The role of tectonic activity, topographic gradient and river flood events in the Testina travertine (Acque Albule Basin, Tivoli, Central Italy)

The Acque Albule Basin in Tivoli (Rome, Central Italy) represents one of the largest exposures travertine deposits world. A detailed study Upper Pleistocene Testina travertine, constituting poorly lithified top part Lapis Tiburtinus travertines, is presented. Fieldwork performed an area 10 km2 and petrographic analysis allow recognition six geobodies with different geometries, degree diagenetic alteration architectural elements, composed seven lithotypes. appears general as a even if it shows high cementation. It mainly characterised by blocky, drusy or bladed microsparite sparite calcite cements, related to thermal meteoric phreatic vadose water circulation, affecting particular those located northern area. Testina, neglected until now several studies Basin, progradational trend from north south environments, evidencing deposition on gentle slope, alluvial plain shallow lake, gradual transitions between low-energy environments high-energy environments. Furthermore, based correlation overall area, depositional system was influenced tectonic activity part, increasing topographic gradient discharge flow central flooding events Aniene River southern part. This aims differentiate such influencing factors facilitating other systems also aid interpretation subsurface analogues, case South Atlantic Pre-Salt reservoirs.