Francesca Lozar

During the Messinian, the Mediterranean area experienced fast and prominent paleoenvironmental changes, culminating in the so-called
Messinian Salinity Crisis, with the deposition of the evaporitic series. This work investigates the micropaleontological assemblages in the preevaporitic
sediments of the Sant’Agata Fossili Marls (SAF) of the Pollenzo section (Cuneo area, NorthWestern Italy). A semiquantitative analysis
is carried out on the upper part of the marly and pelitic sediments of the SAF underlying the first gypsum bed, ascribed to the Vena del Gesso Fm.
(VDF). The studied interval belongs to the planktonic foraminifer Globorotalia conomiozea Zone and ‘‘non distinctive Zone’’ of Iaccarino and to
the calcareous nannofossil MNN11b/c Zone of Raffi et al. (1998, 2003) (Raffi et al., 1998; Raffi et al., 2003). Decrease of diversity and abundance
of the foraminifer and calcareous nannofossil assemblages is recorded 12 mbelow the VDG and clearly reflects environmental stress. From bottom
to top, six paleoecological events are recorded: (1) the first peak abundance of ‘‘small’’ Reticulofenestra and the last recovery (LR) of planktonic
foraminifers; (2) the peak abundance of Pontosphaera japonica and the last recovery of warm water taxa Discoaster spp.; (3) the last recovery of
benthic foraminifers; (4) the co-occurring peak abundances of Helicosphaera carteri and Sphenolithus abies, and the last recovery of warm water
taxa Amaurolithus spp.; (5) the second peak of ‘‘small’’ Reticulofenestra; (6) the definitive disappearance of calcareous nannofossils. These
paleoecological events describe a progressive isolation of the basin from the world ocean and increasingly stressed environment (LR planktonic
foraminifers; LR Discoaster spp.), increasing dysoxic to anoxic conditions at the sea floor (LR benthic foraminifers), shallowing of the water
column (peak of H. carteri), increasing salinity in surface waters (peak of S. abies), and enhanced nutrient concentration in surface waters (peak of
‘‘small’’ Reticulofenestra); these are related to paleoenvironmental changes predating gypsum deposition at Pollenzo and affecting the whole
Mediterranean basin.

The dissemination of the knowledge of critical geological issues, such as past environmental and climate change and their correct placement in the geological time scale, is essential to rise the awareness of the huge potential impact of the Earth Sciences on the current and future generations. We selected two examples (the Marguareis and the Langhe and Monferrato areas) to disseminate these topics to a broad audience. Virtual tours, hosted on the PROGEO-Piemonte project website (www.progeopiemonte.it), have been developed with special care to educational purposes and made suitable for mobile devices. These allow us to overcome theoretical problems related to the complexity of geological items (spatial and evolutionary complexity, deep time dimension), with plain language explanations, detailed pictures and dynamic 3D models. The virtual visit overcomes practical difficulties, such as restricted access to high mountain or dangerous areas, and improves the access to detailed geologica...

The multidisciplinary research project ‘PROGEO-Piemonte’ aims to achieve a new conceptual and operational discipline in the management of the geological heritage of the Piemonte region (NW Italy). One of the nine strategic geothematic areas of the project addresses a controversial scientific theme, that of climate and environmental change, by analysing the record of the Messinian salinity crisis in Piemonte. This palaeoceanographic event, which occurred about 6 Ma ago during the late Messinian, was characterised by dramatic palaeobiological, palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic changes that affected the entire Mediterranean area. In the Piemonte region, Messinian rocks outcrop in the Tertiary Piedmont Basin; they record the three stages of the Messinian salinity crisis and the correlative environmental and climate changes. We propose to the general public a virtual geological tour of the main outcrops showing the evolution of this event to be hosted on the PROGEO-Piemonte website ...

A geoethical approach to geodiversity allows better understanding of the value of abiotic nature and enhances its conservation and development. Our basic assumption is that even during an economical crisis, geoheritage sites can serve both public and private interests. A set of nine strategic geothematic areas were chosen to represent the geodiversity of the Piemonte region, north-western Italy, each of which is characterized by great potential for scientific studies, enhancement of public understanding of science, recreational activities, and economic support to the local communities. Specialized research teams individuated critical aspects to advance our knowledge of the geological history of the Piemonte region, through climate and environmental changes, natural hazards, soil processes, and georesources. The scientific concepts and techniques were coupled with geodiffusion actions and products: not only geosites, but also museum collections, evidence of mining and quarrying activ...