Current Research Interest
The research activity is focused on the structural and tectonic evolution of oceanic units from different geodynamic settings in several european and extra-european areas. In this frame, Michele Marroni was involved, generally as principal investigator of research groups, in structural geology and tectonics investigations in Italy (Northern Apennines and Western Alps), France (Corsica and Western Alps), Albania, Romania, Former Yugoslavia, Greece, Venezuela, Guatemala, Santo Domingo, Turkey and Iran.
In Italy (Northern Apennines and Western Alps), Corsica, Venezuela, Guatemala, Santo Domingo and Turkey, Michele Marroni’s research focuses on structural and metamorphic history of the oceanic units involved in the subduction processes. In these areas, the tectono-metamorphic history of the oceanic units was reconstructed in order to provide available data about the syn- and post-accretion processes in the subduction zones. Special attention was payed to the reconstruction of the exhumation processes by structural methods. In this frame, Michele Marroni investigated the underplating- and exhumation-related metamorphism in some ophiolite sequences.
Concerning the ophiolites involved in the subduction processess, Michele Marroni developed the following researchs:
– analyses of the Internal Ligurian units of the Northern Apennine, that are characterized by metamorphism ranging from prehnite-pumpellyte to albite-lawsonite facies, in order to outline their deformation and metamorphic features. This research was associated to geological field mapping, mainly in the frame of the CARG project (granted by the Italian Geological Survay), of wide areas of the Northern Apennine where the Internal Ligurian units crop out.
– Reconstruction of the lithostratigraphy and structural setting of the Lago Nero unit, characterized by a low-grade blueschists facies metamorphism, outcropping in the Monginevro area (Western Alps).
– analyses of the deformation history of the oceanic units from alpine Corsica, including both very low-grade (Balagne) and HP/LT (Schistes Lustrès) metamorphic sequences.
– Reconstruction of the lithostratigraphy and deformation history of the oceanic units involved in the subduction processes located at the northern and southern margins of the Caribbean Plate. These researchs were developed mainly in Venezuela and Guatemala.
– Structural evolution reconstruction of the oceanic plateau sequences of the Duarte Formation, Santo Domingo.
In Albania, Romania and former Yugoslavia, the researchs were focused on the ophiolites emplaced onto the continental margins by the obduction processes, pay special attention to the features of the metamorphic sole and sub-ophiolitic mèlanges.
Concerning the ophiolites involved in the obduction processess, Michele Marroni developed the following researchs:
– Studies on the deformations of the Jurassic ophiolite sequences from Mirdita Nappe (Northern Albania). In this frame, the deformations have been analyzed in detail in both the metamorphic sole and in the sedimentary cover. Also the structural features of the sub-ophiolite mélange (Rubik Mélange), where MORB ophiolites of Triassic age have been detected for the first time, have been studied. In addition, the stratigraphical and geochemical features of the ophiolite sequences in both the western and the eastern belts have been reconstructed. The results of these investigations have highlighted the differences between these ophiolite sequences, both derived from supra-subduction setting, but with different features. All these data provided elements for a complete reconstruction of the Triassic to Miocene geodynamic evolution of the oceanic basins, from which the Albanian ophiolites were derived.
– Tectonic and stratigraphic studies on the Jurassic ophiolite sequences from Apuseni Mts. (Northern Romania). These studies, associated with the geochimical investigations, have pointed out their origin from a supra-subduction oceanic basin. The tectonic evolution of these ophiolites, and the related deformations, has been reconstructed in detail. According to the collected data, the Apuseni Mts. ophiolites have been correlated to those of the Vardar zone (eastern Serbia).
– Reconstruction of the deformation history of the oceanic and continental units of the Vardar zone in the Kopaonik area (Southern Serbia). The ophiolites sequences of this area have been studied in detail and their origin from a supra-subduction oceanic basin has been assessed. In this frame, a detailed geologicl field mapping of the Kopaonik area has been performed, too.
– Analyses of the stratigraphical and deformational features of the ophiolite sequences of the Guevgueli area (Eastern Greece). The geochemical affinity of these sequences has been studied and the related geodynamic interpretation has been proposed.
– Stratigraphic and structural analyses of oceanic- and continental-derived units of the IntraPontide suture in the Arac-Kursunlu transect of Northern Turkey. The units have been analyzed in order to provide a full reconstruction of the mesozoic to tertiary geodynamic history of the IntraPontide suture, one of the most important tectonic elements of Turkey.
– Investigations on the ophiolite sequences of the Makran area of Southern Iran. The ophiolite sequences of the Makran area are key-elements for the reconstruction of the geodynamic evolution of the area at the western border of the Himalayan orogenic belt.
Michele Marroni also investigated the processes related to the Ligure-Piedmontese oceanic basin opening by reconstruction of the geometry and the architecture of the ocean-continent transition in the Northern Apennine and Corsica. In this frame, Michele Marroni studied the rifting-related extensional deformations, both at low and deep structural levels.