Preliminary Geochemical Results from Sediments of the Pantelleria, Linosa and Malta Basins (Sicily Channel)

The Sicily Channel is a NW-SE trending area characterized by three main tectonic depressions (i.e., the Pantelleria, Linosa and Malta basins). Five gravity cores collected in these basins were studied. By means of geochemical analyses the main elements characterizing the sampled sediments were recognized. The nor-malized values of Ti and K allowed identifying some changes in sediment com-position and potential source areas controlling the more recent sedimentation. These source areas were identified as the Pantelleria soil and rocks, Linosa rocks, Sicily stream sediments, Libyan soil and Saharan dust, that differently occur as control factors of the sedimentation in different sectors.