Helium isotopes and tectonics in southern Italy

Journal Article · Thu Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL016i006p00511· OSTI ID:5542213

Sano, Yuji; Wakita, Hiroshi ^[1]; Nuccio, M P ^[2]; Italiano, F

---

1. Univ. of Tokyo (Japan)
2. Univ. of Palermo (Italy)

Geodynamic evolution of southern Italy can be understood within the framework of the Mediterranean-Alpine System. Subduction of a plate along the Sicily-Calabrian forearc under the Tyrrhenian Sea has been suggested by many geophysicists, although it is not yet confirmed and remains somewhat controversial. Helium isotope ratios provide useful information on the geotectonic structure of the region. The authors report here the {sup 3}H/{sup 4}He ratios of terrestrial gas samples from southern Italy. The observed {sup 3}He/{sup 4}He ratios are relatively high in the Eolian volcanic arc region and low in the other areas. Dichotomous explanations are presented. Firstly, volcanic arc-forearc hypothesis suggests the subduction along the Sicily-Calabrian forearc. Secondly, horizontal transport hypothesis is described based on the relationship between the ratios and radial distance from the recent spreading basin in Southern Tyrrhenian Sea.

• OSTI ID: 5542213
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA), Vol. 16:6; ISSN 0094-8276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
TECTONICS
ITALY
COMPRESSION
DEFORMATION
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
GEOLOGIC MODELS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOPHYSICS
HELIUM 3
HELIUM 4
ISOTOPE RATIO
SICILY
SUBDUCTION ZONES
VOLCANIC REGIONS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
EUROPE
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
HELIUM ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
NUCLEI
STABLE ISOTOPES
580000* - Geosciences