Dr. L. Caracciolo

Dr. Luca Caracciolo

Sediment Routing Systems and Basin Analysis

GeoZentrum Nordbayern
Chair of Geology (Prof. Dr. Stollhofen)

Room 2.009
Schlossgarten 5
91054 Erlangen

Phone number: +49 9131 85-29240
Fax number: +49 9131 85-29295
Email: luca.caracciolo@fau.de
Website: https://www.gzn.nat.fau.de/angewandte-sedimentologie/team/mitarbeiter/dr-luca-caracciolo/

My research is focused on the application of a wide spectrum of Provenance analysis techniques applied to basin analysis, particularly on the relationships between tectonics and sedimentation. Most relevant analytical approaches and research interests are Quantitative sedimentary provenance analysis; Sedimentary petrology and heavy minerals, detrital geochemistry, sedimentary processes (weathering/recycling, sorting and volcaniclastic sedimentation) diagenesis (cementation chronology, pore-water interaction, thermal history), Low-temperature thermochronology (Fission tracks and U-Th/He dating). I’m keen on using and integrating state of the art techniques – e.g. Raman and QemScan – and model compositional data to link sediment mineralogy to sedimentary processes.

The most exciting and challenging aspect of my research is to use provenance and sediment composition in different fields, especially those related to the O&G and geothermal industry for enhanced interpretation of facies heterogeneity, reservoir connectivity, diagenetic environments and their influence on fluid migration. Combining both academic and industry experience, I had the chance to work and publish in areas dislocated in all continents including Europe, North and South America, Africa, SE Asia, Australia and New Zealand. I’m actively involved in industry projects and training of professionals from the O&G industry.

2025

Caracciolo L., Hatzenbühler D., Chew D., Weltje GJ., Liedel S., Vermeesch P., Piraquive A., Regelous M., Lünsdorf K., Villamizar-Escalante N.:
Understanding sedimentary processes in the uphill catchment of Source-to Sink-Systems: An example from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (NE Colombia)
In: Earth-Science Reviews 266 (2025), Article No.: 105136
ISSN: 0012-8252
DOI: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105136
Isla M., Schwarz E., Caracciolo L., Remírez MN., Veiga GD., Finzel E.:
Documenting a coastal sediment routing tract in the sedimentary record: Implications for coastal palaeogeography and sand distribution patterns
In: Sedimentology (2025)
ISSN: 0037-0746
DOI: 10.1111/sed.13262
Ramírez V., Jaramillo JM., Caracciolo L., Lander R., Bonnell L., Ramírez M., Dongo C., Moreno G., Janßen M., Manrique C., Ordoñez P., Molina F., Figueredo D., Delgado J., Morales S., Beltran-Triviño A.:
Diagenetic forward modelling of beach sediments from the Colombian Caribbean margin: controlling factors on reservoir properties
In: Marine and Petroleum Geology 181 (2025), Article No.: 107487
ISSN: 0264-8172
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2025.107487
Villamizar-Escalante N., von Hagke C., Muto F., Caracciolo L., Dremel F., Friedrichs B., Robl J., Gallen SF.:
Slab length and slab tearing control asymmetric exhumation of the Calabrian Arc
In: Earth-Science Reviews 270 (2025), Article No.: 105255
ISSN: 0012-8252
DOI: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105255

2024

Janßen M., Caracciolo L., Bonnell LM., Lander RH., Adelhardt P., Moldenhauer L., Munnecke A., van Geldern R., Stollhofen H.:
From loose sand to sandstone: An experimental approach on early calcite precipitation in sands of siliciclastic and mixed carbonate-siliciclastic composition
In: PLoS ONE 19 (2024), Article No.: e0312479
ISSN: 1932-6203
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0312479
Karlonienė D., Caracciolo L., Pupienis D.:
Unveiling coastal dynamics: Investigating beach sediment distribution patterns along the Lithuanian Baltic Sea coast through heavy mineral analysis
In: Marine Geology 474 (2024), Article No.: 107320
ISSN: 0025-3227
DOI: 10.1016/j.margeo.2024.107320
Liedel S., Caracciolo L., Beltrán‐Triviño A., Restrepo JC., Restrepo Ángel JD., Szczerba M.:
A Quantitative Provenance Analysis (QPA) Approach to Quantify Controls on Sediment Generation and Sediment Flux in the Upper Reaches of the Magdalena River (Colombia): 2. Lithological Control on Contribution to Silt‐ to Clay‐Sized Fractions
In: Journal of Geophysical Research F: Earth Surface 129 (2024), Article No.: e2023JF007379
ISSN: 2169-9003
DOI: 10.1029/2023JF007379
URL: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2023JF007379
Liedel S., Caracciolo L., Restrepo JC., Weltje GJ., Lucà F., Beltrán‐Triviño A., Restrepo Ángel JD.:
A Quantitative Provenance Analysis (QPA) Approach to Quantify Controls on Sediment Generation and Sediment Flux in the Upper Reaches of the Magdalena River (Colombia): 1. Natural and Anthropic Controls on the Sand Fraction
In: Journal of Geophysical Research F: Earth Surface 129 (2024), Article No.: e2023JF007369
ISSN: 2169-9003
DOI: 10.1029/2023JF007369
URL: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2023JF007369
Salomon E., Stollhofen H., Caracciolo L., Bonnell LM., Lander RH., Kittel M.:
Burial of a sand sea: Heterogeneous compaction and cementation of the jurassic Etjo Formation, Namibia and what it tells
In: Marine and Petroleum Geology 168 (2024), p. 107044
ISSN: 0264-8172
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2024.107044
Viseras C., Cabello P., Yeste LM., Alcalde J., López-Blanco M., Cuevas JL., Gil-Ortiz M., Caracciolo L., De Mesquita Veloso F., Heinemann N., Falivene O., Varela AN., Rúa E., Blanco A., Jaímez J.:
Sedimentología para la transición energética: proyecto SOSGAS, un ejemplo de flujo de trabajo para la evaluación de calidad de reservorios
In: Geogaceta 76 (2024), p. 15-18
ISSN: 0213-683X
DOI: 10.55407/geogaceta104487
Yeste LM., Gil-Ortiz M., García-García F., Viseras C., Mcdougall ND., Cabello P., Caracciolo L.:
Tidal versus fluvial point bars: Key features from the integration of outcrop, core and wireline log information of Triassic examples
In: Depositional Record (2024)
ISSN: 2055-4877
DOI: 10.1002/dep2.282

2023

Janßen M., Caracciolo L., Bonnell LM., Lander RH., Munnecke A., Beltrán-Triviño A., Muto F., Stollhofen H.:
Climatic, depositional and environmental controls on early carbonate cementation in fluvial and shallow marine sandstones
In: Marine and Petroleum Geology 156 (2023), Article No.: 106433
ISSN: 0264-8172
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2023.106433
Ravidà D., Caracciolo L., Heins WA., Stollhofen H.:
Towards an improved discrimination and correlation of Permian-Lower Triassic sediments in Central Europe: A chemostratigraphic approach
In: Sedimentary Geology 452 (2023), Article No.: 106408
ISSN: 0037-0738
DOI: 10.1016/j.sedgeo.2023.106408
Vermeesch P., Lipp AG., Hatzenbühler D., Caracciolo L., Chew D.:
Multidimensional Scaling of Varietal Data in Sedimentary Provenance Analysis
In: Journal of Geophysical Research F: Earth Surface 128 (2023), Article No.: e2022JF006992
ISSN: 0148-0227
DOI: 10.1029/2022JF006992

2022

Hatzenbühler D., Caracciolo L., Weltje GJ., Piraquive A., Regelous M.:
Lithologic, geomorphic, and climatic controls on sand generation from volcanic rocks in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta massif (NE Colombia)
In: Sedimentary Geology 429 (2022), Article No.: 106076
ISSN: 0037-0738
DOI: 10.1016/j.sedgeo.2021.106076
Vargas CA., Caracciolo L., Ball PJ.:
Geothermal energy as a means to decarbonize the energy mix of megacities
In: Communications Earth & Environment 3 (2022)
ISSN: 2662-4435
DOI: 10.1038/s43247-022-00386-w
Walsh E., Caracciolo L., Ravidà D., Burrough S., Thomas D.:
Holocene fluvial depositional regimes of the Huab River, Skeleton Coast, Namibia
In: Earth Surface Processes and Landforms (2022)
ISSN: 0197-9337
DOI: 10.1002/esp.5349

2016

Henares S, Caracciolo L, Viseras C, Fernandez J, Yeste LM:
Diagenetic constraints on heterogeneous reservoir quality assessment: A Triassic outcrop analog of meandering fluvial reservoirs
In: Aapg Bulletin 100 (2016), p. 1377-1398
ISSN: 0149-1423
DOI: 10.1306/04041615103
Caracciolo L, Orlando A, Marchev P, Critelli S, Manetti P, Raycheva R, Riley D:
Provenance of Tertiary volcanoclastic sediment in NW Thrace (Bulgaria): Evidence from detrital amphibole and pyroxene geochemistry
In: Sedimentary Geology 336 (2016), p. 120-137
ISSN: 0037-0738
DOI: 10.1016/j.sedgeo.2016.01.026
Perri F., Caracciolo L., Cavalcante F., Corrado S., Critelli S., Muto F., Dominici R.:
Sedimentary and thermal evolution of the Eocene-Oligocene mudrocks from the southwestern Thrace Basin (NE Greece)
In: Basin Research 28 (2016), p. 319-339
ISSN: 0950-091X
DOI: 10.1111/bre.12112
Caracciolo L., Garzanti E., von Eynatten H., Weltje G.:
Sediment generation and provenance: Processes and pathways
In: Sedimentary Geology 336 (2016), p. 1-2
ISSN: 0037-0738
DOI: 10.1016/j.sedgeo.2016.03.015
von Eynatten H, Tolosana-Delgado R, Karius V, Bachmann K, Caracciolo L:
Sediment generation in humid Mediterranean setting: Grain-size and source-rock control on sediment geochemistry and mineralogy (Sila Massif, Calabria)
In: Sedimentary Geology 336 (2016), p. 68-80
ISSN: 0037-0738
DOI: 10.1016/j.sedgeo.2015.10.008

2015

Caracciolo L., Critelli S., Cavazza W., Meinhold G., von Eynatten H., Manetti P.:
The Rhodope Zone as a primary sediment source of the southern Thrace basin (NE Greece and NW Turkey): evidence from detrital heavy minerals and implications for central-eastern Mediterranean palaeogeography
In: International Journal of Earth Sciences 104 (2015), p. 815-832
ISSN: 1437-3254
DOI: 10.1007/s00531-014-1111-9

2014

Ingersoll RV, Pratt MJ, Davis PM, Caracciolo L, Day PP, Hayne PO, Petrizzo DA, Gingrich DA, Cavazza W, Critelli S, Diamond DS, Coffey KT, Stang DM, Hoyt JF, Reith RC, Hendrix ED:
Paleotectonics of a complex Miocene half graben formed above a detachment fault: The Diligencia basin, Orocopia Mountains, southern California
In: Lithosphere 6 (2014), p. 157-176
ISSN: 1941-8264
DOI: 10.1130/L334.1
Henares S., Caracciolo L., Cultrone G., Fernández J., Viseras C.:
The role of diagenesis and depositional facies on pore system evolution in a Triassic outcrop analogue (SE Spain)
In: Marine and Petroleum Geology 51 (2014), p. 136-151
ISSN: 0264-8172
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2013.12.004

2013

Caracciolo L., Gramigna P., Critelli S., Calzona A., Russo F.:
Petrostratigraphic analysis of a Late Miocene mixed siliciclastic-carbonate depositional system (Calabria, Southern Italy): Implications for Mediterranean paleogeography
In: Sedimentary Geology (2013), p. 117-132
ISSN: 0037-0738
DOI: 10.1016/j.sedgeo.2012.12.002
Cavazza W, Caracciolo L, Critelli S, d'Atri A, Zuffa GG:
Petrostratigraphic evolution of the Thrace Basin (Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey) within the context of Eocene-Oligocene post-collisional evolution of the Vardar-Izmir-Ankara suture zone
In: Geodinamica Acta 26 (2013), p. 12-26
ISSN: 0985-3111
DOI: 10.1080/09853111.2013.858943
Caracciolo L, Critelli S, Innocenti F, Kolios N, Manetti P:
Reply to the Discussion by Maravelis and Zelilidis on "Unravelling provenance from Eocene-Oligocene sandstones of the Thrace Basin, North-east Greece" by Caracciolo etal. (2011), Sedimentology, 58, 1988-2011.
In: Sedimentology 60 (2013), p. 865-869
ISSN: 0037-0746
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3091.2012.01368.x

2012

Ietto F., Le Pera E., Caracciolo L.:
Geomorphology and sand provenance of the Tyrrhenian coast between Capo Suvero and Gizzeria (Calabria, southern Italy)
In: Rendiconti Online Societa Geologica Italiana 21 (2012), p. 487-488
ISSN: 2035-8008
URL: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=84872284724&origin=inward
Caracciolo L., Tolosana-Delgado R., Le Pera E., von Eynatten H., Arribas J., Tarquini S.:
Influence of granitoid textural parameters on sediment composition: Implications for sediment generation
In: Sedimentary Geology 280 (2012), p. 93-107
ISSN: 0037-0738
DOI: 10.1016/j.sedgeo.2012.07.005
Caracciolo L, von Eynatten H, Tolosana-Delgado R, Critelli S, Manetti P, Marchev P:
PETROLOGICAL, GEOCHEMICAL, AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF EOCENE-OLIGOCENE SANDSTONES OF THE WESTERN THRACE BASIN, GREECE AND BULGARIA
In: Journal of Sedimentary Research 82 (2012), p. 482-498
ISSN: 1527-1404
DOI: 10.2110/jsr.2012.31
Tangari A., Andò S., Caracciolo L., Garzanti E., Le Pera E., Scarciglia F.:
Weathering of crystalline bedrock in Sila Massif and Catena Costiera (Calabria, southern Italy)
In: Rendiconti Online Societa Geologica Italiana 21 (2012), p. 1218-1220
ISSN: 2035-8008
URL: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=84872313127&origin=inward

2011

Caracciolo L, Le Pera E, Muto F, Perri F:
Sandstone petrology and mudstone geochemistry of the Peruc-Korycany Formation (Bohemian Cretaceous Basin, Czech Republic)
In: International Geology Review 53 (2011), p. 1003-1031
ISSN: 0020-6814
DOI: 10.1080/00206810903429011
Caracciolo L, Critelli S, Innocenti F, Kolios N, Manetti P:
Unravelling provenance from Eocene-Oligocene sandstones of the Thrace Basin, North-east Greece
In: Sedimentology 58 (2011), p. 1988-2011
ISSN: 0037-0746
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3091.2011.01248.x

Research topics fitting to both BSc and MSc thesis projects are always available and are largely focused on Sediment Provenance, Basin Analysis, Diagenesis and Reservoir Modelling.

Analytical tools include sedimentary petrography (thin section analysis and heavy minerals), detrital geochemistry (whole-rock and single-grain analysis) and mineralogy (XRD and Qemscan), geochronology (U-Pb dating) and compositional data analysis. Petrophysics (porosity, permeability, anisotropy and thermoconductivity), cathodoluminescence, micro-CT and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and isotopic analyses are routinely applied for diagenetic studies. PETREL and similar software are also available for sedimentological, diagenetic and reservoir modelling.

Please contact me at: luca.caracciolo(at)fau(dot)de

1. Permo-Triassic of South-East Germany (Bavaria) – up to 5 BSc and MSc thesis

We’re conducting research on both sediment provenance and diagenesis aiming at establishing the relationship between sediment supply, sedimentary environments and their influence on diagenetic processes and petrophysical properties. Permo-Triassic successions are studied from both outcrop and boreholes which will ultimately provide the opportunity to correlate correspondent formations at a regional scale. The analytical workflow includes core-logs analysis, petrophysics, diagenesis, sediment provenance and sedimentological/reservoir modelling.

2. Namibia (Southern Africa) – 3 thesis

On-going research in Namibia is focused on modern and ancient aeolian vs fluvial processes aiming at achieving a better understanding of dominant sedimentary dynamics in the Namib Desert over the last 15 Ma. Analytical workflow comprises bulk petrography and heavy mineral analysis, detrital geochemistry and possibly geochronology for the study of three formations, namely the Oswater, Karpfen Kliff and Langen Heinrich post-Miocene successions.

3. Betic Cordillera (South-western Spain) – 1 thesis

A provenance-basin analysis project based on bulk petrography and heavy mineral analysis to reconstruct drainage modifications in response to major tectonic events during the Serravalian-Tortonian building phase of the Betic Cordillera.

Exploring opportunities for development of Geothermal projects in South America

In March 2018, together with Dr. W. Bauer, we’ve been travelling to Peru and Colombia to meet a number of government institutions and universities to explore new opportunities for the Applied Sedimentology Group to develop geothermal projects.

We achieved remarkable results and established a strong connection with the Peruvian Geological Survey (INGEMMET) and the national funding agency (CONCYTEC) aiming at developing shallow- and deep-geothermal projects in Southern Peru, possibly since 2019.

The trip to Colombia was as much success. We’ve been invited to Barranquilla’s Universidad del Norte, in the framework of the academic international event “Catedra Europa”, to present on the “Analysis and modelling of sedimentary rocks and application to the exploration of geo-resources in Colombia”. We have also met and strengthened our relationships with geo-scientists from UniNorte, Universidad del Atlantico and Universidad de la Costa, with whom will be developing shallow-geothermal projects to be integrated into the energy plan of the city of Barranquilla (Energy Capital of Colombia). The second part of the trip was in Bogota and offered the opportunity to discover a number of project opportunities including exploration for deep-geothermal resources with the Universidad Nacionál de Colombia (UNAL) and Universidad de los Andes. Besides projects, we’re working on building up strong relationships with the Colombian Geothermal Association (AGEOCOL) to establish a training program for geoscientists and engineers interested in geothermal.

Dr. L. Caracciolo

Dr. Luca Caracciolo

Research

Publications

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017