Christian Conti is a PhD candidate working on the project Integrated Stratigraphy of the Maiolica Formation in the Umbria–Marche Basin and the Evolution of its Depositional Environment Through Time. His research focuses on the integrated stratigraphic analysis of the Maiolica Formation within the Umbria–Marche Basin, combining sedimentology, lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, chemostratigraphy, and digital outcrop analysis to reconstruct the evolution of Early Cretaceous depositional systems.
The project is supervised by Professor Caterina Morigi, with external collaboration from Alessandra Negri and Gabriele Gambacorta. The research aims to produce detailed stratigraphic logs from structurally high and low sections across the Umbria–Marche Basin and to correlate them lithostratigraphically over a wide regional area.
The study also involves 3D scanning and aerial photogrammetry of key outcrops, as well as chronostratigraphic calibration through ammonite and calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy integrated with stable isotope chemostratigraphy. Particular attention is dedicated to identifying and characterizing the Weissert and Mid-Barremian events from both lithostratigraphic and geochemical perspectives.
A further objective of the project is the reconstruction of the paleophysiography of the Umbria–Marche Basin during the Berriasian–early Aptian interval through the development of Gross Depositional Environment (GDE) maps, alongside comparisons with coeval successions from other sedimentary basins.
His academic background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences with a thesis entitled “Stratigraphic Study of the Monte Cipollara Section: Early Cretaceous Environmental Changes and Report of the ‘Karsteniceras Level’”, followed by a Master’s degree focused on Lower Cretaceous ammonite-rich beds of the Central Apennines with the thesis “Integrated Study of Barremian (Lower Cretaceous) Ammonite-Rich Beds of the Umbria–Marchean (Central Apennines) Maiolica Formation: A Pre-Mid-Barremian Event Episode as a Potential Guide-Bed”. These studies laid the foundation for his current research interests.
RESEARCH INTEREST
- Carbonate sedimentology
- Geochemistry
- Ammonite biostratigraphy
- Paleoenvironmental reconstruction
- Basin dynamics
Research project: Integrated Stratigraphy of the Maiolica Formation in the Umbria–Marche Basin and the Evolution of its Depositional Environment Through Time.
Supervisors:
Professor. Caterina Morigi (Università di Pisa)
Professor. Alessandra Negri (Università Politecnica delle Marche)
Dr. Gabriele Gambacorta (Università di Firenze)
Christian Conti
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra
Università di Pisa
Via Santa Maria 53
56126 Pisa
Italia