The dating of fossil teeth of an ancient goat (Nesogoral melonii) using the electron spin resonance (ESR) technique is reported. This animal was found in the fossiliferous site at Orosei (Nuoro, Sardinia, Italy) and was endemic in the region. Molar teeth were cleaned and enamel was completely removed from dentine. Enamel was irradiated with a 60Co gamma source and measured with an ESR spectrometer (X-band) to obtain the signal vs. dose curve and fitted with an exponential function. The archeological dose obtained by the fitting was 211 +/- 34 Gy. Uranium and thorium concentrations were determined by neutron activation analysis. With the software ROSY the age estimates were 195 +/- 30 ky for early uptake, 247 +/- 40 ky for linear uptake and 243 +/- 40 ky for a combination of uptake processes.
Abstract:A rare geomorphosite and a pillow-like structure appearing as mingling structures due to that mafic and acidic magma interactions are described. Despite the occurrence of spectacular forms in the granitic basement of Sardinia, the morphosites of geological interest linked to the complex evolution of pluton emplacement are still poorly understood. The Fizza Ona outcrop, located near the northeastern coast, is a good example of a geomorphosite in the inner zone developed at the edge of different plutonic units. This outcrop is a well-exposed, pillow-like horizon of less than 5 m in thickness, observable in the field for at least 200 m and underlined by the occurrence of a large tafoni form. In detail, the pillow-like horizon consists of sub-roundly to sub-rounded elements of granitic to micropegmatitic rocks of up to 100 cm in diameter, which is dispersed in the fine-grained granitic host-rock matrix. The outcrop represents a particular example of the emplacement mechanism of granitic magmas in the Sardinian batholith. One aim of this work is the construction of a document for the competent authorities to protection and preservation of this outcrop as a cultural heritage for the history of the geological evolution.
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