ASSETTO GEOLOGICO E GEOMORFOLOGICO DEI TERRITORI DI GUARDIA SANFRAMONDI E SAN LORENZELLO

Abstract

In this work, the main geological and geomorphological fea-
tures of the Guardia Sanframondi and San Lorenzello ter-
ritories are outlined. *e study was carried out by means of
classical techniques of geological and geomorphological sur-
vey and analysis. Using GIS, data were stored, processed and
graphically represented through thematic maps.
*e substratum of the study area was mainly made up of tec-
tonically-deformed limestones and dolostones, Jurassic to
Cretaceous in age, and of calcareous-marly-arenaceous sedi-
mentary successions, Cretaceous to Pliocene aged. On such
pre-5uaternary substratum, alluvial, pyroclastic and slope
deposits, Pleistocene to Holocene in age, unconformably rest.
From a geomorphological standpoint, the local landscape
was fairly complex. Both the morphogenesis and evolution
were here conditioned by interactions between climate and
tectonics and by the di'erent erodibility of the outcropping
lithotypes. According to the main geological and geomor-
phological features, the local landscape was schematically
subdivided into three main sectors, i.e. the mountainous sec-
tor, the hilly sector and the valley sector. *e $rst includes
the calcareous relieves located at the far northeastern and
north-northeastern boundaries of the study area, bordered by
steep and straight slopes of tectonic origin. *e second sector
is gently-rolling, dominated by long and gently-sloping land
surfaces, deeply dissected by the tributary streams network
and intensely a'ected by mass and water erosion processes.
Finally, the valley sector includes both the fossil and active
&oodplains of the Calore River and Titerno Torrent and is
characterized by several orders of terraces.
*e spatial distribution of both the main lithological units
and landforms in the study area were synthesized and graph-
ically represented by means of object-oriented, full-coverage
thematic maps (i.e., a Geolithological Map and a Geomor-
phological Map). Furthermore, the analysis of the spatial dis-
tribution of geomorphological evidence of morphodynamic
processes allowed discriminating the most stable land surfaces
from those more severely a'ected by erosive and depositional
processes. *e results were graphically represented by means
of a “Map of relative stability of the land surfaces