Pelitic volcaniclastic and dolomitic sediments in the Castagnola syncline (PV-AL provinces, northern Italy): a mineralogical approach

The mineralogical and geochemical composition of fine-grained sediments from the Castagnola syncline area of the northern Apennines (Pavia-Alessandria provinces, Italy) have been determined for Oligocene and Miocene sediments. Compositional data were obtained by X-ray diffraction, thermal, petrographic, SEM and chemical (AAS and XRF) analyses. The mineralogy of hemipelagic marls has been used to characterize some stratigraphic units (defined in the field) and to recognize sediments whose compositional characters strongly contrast with 'normal' pelites.