Zannone is- fore stack, RMS gain correction to reduce sig- lands. Ventotene and Ischia-Procida polygenic nal amplitude before the velocity analysis, volcanoes have produced less differentiated mag- NMO correction, 4800% stacking and a time- mas with ages ranging from 0.75 Ma (Ventotene) variant filtering application. to Present (Ischia) (Capaldi et al., 1985; De Rita et al., 1986). Well and seismic data, acquired in the frame 3.2. Magnetic dataset of oil and geothermal exploration (Mariani and Prato, 1988) indicate the presence, in the subsur- During the GMS92 and GMS93 cruises (Oc- face of the Campanian plain, of a Pleistocene tober 1992 and October 1993, R/V Urania) about sedimentary sequence consisting of deltaic, allu- 940 km magnetic profiles were acquired (fig. 2) vial and marine deposits intercalated with piro- with a EG&G G811 proton magnetometer that clastic and lava sequences. The basin depocentre ensured a 0.5 nT accuracy at an average sam- attains some 4000 m of thickness (2500 ms in pling rate of 1 s. The sensor was towed at a min- twt) near the Volturno River mouth. Sub-surface imum distance of 250 m from ship, at depths stratigraphy in the offshore is limited to the data ranging from 10 to 40 m, depending on ship ve- of the «Mara1» well (total depth 2906 m from locity and cable length. Sensor depth was contin- sea-floor), that is located north of the 41°N line ually monitored and recorded for subsequent de- and has not encountered volcanics but only fault corrections. Cruising speed did not exceed deltaic, continental and marine Plio-Quaternary 5 knots, GPS positioning ensured an accuracy in sequences overlying a meso-cenozoic thrusted the order of 30-50 m. The magnetic data were basement (Aiello et al., 2000). recorded at an average spatial sampling rate of 931 Giovanni de Alteriis, Maurizio Fedi, Salvatore Passaro and Agata Siniscalchi Fig.