Morphostructure of the Lucania Apennines front between the Basento and Salandrella rivers (Southern Italy)

Abstract

We have produced a morphostructural map to explore the tectonic geomorphology of the Lucania part of the southern Apennines mountain front to assess the relative role that tectonic and erosion processes played in shaping the topography of this part of the orogen. Data were collected mainly through field work and airphoto interpretation. The main morpho-tectonic elements seem to be affected by out-of-sequence thrusting and wide regional uplift which played an important role in the latest stage of orogenic wedge evolution.The geomorphic expression of the local tectonics of individual structures reflects the structural and stratigraphic heritage and were overprinted in the Middle Pleistocene when regional rock uplift lifted the entire mountain front and its foredeep above sea level, imparting a new tectonic slope that dictates erosion and landscape evolution to the present day. Distinct geomorphological features such as asymmetrical ridges, relict valleys and paleosurfaces, have developed on rocks of variable durability and are exposed by regional uplift and erosion along non-cylindrical structures, fault transfer zones, and lateral ramps.This map also identifies for the first time a relict strike valley at the mountain front and a set of geomorphic markers that highlight the particular relationship between drainage evolution and thrusting.