I specialised in structural geology and continental tectonics, with a special focus on the evolution of modern and ancient orogenic belts. Field areas span from Himalaya, Antarctica, Alps, southern China, Albania, Spain to Sardinia and Northern Apennines (Italy). Aims of researches include understanding the (1) growth and collapse of orogens, (3) continental transpression tectonics, (3) deformations, metamorphism and exhumation of deep-seated rocks, (4) strain and kinematics of high-strain shear zones.

My expertise lies in Tectonics, Regional Geology (geological mapping and synthesis) and Structural analysis including microstructures, outcrop and regional scale. Structural analysis is performed also by microstructural investigations, relations between deformation and metamorphism, finite strain and vorticity of the flow. Recently quantitative oriented studies include numerical simulation of high-strain shear zones and a mathematical approach on deformation.

I am mainly interested in field-oriented studies dealing with ductile and brittle deformation processes, evolution of crustal-scale shear zones and faults and associated microstructural fabric development and fold/fault relationships, geological field-mapping. I am also interested by the application of U-Th- Pb geochronology and 40Ar/39Ar thermochronology to continental tectonics. I am currently studying the structural evolution of the Higher Himalayan Crystallines and Tethyan sedimentary sequence in the central Himalaya, with emphasis on the models and timing of exhumation of the crystalline units. I am also involved in projects focussing on the Tectonic evolution of the Ross Orogen (Antarctica) and tectonic units in the Alps and  Northern Apennines.

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President of the joined council of Scienze Geologiche (L34) and Scienze Geologiche Applicate (LM74)

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Head  of the Department of Earth Sciences, University of Torino (Italy) 2018-2021.

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Chair of the National commissione CNR-IUGS

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Member of the Tectask committee of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) - 2017-2020a

 

Board member of the IASGT (International Association of Structural Geology and Tectonics)

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Chair of Italian Group of Structural Geology  (GIGS) 2019-2020.

Chair of the Italian Group of Himalayan Geology (IGHG) 2011-2019

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Vice-President of the Società Geologica Italiana 2021-2023