Interessi di ricerca

(i) Field studies of exhumed fault zones;
(ii) Microstructural/geochemical investigations of fault rocks; and
(iii) High-velocity rock friction experiments.

The overall goal of my research is to integrate data from field geology (by investigating exhumed ancient seismic sources and natural fault products) and laboratory studies (by conducting high-velocity rock friction experiments) with seismological observations for better understanding earthquake mechanics and faulting. Some results of this research, conducted in collaboration with David Goldsby, Takehiro Hirose, Stefan Nielsen, Giorgio Pennacchioni, Toshihiko Shimamoto and Terry Tullis, have been the identification of silica gel lubrication as a fault weakening mechanism that may operate during earthquakes [Di Toro et al., 2004], the quantification of frictional melt lubrication effects [Di Toro et al., 2006], and the evidence that earthquake rupture dynamics may be recorded in exhumed fault rocks [Di Toro et al., 2005].

I would love to thank the many wonderful people I met in Universities and Meetings which tried to teach me geology, friction and earthquakes. I want to thank the teammates and trainers I met some years ago while playing volleyball, people that with their skill, diligence and seriousness gave me a nice lesson about how to afford work and life. Lastly, thank you Elena and small Viola for your patience.

Figure caption: Giulio proud of his unstable equilibrium standing on an 30 Ma old earthquake rupture frozen in the rocks of the Adamello Massif (Southern Alps, Italy). In fact, the black layer at Giulio's feet is a pseudotachylyte-bearing fault: tectonic pseudotachylyte is a fault rock resulting from solidification of friction-induced melts produced during seismic faulting.