Stratigraphy, facies analysis and chronology of Quaternary deposits at Capo S. Marco (Sinis Peninsula, west Sardinia, Italy)

摘要: Abstract Capo S. Marco is the southernmost termination of Sinis Peninsula in northwestern border Oristano Gulf (western Sardinia, Italy). In area, there are some most controversial and debated Quaternary deposits consisting beach, aeolian slope sediments, whose chronological attribution changed according to different authors and, times, by same authors. These discrepancies have not been solved new radiometric dates, as radiocarbon Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) methods provided ages that significantly different. During recent investigations at Marco, beach notches filled with bioclastic sands, gravels, boulders were discovered up an elevation ∼4.5 m, which highest known notches. sediments rest on form a marine terrace two sites. places, these also include small colonies coral Cladocora caespitosa living position recently dated U/Th 70 ± 4 ka attributed end MIS 5. Here, we report U-series analyses samples C. caespitosa collected uppermost part sequence. The 153 ± 0.8 149 ± 0.6 ka would correspond 6, but high values for initial δ 234U (177 179) compared modern seawater value (147) point open-system addition and/or 230Th. corrected using model Thomson et al. 141.6 ± 2 132 ± 2 ka. However, buried under or colluvial almost all Tyrrhenian found Sardinia. They which, San Giovanni di Sinis, MIS4 Late MIS2 OSL dating organic palaeosols, respectively. Accordingly, stratigraphic evidence suggest their Holocene, although this contrasts Holocene sea level models available results.