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Alessandro Montanari is a world renowned Italian geologist. He is the director of the Coldigioco Osservatorio Geologico. He is most famous for his collaboration with Walter Alvarez. He is also known as Sandro.

Walter Alvarez (centre) and Alessandro Montanari (right) at the original site of the discovery of the dinosaur extinction evidence near Gubbio, Italy.

Alessandro Montanari is a remarkable scientist, with a long list of discoveries relating to Earth history. In addition he has built, starting from nothing, an important institute of geological research and teaching that now attracts researchers and students from all over the world.

— Jean Baptiste Lamarck Medal 2007, Alessandro Montanari

Biography

"Sandro" was born in Ancona, July 25, 1954. In 1968, at the age of 14, he joined the Marche Speleological Group GSM-CAI of Ancona and participated in expeditions at Frasassi and in other karstic localities of the Umbria-Marche Apennines, where he conducted research in the fields of stratigraphic geology, paleoclimate, and neotectonics.

He obtained his Laurea degree in geology at the University of Urbino in 1979. Shortly afterwards he moved to the United States where, in 1986, he received his Ph.D. at the University of California in Berkeley.

In 1992, he returned to Italy with his family, near the town of Apiro, inland of his birthplace of Ancona, in the Marche region of central Italy, in a semi-abandoned hilltop hamlet called Coldigioco.

He lives in Coldigioco with his wife Paula Metallo, an artist from Syracuse, USA, and has two children Fiorenza and Maxwell.

Osservatorio Geologico di Coldigioco

Walter Alvarez, with the support of Sandro Montanari (centre front), helped to organize a meeting of Big Historians at the Geological Observatory at Coldigioco in Italy in 2010 which resulted in the establishment of the International Big History Association.

Alesandro Montanari is the director of the Geological Observatory of Coldigioco, near Ancona, in the Marche region of Italy. It is in the Apennine mountains of central Italy.

The Osservatorio Geologico di Coldigioco (OGC) is an independent center for research and education in geology, art, and cuisine. Located in the beautiful, tiny hilltop village of Coldigioco in the Apennine mountains of central Italy, OGC consists of sleeping, eating, and living facilities, geological labs, art studios, kitchens, and a small fleet of vehicles. Sandro Montanari and Paula Metallo run OGC with assistance from friends and colleagues from the U.S.A. and Europe.

— Osservatorio Geologico di Coldigioco (Geological Observatory of Coldigioco)

A considerable number of Geoscientists have collaborated with Sandro over many years, including:

• Walter Alvarez, University of California, Berkeley
• Dave Bice, Penn State University
• Christian Koeberl, University of Vienna
• Jan Smit (paleontologist), Free University of Amsterdam
• Jenn Macalady, Penn State University
• Greg Druschel, University of Vermont

Academic Achievements

By 2023 Alessandro Montanari had published over 150 peer-reviewed scientific papers, written, edited, or co-edited several books, and has received several distinctions, including the European Geosciences Union Jan Baptiste Lamark Medal, 2007; Fellow of the Geological Society of America, 2010; Marie Curie Fellowship 2010 from the European Commission. In 2010 he was elected a Corresponding Member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.

Montanari’s contributions to stratigraphy are numerous and important. He made a systematic effort to attach numerical ages to the subdivisions of the Early Tertiary by dating air-fall volcanic crystals in Umbria-Marche pelagic carbonates. His work showed that there had been only one single, large impact at the KT boundary. His team discovered evidence for multiple impact events in the rocks just below the Eocene-Oligocene boundary, later connected with Popigai in Siberia and Chesapeake in the US. He was one of the leaders of the stratigraphic research that led to Massignano, near Ancona, being selected as the global type section for the Eocene- Oligocene boundary. He has studied the stratigraphy of the Late Eocene and the Eocene- Oligocene boundary for more than 20 years and has made very important contributions to this area of research. With Farley and Shoemaker, Montanari pioneered the use of helium isotopic measurements thus documenting a comet shower in the late Eocene.

Subsequently he has been involved in research aimed at establishing the GSSP for the Rupelian-Chattian and base-Tortonian sections. Montanari has done stratigraphic field studies in a number of places outside Italy, most notably in Mexico, where he was part of the team that discovered impact ejecta precisely at the KT boundary in stratigraphic sections only a few hundred km from the Chicxulub crater, thus demonstrating that that crater dates from exactly the time of the KT mass extinction.

Jean Baptiste Lamarck Medal 2007, Alessandro Montanari

Publications

1992

Montanari, A., 1992, The Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary in Mexico: Lithostratigraphy, preliminary interpretation, and search for geochronometers: Report in the Bulletin of/de Liaison and/et Information, v. 10, p. 16-18.

Montanari, A., 1992, Microtektites as a geochronometer: Report in the Bulletin of/de Liaison and/et Information, v. 10, p. 35-36.

Montanari, A., Coccioni, R., & Odin, G. S., 1992, The Miocene Columbus Project (IUGS-SOG): Progress report on the interdisciplinary stratigraphic and geochronologic studies of the Miocene pelagic sequence in the Apennines: Bulletin of/de Liaison and/et Information, v. 10, p. 19-32.

Smit, J., Montanari, A., Swinburne, N.H.M., Alvarez, W., Hildebrand, A. R., Margolis, S. V., Claeys, P., Lowrie, W., Asaro, F., 1992, Tektite-bearing, deep-water clastic unit at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary in northeastern Mexico. Geology 20(2):99-103.

Smit, J., Alvarez, W., Montanari, A., Swinburne, N., Van Kampen, T. M., Klaver, G. T., & Lustenhouwer, W. J., 1992, "Tektites" and microkrystites at the Cretaceous Tertiary boundary: Two strewn fields, one crater?: Proceedings of Lunar and Planetary Science, v. 22, p. 87-100.

Swisher, C.C. III, Grajales, J, M., Montanari, A., Margolis, S. V., Clayes P., Alvarez, W., Renne, P., Cedillo-Pardo, E., Maurasse, F., Curtis, G. H., Smit, J. and McWilliams, M. O., 1992, Chicxulub crater and K-T boundary tektites from Mexico and Haiti yield 40Ar/39Ar ages of 65 Ma: Science, v. 257, p. 954-958.

1993

>Lowrie, W., Alvarez, W., Montanari, A., Smit, J., 1993, Tektite-bearing, deep-water clastic unit at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary in northeastern Mexico. Geology 21(2):191-192.

Montanari, A., Asaro, F., Kennett, J. P., & Michel, E., 1993, Iridium anomalies of Late Eocene age at Massignano (Italy), and in ODP Site 689B (Maud Rise, Antarctica): Palaios, v. 8, p. 420-437.

1994

Ingram, L., B., Montanari, A., & Coccioni, R., 1994, Strontium isotopic composition of mid-Cretaceous seawater: Science, v. 264, p. 546-550.

Kruge, M.A., Stankiewicz, A., Crelling, J.C., & Montanari, A., 1994, Fossil charcoal in Cretaceous-tertiary boundary strata: Evidence for catastrophic firestorm and megawave: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 58, p. 1393-1397.

Kruge, M. A., Stankiewicz, A. B., & Montanari, A., 1994, Serravallian shales in the Monte dei Corvi pelagic sequence (Ancona, Italy): An organic geochemical perspective: Giornale di Geologia, v. 56, p. 173-182.

Montanari., A., Carey, S., Coccioni, R., & Deino, A., 1994, Sardinian provenance for Lower Miocene tephra in the pelagic sequence of the northeastern Apennines: Tectonics: v. 13, p. 1120-1134.

Montanari, A., Sandroni, P., Clymer, A., Collins, J., Lanci, L., and Lowrie, W., 1994, Preliminary report on a core drilled across the Eocene-Oligocene boundary in the type locality of Massignano (Italy): The Massicore: IUGS-SOG Bulletin de/of Liaison et/and Information, Paris, v. 12, p. 13-16.

Montanari, A., 1994, Tracking down the Popigai: Investigations on a suspect Cenozoic killer: European Science Foundation, Network on Impact Cratering and Evolution of Planet Earth, Post-Östersund Newsletter (Strasbourg), p. 28-31.

Smit, J., Roep, T. B., Alvarez, W. Claeys, P., Montanari, A., 1994, Deposition of channel deposits near the Cretaceous-Tertiary Boundary in northeastern Mexico-Catastrophic or normal sedimentary deposits-Comments. Geology 22(10):953-954.

Vishnevsky, S., & Montanari, A., 1994, Petrography and geochemistry of Popigai impact melt rocks: A selection of material for potentially reliable radioisotopic dating: European Science Foundation, Network on Impact Cratering and Evolution of Planet Earth, Post-Östersund Newsletter (Strasbourg), p. 16-27.

1995

Assorgia, A., Chan, L. S., Deino, A., Garbarino, C., Montanari, A., Rizzo, R., & Tocco, S., 1995, Volcanigenic and paleomagnetic studies on the Cenozoic calc-alkalik eruptive sequence of Monte Furru (Bosa, mid-western Sardinia): Giornale di Geologia, v. 56, p. 17-29.

1996

Alvarez, W., Ammerman, A.J., Renne, P.R., Kramer, D.B., Terrenato, N., & Montanari, A., 1996, Quaternary fluvial-volcanic stratigraphy and geochronology of the Capitoline Hill in Rome, Geology: v. 24, p. 751-754.

Beaudoin, B., M'Ban, E.P., Montanari, A., & Pinault, M., 1996, Stratigraphie haute resolution (<20 ka) dans le Cenomanien du bassin de Marches-Ombrie (Italie) [High-resolution lithostratigraphy in the Cenomanian of the Umbria-Marche Basin (Italy)]: Académie de Sciences, Comptes Rendus, v. 323, p. 689-696.

Clymer, A. Bice, D. M., & Montanari, A., 1996, Shocked quartz from the late Eocene: Impact evidence from Massignano, Italy: Geology, v. 24, p. 483-486.

Lanci, L., Lowrie, W., & Montanari, A., 1996, Magnetostratigraphy of the Eocene/Oligocene boundary in a short drill-core: Earth and Planetary Science Letters 143(1-4):37-48.

Smit, J., Roep, Th. B., Alvarez, W., Montanari, A., Claeys, P., Grajales-Nishimura, J.M., & Bermudez, J., 1996, Coarse grained, clastic sandstone complex at the K/T boundary around the Gulf of Mexico: Deposition by tsunami-waves induced by the Chicxulub impact?: Geological Society of America, Special Paper 307, p. 151-182.

1997

Coccioni, R., Fornaciari, E., Montanari, A., Rio, D., & Zaverboom, D., 1997, Potential integrated stratigraphy of the Aquitanian-Burdigalian Section at Santa Croce di Arcevia (Northeastern Apennines, Italy): in Miocene Stratigraphy: An Integrated Approach, A. Montanari, G.S. Odin, and R. Coccioni ed., Elsevier Science B.V. Developments in Paleontology and Stratigraphy, v. 15, p. 279-296.

Deino, A. Channel, J. Coccioni, R., De Grandis, G., DePaolo, D.J., Emmanuel, L., Fornaciari, S. Laurenzi, M., L., Montanari, M., Renard, M., & Rio, D., 1997, Integrated stratigraphy of the upper Burdigalian-lower Langhian section at Moria (northeastern Apennines, Italy): in Miocene Stratigraphy: An Integrated Approach, A. Montanari, G.S. Odin, and R. Coccioni ed., Elsevier Science B.V. Developments in Paleontology and Stratigraphy, v. 15, p. 315-342.

Hough, R. M., Langenhorst, F., Montanari, A., Pillinger, C. T., & Gilmour, I., 1997, Impact diamonds formed by chemical vapor deposition in the iridium rich K-T boundary layer from Arroyo El Mimbral, Tamaulipas, northeastern Mexico: Geology, v. 25, p. 1019-1023.

Montanari, A., Beaudoin, B., Chan, L., Coccioni, R., Deino, A., DePaolo, D.J., Emmanuel, L., Fornaciari, E., S., Kruge, M., Lundblad, S., Mozzato, C., Portier, E., Renard, M., Rio, D., Sandroni, P., & Stankiewicz, A., 1997, Integrated stratigraphy of the middle to upper Miocene pelagic sequence of the Cònero Riviera (Ancona, Italy): in Miocene Stratigraphy: An Integrated Approach, A. Montanari, G.S. Odin, and R. Coccioni ed., Elsevier Science B.V. Developments in Paleontology and Stratigraphy, v. 15, p. 409-450.

Montanari A., Bice, D.M., Coccioni R., Deino A., DePaolo, D.J., Emmanuel, L., Renard, M., G., Monechi, & Zevenboom, D., 1997, Integrated stratigraphy of the Chattian to mid Burdigalian pelagic sequence of the Contessa Valley (Gubbio, Italy): in Miocene Stratigraphy: An Integrated Approach, A. Montanari, G.S. Odin, and R. Coccioni ed., Elsevier Science B.V. Developments in Paleontology and Stratigraphy, v. 15, p. 249-278.

Montanari, A., Coccioni, R., Fornaciari, E., & Rio, D., 1997, Potential integrated stratigraphy in the Langhian l'Annunziata section near Apiro (Marche region, Italy): in Miocene Stratigraphy: An Integrated Approach, A. Montanari, G.S. Odin, and R. Coccioni ed., Elsevier Science B.V. Developments in Paleontology and Stratigraphy, v. 15, p. 343-350.

Odin, G.S., Deino, A., Cosca, M., Laurenzi, M.A., & Montanari, A., 1997, Miocene geochronology: methods, techniques, and results: in Miocene Stratigraphy: An Integrated Approach, A. Montanari, G.S. Odin, and R. Coccioni ed., Elsevier Science B.V. Developments in Paleontology and Stratigraphy, v. 15, p. 583-596.

Odin, G.S., Montanari, A., & Coccioni, R., 1997, Chronostratigraphy of Miocene Stages: a proposal for the definition of precise boundaries: in Miocene Stratigraphy: An Integrated Approach, A. Montanari, G.S. Odin, and R. Coccioni ed., Elsevier Science B.V. Developments in Paleontology and Stratigraphy, v. 15, p. 597-630.

1998

Campo Bagatin, A., Montanari, A., & Farinella, P., 1998, Impact energy flux in the last 150 Ma as inferred from the cratering records: in Impact on Earth, D. Benest and C. Froeschlé (Eds.), Lecture Notes in Physics, n. 505, p. 184-198.

Chauris, H., LeRousseau, J., Beaduoin, B., Propson, S., & Montanari, A., 1998, Inoceramid extinction in the Gubbio basin (northeastern Apennines of Italy) and relations with environmental changes during the mid-Maastrichtian: Paleogeography, Paleoclimatology, Paleoecology, v. 139, p. 177-193.

Claeys, P., Smit, J., Alvarez, W., & Montanari, A., 1998, Chicxulub et la limite Crétacé-Tertiaire dans la région du golfe du Mexique [The Chicxulub impact crater and the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary in the Gulf of Mexico region]: Bulletin de la Societé Géologique de France, v. 169, p. 3-9.

Farley, K., Montanari, A., Shoemaker, E., & Shoemaker, C., 1988, Geochemical evidence for a comet shower in the late Eocene: Science 280(5367):1250-1253.

Montanari, A., Campo Bagatin, A., & Farinella, P., 1998, Earth cratering record and impact energy flux in the last 150 Ma: Planetary and Space Science 46(2-3):271-281.

Pierrard, O., Robin, E., Rocchia, R., and Montanari, A., 1998, Extraterrestrial Ni-rich spinel in upper Eocene sediments from Massignano, Italy: Geology 26(4):307-310.

Vonhof, H.B., Smit, J., Brinkhuis, H., & Montanari, A., 1998, Late Eocene Impacts accelerated global cooling? in "The strontium Stratigraphic record of selected geologic events" by H.B. Vonhof (PhD Thesis), Academisch Proefshrift, University of Utrecht, p.77-90.

1999

Vishnevsky, S., & Montanari, A., 1999, The Popigai impact crater (Arctic Siberia, Russia): geology, petrology, geochemistry, and geochronology of glass-bearing impactites: Geological Society of America Special Publication 339, p. 19-60.

2000

Michelini, A., Spallarossa, D., Cattaneo, M., Govoni, A., & Montanari, A., 2000, The 1997 Umbria-Marche (Italy) earthquake sequence: tomographic images obtained from data of the GNDT-SSN temporary network. Journal of Seismology 4(4):415-433.

Montanari, A., and Koeberl, C., 2000, Impact Stratigraphy: The Italian Record. Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences, Springer, 364 pp.

Montanari, A., & Ammerman, A.J., 2000, Palatium e Sacra Via: Sourcing the Walls. Bollettino di Archeologia, Ministero Beni Culturali e Ambientali, v. 31-33, p. 189-193.

Vonhof, H.B., Smit, J., Brinkhuis, H., Montanari, A., & A. J. Nederbragt, 2000, Global cooling accelerated by early Late Eocene impacts? Geology, v.28, p. 687-690.

2001

Deino A., Gattacceca J., Rizzo R., Montanari A., 2001, 40Ar/39Ar dating and paleomagnetism of the Miocene calc-alkalic eruptive sequence of Monte Furru (Bosa, western Sardinia): Implications for rotation of the Corsica-Sardinia microplate. submitted.

Mader, D., Montanari, A., Gattacceca, J., Koeberl, Ch., Handler, R., & Coccioni, R., 2001, 39Ar-40Ar dating of a Langhian biotite-rich clay layer in the pelagic sequence of the Conero Riviera, Ancona, Italy: submitted.

Mukhopadhyay., S, Farley, K.A., and Montanari, A., 2001, A short duration of the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary event: evidence from extraterrestrial 3He, Science 291(5510):1952-1955.

Mukhopadhyay, S., Farley, K.A., & Montanari, A., 2001, A 35 Myr record of helium in pelagic limestones: implications for interplanetary dust accretion in the early Maastrichtian to the Middle Eocene: Geochimica and Cosmochimica Acta 65(4):653-669.