Firenze Territorial Unit

INSTRUMENTS

Laboratory for sample preparation:

  • Chemical hood, to etch the samples with HCl and HF
  • Oven, to dry the radiolarian residues
  • Laboratory heating plates
  • Ultrasonic bath
Chemical hood, to etch the samples with HCl and HF
Chemical hood, to etch the samples with HCl and HF
Oven, to dry the radiolarian residues
Oven, to dry the radiolarian residues

Sample analyses:

  • LEICA MZ12,5 microscope with planapo 1x lens
  • LEICA MZ8 microscope with planapo 1,6x lens
  • LEICA M3c microscope with planapo 1,5x lens
  • Volpi fiber optic illuminator
  • OLYMPUS BX51 microscope with PlanFL lenses
  • Digital camera for transmitted and reflected light microscopes (15.1 megapixel)
OLYMPUS BX51 microscope
OLYMPUS BX51 transmitted light microscope with digital camera
LEICA MZ12.5 microscope
LEICA MZ12.5 reflected transmitted light microscope

STAFF

Dr. Marco Chiari (CNR Researcher - Head Laboratory)

CONTACT

Phone:

+39 055 2757533 (Dr. Marco Chiari)

E-mail:

marco.chiari(at)geo.unifi.it

METHODS AND APPLICATIONS

Radiolarians are extracted from the carbonatic rocks using acetic acid (CH3COOH) or hydrochloric acid (HCL) and from siliceous rocks using low concentration hydrofluoric acid (HF). Afterwards they are picked from the residues, with a picking brush, to a storing cell under a stereomicroscope (at 40 or 80 magnifications). Successively the radiolarians are mounted on an aluminum stub with a carbon conductive tab (from 50 to 100 specimens for stub).
The radiolarians mounted on the stub are observed at the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the taxonomic study is made with the photos taken with SEM.

Radiolarian chert, GR44 sample (Argolis, Greece)
Radiolarian chert, GR44 sample (Argolis, Greece)
Thin section of a radiolarites (Chiari et al., 2013)
Thin section of a radiolarites (Chiari et al., 2013)
A piece of radiolarian cherts etched with hydrofluoric acid
A piece of radiolarian cherts (sample GR 44, Greece - about 2x1x1 cm) etched with hydrofluoric acid observed at scanning electron microscope at several enlargments.
The orange rectangle (440x370 μm) represents the dimension of the last image (blocGR44 5)
Radiolarians are picked from the residues utlizing a reflected transmitted light microscope
Radiolarians are picked from the residues utlizing a reflected transmitted light microscope
Mounting the radiolarians on an aluminum stub for scanning electron microscope
Mounting the radiolarians on an aluminum stub for scanning electron microscope
The radiolarians mounted on the stub with a carbon conductive tab
The radiolarians mounted on the stub with a carbon conductive tab
Mesozoic radiolarians photographed using a scanning electron microscope, scale bar 50 μm
Mesozoic radiolarians photographed using a scanning electron microscope, scale bar 50 μm

PROJECTS

  • PRIN 2006. "Structural and stratigraphic studies on the Varda-Zlatibor (Bosnia-Hercecovina and Serbia) ophiolitic massifs and on those of Pindos-Vourinos and Koziakas-Othrys (Northern Greece); comparison with other Greek (Evia-Argolis-Crete) - Albanian (Mirdita) ophiolitic massifs". Scientific responsible of the Research Unit and scientific coordinator of the Project Prof. G. Principi.
  • Progetto di ricerca "Assessing the tectono-sedimentary evolution of deep margins based on the investigation of the syn-tectonic sedimentary sequence associated with detachment systems exposed in the Err Nappe; SE Switzerland" (2007-2010). Scientific responsible Prof. G. Manatschal (EOST Strasbourg"
  • PRIN 2008. "Geological, structural and stratigraphic studies on the ophiolites and mélanges of the Izmir-Ankara-Erzincan suture, central-eastern Turkey, and comparisons with the sub- Pelagonian Dinaric-Hellenic ophiolites" Scientific responsible of the Research Unit and scientific coordinator of the Project Prof. G. Principi.
  • PRIN 2010-2011. “The Opholitic sutures of the Alpine-Himalayan chains: analysis of two transects across the Dinaric-Hellenic and the Anatolian zones". Scientific responsible of the Research Unit Prof E. Pandeli, scientific coordinator of the Project Prof. G. Capponi.

SCIENTIFIC INTERESTS

  • Integrated stratigraphic researches on the Jurassic and Cretaceous sequences of the Southern Alps, Sicily and on the Cretaceous anoxic levels of the Umbro-Marche Apennines.
  • Radiolarian biostratigraphy of the sedimentary cover of ophiolites in the Northern Apennines (Italy), Central America,Carribean area, Iran.
  • Biostratigraphic study of the Triassic and Jurassic oceanic and continental sequences in the Dinaric-Hellenic chain (Albania and Greece).
  • Taxonomic researches on Middle-Late Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous radiolarians.
Geological map of the Koziakas area (Greece) and location of the sampled sections (radiolarian cherts and basalts)
Geological map of the Koziakas area (Greece) and location of the sampled sections (radiolarian cherts and basalts)
Middle and Late Triassic radiolarians (Koziakas, Greece) photographed using a scanning electron microscope, scale bar 50 μm
Middle and Late Triassic radiolarians (Koziakas, Greece) photographed using a scanning electron microscope, scale bar 50 μm
Middle-Late Giurassic radiolarians (Koziakas, Greece) photographed using a scanning electron microscope, scale bar 50 μm
Middle-Late Giurassic radiolarians (Koziakas, Greece) photographed using a scanning electron microscope, scale bar 50 μm
Summary of the biostratigraphical and geochemical evidences for the basaltic and radiolarian chert sequences sampled in the Koziakas.
Summary of the biostratigraphical and geochemical evidences for the basaltic and radiolarian chert sequences sampled in the Koziakas. WPB: within-plate basalt; E-MORB: enriched-type mid-ocean ridge basalt; OIB: ocean-island basalts (Chiari et al., 2012)

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

  • Chiari M., Marcucci M., Cortese G., Ondrejickova A. and Kodra A., (1996). Triassic Radiolarian assemblages in the Rubik area and Cukali zone, Albania. Ofioliti, 21 (1): 77-84.
  • Chiari M., Cortese G., Marcucci M. and Nozzoli N., (1997). Radiolarian biostratigraphy in the sedimentary cover of the ophiolites, of south-western Tuscany, Central Italy. Eclogae Geol. Helv., 90: 55-77.
  • Coccioni R., Baudin F., Cecca F., Chiari M., Galeotti S., Gardin S. and Salvini G., (1998). Integrated stratigraphic, palaeontological, and geochemical analysis of the uppermost Hauterivian Faraoni Level in the Bosso section, Umbria-Marche Apennines, Italy. Cretaceous Research, 19: 1-23.
  • Chiari M., Marcucci M. and Prela M., (2002). New species of Jurassic radiolarian in the sedimentary cover of ophiolites in the Mirdita area, Albania. Micropaleontology,vol. 48, suppl. 1: 61-87.
  • Bortolotti V., Carras N., Chiari M., Fazzuoli M., Marcucci M., Photiades A. and Principi G., (2003). The Argolis peninsula in the palaeogeographic and geodynamic frame of the Hellenides. Ofioliti, 28 (2), 79-94.
  • Chiari M., Bortolotti V., Marcucci M., Photiades A. and Principi G., (2003). The Middle Jurassic siliceous sedimentary cover at the top of the Vourinos ophiolite (Greece). Ofioliti, 28 (2): 95-103.
  • Chiari M., Baldanza A. and Parisi G., (2004). Integrated stratigraphy (radiolarians and calcareous nannofossils) of the Jurassic siliceous sediments from Monte Kumeta (western Sicily, Italy). Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia, 110 (1): 129-140.
  • Chiari M., Marcucci M. and Prela M., (2004). Radiolarian assemblages from the Jurassic cherts of Albania: new data. Ofioliti, 29 (2): 95-105.
  • Scopelliti G., Bellanca A., Coccioni R., Luciani V., Neri R., Baudin F., Chiari M. and Marcucci M., (2004). High-resolution geochemical and biotic records of the Tethyan ‘Bonarelli Level’ (OAE2, Latest Cenomanian) from the Calabianca-Guidaloca composite section, nortwestern Sicily, Italy. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 208 (3-4): 293-317.
  • Chiari M., Dumitrica P., Marroni M., Pandolfi L. and Principi G., (2006). Radiolarian biostratigraphic evidence for a Late Jurassic age of the El Tambor group ophiolites (Guatemala). Ofioliti 31 (2): 141-150.
  • Chiari M., Cobianchi M. and Picotti V., (2007). Integrated stratigraphy (radiolarians and calcareous nannofossils) of the Middle to Upper Jurassic Alpine radiolarites (Lombardian Basin, Italy): Constraints to their genetic interpretation. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 249: 233-270.
  • Chiari M., Di Stefano P., Parisi G. (2008). New stratigraphic data on the Middle-Late Jurassic biosiliceous sediments from the Sicanian basin, Western Sicily (Italy). Swiss J. Geosci. 101: 415-429.
  • Chiari M., Djerić N., Garfagnoli F., Hrvatović H., Krstić M., Levi N., Malasoma A., Marroni M., Menna F., Nirta G., Pandolfi L., Principi G., Saccani E., Stojadinović U. and Trivić B. (2011). The geology of the Zlatibor-Maljen area (western Serbia): a geotraverse accross the ophiolites of the Dinaric-Hellenic collisional belt. Ofioliti, 36 (2): 139-166.
  • Chiari M., Bortolotti M., Marcucci M., Photiades A., Principi G. and Saccani E. (2012). Radiolarian biostratigraphy and geochemistry of the Koziakas Massif ophiolites (Greece). Bull. Soc. géol. Fr., 183 (4): 287-306
  • Chiari M., Baumgartner P.O., Bernoulli D., Bortolotti V., Marcucci M., Photiades A. and Principi G. (2013). Late Triassic, Early and Middle Jurassic Radiolaria from ferromanganese-chert ‘nodules’ (Angelokastron, Argolis, Greece): evidence for prolonged radiolarite sedimentation in the Maliac-Vardar Ocean. Facies, 59: 391-424.
  • Bortolotti V., Chiari M., Marroni M., Pandolfi L., Principi G. and Saccani E (2013). Geodynamic evolution of the ophiolites from Albania and Greece (Dinaric-Hellenic Belt): one, two or more oceanic basins? International Journal of Earth Sciences (Geol Rundsch), 102: 783-811.
  • Bortolotti V., Chiari M., Göncüoglu M.C, Marcucci M., Principi G., Tekin U.K., Saccani E and Tassinari R. (2013) Age and Geochemistry of basalt-chert associations in the Ophiolites of the Izmir-Ankara Mélange east of Ankara, Turkey: preliminary data. Ofioliti 38 (2): 157-173.
  • Muttoni G., Tartarotti P., Chiari M., Marieni C., Rodelli D., Dallanave E. and Kirscher U. (2015). Paleolatitudes of Late Triassic radiolarian cherts from Argolis, Greece: insights on the paleogeography of the western Tethys. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 417: 476-490
  • Gomez B., Giusberti L., Roghi G., Chiari M., Daviero-Gomez V. and Ewin T. (2015). Cretaceous conifers and angiosperms from the Bonarelli Level; Reassessment of Massalongo’s plant fossil collections of Monte Colle, Lessini Mountains, northern Italy. Cretaceous Researches, 52: 179-193.
  • Saccani E., Chiari M., Bortolotti V., Photiades A. and Principi G. (2015). Geochemistry of volcanic and subvolcanic rocks and biostratigraphy on radiolarian cherts from the Almopias ophiolites and Paikon unit (Western Vardar, Greece). Ofioliti, 40 (1): 1-25.