CONTRIBUTO ALLO STUDIO DEI CALANCHI: DUE AEREE CAMPIONE NELLE MARCHE

Abstract

In this paper two areas of the Marche (Centrai ltaly) characterized by pelitic bedrock, where very different bad­land landforms are present, are analyzed. Geomorphological, structural, sedimentological and mineralogie studies allow to formulate hypotheses about the role of the different factors which regulate badlands evolution. In the Sasso Simone area rounded landforms with no prefered orientation of the ridges and gravity processes are typical. This area is also character.ized by multicoulored shales, strong rainfalls, absence of debris cover, and considerable presence of montmorillonitic clay minerals. On the contrary, in the Castignano-Appignano del Tron­ to area, there is a good match between ridges and joint pattern of bedrock. There are also the remains of limbs of a great gla­cis. Moreover a considerable amount of CaC03 is present in the clay bedrock, along with minor contents of clay minerals, weaker rain­fall and prevalent linear erosion.