The NE-SW Sibari fault zone: A seismic hazard source in Ionian Northern Calabria (Italy)

Abstract

A multidisciplinary approach including archaeological, geophysical, and geological/geomorphological surveys provided pieces of evidence that allowed us to identify the Sibari fault zone (SFZ) in Northern Calabria (Italy). The SFZ runs in a ∼ NE-SW direction for a length of ∼18 km from the Ionian coastline to Terranova da Sibari and has an oblique normal-dextral kinematics. The envelope of the SFZ is derived from several direct and indirect evidence resulting in subparallel and locally en-echelon fault traces over a maximum 500 m-wide band, running at different elevations across hills and flat lands. The SFZ was active since at least the Middle-Upper Pleistocene, producing faulting of alluvial deposits, marine terraces, drainage incisions, and the archaeological structures of Sybaris. Given the fault length and assuming a seismogenic behavior, the SFZ is a primary earthquake source possibly producing moderate to large earthquakes (M ≥ 6). We calculated the average slip rates along the SFZ based on the ages and on the accumulated displacements of offset streams and marine terraces. The estimates are of 0.05–0.18 mm/yr and 0.41–0.70 mm/yr for vertical and dextral slip, respectively. Based on both the measured (min. 30 cm) and the expected value (av. 40 cm) of lateral slip per event, we infer an average recurrence for surface faulting events on the SFZ of about 700–1000 yrs. The most recent surface faulting earthquake occurred on the fault is dated 1300–1100 yrs. ago, highlighting that the elapsed time approaches the estimated average recurrence. Considering these findings, the newly recognized SFZ should be included among the faults that contain a potential seismic hazard in this poorly known portion of the Ionian sector of northern Calabria.