Deep-Water Accumulation of Volcaniclastic Detritus from a Petrographic Point of View: Beginning a Discussion from the Alpine Peripheral Basins

Abstract

The interpretation of eruptive mechanisms accumulating ancient submarine volcaniclastic sequences is still extremely challenging, particularly when no spatial nor temporal constraints are identifiable. The present work reviews petrographic results gained during the last few decades on three different Paleogene Formations accumulated around the Alpine and Apennine Mountain belts, discussing how their detritus could have been formed and moved from the volcanic centers to the depo-centers, taking into account the volcanic mechanisms which are at the base of the production, transportation and accumulation of volcaniclastic detritus. In doing this, we reconsider the classical diagrams of Folk and Gazzi–Dickinson, rediscussing their significance on the basis of how orogenic volcanism delivers detritus to the environment. In addition, this work highlights the need of the scientific community for gaining new petrographic data on modern sedimentary systems to better constrain interpretative criteria for the petrographic study of ancient volcano–sedimentary sequences.