From the Apulia Foreland to the Bradanic Trough: a one-day geological field trip "jumping" from Cretaceous to Pleistocene in the Murge area (Puglia, southern Italy)

A one-day geological field trip in the Murge area of Puglia, southern Italy, reveals the dynamic interplay between tectonics and sedimentation across a temporal span from the Cretaceous to Pleistocene. The study highlights the stratigraphic architecture of peritidal facies associations in the Upper Cretaceous section at Cava Pontrelli, one of the world's largest dinosaur footprint sites, followed by an analysis of shallow-marine carbonate deposits influenced by syn-sedimentary tectonics during the Pliocene-Pleistocene. A key finding is the identification of a Gilbert-type delta facies association in the Calcarenite di Gravina Formation, formed at the base of an ancient fault plane that marks the structural transition between the Apulia foreland and the Bradanic Trough foredeep. The trip also illustrates the historical use of local stones in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Castel del Monte, underscoring its geological significance.

Cicala, M., Spalluto, L., Festa, V., & Sabato, L. (2025). From the Apulia Foreland to the Bradanic Trough: a one-day geological field trip “jumping” from Cretaceous to Pleistocene in the Murge area (Puglia, southern Italy). Geological Field Trips and Maps, 17(1.2), 1–32. https://doi.org/10.3301/gft.2025.02