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journalmaterialscience-blog · 5 years

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Sedimentary and Tectonic Control of the Eocene/ Lower Miocene Hydrocarbon Systems of the Gulf of Gabes Basin-Ggb in Tunisia Introduction In the Gulf of Gabes Basin (GGB), limestones in the El Garia (Ypresian) and Ketatna (Rupelian-Burdigalien) formations are gas and oil prone [1-5]. They are comprised of carbonate platforms on which sedimentation, eustasy, tectonics and interrelated subsidence have exerted important controls. They were deposited in a lithotectonic setting dominated by two major orogenic phases, the Pyrenean and the Alpine. The former enabled collision of the North African plate margin against its Apulian counterpart [6-9] the initiation of the Tethys closure, the erection of the so-called box-folds and subsequent emersion of the Saharan Atlas [10]. The benthic El Garia and Ketatna Formations and the respectively coeval but pelagic Boudabbous and Salammbo Formations extend in a broad area covering the gulf of Hammamet, gulf of Gabes and Pelagian Block in the Southeast Tunisia [1,2,5,11]. Detailed petrographic and petrophysical studies of the limestones building the El Garia Formation have shown these series form commercial reservoir in the Ashtart, Cercina, Chergui, oil fields. Furthermore, the study of petroleum system series in the GGB help decipher a stratigraphical scenario of repetitive benthic carbonate platforms stacked in the sequence of stratigraphic ages, fitting laterally and upwards into pelagic counterparts. The Eocene El Garia reservoir settled in a broad area in the southwest of the GGB in continuity with the NW-SE directed Nummulitic ridge, passes laterally to the northwest into the Boudabbous Formation, a source rock dominated by marly limestones and black shales highly enriched in marine kerogen. This complex is sealed by a thick shaly Cherahil Formation, which in turn is transgressed over by a repetitive benthic but moderately to highly thick limestone packages in the Ketatna Formation. The latter broadly covers the proximal areas in the GGB, Pelagian Block and gulf of Hammamet, and fits laterally into its pelagic counterpart the Salammbo Formation which consists of rather marly deposits interceded with limestone beds. Moreover it is likely that increasing tectonic subsidence which might have dominated in the study area during the Lower Miocene has caused the marls and black shale deposits in the Salammbo Formation prograde over and seal the Ketatna limestone reservoirs. Based on recent fieldwork, stratigraphic data, well results and wire line log details, and seismic data, the main aim of this study is to demonstrate the close time/palogeographic relationships and configurations of these two major and superposed petroleum systems in the GGB covering a time span from the Eocene to the Lower-Middle Langhian times. The major constraints on the lithotectonic evolution, differentiation of sedimentary deposits and basin geometry are also examined in the light of sismostrati graphical and sismotectonic interpretations. The modeling approach help decipher benthic carbonate platform- and pelagic depositions, paleoeustatic changes in sea level, tectonics and inter-related subsidence, and as a consequence reservoir quality and source rock formation and maturation in the study time interval. This help us better contribute to the knowledge of the economic potential of the Eocene to Langhian series in the GGB. Go to Results And Discussion According to previous works, the Atlassic domain [12-14] and Sahel area [15-17] as well as the entire study area [4,11] were subjected to a dominant transpressive tectonic period beginning in the Santonian and ending in the early Paleogene with local East-verging reverse faulting identified in Santonian series of the Sahel area [17] During this period, transpressional move southeastwards exerted on transverse regional faults (E- W, S-N and NW-SE), has created rhomb-shaped and rotating blocks [18] with dominant low stand follows by a transgressive (TST) benthic carbonate sedimentation deposited in peritidal to infratidal milieu as indicated by frequent hummocky cross stratifications. These series have formed during the entire Senonian and have covered broad anticline structures and fault- bend folds. However, the latter were trimmed by depressions and remarkably subsiding tectonic troughs which have been in filled by the Upper Maastrichtian-Paleocene marls of the El Haria Formation. Click here to view Large Figure 1 The Ypresian to Lower Lutetian was a period of intense tectonic activity with dominant transpression directed NW-SE. In the Atlassic domain and Sahel area, tectonic deformation caused local uplift and erosion, continental/lacustrine sedimentation on emerged blocks and has initiated the Atlassic box and salt-cored folds directed majorly NE-SW [11,12,19]. In contrast, no clear folding features have been observed in the study area. Instead, the tectonic framework includes a dominant tilted morphology with ramp-shaped and uplifted blocks sur imposed to a network of normal faults directed majorly NW-SE and faced NE, but conjugated with additional regional sutures, S-N and particularly E-W in strike. This paleogeograpic style has closely controlled the Lower Eocene sedimentation. Indeed, during the Ypresian and Lower Lutetian, the ramp-shaped blocks were the sites of benthic carbonate deposition and enrichments in coarsened for aminifered tests (Figure1). The Ypresian to Lower Lutetian platforms include carbonate sequences deposited in a Transgressive Systems Tract during a period of sea level rise. These deposits may rest disconformably over the older El Haria and Abiod Fms sequences. Towards the Jeffara mole, the Eocene Group (Chouabine and El Garia Fms) fits laterally into the Tanit Formation which comprises shales and dolomites deposited in a shallow, presumably lagoonal environment, whereas, to the northeast, in the deeper basin parts, this Group passes laterally to thick pelagic series of bituminous black shales and lime mudstones enriched in Globigerinids in the Boudabbous Fm. The Ypresian to Lower Lutetian transpression was followed by a period of dominant subsidence and basin fill by remarkably thick, shaly and carbonate series of the Cherahil Fm which may rest disconformably over older deposits of the El Garia, El Haria and Abiod Fms. The Cherahil Fm are shales and siliciclastics poor in faunal content, interceded by mollusk bearing limestones. In field outcrops, these are forth to fifth order sequences with dominant shaly strata at the base shallowing upward into Bryozan, Mollusk and Ostrea- rich limestones. The Cherahil/ Souar shaly series provide seals for the oil prone El Garia Fm reservoirs and subdivide into three main Members: the so-called lower Cheral/Souar A and Upper Cherahil. Souar B separated by the middle Reineche Member formed by lime mud to wacke stone containing mainly Nummulites. The latter horizon, picked in seismic limes, could represent a Lutetian TST even if tectonic transpression, folding and uplift would be accompanied by bottom elevation and subsequent carbonate deposition in the photic zone. Indeed, tectonics is thought to have intervened and enabled the Cherahil Fm present local gaps and rest disconformably over the Maastrichtian Abiod, El Garia and EL Haria Fms. During the Rupelian to Burdigalian period, carbonates and marls prevailed with a clear disparity between platform and basin deposits. In the carbonate platforms, a basal Rupelian Horizon, 2 to 20m thick is easily picked in seismic lines in the Sahel, Pelagian Block and study area and is described as the lime wacke/packstones enriched in Nummulites vascus. It retraces a retrograding TST during the Early Oligocene, and passes upward to a highly thick carbonate series the strato type of which was described by Fournie in the Ketatna well. The series include lime mudstones and wacke/packstones enriched in coarse grained for aminifered tests, Nummulites, Bryozoans, Echinoids, Mollusks and Corals, dolomite beds and clay intervals. At the Jebel Abderrahman, Lower Oligocene limestone packages appear stratified, admit marl intercalations and display a similar faunal content [20,21]. In study area, the Ketatna Fm deposited to the west on a broad platform rimming a local basin centered on the gulf of Gabes. The geometry of the Rupelian-Burdigalian deposits was dictated by deep-seated and reactivating shear faults directed NW-SE, S-N and SW-NE, with antithetic branches. Due to prevalently trans tensional move of these flower-faults almost NW-SE in azimuth and with dominant vertical offsets, polygonal blocks organized in stacked ramps have formed, among which the most uplifted were the sites for benthic carbonate facies of the Ketatna Fm with clear shallowing up features on paleohighs. In contrast, subsiding blocks have formed graben and half graben basins always in filled by pelagic shales, marls and embedded lime mudstones of the Salammbo Fm. The latter may disconformably overlie the Boudabbous, the Abiod and the Doubled Formations. Also, in the Oil wells, the Ketatna Fm transgresses the El Garia and Double Fms respectively Thus, the basin framework during the Rupelian-Burdigalian times, responds to those continuously reactivating shear zones inter-related with the older Upper Cretaceous-Lower Paleocene and Upper Eocene tectonic phases. This is clearly evidenced by the lateral variations in facies and total thicknesses of the Ketatna and Salammbo Fms, but also by the facies inversions and interpenetrations thus forming a transition zone between these formations. The transitional lithofacies are dominated by an admixture of marls and carbonate deposits as observed in wells and in seismic lines cutting across the Ashtart oilfield, with flower faults and discontinuous hummocky cross-stratified seismic facies. The seismic facies reconstruction and extension of the platforms of El Garia and Ketatna are complex. In the internal ramp area of the two platforms of El Garia and Ketatna, seismic reflections are continuous, high amplitude and concordant; this can be explained by stacking carbonate seismic reflectors; however, the frequency is often low, so that reflections are subparallel configurations resulting spatiotemporal continuity of carbonate sedimentation. The seismic facies of the middle ramp variables are generally characterized by discontinuous reflections are strong amplitudes and sometimes clearly arranged in parallel or sometimes chaotic. The external ramp is cut by seismic reflections that offer high amplitude, discontinuous, sometimes heckled with an oblique configuration or hummocky (Figure 2). Click here to view Large Figure 2 The findings ofthe study based on the well to well correlations enhanced by logging analyzes, information obtained from the 3D seismic picking of seismic horizons and conversion in depth from Oil well data, stratigraphically well defined, and delineation of facies by discontinuities and sequences hiatus, gives Fms El Garia and Ketatna form of carbonate platforms. The respective periods of lithofaicies genesis, these platforms have recognized regional extension and were dislocated by regional dominant accidents NW-SE direction which was originally transpressive paleostress movements especially during the Maastrichtian, the Late Eocene, middle Miocene and Miocene-upper. These carbonate platforms seem to have been built in favorable photic conditions. The sedimentary floor may be relatively steady incline imposed on blocks cut by branched flowers faults that appear in the seismic profiles. Trends in bioaccumulations large foraminifera, including the Eocene and richness of carbonate productivity are indicatives of dominance of an environment beaten by the currents, well ventilated and oxygenated with absence of turbidity and away from detrital input. This type of environment supports Nummulites accumulations installed on the platform depth sloping shaped carbonate ramp built during the lower Eocene, then later repeated with the same intensity of productivity carbonates and explosion biological diversity in marine shallow during the Oligocene-Miocene. Successive sedimentation periods, was also conditioned by two factors: tectonics and eustasy. The tectonic factor contributes to the fragmentation of the blocks, their tilt; and in the distal area, subsidence basin with a marked change in the sedimentation represented by the micrite and pelagic deposits nature. Thus, by collapse of blocks of El Garia Formation is relayed by the facies of the Boudabbous Formation, and Formation Ketatna by pelagic deposits Salammbo Formation. Similarly, the above figures show that it is practically the same rooted accidents that have structured the Eocene sedimentary floor and controlled spatial and temporal distribution of deposits, by replaying the Oligocene- lower Miocene to impose similar palaeogeographical limits and almost at the same place of transition between Fm Ketatna and Salammbo Formation. Tracking facies described using cuttings and cores from boreholes clarifies the facies distribution and to recognize the characteristics of three distinct environments facies usually described for carbonate platforms ramp shaped [22-24]: internal ramp facies (inner ramp), the middle ramp facies low bathymetry (mid-ramp) and outer ramp facies (outer-ramp) depth seaward up the talus [18,23,25-27]. Finally, eustatisme also involved in instaurations of retrograde transgressive deposits like those of Reineche, Ain Ghrab and Melqart marking a remarkable extension of carbonate platforms in response to accelerated in the average level of sea rising. In the major parts of the basin of GGB faulting and subsidence controls on sedimentation. We found the deep effects of tectonics in the heightening blocks, deformation and sealing unconformable. The most common events were those Maastrichtian-Paleocene transition with the creation of bald areas in the NW part of the field of study and particularly in the Sahel of Sfax [16]. Dynamic events largely affected the series were also identified through the well data to higher-Priabonian Eocene to Langhian-Serravallian, then the passage of the Group Oum Douil Fm Somaa preceding the transgression of the limestone Fm Melqart and continentalization corresponding to laguno-lacustrine deposits Fm Oued Belkhédim. Carbonated systems associated with the development of a carbonate sedimentation on rhombic blocks which can be controlled by the eustatisme; but such carbonate sedimentation with an environmental dimming internal platform type to external platform environments. The deposits are thick and have lateral facies transitions with equivalent formations formed in the pelagic environment in abyssal conditions. We also noted the repetition over time of this type of sedimentation especially the ypresienne time (Fms El Garia/ Boudabbous) and later during the Oligocene-Burdigalian (Fms- Ketatna Salammbo). When comparing the zonal distribution of one and the other of these formations, and taking into consideration the well data and literature information, we realize in the study area, it is the same tectonic lineaments that have worked at successive periods to score quite deeply lithology series along paleogeographique transition lines passing between paleogeographic areas kind of training and different environment. The results of the seismic analysis enhanced by well logging allowed to recognize the architecture of the sedimentary cover at different times and to establish the relationship between litho stratigraphic formations (lateral facies passages), but also amongst tectonics and sedimentation. The major tectonic style is the continuity amongst a deep tectonic affecting the basement, which witnesses have been described by the authors in Medenine and Jeffara area [28,29]. We demonstrate that old tectonic dating to the Paleozoic and early Mesozoic is transmitted into the sediment cover. These manifestations are ramified to flowers faults that reactivated at different epoch. The major trending faults NW-SE to NS most often play slide ably with escarpments often looks NE, dislocated and raised of blocks and basins in grabens and half-grabens, very similar of what is commonly described by the authors on the continent in Central of Tunisia and in the chain of Chotts. The research of the discontinuities amongst sequences linked to the main geodynamic events that have controlled the basin sedimentation helps to clarify the geometry and the Seismic-sequences cutting series. Thus, it is possible to correlate the seismic super sequences to what is known in regions in central Tunisia as sedimentary megacycles identified by the authors regionally. In previous work [30,31], we found a great similarity in the distribution of deposits platforms and those pelagic equivalent, but at different ages as the Ypresian and Oligocene-Miocene epoch. We also showed the precise controls of eustatisme, reactivation of tectonic deep accidents, and morphology of the basins (platform, abyssal areas, shoals, emerged edges of blocks) in the differentiation of carbonate sedimentary environments [32-35]. Thus, it clearly shows by geophysical profiles in Ashtart province, on the vast field of the Pelagian block, the range of platforms (internal, intermediate and external shelf) and transitions to pelagic abyssal domains (basins) at the Ypresian (Formations Jebs, Metlaoui, El Garia, Boudabbous) and Miocene- Oligocene (Formations Messiouta/Fortuna, Ketatna Salammbo) are controlled by the same tectonic lineaments reactivated by ramified faults (flower structure) and sliding at different epochs [36-38]. Cutting blocks, the heightening local, also the subsidence allows the installation of carbonates platforms ramps environments in which carbonates productivity is provided by large foraminifera as Nummulites the Operculines the Discocyclines for Ypresian strata but also by Nummulites, the Amphistegines lepidocyclines and in the case of deposits of Oligocene-Miocene. These carbonate platforms ramps often isolated because of dislocated tectonic blocks. These ramps are distally deepened (distally steepened) and rarely bordered (rimmed shelves) (Figure 3) [39-41]. Click here to view Large Figure 3 Go to Conclusion As we mentioned in the case of the Permian, this architecture division of the Southeast margin of Tunisia during the Permian, Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous and as demonstrated in this work for the Cenozoic, is controlled by ancient tectonic directions affecting the basement [29], has always supported the development of carbonate platforms and bio constructions. It is therefore the same environmental control factors and sedimentation at different periods, produce the same effects. However, more NE and north, block subsidence allows the establishment of a frank pelagic sedimentation, where the lateral transitions in bathymetry conditions contrast between El Garia Fms/Boudabbous and Ketatna/ Salammbo. The interest and petroleum implications of these formations is the tectonic dynamic controlled the genesis of carbonate facies platforms ramp, but also their subsequent deformation: the El Garia Fm was distorted by tectonqiues Pyrenean deep reactivated movements during the Lutetien -to Priabonian, and Fm Ketatna by Alpine movements dating from Langhian-Serravallian. The deformation of the blocks and their emersion promotes the effects of the diagenesis dolomitisante enhances the porosity and permeability of such reservoirs; while the tectonic enhances fracture porosity and permeability. Moreover, reservoirs in contact with older source rocks (Bahloul, Fahdene, Aleg, El Haria, Tselja, Chouabine), but also with contemporary source rocks (Fms Boudabbous/El Garia and Salammbo/Ketatna) and the existence of thick clay layers forming impermeable seal against of oils migration (Fms Souar, Fm higher Salammbo; Oum DOUIL Group), offer a real opportunity for improving national reserves on hydrocarbons. Go to Acknowledgment This work gained financial support from the Ministry of High Education and Research (Tunisia). Constructive criticism of the Petroleum Research (ETAP), for data donated and compiled in this paper. Also, thanks to the SEREPT Company for Scientific support. For more Open Access Journals in Juniper Publishers please click on: https://juniperpublishers.com/ for more details click on the juniper publishers material science Science Juniper Publishers Materials Science Composite Materials Biological Engineering

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fondazioneterradotranto · 6 years

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La collezione dei fossili di Pippi Ciullo a Vitigliano

DALL’ATTIVITÁ DI CAVA ALLA VALORIZZAZIONE MUSEALE: LA COLLEZIONE DEI FOSSILI DI PIPPI CIULLO A VITIGLIANO

Cristina Caiulo*, Stefano Margiotta **

Introduzione

Il Museo dei fossili di Vitigliano, frazione di Santa Cesarea Terme, raccoglie l’opera di un instancabile esploratore della sua terra, il salentino Pippi Ciullo. Si deve alla sua curiosità ed alla sua appassionata raccolta di pietre – che durante l’attività di cavatore si trovava tra le mani – se oggi possiamo comodamente ammirare straordinari esemplari di rocce e di fossili, alcuni dei quali incastonati come gemme preziose nelle piccole costruzioni realizzate da lui stesso nel “Giardino delle favole di pietra”.

Museo di Vitigliano

Il contesto geologico

Il territorio di Vitigliano è tra i più geologicamente affascinanti della Penisola salentina. Esso custodisce importanti affioramenti che testimoniano gli eventi geologici che hanno caratterizzato questo lembo di terra e gran parte del bacino del Mediterraneo, in un arco di tempo che va perlomeno dalla fine del Cretaceo (circa 70 milioni di anni fa) sino all’Oligocene superiore (circa 25 milioni di anni fa). Non stupisce quindi che proprio da Vitigliano cominci la storia di Pippi Ciullo, perché nella sua terra, o meglio tra le rocce che lo circondavano, egli poteva trovare quei fossili che tanto lo attiravano. La maggior parte dei blocchi che costituiscono le sue abitazioni provengono da cave di calcare cretacico. La più importante di queste cave è posta in località Serra di Poggiardo, a metà della strada provinciale a valenza paesaggistica (SP233LE) che collega gli abitati di Ortelle e Cocumola, laddove affiorano calcari bianchi ben noti alla comunità scientifica per la presenza spettacolare di resti di rudiste (Laviano e Sirna, 1993; Laviano 1996, Sladic-Trifunovic, 1987; Sladic-Trifunovic e Campobasso, 1980).

La successione affiorante ha uno spessore di circa 4m ed è caratterizzata da biocalcareniti bianche e biocalciruditi con tessitura packstone. La stratificazione è mal distinguibile ma a luoghi evidenziata dalla presenza di laminazioni e gradazioni oltre che da brusche variazioni nella granulometria del sedimento. Le litofacies cambiano verso l’alto e lateralmente in calcari organogeni con matrice biocalcarenitica fangosa (Laviano e Sirna, 1993).

Come scritto sopra le rudiste rappresentano l’elemento più significativo della successione. Esse sono generalmente di grandi dimensioni, concentrate in lenti, raramente in posizione di vita e con entrambe le valve conservate. Laviano e Sirna (op. cit.) hanno riconosciuto le seguenti forme: Pseudopolyconites ovalis apuliensis, Pironaea slavonica, Joufia reticolata, Mitrocaprina bulgarica, Sabinia klinghardti, Hippurites colliciatus, Vaccinites ultimus, Favus antei, Radiolites spongicola, Radiolites angeioides, Radiolitella maastrichtiana, Biradiolites chaperi, Biradiolites stoppani, Petkovicia varajana, Bayleia sp., Bournonia excavata.

Da un punto di vista paleoecologico sono state riconosciute forme appartenenti sia al tipo elevato che sdraiato e appoggiato che ben si adattano ad ambienti di elevata energia. Questa osservazione, combinata con i caratteri litologici osservati che mostrano continue interazioni tra fondi stabili (calcari organogeni) e sedimenti mobili soggetti ad idrodinamismo elevato (biocalcareniti e biocalciruditi con matrice fangosa), contribuiscono a definire un ambiente di sedimentazione di margine di piattaforma.

Si segnala inoltre la presenza di altri macrofossili nella successione quali ad esempio bivalvi e gasteropodi ma soprattutto che la cava è la località tipo di Raadshovenia salentina. Frequente infatti è la microfauna caratterizzata essenzialmente da foraminiferi, ostracodi, alghe verdi, echinoidi, Dasicladali. De Castro (1990), per la presenza di Pseudosiderolites vidali e Pseudochubbina bruni riferisce al Campaniano superiore – ?Maastrichtiano inferiore la successione.

Il sito appena descritto è stato dichiarato geosito (cioè sito di importanza geologica) nel censimento eseguito da Universus per conto della Regione Puglia, in adempimento della Legge n. 33 del 2009 che ha per oggetto la tutela del Patrimonio Geologico e Speleologico.

Lungo il percorso che porta al secondo affioramento che qui si descrive potrete in più luoghi individuare dei giacimenti a rudiste nei banchi calcarei, sino a quando non intersecherete la strada che collega Vitigliano a Cerfignano. Il taglio stradale infatti mostra litologie maggiormente calcarenitiche – sabbiose e, soprattutto, un’associazione fossilifera diversa da quelle osservate in precedenza.

Lungo la strada a valenza paesaggistica che collega Cerfignano a Vitigliano, nei pressi di questo ultimo, affiorano su entrambi i lati della strada i Calcari di Castro che qui mostrano spessori di circa 5m). Il taglio stradale permette di osservare le numerose colonie di coralli in posizione di vita, immerse in una sabbia bioclastica fortemente bioturbata, priva di qualsiasi struttura, sciacquata e ridistribuita verso terra dal fronte della scogliera come accade attualmente ad opera di tempeste e forti mareggiate.

Il sedimento è costituito principalmente da un packstone/grainstone ricco in resti di coralli, alghe corallinacee, bivalvi, gasteropodi, echinidi e foraminiferi. Sembrano esserci zone a maggiore concentrazione di coralli in posizione di vita (probabilmente piccoli patch-reefs o chiazze coralline) che si alternano a zone dove sabbia e detrito sono più abbondanti. Dal punto di vista paleontologico, i coralli sono sicuramente i fossili più rappresentati e ben visibili. Si tratta esclusivamente di esacoralli (ordine Scleractinia) quasi tutti di tipo coloniale; rarissime le forme solitarie. Su un totale di circa 300 esemplari visti in affioramento, un buon 30% è costituito da Porites, il 15% da Favites, il 13% da Tarbellastrea e l’11% da Pavona. Le colonie coralline appaiono piuttosto sviluppate in dimensioni e assumono le forme di crescita più varie: si passa da colonie dall’abito massivo-globoso, a colonie dalla forma colonnare, digitata-ramificata fino a colonie di tipo laminare.

Oltre alle forma di crescita che costituisce una peculiarità del sito, si possono osservare altri aspetti interessanti come le bande di crescita ognuna delle quali corrisponde al livello occupato dal bordo calcinale del corallo durante la crescita, oppure le numerose tracce di organismi litofagi che hanno infestato alcune colonie coralline.

Questi coralli sono l’eccezionale testimonianza della scogliera che nel corso dell’Oligocene (circa 25 milioni di anni fa) si instaurò lungo la parte meridionale – orientale della penisola salentina costituendone, in questi luoghi, l’ambiente di retroscogliera: qui, a seguito di onde di tempesta e forti mareggiate, il sedimento del fronte della scogliera veniva ridistribuito verso l’interno (Bosellini et al., 1992,1993,1994).

I siti di interesse geologico di Vitigliano non si esauriscono agli affioramenti cretacici ed oligocenici: particolarmente importante la vora di Vitigliano, detta anche dei tre ponti (Figura 6). Questa cavità carsica, che si estende per almeno 225m di ramificazioni e per 37m di dislivello secondo le ricerche degli speleologi, raccoglie le acque di una vasta area afferente oltre che quelle che vi confluiscono a mezzo di tre canali. Parzialmente occlusa dalla vegetazione, l’esplorazione della vora è comunque assolutamente sconsigliata se non con le relative autorizzazioni ed in compagnia di personale speleologico qualificato.

L’itinerario proposto, così riccamente geologico, non potrà che stimolare la fantasia dell’esploratore nell’immaginazione dei paesaggi che un tempo dovevano caratterizzare questa porzione di territorio e trova giusta meta proprio nel “giardino delle favole di pietra” di Pippi Ciullo. Ciullo era affascinato dalla ricchezza paleontologica delle rocce che estraeva nonché dall’incredibile varietà di forme che queste assumevano tanto da raccoglierne le più singolari ed utilizzarle per la costruzione dei trulli che oggi possiamo osservare. In essi, incredibilmente incastonati, l’esploratore potrà divertirsi ad individuare splendidi esemplari di rudiste ed ammoniti (Cefalopodi) per poi godersi, dal ciglio della scarpata che delimita la Serra di Poggiardo, lo splendido panorama del tratto costiero di Santa Cesarea (Margiotta, 2016).

Pippi Ciullo nelle parole del figlio Angelo

Pippi Ciullo nasce a Vitigliano, frazione di Santa Cesarea Terme in provincia di Lecce, il 27 luglio del 1940 e scompare nel 2003. Dalle parole del figlio Angelo si delinea la figura di questo cavatore di pietre, che sin da piccolo mostra una passione per le pietre fuori dall’ordinario, tanto da iniziare a raccogliere quelle che gli apparivano più belle già dall’età di tredici anni.

Sig. Angelo, innanzitutto la ringrazio molto per la disponibilità e passo subito alle domande. Che cosa dicevano in famiglia di questa particolare e precoce passione di Pippi?

In realtà mio padre per un certo periodo smette di portare a casa le pietre, anche se continua a fare il cavatore fino ai diciassette anni, perché in effetti la cosa appariva un po’ fuori dal comune ai suoi familiari. Poi parte per fare il militare e dopo, come tanti salentini primi di lui, va a lavorare in Svizzera. Quando torna nel Salento, nel 1969, decide di comprare proprio la cava dove aveva lavorato da ragazzo ed inizia l’attività di commercio della breccia. A questo punto si risveglia in lui l’antica passione e intorno alla metà degli anni Settanta ricomincia a raccogliere le pietre.

Quando suo padre inizia a capire che quelle pietre non erano solo belle ma anche interessanti dal punto di vista geologico?

Dobbiamo arrivare agli anni Novanta prima che alla raccolta si affianchi anche lo studio di libri sui fossili e sulle stratificazioni geologiche nel Salento.

Nel frattempo la raccolta cresce e si arricchisce di meravigliosi esemplari …

… e lui comincia ad usare le pietre per realizzare con le sue proprie mani delle piccole costruzioni a secco: è il primo nucleo del “Giardino delle favole di pietra”, a cui si dedicherà pienamente dopo la morte della moglie nel 1990, costruendo nel tempo anche i muretti a secco di confine dei terreni in località Porto Miggiano ricevuti dalla famiglia in assegnazione con la Riforma Agraria, e dove ha raccolto anche rocce zoomorfe di grandi dimensioni. Alla metà degli anni Novanta prende forma l’idea di creare un «museo naturale», come lo chiamava lui, e da adesso in poi tutto il suo tempo lo dedica a finire i muretti di confine e a realizzare due specie di piccole “pagghiare”, le tipiche costruzioni contadine del Salento, nelle cui pareti possiamo ammirare straordinari esempi di rocce, fossili e coralli.

A questo punto anche l’erudizione di Pippi è cresciuta e lui è finalmente consapevole anche dell’importanza di quelle pietre e di quelle rocce.

Infatti, proprio questa consapevolezza lo porta a cercare il supporto culturale e scientifico di studiosi con i quali misura le proprie conoscenze sull’origine geologica e sulla importanza paleontologica degli esemplari raccolti, acquisite dal confronto tra letture solitarie e indagini visive degli stessi esemplari, alcuni dei quali racchiudono fossili di eccezionale rilevanza anche dal punto di vista storico. Come logica conseguenza di questa consapevolezza prende piede l’idea, già realizzata nel «museo naturale», di creare una raccolta strutturata da ospitare in un museo più tradizionale, da mettere a disposizione del territorio e di tutti i visitatori del Salento.

Quando nasce il Museo dei fossili a Vitigliano?

Dopo la sua scomparsa nel 2003 l’idea di un museo vero e proprio inizia a concretizzarsi con la decisione dell’Amministrazione di Santa Cesarea Terme di trovare un edificio dove allestire la raccolta. La catalogazione degli esemplari inizia nel 2007 a cura del Museo di Storia Naturale del Salento di Calimera, ed in particolare di Luigi Merico, finchè nel 2008 il Sindaco dell’epoca decide di mettere a disposizione i locali al piano terreno di un edificio antico di Vitigliano, Palazzo Gargasole, dove il 21 dicembre nasce il piccolo Museo a lui dedicato e tuttora visitabile (Figura 9, 10).

E ora chi porta avanti la “missione” di Pippi Ciullo …

Mio padre ha fatto un inestimabile regalo al Salento ed io ho preso l’impegno di tutelare il patrimonio che ci ha lasciato e per il quale ha dedicato tante energie e tanta passione. Il mio obiettivo è mettere a disposizione di tutto il territorio il Museo dei fossili in un nuovo e più adeguato allestimento, obiettivo che l’Amministrazione comunale ha condiviso con la disponibilità di alcuni ambienti al piano primo del Palazzo Gargasole, nei quali speriamo presto di poter ospitare la collezione, magari anche ampliata con ulteriori e splendidi esemplari.

Palazzo Gargasole a Vitigliano

Il Palazzo Gargasole è un pregevole edificio la cui originaria costruzione, pesantemente rimaneggiata ai primi del Novecento, risale al XVII secolo.

Con gli interventi effettuati intorno al 1933 il prospetto principale ha subito un arretramento, con conseguente allargamento della sede stradale che oggi si apre in uno slargo denominato piazza Umberto I, da cui si accede al Palazzo attraverso il portale d’ingresso fuori asse rispetto alla composizione architettonica.

Il prospetto principale è articolato orizzontalmente su due livelli: al piano terra il suddetto portale è inserito in una tessitura a bugnato liscio rettangolare, al piano nobile è sovrastato da una graziosa loggia che si ripete sul lato destro del balcone centrale dalla balaustra in pietra a colonnine spanciate come quelle delle due logge.

Attualmente appare un tutt’uno con l’adiacente e coevo Palazzo Ciullo, del quale rispetta proporzioni ed allineamenti; il prospetto laterale su via Regina Margherita è liscio e privo di decorazioni, e segue l’andamento non rettilineo tipico della viabilità di epoca medievale.

La lettura verticale della facciata ci rimanda un’immagine simmetrica tripartita di chiara impostazione Neoclassica: le partizioni laterali, uguali tra loro, ospitano ciascuna un portone inquadrato in un arco ribassato e strombato al piano terra ed il citato loggiato al piano primo, nel quale si apre una portafinestra a edicola; la partizione centrale, leggermente agettante, contiene inferiormente un semplice ingresso, più piccolo rispetto ai laterali, e superiormente il citato balcone su cui si apre una portafinestra sovrastata da un timpano ad arco spezzato.

Nelle sale al piano nobile gli ambienti presentano tutti volte a stella finemente decorate eccetto una, con una volta a botte con testata a padiglione, più grande rispetto alle altre. I pavimenti musivi che distinguono i vari ambienti propongono decori a motivo geometrico con inserti floreali, tipici del periodo, che si può ipotizzare possano essere frutto delle abili mani dei fratelli Peluso, Antonio e Ippazio Luigi, maestri di quest’arte e particolarmente attivi all’epoca.

Palazzo Gargasole rappresenta un importante riferimento culturale locale in quanto ospita al suo interno anche la Biblioteca Comunale ed il Museo degli Orologi e delle Torri Civiche; quest’ultimo conserva orologi dei primi del Novecento che hanno accompagnato per quasi un secolo lo scandire del tempo sulle Torri municipali delle tre località di Santa Cesarea Terme, Vitigliano e Cerfignano.

Conclusioni

Attualmente le intenzioni dell’Ammnistrazione comunale sembrano ben orientate alla valorizzazione del territorio non solo dal punto di vista meramente turistico ma anche da quello della conoscenza più approfondita delle caratteristiche intrinseche del territorio stesso.

Con valorizzazione noi intendiamo non solo mettere in atto una politica culturale che susciti una sempre più diffusa attenzione da parte degli studiosi nei riguardi della zona di cui si tratta in questo testo, ma anche porre maggiore cura nella progettazione della fase successiva allo studio e alla ricerca, che è quella della disseminazione dei risultati e della fruizione museale da parte di tutti del patrimonio materiale già a disposizione e/o riscoperto.

Il museo dei fossili a Vitigliano può rappresentare un sito centrale di raccordo dell’importante patrimonio geologico che la frazione di Santa Cesarea ed il Comune stesso (ricordiamo che nel territorio sono presenti anche le sorgenti termali) custodisce nelle sue rocce. Per questo è necessario che i siti di interesse geologico brevemente descritti siano tutelati e valorizzati. Allo scopo di divulgare e promuovere tali peculiarità si potrebbe realizzare un sito web tematico particolarmente indirizzato a turisti e visitatori. Il sito potrebbe fornire anche proposte di itinerari naturalistici, culturali ed enogastronomici aggiornando il visitatore ad esempio su iniziative in programma sul territorio (feste patronali, sacre, spettacoli) ma anche fornendo interessanti spunti per fruire e conoscere la zona in modo sostenibile, nel rispetto dei luoghi e dell’ambiente.

In sintesi il Museo dei fossili di Vitigliano potrebbe accogliere una stazione multimediale nella quale dovrebbe essere presente un:

portale ossia un sito che consenta sia di accedere alle informazioni di ciascun sito sia alle attività di informazione e divulgazione che ai sentieri che verranno ideati;

webgis cioè di un applicazione contenuta nel portale che consentirà la consultazione mediante browser web su una mappa interattiva delle informazioni relative ai singoli siti;

database ossia un’applicazione del portale che consente la gestione in apposite schede di tutti i siti scelti

sistema di link ossia di collegamenti ai siti tematici più importanti che trattano il territorio di Vitigliano e Santa Cesarea.

Tutti gli applicativi dovrebbero essere realizzati con software open source ed i contenuti del sito saranno accessibili anche a tablet android, smartphone e dispositin iOS (iPhone e iPAD).

Inoltre in ciascuna delle aree individuate potrebbero essere installati dei sistemi tipo QR-CODE che indirizzano al sito tematico. Inoltre all’interno dei Qr code potrebbero essere immessi testi, numeri di telefono, o sms: questi saranno leggibili da qualsiasi smartphone o tablet.

Bibliografia

F.R. Bosellini, C. Perrin, The coral fauna of Vitigliano: qualitative and quantitative analysis ina back reef environment (Castro Limetsone, Late Oligocene, Salento Peninsula, Southern Italy). Bollettino della Società Paleontological Italiana 33(2): 171-180, 1994

F.R. Bosellini, A. Russo, Stop 2-Vitigliano: la facies di retro scogliera. XII Convegno Società Paleontologica Italiana. Guida alle escursioni. Conte Editore, 33-34, 1993

F.R. Bosellini, A. Russo, The Castro Limestone: stratigraphy and facies of an oligocene fringing reef (Salento Peninsula, southern Italy). Facies, 26: 145 – 166, 1992

P. De Castro, Osservazioni paleontologiche sul Cretaceo della località tipo di Raadshovenia salentina e su Pseudochubbina n.g. . Quad. Acc. Pont. , 10:116pp, 1990

A. Laviano, G. Sirna G., I calcari a rudiste di Poggiardo. Guida alle escursioni. XII Società Paleontologica Italiana, 21-27, 1993

A. Laviano, Late Cretaceous rudist assemblages from the Salento Peninsula (Southern Italy). Geologica Romana, 32: 1-14, 1996

S. Margiotta, Salento da esplorare, Capone Editore, 176pp., 2016

Sladic-Trifunovic, Pironea Pseudopolyconites Senonian of the Apulian plate: paleobiogeographic correlations and biostratigraphy. Memorie Soc. Geol. It., 40: 149-162, 1987

M. Sladic-Trifunovic, V. Campobasso, Pseudopolyconites and Colveraias from Maastrichtian of Poggiardo (Lecce, Puglia), Italy. Ann Geol. Pen. Balkanique, 43-44: 273-286, 1980

già pubblicato nel volume “Pietra su Pietra” a cura di Mario Spedicato, Lecce, Grifo, 2017.

Tutte le foto sono di Cristina Caiulo

* architetto, libera professionista

** DISTEBA, Università del Salento

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samimarkart · 1 year

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Packstone Excavation

2023, 51x44 inches, hand dyed cotton with textile discharge painting and cotton thread (hand quilted)

i was thinking about my fossil soup stones I collected in michigan last summer and naturally had to make a quilt. all the fossil shapes were hand painted with decolorant instead of appliqué as I was thinking about the process of excavation and removal.

#quilt #quilting #hand quilting #fiber art #textile #fossils #crinoids #queer artist

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amandaroyce99 · 7 years

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Headed to Motown for Parker’s first follow up after we drop off a croupy Packston off at school😊

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heathersunseri · 7 years

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IT, Chuck Wendig, and Nostalgia for the 80's

IT, Chuck Wendig, and Nostalgia for the 80’s

Good morning! My favorite thing to do on a Saturday is get up early before everyone else in the house is up (yes, I know I’m weird) and just surf the net for entertaining reads or Pinterest pictures or whatever. I say I’m getting up to finish the story I’m working on for you guys (the one where I tell you what happened to Charley Packstone after she went into witness protection after Cut in…

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littlethoughtsandfeelings · 7 years

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The Bachelor Australia 2017 Recap - Episode 1

The Bachelor Australia 2017 Recap S2 E1

I debated whether or not to review this season of The Bachelor. I recapped Georgia Love’s season of The Bachelorette, and I’m pretty sure my boyfriend was the only one who read those reviews, but here we go again.

Full disclosure: Those who read my Bachelorette Season 2 reviews will know that I wasn’t the hugest fan of Matty J. Nothing against him, he just wasn’t my number one pick for Georgia. However, I am super excited to see him (hopefully) find someone as gregarious and upbeat as him. However, if those pesky producers pull another bait and switch on us, I think that’ll be the last straw. (Let’s be honest, just until the ads roll around for the following year). On with the show!

Oh, Osher. How I have missed your liquid caramel voice! And that music! Oh, god I love this show.

I don’t think I can ever watch that clip of Georgia telling Matty J he wasn’t the one and he puts his hands on his knees without feeling a little pang in my heart. And a pang in my soul for being so STUPID TO HAVE NOT REALISED THE BAIT AND SWITCH.

Cue shirtless-on-the-beach-looking-into-the-distance clip! And exciting, heart warming, vomit inducing montage of the season. What? That wasn’t what it was supposed to do?

Now, breaking news, Matty J was on The Project before tonight’s episode informing everyone he has officially dropped the J. Just…Matty. Previous readers might think I was elated with this news, given how much I hated the nickname when he was first introduced. But if I’m honest, Matty just sounds kind of… empty (insert joke here about empty heart and looking for love).

I swear the editors have a little checklist beside their computer of how to open every season of The Bachelor:

- Running on the beach shirtless? Check!

- De-saturated montage of heartbreak? Check!

- But now I’m totally over it and it’s totally fine speech? Check!

OH THAT’S RIGHT. HIS TERRIFYING SISTER. AND THE NEPHEW. THE WEIRD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NEPHEW.

He’s “cooking” with his mum in the kitchen. By “cooking”, I mean refusing to cut the avocado due to some genetic rash-inducing phobia.

Then, Matty’s mum expresses her generic trepidation that he might get his heart broken again, before saying about last season’s let-down: “It was really hard for me.” Yeah well guess what, Mum? It was PROBABLY REALLY FUCKING HARD FOR MATTY J TOO.

- Slow-mo dressing at dusk? Check!

- City pan? Check!

- Close-up limo shots? Check!

I swear, if you showed me the opening to all of the seasons, you could correlate them scene. by. scene. Which is fine. But… does anyone maybe want to do something different? Throw a different shot in? What if there was just an elephant shooting water from its trunk just shoved in the middle to see if people catch it? That’s what I would do. But hey, I guess if you’ve got a format that’s working, then why change it?

Matty and Osher meet up in front of the mansion. There’s some snooze-inducing filler-talk about love at first conversation. Yawn. A slow burn. Yawn. Even Osher’s trying to jazz it up with his leading questions but tbh, I’m only watching for the arrivals section.

Like I did last year, I’ll break down the arrivals for each lovely lady:

Alix is the first girl. Her description says, “body painter” so we all know not to take her seriously. She’s wearing an orange dress with lots of cut-outs. I think there might be more cut-outs than actual fabric. Sorry, she says the dress is red. So we know she’s a tiiiiiiiny bit colour-blind, but that’s cool. Alix has conveniently placed body paint on her arm to talk about her work and Matty pretends to be interested. As she walks away, Matty says, “She is… pretty.” And I have laughed my first belly laugh of the season. Nup. Not the one.

Tara is next. She’s a nanny. She loves kids. (And if you remember from the montage shoved down our throat 5 minutes earlier, MATTY J ALSO LOVES KIDS. SPECIFICALLY HIS NEPHEW). Tara says, “Both of my sisters are married with children, so I’m the last one.” Ah yes, the perils of being a spinster. (Side note: I think in her talking head we hear someone question “Five hours”. Correct me if I’m wrong, but is this the first time we’ve heard someone speak behind the camera? WHO ARE YOU, MYSTERY VOICE? TELL ME WHAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES! I think it’s pretty telling that I’m more interested in this than Tara). The convo’s a bit awkward if we’re honest. Matty even throws in, “Yeah. It’s a nice house.” Oh, she has tats. And she conveniently forgets which ear she has a smiley face tattooed behind. Never thought I’d be writing that sentence in my life. She’s immediately injected into Cool Girl status, by “accidentally” saying “mate” and “ay” at the end of sentences. Look, she’s one of the boizzzzzzz. She’s got a great dress, but she’s not the one.

Laura is a jewellery designer. She’s wearing a pants suit and seems much too sensible to be on this show. She makes a joke about bringing a cob loaf, which totally would have shot her straight to top three at least. The way to a man’s heart, and all that. There’s a bit of light flirtation about Matty wearing one of her rings. He says it’s appealing that she is hardworking *cough lives in Sydney cough* and is passionate about what she does *cough lives in Sydney cough*. She seems nice enough, but still not the one.

Now, Cobie! I’ve seen Cobie on the ads, and from that ten second clip I’m confident I know everything about her. But seriously, she seems quirky and funny and just like Matty J. (Remember the quiz game he made for Georgia? Cobie would totally do that kind of thing for him). She comes in with a bunch of balloons and sucks the helium and introduces herself. I thought it was sweet and cute, but they’re playing clown music underneath, which would suggest she’s not the one. Cobie reveals that she works in mining as a coal plant operator. She should have brought a piece of coal into the mansion for him! (For those reading overseas, this is a cutting-edge joke about an event that occurred recently with our politicians. It’s very funny and witty. Trust me).

And now we begin the montage, starting with Simone, who is very… white. From the hair to the teeth to the dress. Then we have Elise, Monica, Laura-Ann, Elizabeth, Steph, Sharlene, Stacey, and Sian. And as we all know, montage girls don’t get picked.

Our lovely montage (yawn) ends on Jennifer, who wants to be “dipped”. Jennifer, a question: Is a manufactured “dip” a “real dip”? I mean, it’s not French Onion, is it? (Ha! See, you’ve all missed me).

Cue clown music again, this time for Natalie, who is a midwife (REMEMBER MATTY J LOVES CHILDREN. ESPECIALLY HIS NEPHEW). She’s just wearing glitter body paint. Kidding, but hey, it could be. It’s just a very skin-coloured dress. Natalie admits to stalking Matty on Instagram, and says the word “moist”. Lololol let’s all get on board the internet bandwagon where we all think “moist” is a gross word and oh look how relevant she’s being, and dorky, and sweet. Sigh. And then, just when I think all hope is lost for Natalie, she reveals she has dated “a woman”. She’s BI! IS THIS THE FIRST NON-HETERO BACHELOR CONTESTANT?! THIS IS INCREDIBLE. But then she says she hopes Matty can, “Turn me straight again.” Um, I’m not 100% sure it works like that, Nat. And I’m also not sure if this comment is going to help the disgusting political opinion that you can just change your sexuality on a whim. I wish I thought better of the producers than to include this, but I don’t. And then, in case things couldn’t get any worse, SHE SNIFFS HER FINGERS AFTER MEETING MATTY J. SHE SAYS THEY SMELL LIKE HIM. WHAT RATING IS THIS SHOW FOR CHRIST’S SAKE?! (Also, question: Are we sure this isn’t just Georgia Love in a wig?).

Now for the contrived moment we saw in twenty thousand ads, a police car comes in. From the ads I assumed she was just being driven in and I completely rolled me eyes, but this… this I can get on board with! SHE’S DRIVING HERSELF! IN A COP CAR! There’s a brief, unnecessary ad break before Constable Packston introduces herself. She entered with a handshake and in a cop car and THIS. WOMAN. MEANS. BUSINESS. Her first name is Michelle, and Matty accidentally (?) admits he’s been in the back of a police car, because… he peed in a bush when he was 18. Could this show be any more PG13 if it tried? Michelle seems much too sensible for this show, but they have good banter. Until Matty asks her to “mock arrest” him, in some sort of sex foreplay ritual. Matty says, “You’re quite strong for a…” (Don’t say woman, don’t say woman, don’t say woman…) “…Someone with a petite frame.” Nice work Matty! She seems great. I would say that the gag might prevent you from winning, but Lee came in with a frickin donkey, so all bets are off.

Belinda arrives already in a wedding dress, just in case Matty decides to call it all off on the first night. Her description says “Love Coach”, and I’m out. Belinda puts her hand over Matty’s heart while he does the same to her in some kind of trust exercise which also seems like a foreplay ritual. She’s also got an egg timer. Urgh, this is so awkward. Let’s just move right on.

To…Florence. She’s from Holland. She is also wearing orange… red. WHY ARE THESE COLOURS SO SIMILAR?! She’s brought something from Holland. It’s… clogs! For... traditional reasons! Right. Yes, Matty J will keep those and treasure them forever.

Next there are feet. Bare feet but she’s walking on her tippy toes, which doesn’t make sense. Oh, wait. She’s ribbon dancing. Jesus. Well, props to amping up the parade aspects of the introductions. And then, this woman, whose name is apparently Akoulina, actually says, “I wrap myself up and I present myself as a present to you. Will you accept me?” This is my face right now: :| You can guess what my answer would have been to her question.

But all of this nonsense leads us seamlessly into… Lisa. Who has romantic music, and is in a JUMPSUIT. And she looks FIERCE! Even Matty J comments on it. She’s very tall, and apparently that’s her defining feature. (Question: Why do we still use feet for our heights in Australia? We use the metric system for everything else). Matty is smitten. Lisa also reveals that she played competitive tennis for twelve years, which is cool. No joke there, that just really is cool. She seems nice, and he seems to like her. Matty’s talking head says, “She took my breath away.” Calm down, Matty! I thought you were open to a slow burn?!

Oh, no. Poor Leah has made a mistake and worn her lingerie tonight. Nice move, producers. I’m guessing the villain due to the over-sexualisation and the black dress? She’s now messing up his hair. (Side note: Is Mrs Osher still the hair stylist on this show? I would be so pissed if I was her. How dare Leah ruin that perfect quiff!). She also makes him spin twice, which should be an effort in reversing the sexism on this show, but actually comes across kind of creepy and awkward. She literally tells him she wants him to f her right there. Well, she may as well have.

Alright, first shot in the house! Leah makes an entrance. Oh boy does she make an entrance. Cobie stops her and introduces herself. Nice, Cobie.

Apparently Leah is ignoring everyone. (Did she?) Oh yep, apparently she did. All I see is her greeting everyone. Right. Villain. Tara does a little bit of slut-shaming here but I’m guessing we’re all ok with it because Leah is our villain lololol. Someone (honestly, I have no idea who anyone is. It’s the first night) says Leah is wearing her dress, but in black. OH YEAH. THEY’RE IN THE SAME DRESS. Do you think this was a last-minute re-write when costuming figured it out? *Loud whisper* PSSST, JUST MAKE IT INTO A PLOT POINT. THEY’LL NEVER KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

Then we have some contrived dramahhhh with the girls. Something happens but it’s boring and then OSHER WALKS IN! OSHERRRRRR! Save me from this boredom! He introduces them to the rose system, just in case any of them are aliens and have no idea how this show works. Matty gives them all a pep talk, because he totes knows how they’re feeling. (REMEMBER, HE’S BEEN ON THE SHOW BEFORE).

Osher interrupts Matty because he totally forgot to mention this really important thing before. Silly Osher! This year, they have the Secret Garden, which in this context (as far as I know) isn’t a euphemism or a piece of classic literature, but a literal secret garden where they can have uninterrupted one-on-one time. What? No white rose? What a let-down…

The first girl Matty wants to speak to is Laura, the jewellery designer. The girls make a comment that she’s similar to Georgia. Really? I didn’t pick it. I mean, if we’re going to do a parallel, make it with Natalie. I swear it’s just Georgia in a wig!

Then, the power cuts out. This is apparently intentional and not due to the fact that EVERY DAMN LIGHT IN THE MANSION IS TURNED ON. DID EARTH HOUR TEACH YOU NOTHING, PEOPLE?!

And… there’s a fire dancer, because at this point, of course there is. There’s a brief ad break as the girls predictably freak out and keep asking if it’s an intruder. GUYS. IT CAN’T BE AN INTRUDER ON THE FIRST NIGHT. BY THAT LOGIC, YOU’RE ALL INTRUDERS!

Akoulina says the new girl was “Walking up to Matty and saying, ‘Look at me! Look at me!’”. Says the girl who literally did a ribbon dance.

So this exotic fire twirler’s name is Elora. She’s from Tahiti. So… she’s the reason we’re exempt from the white-washing complaint this year? Side note: I don’t really understand why the girls hold her coming in later as her fault. She doesn’t construct this show.

Elora actually seems nice, and Matty J says he feels a spark. THE SLOW BURN, MATTY. REMEMBER THE SLOW BURN. Leah (our lingerie-clad villain) makes a comment about Elora coming in half dressed, and the editors and producers don’t let me down and cut to a clip of Leah in her lingerie-dress. THIS IS THE SASS I’M HERE FOR.

Elora is described as “Sex on Legs” as she walks to steal Matty J from talking to…someone. Again, I have no idea who anyone is yet.

Akoulina, not one to be beaten with theatrics, does a ribbon twirl routine for the ladies to show how much better she is than Elora. Maybe she’s trying to seduce the girls? I’m at a loss to find any other reason for her behaviour.

Matty J, speaking alone with Elora, is interrupted by Meanie McMean Pants. Matty, God bless his soul, calmly offers for her to take a seat alongside them, but unfortunately Meanie gets away with it. Man, I want to see what’s been cut out of this section. McMean Pants says, “You’re going to see plenty of crazy”, referring to the other girls in the house. Matty, not skipping a beat, asks, “Is much of it coming from yourself?” My second belly laugh ensues.

Because you’re definitely wondering, here’s what I would do if I was the Bachelor: I’d write out a list of names of all the people, and divide up the time of the cocktail party with the number of people. I would then allocate a time to each individual and provide everyone with a watch. I would tell the people that I will come to them to collect them for their allotted 15 minute chat. Obviously I get why this isn’t the way they do it, and that they need the dramahhh, but honestly, how hard is a bit of organisation people?!

Anyway, in a weird montage that the intern definitely got to work on that week, we see that all the girls love Natalie the finger-sniffer. Then she does something with her leg, and for some reason this is a revelation. Quickly becoming our Villain Number Two, Jennifer asks, “What kind of woman does that? It’s grubby and dirty. I don’t act like that, because I’m a ladyyyyyyyyyy.” And I didn’t even have to exaggerate that last word, how handy. Leah, our villain number one, questions if anyone would even date Natalie. Well, it doesn’t look like you have a lot of offers either, mate. You’re on a DATING SHOW for Christ’s sake. Gosh women can be horrible to each other.

So I looked away for a second and apparently someone said someone else’s dress was awful and this is apparently a cause for tears and dramahhh. Sorry, “putrid”. Of course, Villain Number Two, Jennifer, is involved. The blonde lady, who I’m pretty sure is named Elizabeth, explains that they was mud on Jennifer’s dress and that’s why she said it was putrid. All credit to her, Natalie does a great impression of the fight, using blah blah blahs.

Jennifer says that she doesn’t want drama because she’s not a “drama-filled person”. THIRD BELLY LAUGH. This fight couldn’t be more boring if they tried. And they are trying, very hard. A fight over a dress? Righto. We must be scraping the bottom of the barrel for this season. Jennifer ironically says Elizabeth is this year’s Keira. HOW DARE YOU STAND WHERE SHE STOOD, PEASANT! And this solidifies Jen as Villain Number 2.

Leah (Villain Number 1. Phew, this is so exhausting) says she wants to show Matty her secret garden. AGAIN, WHAT RATING IS THIS SHOW?!

But then Matty comes from nowhere and invites Lisa to The Secret Garden. I know I’ve already said it, but she is ROCKING that jumpsuit. He says that she stood out on the red carpet, and he’s totally lost in her eyes. To be honest, Lisa seems a bit too cool for this. Matty says he can imagine her in her track pants on the couch chilling out, and I totally agree. Right, we have a front-runner.

Next, Jen has some one on one time with Matty. Michelle (our badass Police Officer) says she and Jen are different people, and I’m definitely on Michelle’s side. Don’t try to mess with a cop. She’ll win every time.

MATTY HAS GRABBED THE FIRST ROSE. I REPEAT: THE ROSE HAS BEEN GOTTENED. AND HE GIVES IT TO MICHELLE! MICHELLE WAS JUST SAYING SHE HASN’T SPOKEN TO HIM YET. OMG MICHELLE! YAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSS! So happy for her. She seems great. Another front-runner.

They’re all freaking out about the rose ceremony, as if they didn’t expect one to happen. There’s lots of scripted bitchiness from our Villain Number 1, Leah. I swear, they’re not even trying to make it sound like natural dialogue anymore. She says there’s lots of filler, and I actually agree with her. Yes, Leah. THERE IS A LOT OF FILLER. (Imagine this previous line said slowly while staring directly with wide eyes at Leah).

Oh, wow. We return from the ad break straight to the rose ceremony. Has anyone ever noticed that there is never a conclusion to the cocktail party? I assume it’s just because they film for hours and ply them with alcohol to get content and then just figure out how they’ll edit it later, but still. They could at least try to bring the storylines to some kind of conclusion before just cutting away.

Osher introduces… Matty. See, it still feels empty. Two are going home tonight, so I’m guessing two montage girls? Let’s place bets. Hmmm let’s go with Monica and Akoulina.

Dammit Akoulina got picked. Jennifer gets picked which makes sense because she’s still in disguise with Matty as Classy Dipping Girl.

The final three are Elizabeth, Monica, and Stacey. No, I don’t know who these people are either.

Elizabeth hopes that what happened with Jen didn’t cloud Matty’s judgement of her. Um, babe, I don’t think he was even there, was he? I don’t think he gives a shit.

But Elizabeth gets picked and crisis is averted. Monica and Stacey are going home. Monica’s goodbye is quite sad. She says there are some big personalities in the house, which she can’t compete with. I actually feel kind of bad for her. But unfortunately, you can’t stand out on this show without a big personality.

Next Episode: Are they swimming naked? And… Cheerleading. Just in case the casual misogyny was too subtle.

First Episode Picks: Lisa and Michelle.

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