Abstract
The geology of the epicentral area of the 1980 earthquake (Irpinia-Lucania, Italy) is described with new stratigraphic, petrographic and structural data. Subsurface geological data have been collected during the studies for the excavation works of the Pavoncelli bis hydraulic tunnel, developing between Caposele and Conza della Campania in an area that was highly damaged during 1980 earthquake. Our approach includes geological, stratigraphic, structural studies, and petrological analyses of rock samples collected along the tunnel profile and in outcropping sections. Stratigraphic studies and detailed geological and structural mapping were carried out in about 200 km2 wide area. The main units cropping out have been studied and correlated in order to document the effects of tectonic changes during the orogenic evolution on the foreland basin systems and the sandstone detrital modes in this sector of the southern Apennines. The multi-disciplinary and updated datasets have allowed getting new insights on the tectono-stratigraphic evolution and stratigraphic architecture of the southern Apennines foreland basin system and on the structural and stratigraphic relations of Apennines tectonic units and timing of their kinematic evolution. They also allowed to better understand the relationships between internal and external basin units within the Apennine thrust belt and its tectonic evolution.
Highlights
The southern Apennines divide area between Sele river and Ofanto river valleys represents a key sector for analyzing the paleogeographic conditions and the geodynamic evolution of the Apennine thrust belt
The Sella di Conza study area is located along the southern Apennines Mts. divide at the borders along the Irpinia, Cilento, and Lucania sectors (Figure 1)
The excavation of the Pavoncelli bis gallery has given us a new opportunity for obtaining a detailed knowledge of the geological structures that are present in the subsurface of the studied sector of the Apennine chain, where the tectonic events have almost completely hidden the original geometric relationships existing between the various geological units
Summary
The southern Apennines divide area between Sele river and Ofanto river valleys (southern Italy) represents a key sector for analyzing the paleogeographic conditions and the geodynamic evolution of the Apennine thrust belt. This area is located among the Irpinia, Cilento and Lucania sectors (Figure 1). The earthquake caused severe structural damages to major civil engineering works throughout Irpinia sector, as for example to the Pavoncelli hydraulic tunnel located between Conza dam and Caposele springs, and relevant hydrogeological changes to several springs (i.e., Sanità spring at Caposele showed an abnormal, temporary increase in discharge from 4.35 to 7.32 m3 /s in January 1981) [9,10,11].
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