On the tectonic evolution of the Ligurian accretionary complex in southern Italy

Abstract

Research Article| March 01, 2012 On the tectonic evolution of the Ligurian accretionary complex in southern Italy S. Ciarcia; S. Ciarcia 1Dipartimento Scienze della Terra, Università di Napoli Federico II, Largo San Marcellino 10, 80138 Naples, Italy Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar S. Mazzoli; S. Mazzoli 1Dipartimento Scienze della Terra, Università di Napoli Federico II, Largo San Marcellino 10, 80138 Naples, Italy Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar S. Vitale; S. Vitale † 1Dipartimento Scienze della Terra, Università di Napoli Federico II, Largo San Marcellino 10, 80138 Naples, Italy †E-mail: stefano.vitale@unina.it Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar M. Zattin M. Zattin 2Dipartimento di Geoscienze, Università di Padova, via Gradenigo 6, 35131 Padua, Italy Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information S. Ciarcia 1Dipartimento Scienze della Terra, Università di Napoli Federico II, Largo San Marcellino 10, 80138 Naples, Italy S. Mazzoli 1Dipartimento Scienze della Terra, Università di Napoli Federico II, Largo San Marcellino 10, 80138 Naples, Italy S. Vitale † 1Dipartimento Scienze della Terra, Università di Napoli Federico II, Largo San Marcellino 10, 80138 Naples, Italy M. Zattin 2Dipartimento di Geoscienze, Università di Padova, via Gradenigo 6, 35131 Padua, Italy †E-mail: stefano.vitale@unina.it Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 31 Oct 2010 Revision Received: 10 Mar 2011 Accepted: 17 Mar 2011 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 © 2012 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (2012) 124 (3-4): 463–483. https://doi.org/10.1130/B30437.1 Article history Received: 31 Oct 2010 Revision Received: 10 Mar 2011 Accepted: 17 Mar 2011 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation S. Ciarcia, S. Mazzoli, S. Vitale, M. Zattin; On the tectonic evolution of the Ligurian accretionary complex in southern Italy. GSA Bulletin 2012;; 124 (3-4): 463–483. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B30437.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Unraveling the deformation pattern characterizing the transition from final oceanic subduction stages to early stages of deformation of a foreland continental margin is crucial for a better understanding of the geodynamic processes taking place at convergent plate boundaries. In particular, the combined role of internal wedge dynamics and continental-margin architecture in controlling the tectonic evolution of an accretionary complex during its final emplacement onto the foreland continent is discussed in this study. To this purpose, we conducted integrated structural, stratigraphic, and low-temperature thermochronometric analyses on the Ligurian accretionary complex units exposed in the Campania region (Italy) and on continental-margin successions located in their footwall, as well as on related foredeep and wedge-top basin deposits. Our results point out a series of late early Miocene (Burdigalian) shortening events, also involving buttressing of the accretionary wedge against the crustal ramp of the foreland continental margin. Emplacement of the overthickened accretionary complex onto the distal part of the continental margin was followed by horizontal extension and wedge thinning, aiding the development of wedge-top depocenters. Extension may have been either related to reduced subduction rates during the middle Miocene, or to a period of subduction erosion (known to have occurred in the Northern Apennines in the same time frame).Early Miocene NW-SE shortening recorded by Ligurian accretionary complex units was completely unrelated to later (late Miocene to Pleistocene) NE-directed thrusting in the Apennines, which was coeval with backarc extension in the Tyrrhenian Sea.Therefore, our results emphasize the occurrence of a major discontinuity in the Neogene geodynamic evolution of the Southern Apennines, the tectonic history of which may be clearly subdivided, from a kinematic point of view, into pre- and syn-Tyrrhenian backarc extension stages. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.