Ronny Nalin

PhD, Earth Sciences; Director

Research Interests

My research contributes to the study of processes and controls influencing shallow marine sedimentation, with an emphasis on carbonate deposition. My primary focus has been on Cenozoic successions, addressing a variety of specific topics, including:

  1. facies models aimed at paleoenvironmental reconstructions, especially of non-tropical, red algae-dominated deposits;
  2. causes of switch in sedimentation style from dominantly siliciclastic to dominantly carbonate;
  3. high-frequency cyclicity in shallow marine deposits
  4. dynamics of coastal circulation from inner shelf to nearshore successions
  5. sequence stratigraphy applied to patterns of spatial and temporal arrangement in shallow marine deposits;
  6. limits and applicability of Optically Stimulated Luminescence dating methods to refine the chronology of Pleistocene marine terraces;

Current research project: Prodeltaic sedimentation in the Fish-Creek Basin (Pliocene, southern California, USA)
Current research project: Carbonate deposition in an epicontinental sea (Cambrian, Notch Peak Formation, Utah, USA)

Research Keywords

Facies analysis, sedimentology, sequence stratigraphy, non-tropical carbonates, coralline red algae, rhodoliths, Cenozoic, Quaternary, marine terraces, high-frequency cyclicity, shallow marine deposits

Education

PhD in Earth Sciences, Università degli Studi di Padova, Italy. March 2006. MSc in Geology, summa cum laude, Università degli Studi di Padova, Italy. July 2002.

Publications

Esperante, R., Rodríguez-Tovar, F.J., Nalin, R., 2021. Rhizoliths in Lower Pliocene alluvial fan deposits of the Sorbas Basin (Almería, SE Spain). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 567, 110281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2021.110281

Nalin, R., Lamothe, M., Auclair, M., Massari, F., 2020. Chronology of the marine terraces of the Crotone Peninsula (Calabria, southern Italy) by means of infrared-stimulated luminescence (IRSL). Marine and Petroleum Geology, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2020.104645

Nalin, R., Massari, F., 2018. Storm-related sedimentation influenced by coastal configuration in the stratigraphic record of a tectonically active shelf (Upper Pleistocene Le Castella terrace, Italy). Sedimentary Geology, 365, 34-53.

Bracchi, V.A., Nalin, R., Basso, D., 2016. Morpho-structural heterogeneity of shallow-water coralligenous in a Pleistocene marine terrace (Le Castella, Italy). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 454, 101–112.

Nalin, R., Ghinassi, M., Foresi, L.M., Dallanave, E., 2016. Carbonate deposition in restricted basins: A Pliocene case study from the Central Mediterranean (Northwestern Apennines), Italy. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 86, 236-267.

Bracchi, V.A., Nalin, R., Basso, D., 2014. Paleoecology and dynamics of coralline dominated facies during a Pleistocene transgressive-regressive cycle (Capo Colonna marine terrace, Southern Italy). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 414, 296-309.

Nalin, R., Bracchi, V.A., Basso, D., Massari, F., 2012. Persististrombus latus (GMELIN) in the upper Pleistocene deposits of the marine terraces of the Crotone peninsula (southern Italy). Italian Journal of Geosciences, 131/1, 95-101.

Bracchi, V., Nalin, R., Basso, D., 2011. Persististrombus latus-bearing deposits south of Isola di Capo Rizzuto, Calabria (southern Italy). Il Quaternario, 24 (Abstract AIQUA, Roma 02/2011), 23-25.

Nalin, R., Ghinassi, M., Basso, D., 2010. Onset of temperate carbonate sedimentation during transgression in a low-energy siliciclastic embayment (Pliocene of the Val d’Orcia Basin, Tuscany, Italy). Facies, 56, 353-368.

Nalin, R., Massari, F., 2009. Facies and stratigraphic anatomy of a temperate carbonate sequence (Capo Colonna terrace, Late Pleistocene, southern Italy). Journal of Sedimentary Research, 79, 210-225.

Nalin, R., Braga, G., 2009. Late Pleistocene bryozoans from the deposits of Capo Colonna marine terrace (Calabria, Italy). In: Key, M. (Ed.) Bryozoan Research 2007: Proceedings of the 14th International Bryozoology Association Conference, Boone, North Carolina, July 1-8, 2007, Virginia Museum of Natural History, Special Publication 15, 153-162.

Basso, D., Nalin, R., Nelson, C.S., 2009. Shallow water Sporolithon rhodoliths from North Island (New Zealand). Palaios, 24, 92-103.

Nalin, R., Nelson, C.S., 2009. Reply to Discussion by Helen Lever on: Rhodolith-bearing limestones as transgressive marker beds: fossil and modern examples from North Island, New Zealand by Nalin et al., Sedimentology (2008) 55, 249-274. Sedimentology 56, 1199.

Nalin, R., Nelson, C.S., Basso, D., Massari, F., 2008. Rhodolith-bearing limestones as transgressive marker beds: Fossil and modern examples from North Island, New Zealand. Sedimentology 55, 249-274.

Basso, D., Nalin, R., Massari, F., 2007. Genesis and composition of the Pleistocene Coralligène de plateau of the Cutro terrace (Calabria, southern Italy). Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie Abhandlungen 244/2, 173-182.

Nalin, R., Massari, F., Zecchin, M., 2007. Superimposed cycles of composite marine terraces: The example of Cutro terrace (Calabria, Southern Italy). Journal of Sedimentary Research 77, 340-354.

Nalin, R., Basso, D., Massari, F., 2006. Pleistocene coralline algal build-ups (coralligène de plateau) and associated bioclastic deposits in the sedimentary cover of Cutro marine terrace (Calabria, southern Italy). In: M. Pedley & G. Carannante (Eds.) Cool-water Carbonates: Depositional Systems and Paleoenvironmental Controls, Geological Society of London Special Publications 255, 11-22.

Zecchin, M., Nalin, R., Roda, C., 2004. Raised Pleistocene marine terraces of the Crotone peninsula (Calabria, Southern Italy): facies analysis and organization of their deposits. Sedimentary Geology 172, 165-185.

Abstracts

Nalin, R., Oyedeji, A.O., Clausen, L.B., Ospino Díaz, M., Obarezi, J., Osunremi, J.O. Spatio-temporal patterns of sediment provenance in the Dahomey Basin (SW Nigeria) investigated by means of U-Pb zircon geochronology. Book of Abstracts, 29th Colloquium of African Geology, 26 – 29 September 2023, Windhoek, Namibia, p. 64.

Abdala, S., Nalin, R., Brand, L., Chadwick, A. Extremely widespread beds generated in a low-gradient, flood-dominated coastal plain (mid-Triassic Moenkopi Formation, SW Utah and NW Arizona, USA). 2022 AGU Meeting, Chicago, IL: https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm22/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/1123430

Nalin, R., Ohiara, T., Prince, K., Nana Yobo, L., Brand, L., Chadwick., A. Genesis of a widespread erosional surface on the continental shelf of Laurentia (upper Cambrian, Notch Peak Formation, Utah). GSA 2019 Meeting, Phoenix, AZ: https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2019AM/webprogram/Paper336038.html

Bracchi, V.A., Nalin, R., Basso, D. The Pleistocene evolution of algal bioconstructions (reefs and rhodoliths) in the marine terraces of Crotone (Southern Italy). IAS 2019 Meeting, Rome, Italy.

Waresak S., Nalin R., Lucarelli, A. 2016 – Rhythmic bedding in prodeltaic deposits of the ancient Colorado River: Exploring genetic processes. Geophysical Research Abstracts, Vol. 18, EGU2016-9665, EGU General Assembly 2016.

Bracchi, V.A., Basso, D., Nalin, R., 2015 - Spatial heterogeneity in a Pleistocene example of infralittoral Coralligenous (De Plateau?), Le Castella, southern Italy. In: Abstract Book, 31st IAS Meeting of Sedimentology, 22-25 June, 2015, Kraków, Poland, p. 84.

Bracchi V., Basso D., Nalin R., Massari F., 2011 – Pleistocene coralligenous build-ups and associated bioclastic deposits of Le Castella and Capo Colonna marine terraces, Calabria, Southern Italy. Proceedings Epitome Geoitalia 2011 – FIST, 4/2011, 234, ISSN 1972-1552.

Bracchi V., Basso D., Nalin R., Massari F., 2011 - The Pleistocene coralligenous build-ups of Le Castella and Capo Colonna terraces (Calabria, Southern Italy). Bucur I.I. & Sasaran E. (eds) - 10th International Symposium on Fossil Algae-Abstracts. Cluj-Napoca, 2011:11-12.

Nalin, R., Brand, L.R. & Chadwick, A.V., 2011 - Structural and textural variability of mud mound and stromatolite layers from the Notch Peak Formation (upper Cambrian, Utah, USA). In: Abstracts, 28th IAS Meeting of Sedimentology, Zaragoza, Spain (Eds. B. Bádenas, M. Aurell and A.M. Alonso-Zarza), p. 393.

Nalin, R. & Bryant, G., 2010 – Clastic injection features in alluvial deposits of the Pennsylvanian Fountain Formation (Manitou Springs, Colorado). In: GSA Abstracts with Programs, 42/5, 427.

Nalin, R. & Ghinassi, M. – Mid-Pliocene onset of temperate carbonate deposition in the Tuscan Basins (Northern Apennines, Italy). In: (Eds Pascucci V. & Andreucci S.) Abstract book, 27th IAS Meeting of Sedimentology, Alghero, September 20-23, 2009, p. 289, Sassari (Italy).

Nalin, R. & Massari, F. – Anatomy of a temperate carbonate, transgressive-regressive sequence developed in a Mediterranean setting (Capo Colonna terrace, Late Pleistocene, southern Italy). 26th IAS Regional Meeting, Bochum, Germany, 2008. Schriftenreihe der Deustchen Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften, Heft 58, Abstract Volume, p.195.

Nalin, R. & Ghinassi, M. – Siliciclastic vs. carbonate sedimentation in a low energy embayment: The Pliocene Val d’Orcia Basin (Tuscany, Italy). Congresso Geosed, Siena, 2007. Atti del Convegno, p.67.

Basso, D., Nalin, R. & Nelson, C.S. – The living rhodoliths of the Whangaparaoa peninsula, North Island, New Zealand. 9th International Symposium on Fossil Algae, Zagreb, Croatia, 2007. Field Trip Guidebook and Abstracts, p. 208.

Basso, D., Nalin, R. & Nelson, C.S. – Neogene coralline algae in the rhodolith-bearing deposits of North Island, New Zealand. 9th International Symposium on Fossil Algae, Zagreb, Croatia, 2007. Field Trip Guidebook and Abstracts, p. 209.

Nalin, R. & Braga, G. – Late Pleistocene bryozoans from the deposits of Capo Colonna marine terrace (Calabria, Central Mediterranean). 14th Meeting of the IBA, Boone, North Carolina, 2007. Abstracts with Program, p. 44.

Nalin, R. & Braga, G. – Late Pleistocene bryozoans from the deposits of Capo Colonna terrace (Calabria, Central Mediterranean). 7th Larwood Bryozoan Symposium, Naples, 2007. Programme and Abstracts, p. 34-35.

Nelson, C.S. & Nalin, R. - Rhodolith-bearing limestones as transgressive marker beds, some North Island examples. In: Pettinga, J.R. and Wandres, A.M. (eds.) Programme and Abstracts, Geological Society of New Zealand 50th Annual Conference, Kaikoura, New Zealand, 2005. Geological Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Publication 119A, p. 57-58.

Basso, D., Nalin, R. & Massari, F. – Titanoderma pustulatum is a major framework builder in the Pleistocene coralligenous “de Plateau” of Cutro (Calabria, Southern Italy). 5th Regional Symposium of the IFAA, Ferrara, 2005. Annali dell’Università degli Studi di Ferrara Museologia Scientifica e Naturalistica 1, p. 8.

Nalin, R., Lamothe, M., Auclair, M. & Massari, F. - Using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) to unravel the chronology and deformation history of marine terraces: an example from the Crotone Peninsula (Southern Italy). Geoitalia, Spoleto, 2005. Epitome 1, p. 172.

Nalin, R., Nelson,C.,S., Basso, D. & Massari, F. - Development and significance of rhodolith-bearing deposits in trasgressive settings: some fossil and modern examples from North Island, New Zealand. Geoitalia, Spoleto, 2005. Epitome 1, p. 220.

Nalin, R. & Massari, F. - Facies variability of mixed carbonate-siliciclastic deposits along an Upper Pleistocene coastal transect: the marine terrace of Capo Colonna (Crotone Peninsula, Calabria). 2nd Congresso Geosed, Rome, 2004. La Geologia del Sedimentario nella Ricerca di Base e nelle Sue Applicazioni. Atti del Congresso, p. 95.

Nalin, R., Basso, D. & Massari, F. - Algal build-ups of Cutro marine terrace (Calabria, Southern Italy): a Pleistocene example of coralligenè de plateau. 32nd IGC, Firenze, 2004. Programme and Abstracts part 1, p. 814, n. 173-6.

Nalin, R. & Massari, F. - Evidence from facies analysis and sequence stratigraphy of high frequency cyclicity in the deposits of Cutro marine terrace (Crotone Peninsula, Calabria). Convegno Geosed, Alghero, 2003. Atti del Convegno, p. 207.