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ZENODO
Preprint . 2025
Data sources: ZENODO
ZENODO
Preprint . 2025
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Preprint . 2025
Data sources: Datacite
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Geophysical and Geological Evidence for the Neogene-Quaternary Subsidence of the Sardo-Corsican Continental Platform: A Potential Naturalistic Basis for Ancient Narratives

Authors: Usai, Luigi;

Geophysical and Geological Evidence for the Neogene-Quaternary Subsidence of the Sardo-Corsican Continental Platform: A Potential Naturalistic Basis for Ancient Narratives

Abstract

The Sardo-Corsican Block (SCB) is a continental microplate in the Western Mediterranean whose present-day semi-submerged configuration is the result of complex tectonic processes. This paper synthesizes two key lines of scientific evidence to support a model of significant Neogene-Quaternary subsidence of the SCB's continental platform. First, geophysical data, specifically Bouguer gravity anomaly maps, reveal a distinct gravimetric gradient over the submerged shelves of the SCB. This pattern is consistent with crustal thinning and isostatic sinking associated with the extensional tectonics that formed the adjacent Tyrrhenian Basin. Second, geological surveys have documented extensive fields of active mud volcanoes and fluid escape structures on the submerged platform, particularly in the Sardinia Channel. These features indicate ongoing tectonic instability and the presence of overpressured sediments and deep-seated fault systems. We propose that these geological phenomena not only confirm the dynamic and subsiding nature of the region but also offer a plausible naturalistic explanation for a specific detail in ancient historical accounts. Specifically, a large-scale, seismically-triggered mud volcano eruption could account for the "impassable shoals of mud" described by Plato in Critias following the sinking of Atlantis. This paper argues that the geological reality of the SCB provides a scientifically grounded framework for re-evaluating such ancient narratives as potential echoes of real, catastrophic geological events. Keywords: Sardo-Corsican Block, Tectonic Subsidence, Bouguer Anomaly, Mud Volcanoes, Western Mediterranean, Geomythology, Plato's Atlantis.

Keywords

Western Mediterranean, Bouguer Anomaly, Mud Volcanoes, Plato's Atlantis, Sardo-Corsican Block, Geomythology, Tectonic Subsidence

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average