Dolomites - Field trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Tethyan Triassic
The 7th International Triassic Field Workshop is dedicated to visit the classical localities of the Triassic of the Dolomites, after their inscription in the Word Heritage List as serial natural property. On June 26th, 2009 the Dolomites have been inscribed in the WHL because of their exceptional beauty and unique landscape, but also for their scientific importance from the geological and geomorphological point of views (criteria vii and viii). In particular, the criterion viii (to be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features), is strictly related to the geological importance of the Dolomites for the Triassic as summarized by the motivation given by the World Heritage Committee in Seville (Spain):
"The Dolomites are of international significance for geomorphology, as the classic site for the development of mountains in dolomitic limestone. The area presents a wide range of landforms related to erosion, tectonism and glaciation. The quantity and concentration of extremely varied limestone formations is extraordinary in a global context, including peaks, towers, pinnacles and some of the highest vertical rock walls in the world. The geological values are also of international significance, notably the evidence of Mesozoic carbonate platforms, or "fossilized atolls", particularly in terms of the evidence they provide of the evolution of the bio-constructors after the Permian/Triassic boundary, and the preservation of the relationships between the reefs they constructed and their surrounding basins. The Dolomites also include several internationally important type sections for the stratigraphy of the Triassic Period. The scientific values of the property are also supported by the evidence of a long history of study and recognition at the international level. Taken together, the combination of geomorphological and geological values creates a property of global significance."
(Declaration of outstanding universal value, World Heritage Committee, Seville 26.06.2009)
Therefore this workshop is the opportunity to touch in the field the exceptional exposure of depositional geometries and interactions between landscape and geology that make the Dolomites unique for Triassic students and so important for all humanity.
This workshop is in ideal continuity with earlier international Triassic workshops held in England (2004), Central Germany (2005), Eastern France (2006), Western Poland (2007), Hungary (2008) and South Germany (2009).
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
- PIERO GIANOLLA (COORDINATOR): Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Ferrara
- MARCO AVANZINI: Museo Tridentino di Scienze Naturali, Trento
- EVELYN KUSTATSCHER: (SECRETARIAT): Naturmuseum Bozen
- PAOLO MIETTO: Dipartimento di Geoscienze - Università di Padova
- NEREO PRETO: Dipartimento di Geoscienze - Università di Padova
- GUIDO ROGHI: Dipartimento di Geoscienze - Università di Padova and CNR - Institute of Geosciences and Georesources Padova
