Paleogeografia e cronologia dei sedimenti tardo-pleistocenici ed olocenici presenti nel sottosuolo di Valle Averto (Laguna di Venezia, bacino centrale).

A 95 metres long continuous core was obtained in the Valle Averto, located in the central part of the Venice Lagoon. The micropalaeontologic content and the comparison with the palaeoenvironments recognized in the underground of Venice shed light on the deposition history in this marginal lagoon sector. The marine sediments at the base of the succession were deposited 190,000 - 165,000 years BP. Above these marine sediments, the stratigraphic succession up to -63 m is composed of alluvial deposits and was deposited during a glacial episode of the Middle Pleistocene (presumably stage 6); these continental sediments are capped by a lagoon facies deposited during the Eemian. The continental deposits above the Eemian were deposited under the fully glacial conditions of the Last Glacial : the two last interstadials are recorded in the peat layers lying at 12.5 m and 8.7 m depth. Sands between 8.15 m and -2.57 m are linked to the Palaeo-Brenta River and were partially deposited in a bay-head delta environment. A 14C dating of a log found in these sands at -7.9 m demonstrates that the lagoon in this area is younger than 4,500 years BP. The salt marsh found at - 0.75 m depth is linked to the diversion of Brenta River from the lagoon around 1500 AD.