Combining machine learning techniques, microanalyses and large geochemical datasets for tephrochronological studies in complex volcanic areas: new age constraints for the Pleistocene magmatism of Central Italy

TL;DR

This study applies support vector machine machine learning techniques to geochemical datasets to improve tephra source attribution and age constraints in complex volcanic regions like Central Italy.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of support vector machines to geochemical data for tephrochronology in complex volcanic areas, enhancing source discrimination accuracy.

Findings

Support vector machines effectively discriminate volcanic provinces.

The methodology successfully identifies tephra sources in Central Italy.

Enhanced age constraints for Pleistocene magmatism in Italy.

Abstract

Characterization, correlation and provenance determination of tephra samples in sedimentary sections (tephrochronological studies) are powerful tools for establishing ages of depositional events, volcanic eruptions, and tephra dispersion. Despite the large literature and the advancements in this research field, the univocal attribution of tephra deposits to specific volcanic sources remains too often elusive. In this contribution, we test the application of a machine learning technique named Support Vector Machine to attempt shedding new light upon tephra deposits related to one of the most complex and debated volcanic regions on Earth: the Pliocene-Pleistocene magmatism in Italy. The machine learning algorithm was trained using one of the most comprehensive global petrological databases (GEOROC); 17 chemical elements including major and selected trace elements were chosen as input parameters. We first show the ability of support vector machines in discriminating among different Pliocene-Pleistocene volcanic provinces in Italy and then apply the same methodology to determine the volcanic source of tephra samples occurring in the Caio outcrop, an Early Pleistocene sedimentary section located in Central Italy.