Modern submarine canyon feeder-system and deep-sea fan growth in a tectonically active margin (northern Sicily)

Widely used sequence stratigraphic models predict that specific facies assemblages alternate in the stratigraphy of deep-sea fans, depending on the cyclic nature of sea-level variations. Our work tests this assumption through facies reconstruction of submarine fans that are growing in a small basin along the tectonically active Sicilian margin. Connected canyons have heads close to the coastline; they can be river connected or littoral cell-connected, the first receiving sediment from hyperpycnal flows, the latter intercepting shelf sediment dispersal pathways. Hyperpycnal flows directly discharge river-born sediment into the head of the river-connected canyon and originate a large turbidite fan. A drift formed by the longshore redistribution of sediment of a nearby delta introduces sediment to the head of the littoral cell-connected canyon, forming turbidity currents that flow within the canyon to reach the basin plain. However, since sediment failure and landslide processes are common in the slope part of the system, a mixed fan, consisting of both turbidites and mass-transport deposits, is formed. Disconnected canyons, with heads at the shelf edge far from the coastline, are fed by canyon head and levee-wedge failures, resulting in mass-transport or mixed fan deposition, the latter developing when the seafloor gradient or the lithology of the failed sediment allows turbidity current formation. Connected canyons form in areas with high uplift rates, where the shelf is narrow and steep and the shelf edge is at a relatively shallow depth. Disconnected canyons develop where there are lower uplift rates or subsidence, where the shelf is large and relatively gentle with a deeper shelf edge. It is deduced that the relative vertical movements of fault-bound blocks control whether canyons are connected to the coast at the present day. The role of tectonics in controlling the canyon feeding processes and the facies of submarine fan growth during highstand periods is therefore highlighted. A further view that arises from our paper is that in active margins, the slope portion of fan systems, through seafloor instability and variations in channel gradient, is a key factor in determining the final deep-sea fan facies, regardless of the distance between the coast and the canyon. The concomitant growth of turbidites, mass-transport deposits, and mixed fans demonstrates that models that predict changes in submarine fan facies on the basis of sea-level cycles do not necessarily apply to systems developed along tectonically active margins

Fate of terrigenous organic carbon in muddy clinothems on continental shelves revealed by stratal geometries: Insight from the Adriatic sedimentary archive

Continental shelves host 90% of modern Organic Carbon (OC) burial and play a key role in the sequestration of terrigenous OC over geological timescales. The efficiency of OC burial in these systems, however, varies greatly depending on the duration of exposure to oxic-suboxic conditions during sediment transport. In this study, we use observations across a wide range of stratigraphic and sedimentological scales coupled with geochemistry data from muddy shelf deposits along the western Adriatic to investigate the relation between sediment transport and burial of terrigenous (land-derived) fraction of OC (OCTerr). Our analysis focused on the Little Ice Age (LIA, 1500-1850 CE) interval, which was characterized by wet, cold, and stormy weather conditions, before the time of widespread regulation and damming of rivers. On the Adriatic shelf, LIA deposits are organized as clinothem: strata that dip gently seawards. The LIA clinothem becomes progressively steeper and deeper from north to south. Basin-scale seismic-stratigraphic analysis and biogeochemical data show evidence of elongated stratal units associated with low OCTerr content in the northern sector of the LIA clinothem, whereas farther south, where clinoforms are steeper, the LIA clinothem exhibits wavy stratal units with limited cross-shelf continuity and high OCTerr concentrations. Based on these data we infer two contrasting scenarios for OCTerr deposition during the LIA: 1) protracted sediment redistribution under the influence of coastal currents with efficient OCTerr degradation prior to final burial in the northern sector; and (2) rapid deposition of OCTerr-rich event beds as a result of flood-driven hyperpycnal flows with limited dispersion across the shelf in the southern sector. The latter scenario of deposition resulted in scattered hot spots of OCTerr burial along the apparently homogeneous western Adriatic shelf deposit. Our work documents significant lateral variability of a fine-grained system in which hot spots of OCTerr can be preserved in scattered prodelta bedsets (<1 km in across-shelf lateral continuity) over a 600 km long shelf. Shelfal clinothems worldwide should not be considered as homogeneous pools of OCTerr because of the influence of river, storm, and oceanic currents

Deep crustal faults and the origin and long-term flank stability of Mt. Etna : first results from the CIRCEE cruise (Oct. 2013)

The relation between deep crustal faults and the origin of Mount Etna, the largest and most active volcano in Europe has long been suspected due to its unusual geodynamic location. Results from a new marine geophysical survey offshore Eastern Sicily reveal the detailed geometry (location, length, dip and orientation) of a two-branched 200-km long, lithospheric scale fault system, long sought for as being the cause of Mount Etna. Using high-resolution bathymetry and seismic profiling, we image a 60-km long, previously unidentified, NW trending fault with evidence of recent displacement at the seafloor, offsetting Holocene sediments. This newly identified fault connects NE of Catania, to a known 40-km long, offshore-onshore fault system dissecting the southeastern flank of Mount Etna, generally interpreted as purely gravitational collapse structures.peer-reviewe

The late Pleistocene Po River lowstand wedge in the Adriatic Sea : Controls on architecture variability and sediment partitioning

The authors dedicate this study to their colleague Giovanni Bortoluzzi, who passed away in 2015. A special tanks is due to Marco Ligi and Nevio Zitellini for geophysical data acquisition and processing; Marco Pastore and Filippo D'Oriano for their support during the cruise LSD2014 and processing of geophysical data. Elisabetta Campiani provided additional support for processing the multibeam bathymetry. A particular thank goes to Cpt. Emanuele Gentile and the crew of the R/V Urania during cruise LSD 2014. We thank Ronald Steel and an anonymous Reviewer for their constructive comments. This project was funded by ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company and by the Flagship Project RITMARE–The Italian Research for the Sea. We acknowledge the European Union Project PROMESS-1 (contract EVR1-2001-41) for borehole PRAD 1-2. This is ISMAR-CNR contribution number 1959.Peer reviewedPostprin

Opportunities and threats of selenium supply from unconventional and low-grade ores: A critical review

Research on selenium has increased in recent years due to its extensive use in electronic applications, solar cells, glass industry, photocopying, cosmetic industry, and as a dietary supplement. New data and discoveries on the importance of this metalloid in the fields of medical biotechnology and human health have further increased its commercial value. This paper identifies challenges associated with selenium recovery from geogenic ores and topical unconventional ores such as marine geo-resources and anthropogenic stocks. Emphasis is given on opportunities and challenges of non-commercial processes for selenium resource extraction that may be developed at full-scale soon. Characteristics and global uses of selenium are also described to help predicting future scenarios of alternate supply. Considering the scarcity of increasingly wanted selenium metal and the recent advancements that have been made in mining from alternative and urban ores, it is possible that selenium can be effectively recovered from other sources to secure a stable and diversified supply

Synchronous liver and peritoneal metastases from colorectal cancer: Is cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy combined with liver resection a feasible option?

BackgroundTraditionally, synchronous liver resection (LR), cytoreductive surgery (CRS), and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for colorectal liver and peritoneal metastases have been contraindicated. Nowadays, clinical practice has promoted this aggressive treatment in selected cases. This study aimed to review surgical and survival results of an extensive surgical approach including CRS with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and LR. MethodsPubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases were matched to find the available literature on this topic. The search period was limited to 10 years (January 2010-January 2021). A threshold of case series of 10 patients or more was applied. ResultsIn the search period, out of 114 studies found about liver and peritoneal metastases from colorectal cancer, we found 18 papers matching the inclusion criteria. Higher morbidity and mortality were reported for patients who underwent such an extensive surgical approach when compared with patients who underwent only cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC. Also, survival rates seem worse in the former than in the latter. ConclusionThe role of combined surgical strategy in patients with synchronous liver and peritoneal metastases from colorectal cancer remains controversial. Survival rates and morbidity and mortality seem not in favor of this option. A more accurate selection of patients and more restrictive surgical indications could perhaps help improve results in this subgroup of patients with limited curative options

The International Bathymetric Chart of the Southern Ocean Version 2 (IBCSO v2)

The Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica is a region that is key to a range of climatic and oceanographic processes with worldwide effects, and is characterised by high biological productivity and biodiversity. Since 2013, the International Bathymetric Chart of the Southern Ocean (IBCSO) has represented the most comprehensive compilation of bathymetry for the Southern Ocean south of 60°S. Recently, the IBCSO Project has combined its efforts with the Nippon Foundation – GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project supporting the goal of mapping the world’s oceans by 2030. New datasets initiated a second version of IBCSO (IBCSO v2). This version extends to 50°S (covering approximately 2.4 times the area of seafloor of the previous version) including the gateways of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and the Antarctic circumpolar frontal systems. Due to increased (multibeam) data coverage, IBCSO v2 significantly improves the overall representation of the Southern Ocean seafloor and resolves many submarine landforms in more detail. This makes IBCSO v2 the most authoritative seafloor map of the area south of 50°S

Understanding the Impacts of Blue Economy Growth on Deep-Sea Ecosystem Services

The deep sea is the vastest environment on Earth and provides many services and goods. Understanding the services and goods of deep-sea ecosystems would enable better resource governance and decision-making. In the present study, we reviewed and assessed deep-sea ecosystems services using the Ma conceptual framework, which incorporates ecosystems services and goods with human welfare. We also analyzed and measured the scientific production between 2012 and 2021 using the Dimension dataset. The bibliometric analysis showed a lack of studies related to deep-sea ecosystem services, which suggest the urgent need to overcome the existing knowledge gap regarding deep-sea components. However, the current knowledge revealed the crucial role that these ecosystems provide to the planet. Furthermore, we highlighted that there are common services and goods, and every ecosystem service feeds into another one. Developing actions and policies based on approaches that combine all deep-sea ecosystems services and goods are needed for the sustainable growth of the deep-sea economy in accordance with the United Nations Development Goal 14: Life Below Water

Racing the clock. Recent developments and open environmental regulatory issues at the International Seabed Authority on the eve of deep-sea mining

With a letter dated 25th June 2021, Nauru has triggered section 1, paragraph 15, of the 1994 Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, by which it requested the Council of the International Seabed Authority to adopt the regulations to facilitate the approval of a plan of work for the exploitation of the mineral resources of the Area within 2 years. The two-year rule rises many legal and policy issues that the Authority is required to deal with in the next months. Among them, this communication dwells upon the consequences of the provisional approval of plans of work, in case the Authority was unable to approve the exploitation regulations by 2023. It then considers the outstanding environmental regulatory issues of the mining code that are still under discussion, with peculiar regard to the precautionary principle, the environmental impact assessment, and the need for an inspection mechanism and suggests possible ways forward