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Journal of Geodynamics 43 (2007) 393414

Neogene-Quaternary strike-slip tectonics in the central


Calabrian Arc (southern Italy)
Carlo Tansi
a,
, Francesco Muto
b
, Salvatore Critelli
b
, Giulio Iovine
a
a
CNR-IRPI, via Cavour, 6 - 87030 Rende, CS, Italy
b
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
Received 21 December 2005; received in revised form 26 September 2006; accepted 12 October 2006
Abstract
A Middle Miocene-Middle Pleistocene regional NW-SE left-lateral strike-slip fault system profoundly conditioned the evolution
of central Calabria, during the late tectonic phases which involved the Apulian block and the Calabrian Arc. This system dissected
an Oligocene-Early Miocene orogenic belt, made of Alpine nappes overthrusted the Apennine Chain.
In the present study, three major faults, arranged in a right-hand en echelon pattern, have been identied within the mentioned
strike-slip system: the Falconara-Carpanzano Fault, the Amantea-Gimigliano Fault, and the Lamezia-Catanzaro Fault. A wide
active transtensional area (N-S-trending Crati Graben), developed since Late Pliocene, is located at the SE termination of the
Falconara-Carpanzano Fault.
In the sectors of overlapping of the faults, the transpressional regime induced tectonic extrusions of the deep-seated units of the
Chain, producing push-ups within the overlying complexes. In particular, push-ups are either made of Mesozoic carbonate rocks at
Mt. CocuzzoMt. Guono and Mt. S. Lucerna, or of ophiolite rocks at Mt. Reventino and Gimigliano. In these sectors, the primary
geometric relationships among the units of the orogenic belt were locally altered.
The en echelon arrangement of the above-mentioned NW-SE major strike-slip faults indicates the existence of a left-lateral crustal
shear zone, striking on average N160. The age of the regional NW-SE left-lateral strike-slip system deserves thorough investigation.
Besides evidence from historical and instrumental earthquakes, and from paleoseismological investigations, the kinematic data
suggests that the cause of the transtensional sector (Crati Graben) could be found in the regional Falconara-Carpanzano Fault.
2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Strike-slip tectonics; Brittle tectonics; Stress eld re-orientation; Neogene-Quaternary; Calabrian Arc
1. Introduction
The Calabrian Arc (CA) is a well-developed arc-shaped structure of the circum-Mediterranean orogenic belt (Fig. 1).
It represents an accretionary wedge, caused by the AfricaEurope collision (Amodio-Morelli et al., 1976; Tortorici,
1982), consisting of a series of ophiolite-bearing tectonic units (Liguride Complex; Ogniben, 1969), and of overlying
basement nappes (Calabride Complex; Ogniben, 1969). According to Dewey et al. (1989) and Schmid et al. (2004), the
Liguride Complex derived from a pre-orogenic ocean basin (the Piedmont-Ligurian domain), opened in Late Jurassic

Corresponding author at: CNR-IRPI Sezione di Cosenza, via Cavour, 6 - 87030 Rende, CS, Italy. Tel.: +39 0984 835 513;
fax: +39 0984 835 319.
E-mail address: tansi@irpi.cnr.it (C. Tansi).
0264-3707/$ see front matter 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.jog.2006.10.006
394 C. Tansi et al. / Journal of Geodynamics 43 (2007) 393414
Fig. 1. Geological sketch-map of the Central Mediterranean area, with geological section on bottom (after Van Dijk and Scheepers, 1995, and Van
Dijk et al., 2000, modied). On top, location of the study area, and tectonic simplied sketch of the Calabrian Arc.
C. Tansi et al. / Journal of Geodynamics 43 (2007) 393414 395
Table 1
Scheme of mutual relationships among the main tectonic units in the central Calabrian Chain
Groups and names as used in the present paper are listed in the rst two columns. Correspondences with terms commonly found in literature, as
listed in the last two columns, can also be deduced (cf. text, Section 2).
between the European-Iberian and the African-Apulian domains. The Calabride Complex is considered to be either (i) a
remnant of the African continental margin, piled up during the CretaceousPaleogene to form, together with ophiolitic
nappes, a Europe-verging Eo-Alpine Chain, that overthrusted the Apennine orogenic belt in Early Miocene (Haccard
et al., 1972; Alvarez, 1976; Grandjacquet and Mascle, 1978), or (ii) a fragment of the European continental margin,
piled up with oceanic materials in Paleogene time with African vergence, which overthrusted the African continental
margin in Early Miocene (Ogniben, 1969, 1973; Bouillin, 1984; Bouillin et al., 1986).
The paleogeographic provenance (and names) of the tectonic units of the Calabrian Arc, resulting fromthe orogenic
phases, have long been the subject of controversy, but are beyond the scope of this study. There is general agreement
in the literature on the geometrical position of the different units, and on their ages: from bottom to top, Mesozoic
carbonates, Mesozoic ophiolites, Paleozoic-Mesozoic slates and metapelites, Paleozoic orthogneisses, and Paleozoic
paragneisses. In the present paper, for the sake of simplicity, the above units were grouped and named as shown in
Table 1 (cf. Section 2).
Since Middle Miocene, overthrusting combined with the progressive migration of the CAtowards southeast was
associated with the opening of the Tyrrhenian basin (Malinverno and Ryan, 1986; Dewey et al., 1989; Decandia et al.,
1998). The migration occurred along a NW-SE to WNW-ESE-trending regional strike-slip fault system (cf. Fig. 1),
characterized by left- and right-lateral movements in the northern and in the southern sector of the CA, respectively
(Ghisetti and Vezzani, 1981; Rehault et al., 1987; Turco et al., 1990; Knott and Turco, 1991; Monaco and Tansi, 1992;
Catalano et al., 1993). The fault system constitutes a regional shear zone, dissecting the pre-existing thrust sheets, and
played an important role in the Neogene-Quaternary geodynamic evolution of the Central Mediterranean area.
Many details on the temporal and spatial distribution of transtensional and transpressional faulting in the central
portion of the CA are lacking, despite decades of studies. Van Dijk et al. (2000), which performed structural studies
supported by seismic and bore-hole data, were the rst to dene the geometry of the above-mentioned regional shear
zone (Fig. 2). According to these Authors, the whole system consisted of Middle Miocene-Middle Pleistocene crustal
oblique transpressional fault zones, mainly dipping toward NE and characterized by left-reverse movements, along
which the extrusion of the deep-seated units of the CAtogether with underlying Mesozoic carbonate rocks occurred. In
particular, along the Catanzaro-Amantea Fault Zone (CAFZ) and the Falconara-Carpanzano Fault Zone (FCFZ),
several outcrops of Mesozoic carbonate rocks are exposed which, in the literature, are traditionally considered as
tectonic windows of the Apennine Chain (e.g. Amodio-Morelli et al., 1976; Tortorici, 1982). The most signicant
Mesozoic carbonate outcrops are to be found in the localities of Mt. CocuzzoMt. Guono and Mt. S. Lucerna, where
the relationships with the units of the Calabrian Arc as generated by strike-slip tectonics can be observed. Similarly,
396 C. Tansi et al. / Journal of Geodynamics 43 (2007) 393414
Fig. 2. Schematic tectonic map showing the main Middle Miocene-Middle Pleistocene left-lateral strike-slip lineaments of central-northern Calabria
(after Van Dijk et al., 2000, modied). Key: (SLFZ) Soverato-Lamezia Fault Zone; (CAFZ) Catanzaro-Amantea Fault Zone; (ACFZ) Albi-Cosenza
Fault Zone; (SDFZ) Sellia-Decollatura Fault Zone; (OCFZ) Ospedale-Colosimi Fault Zone; (FCFZ) Falconara-Carpanzano Fault Zone; (PSFZ)
Petilia-S. Sosti Fault Zone; (SRFZ) S. Nicola-Rossano Fault Zone. Dotted polygon indicates the study area.
Fig. 3. Plio-Pleistocene kinematic scheme of northern Calabria (after Turco et al., 1990, modied).
C. Tansi et al. / Journal of Geodynamics 43 (2007) 393414 397
Fig. 4. Late Pliocene-Early Quaternary block-segmentation of the Calabrian Arc (after Ghisetti, 1979, modied). Black lines indicate the main
faults. Key: (1) Paola and Gioia Tauro peri-Tyrrhenian basins; (2) Pollino Massif, Coastal Chain, Capo Vaticano and Mt. Peloritani highs; (3) Crati
and Mesima basins; (4) Sila, Serre and Aspromonte highs; (5) Crotone-Capo Spartivento peri-Ionian basins; (6) Sibari basin; (7) Catanzaro basin;
(8) Siderno basin; (9) Messina basin.
along the CAFZ, outcrops of Mesozoic Ophiolite rocks representing the basal portion of the Liguride Complex are to
be found: among these tectonic windows, the most representative is found in the Gimigliano area.
Turco et al. (1990) described the Falconara Fault (Fig. 3), a regional NW-SE-trending left-lateral strike-slip fault,
active during the Pliocene-Quaternary and partly corresponding to the FCFZ. The NW termination of the same fault
delimited the northern portion of the Paola basin (Argnani and Trincardi, 1988), an off-shore N-S-trending Pliocene-
Quaternary basin. These Authors claimed a transtensional regime along the SEtermination of the fault zone was respon-
sible for the opening of the Crati Graben (Lanzafame and Tortorici, 1981), a normal fault-bounded N-S-trending basin.
According to Ghisetti (1979), during Late Pliocene-Early Quaternary, the CA was dissected by longitudinal and
transversal normal faults. These faults, ranging from 10 to 45 km in length, caused the fragmentation of the arc into
structural highs and marine sedimentary basins (Fig. 4).
Since Middle Pleistocene, an intense WNW-ESE oriented regional extensional phase occurred (Cello et al., 1982;
Gasparini et al., 1982; Tortorici et al., 1995), resulting in the Calabrian-Sicilian rift-zone (Monaco et al., 1997;
Monaco and Tortorici, 2000), a long active normal fault belt of about 370 km, running along the eastern coast of Sicily
and the western side of the CA (Fig. 5). The geometry of the rift-zone is clearly outlined by the distribution of the
epicentres of the largest historical (X-XI MCS, 6 <M<7.4) crustal earthquakes in the region (Postpischl, 1985; Boschi
et al., 1995, 1997). The development of the rift-zone was coupled with a strong regional uplifting of the whole CA,
which probably represents the isostatic response either to the removal of the high-density mantle/lithosphere root,
due to detachment of the Ionian subducted slab (Westaway, 1993; Wortel and Spakman, 1993; De Jonge et al., 1994;
Tortorici et al., 1995; Monaco et al., 1996), or to erosion driven by Pleistocene climate change (Westaway, 2002, 2006).
Other hypotheses maintain that upheaval of the Calabrian Arc originated from overthrusting of the Tyrrhenian crust
onto the Ionian crust, simultaneously with normal faulting (Ghisetti, 1984), or an intrusion of uidized mantle from
an asthenolith dome into the crust-mantle boundary (Locardi and Nicolich, 1988; Miyauchi et al., 1994). In any case,
398 C. Tansi et al. / Journal of Geodynamics 43 (2007) 393414
Fig. 5. Calabrian-Sicilian rift-zone (after Monaco and Tortorici, 2000, modied). Crustal earthquakes (depth <35 km) since 1000 a.d. are also shown
(data after: Postpischl, 1985; Boschi et al., 1995).
the most evident consequence of the widespread Quaternary raising process is the occurrence of a spectacular ight
of marine terraces, developed mainly along the Tyrrhenian coastline of Calabria (with notable effects in the central
portion of the CA), as a result of the interaction between tectonic uplift and Quaternary cyclic sea-level changes (Bosi
et al., 1996; Carobene and Dai Pr` a, 1991; Westaway, 1993).
Coupled structural and AMS-studies (anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility), recently carried out in the central
portion of the CA by Mattei et al. (1999) and Rossetti et al. (2001), outlined an extensional regime at work since Late
Miocene, characterized by a constant WSW-ESE stretching direction, originating normal faults striking on average
NNE-SSW. These Authors excluded any compressional tectonic event in the considered period, contrary to other
studies carried out in the same area (Tortorici, 1981; Scheepers, 1994; Colella, 1995; Muto and Perri, 2002; Van Dijk
et al., 2000).
C. Tansi et al. / Journal of Geodynamics 43 (2007) 393414 399
In this paper, the timing, geometries and kinematics of the southernmost portion of the regional shear zone dened
by Van Dijk et al. (2000 - cf. study area in Fig. 2), and of associated transpressional and transtensional structures,
were dened in detail through interpretations of aerial photographs (in scale 1/75,000 and 1/33,000), and eld surveys.
Measurements of structural data comprise orientations of 743 fault planes with slickensides, gathered from 63 measure
stations located along the main faults, within the cataclastic belts. Such data allowed the determination of the associated
stress eld (according to Angelier, 1979, method), and the in situ validation of the regional deformational model. Late
emplacement mechanisms of the deep-seated Mesozoic carbonate rocks, and their geometric relationships with the
overlying units of the Calabrian Arc, are discussed in an innovative tectonic framework, dominated by strike-slip
tectonics, lasting from Late Miocene to Quaternary (and, presumably, still active).
2. Geological setting
The Calabrian Arc is made of nappes of Jurassic to Early Cretaceous ophiolite-bearing sequences, and overlying
Hercynian and pre-Hercynian continental basement, partially affected by the later Alpine retrograde metamorphism.
Most Authors (e.g. Haccard et al., 1972; Alvarez, 1976; Amodio-Morelli et al., 1976; Tortorici, 1982; Bonardi et al.,
2001) believe that, during Oligocene-Early Miocene, these nappes were emplaced on the Mesozoic sedimentary and
metasedimentary terranes of the Apennine Chain along regional overthrusts, showing in present-day coordinates
a NE-vergence. Moreover, Wallis et al. (1993), Thomson (1994), and Rossetti et al. (2001, 2004) recently dated
exhumation of deep-seated units starting from Oligocene.
In the study area, the following main tectonic-stratigraphic units crop out, briey described from bottom to top (cf.
Table 1 and Fig. 6).
Mesozoic carbonate complex
Dolostone and metalimestone Unit (Late Triassic-Liassic). Locally outcropping in tectonic windows along the
Coastal Chain (cf. Fig. 2). These terranes, also named the Monte Cocuzzo Unit (Van Dijk et al., 2000), can be
correlated with the San Donato-Campotenese Unit (Bousquet and Dubois, 1967; Bousquet and Gradjacquet, 1969).
Calabrian Terranes. A number of tectonic units belonging to the Calabrian Arc constituted, from bottom to top, by:
Ophiolite Unit (Gimigliano Unit of Amodio-Morelli et al., 1976). AHP-LT metamorphic serpentinite-metabasite-
polychrome schist-Calpionella limestone sequence (Tithonian-Neocomian).
Slate and metapelite Unit. Dominantly foliated slates, black metapelites and metasilts, interbedded with quartzite
strata dening isoclinal folds, and red mudrocks and thin levels of laminate marble (Paleozoic-Mesozoic). According
to Ogniben (1973) and Amodio-Morelli et al. (1976), these terranes should be ascribed to two distinct units: the
Mesozoic Frido Unit, and the Paleozoic Bagni Unit, belonging to two distinct complexes. The rst (of oceanic origin)
was, in fact, ascribed to the Liguride Complex, while the second (of continental origin) to the Calabride Complex.
Above these units, the following are to be found:
Orthogneiss Unit (Castagna Unit of Amodio-Morelli et al., 1976). Made of mylonitic augen-gneiss, micaschist, and
subordinately marbles (Paleozoic).
Paragneiss Unit (Monte Gariglione Unit of Amodio-Morelli et al., 1976; Sila Unit of Messina et al., 1994). Made
of high-grade metamorphic rocks (biotite-sillimanite-garnet gneiss), intruded by plutonic bodies (Paleozoic).
The last two units are considered to be derived from Hercynian and pre-Hercynian terranes; they were traditionally
ascribed to the Calabride Complex (Ogniben, 1969) and represented a remnant of the Paleozoic basement, mainly
outcropping in the Sila Massif.
Sheared basement remnants. Some minor difcult-to-place elements outcropping along the NW-SE Sell`a-
Amantea axis (also known as axe Decollatura-Conenti-Martirano, cf. Dubois, 1966), a major shear zone
individuated by the CAFZ and the SDFZ (Van Dijk et al., 2000, cf. also Fig. 2). These terranes are represented
400 C. Tansi et al. / Journal of Geodynamics 43 (2007) 393414
Fig. 6. Structural map of the study area. Key: (A) Mt. CocuzzoMt. Guono push-up; (B) Mt. S. Lucerna push-up; (C) Gimigliano push-up; (D)
Crati Graben. Major NW-SE strike-slip faults: (FCF) Falconara-Carpanzano Fault; (AGF) Amantea-Gimigliano Fault; (LCF) Lamezia-Catanzaro
Fault. For mesoscopic-scale structural data, see Fig. 13.
by Paleozoic phyllite and metalimestone (Catanzaro melange Unit), and by granite and granodiorite (Decollatura
granites Unit), covered by Triassic-Cretaceous terrigenuous and carbonate rocks (Van Dijk et al., 2000). They were
originally ascribed to the Stilo Unit by Amodio-Morelli et al. (1976), and included into a group of incertae sedis
units (i.e. whose paleogeographic position is uncertain or unknown). These terranes were ascribed to the Calabride
Complex by Ogniben (1969).
In the study area, Rossetti et al. (2001) grouped the above-mentioned units into two major tectonic complexes,
bounded by a at-lying ductile-to-brittle extensional shear zone. The upper complex would consist of a nappe-like
structure, made of the following tectonic units, from bottom: slices of Triassic platform and dolomitic limestone;
Mesozoic ophiolite-bearing Ligurian-type non-metamorphic to slightly metamorphic yschoid sequence (upper ophi-
C. Tansi et al. / Journal of Geodynamics 43 (2007) 393414 401
olitic unit); Calabrian Nappe complex, made of pre-Alpine basement continental slices, arranged in reverse order (with
highest-grade rocks above the lowest-grade ones), specically constituted by the Bagni, Castagna, Pol`a-Copanello,
and Stilo Paleozoic units. A metamorphic Alpine overprint in the Castagna and Bagni units probably dates between
Paleocene and Late Eocene (Schenk, 1980); the unroong of these rocks occurred between 30 and 18 My (Thomson,
1994). As concerns the lower complex, it consists of a retrogressed blue-schist metamorphosed ophiolitic sequence
(lower ophiolitic unit), in part belonging to the Gimigliano Unit.
Finally, again according to Rossetti et al. (2001), since Late Miocene, the ancient reverse contacts responsible for
the building of the Calabrian Nappe complex were reactived by extensional tectonics. Nevertheless, several cases
either of deep-seated gravitational or tectono-gravitational accommodation of pre-existing reverse faults have been
recently documented in Calabria (Iovine et al., 1996; Iovine and Tansi, 1998; Sorriso-Valvo et al., 1998; Tansi et al.,
2005a,b): such a reactivation mechanism could also explain some of the normal kinematic evidence collected by the
above Authors in the eld.
A transgressive Late Miocene conglomerate-calcarenite-clay-evaporite succession, and an Early Pliocene
conglomerate-sand-clay succession unconformably overlie the above-mentioned tectonic units (Di Nocera et al., 1974;
Romeo and Tortorici, 1980; Colella, 1995; Muto and Perri, 2002). Middle Pliocene to Middle Pleistocene deposits,
made of thick conglomerate-sand-sandstone-clay marine successions, represent the basin-ll deposits of the main
tectonic depressions (Crati Graben, Catanzaro Trough). In the SW sector of the study area, Late Pleistocene u-
vial terraced deposits, marine terraces (up to the seventh orderWestaway, 1993; Tortorici et al., 2002), and Late
Pleistocene-Holocene alluvial fans crop out.
3. Structural analysis
Newstructural investigations allowed the detailing of the supercial morphological manifestation and the kinematics
of some of the regional transcurrent fault zones, previously recognized by means of deep reection seismic proles by
Van Dijk et al. (2000). In particular, a regional NW-SE-trending left-lateral strike-slip fault system was documented,
developed between the southern edge of the Crati Graben and the Catanzaro Trough (Fig. 6). This system consists of
three right-stepping en echelon major fault segments, from North to South: the Falconara-Carpanzano Fault (FCF),
the Amantea-Gimigliano Fault (AGF), and the Lamezia-Catanzaro Fault (LCF). These fault segments of lengths of
5060 km are clearly recognizable on a morphological basis. They are characterized by well-developed escarpments,
with triangular and/or trapezoidal facets, and control the drainage network.
In particular, the FCF separates the southern portion of the Plio-Pleistocene Crati Basin from the Calabrian tectonic
units of the Coastal Chain, consisting of Liguride terranes overlying the Mesozoic Carbonate Complex. This fault
segment corresponds to the FCFZ recognized by Van Dijk et al. (2000).
The AGF extends from the Tyrrhenian Sea (where it bounds the south of the Coastal Chain) toward SE, cutting
through the southern part of the Sila Massif. At its westernmost end, it separates Late Miocene deposits from the
Slate and metapelite Unit. Along its middle portion, the AGF delimits, to the south, an elongated outcrop of Sheared
basement remnants from the Slate and metapelite Unit. This fault segment roughly corresponds to the CAFZ, with its
related shear zone, recognized by Van Dijk et al. (2000).
Finally, the LCF separates the Plio-Quaternary Catanzaro Trough from the southern edge of the Sila Massif, where
the entire pile of the Calabrian Terranes and underlying Mesozoic Carbonate Complex outcrops. This fault segment
partly corresponds to the sinuous E-W-trending normal fault recognized by Van Dijk et al. (2000). Several large alluvial
fans and marine terraced deposits developed in the hangingwall of the LCF.
The areas located within the overlapping zones between the transcurrent fault segments underwent severe contrac-
tional deformation (cf. Fig. 14). In particular, in the area between FCF and AGF, severe transpression induced the
extrusion of the Mesozoic Carbonate Complex over the Calabrian Terranes (Ophiolite Unit and Slate and metapelite
Unit), thus altering the orogenic tectonic piling. Similarly, in the area between AGF and LCF, contractional deformation
induced the late superposition of the Ophiolite Unit over the Slate and metapelite Unit, producing the push-ups of Mt.
Reventino and Gimigliano areas. Moreover, strike-slip motion produced, at the tips of the strike-slip fault segments,
extensional structures: at the SE termination of the FCF, a regional transtensional area corresponding to the Crati
Graben, consisting of active N-S-trending right lateral-transtensional faults, can be recognized.
Because of the geodynamic signicance of the above-mentioned transpressional areas (Mt. CocuzzoMt. Guono
and Mt. S. Lucerna carbonate outcrops, and Gimigliano ophiolite outcropscf. frames (A)(C) in Fig. 6), and of the
402 C. Tansi et al. / Journal of Geodynamics 43 (2007) 393414
Crati Graben transtensional area (cf. (D) in Fig. 6), detailed eld structural studies were carried out, particularly along
FCF and AGF. The collected structural data are described in the following sections.
3.1. Transpressional areas
Mt. CocuzzoMt. Guono and Mt. S. Lucerna constitute the highest reliefs in the Coastal Chain. They were previously
considered as tectonic windows (Colonna and Compagnoni, 1982; Amodio-Morelli et al., 1976; Ietto et al., 1995;
Ietto and Ietto, 1998; Van Dijk et al., 2000), showing the Mesozoic Carbonate Complex beneath the Calabrian Terranes
(Fig. 6). According to Ietto and Ietto (1998), these Norian-Raethian carbonate successions can be subdivided into six
litho-stratigraphic units, representing a sedimentary evolution from shallow-marine carbonate to anoxic basinal facies
associations, including from bottom to top (Fig. 7):
black dololutite passing to grey dolostone, and calcarenite (Licetto River Unit);
bio-calcarenite passing to bioclastic breccia, slumps, turbidites and mudstones (Mt. Guono Unit);
carbonate, interbedded with slumps, passing to turbidite, calcarenite and megabreccia (Mt. Cocuzzo Unit);
dolostone, dololutite and breccia, and channelized carbonate breccia (Cozzo Aurulo Unit);
bio-calcarenite and interbedded breccia and dolostone, passing to mudstone and bioclastic carbonate (Mt. S. Lucerna
Unit);
dolomite and evaporite, and intercalated tuffaceous layers, with a basal condensed section of dololutite (Upper Unit).
The results of the present study demonstrate that the Mt. CocuzzoMt. Guono and the Mt. S. Lucerna carbonate
outcrops must be considered as two push-ups (cf. Figs. 7 and 14), penetrating the overlying Calabrian Terranes.
The thrust ramps building the push-ups depict, as a whole, well-developed ower structures. Among the latter, some
portray positive ower structures: in fact, an up-dip progressive increase of inclinations up to dip inversion, together
with slickensides continuously carving the surfaces and showing kinematic evidence from reverse to normal, can be
observed (Figs. 8 and 9). Such geometrical characteristics of the thrust surfaces constitute the peculiar structural feature
of the considered carbonate outcrops.
In particular, the Mt. CocuzzoMt. Guono push-up (Fig. 7A) is formed by high-angle N-S striking thrusts. In the
area of the Cresima River and of the Reale-Licetto rivers, two main thrusts, characterized by W- and E-vergence,
delimit the push-up to the NW and SE, respectively. The push-up is bordered on its northern side by the FCF, and on
its southern side by associated minor strike-slip faults. Near the NW and SE boundaries of the push-up, two secondary
push-ups, corresponding to the Mt. Guono and to the Mt. Cocuzzo reliefs, are observed (cf. section AA

in Fig. 7).
To the west, the Mt. Guono secondary push-up is delimited by a W-verging sub-vertical thrust, responsible for
the superposition of deep-seated carbonatic units over the Calabrian Terranes. Along the contact, remnants of Late
Miocene deposits (in discontinuous and strongly tectonized duplexes) can be recognized. On its eastern side, the push-
up is bounded by an E-verging sub-vertical thrust, responsible for the superposition of the Mt. Guono Unit over the
Slate and metapelite Unit, and for the local duplication of the Mesozoic Carbonate Complex.
To the west, the Mt. Cocuzzo secondary push-up is bordered by a W-verging sub-vertical thrust, developed between
Mt. Timone and the Centacque River. Along this shear surface, the Cozzo Aurulo Unit superposes on the Ophiolite
Unit. The contact is marked by highly tectonized and discontinuous remnants of Miocene deposits (cf. Fig. 9). On
its eastern side (Fig. 10), along the Reale River, the push-up is bordered by an E-verging thrust, responsible for the
superposition of the Cozzo Aurulo Unit over the Slate and metapelite Unit. Moreover, associated minor thrusts are
responsible for the local duplication of the Mesozoic Carbonate Complex. The southernmost margin of the secondary
push-up is offset by minor strike-slip faults and associated push-ups (e.g. Cozzo Ralla, Cozzo Sisino, Fig. 7).
Finally, folds with axes ranging from N-S to NE-SW are to be found near the two secondary push-ups.
At the mesoscopic-scale (cf. Fig. 13), thrusts showplanes striking fromNNW-SSEto NE-SW, dipping either towards
E or W, with sub-horizontal to steeply dipping attitude. The fault planes show dip-slip to oblique slickensides, marked
either by calcite steps or Riedel shears, documenting reverse movements with a left-lateral component of motion.
The thrusts are coherent with a sub-horizontal
1
oriented WNW-ESE. Strike-slip faults show sub-vertical planes
striking from E-W to NW-SE, commonly dipping towards SW. Slickensides on fault surfaces document left-lateral
movements, with pitches ranging from 0

to 40

, generally plunging towards SE. The strike-slip faults are coherent


with a sub-horizontal
1
oriented from E-W to WNW-ESE.
C. Tansi et al. / Journal of Geodynamics 43 (2007) 393414 403
Fig. 7. Detailed structural map of the Mt. CocuzzoMt. Guono push-up (A) and of the Mt. S. Lucerna push-up (B). At the bottom, geological
cross-sections. For mesoscopic-scale structural data, see Fig. 13.
404 C. Tansi et al. / Journal of Geodynamics 43 (2007) 393414
Fig. 8. View of the highest portion of the Mt. Cocuzzo secondary push-up. Transpressive thrusts are evidenced by thick dashed lines; layering is
marked by thin dotted lines.
The Mt. S. Lucerna push-up consists of a N-S oriented E-verging duplex (Fig. 7B), whose rocks belong to the upper
portion of the Mesozoic Carbonate Complex (Mt. S. Lucerna Unit, and Upper Unit). The duplex is situated within the
Slate and metapelite Unit, and is delimited, on its northern side, by the FCF and, to the south, by a minor strike-slip
fault.
At the mesoscopic-scale (cf. Fig. 13), thrust planes strike roughly NNE-SSW, and dip from45

to 80

towards either
E or W. Thrust planes show dip-slip to oblique slickensides, documenting reverse movements and a sub-horizontal
1
Fig. 9. View of the western side of the Mt. Cocuzzo secondary push-up, showing the contact between the Mesozoic Carbonate Complex on the
Ophiolite Unit (metabasite). The contact is marked by a duplex of Miocene deposits.
C. Tansi et al. / Journal of Geodynamics 43 (2007) 393414 405
Fig. 10. View of the south-eastern side of the Mt. Cocuzzo secondary push-up.
oriented WNW-ESE. Strike-slip faults show sub-vertical planes, striking from E-W to NW-SE and dipping towards
SW, whose slickensides document left-lateral movements (pitches between 0

and 40

, plunging towards SE) and


sub-horizontal
1
oriented E-W.
In both the Mt. CocuzzoMt. Guono and the Mt. S. Lucerna push-ups, ancient thrusts characterized by sub-
horizontal planes striking E-W to WNW-ESE were also recognized. These thrusts do not show any morphological
evidence, and are documented only at the mesoscale (where they are commonly dislocated by the N-S oriented thrusts
which build the push-ups). These planes display reverse dip-slip slickensides, documenting if tilting is ignored a N-S
oriented sub-horizontal
1
: they can reasonably be correlated with the overthrusts responsible for the Oligocene-Early
Miocene building of the Chain. Moreover, folds with NW-SE-trending axes were to be found kinematically compatible
with the ancient thrusts.
The Gimigliano ophiolite outcrops (Colonna and Piccarreta, 1975, 1977; Rossetti et al., 2001) consist of metabasite
and serpentinite belonging to the basal portion of the Calabrian Terranes. They are located in the tranpressional sector
induced by the interaction between the AGF and a couple of minor left-lateral strike-slip faults belonging to the NW-SE
regional fault system (cf. Figs. 6 and 14).
In particular, a push-up structure was recognized in the vicinity of the village of Gimigliano (Fig. 11): it is bounded,
on its NW side, by a NNE-striking W-verging thrust, along which deep-seated serpentinite and overlying metabasite
overthrusted the Orthogneiss Unit and the Slate and metapelite Unit; on its SE side, it is bounded by a NNE-striking
E-verging thrust, along which metabasite overthrusted the Slate and metapelite Unit. The push-up developed between
the AGF and a minor left-lateral strike-slip fault extending from Gimigliano Inferiore to C.da Cavor` a (cf. Fig. 11).
The mechanism responsible for the extrusion of the push-up also dragged up deep-seated units of the Chain SE of
Gimigliano, where ancient thrusts separating the Ophiolite, Slate and metapelite and Orthogneiss units crop out.
Moreover, north of the AGF, a couple of transpressive thrust ramps are to be found. Along them, metabasite and
small blocks of serpentinite overthrusted the Slate and metapelite Unit at C.da Occiuso and C.da Giorgi.
At the mesoscopic-scale (cf. Fig. 13), thrust planes strike from about NNW-SSE to NNE-SSW, and dip from 40

to
80

towards either E or W. Thrust planes show dip-slip to oblique slickensides, documenting reverse movements and a
sub-horizontal
1
oriented WNW-ESE. Strike-slip faults show sub-vertical planes, striking from E-W to NW-SE and
dipping mainly towards SSW (subordinately towards NNE); slickensides document left-lateral movements (pitches
between 0

and 40

, plunging mainly towards SE, and subordinately towards NW) and sub-horizontal
1
oriented
from ENE-WSW to E-W.
406 C. Tansi et al. / Journal of Geodynamics 43 (2007) 393414
Fig. 11. Detailed structural map of the Gimigliano push-up. At the bottom, geological cross-section. For mesoscopic-scale structural data, see
Fig. 13.
C. Tansi et al. / Journal of Geodynamics 43 (2007) 393414 407
Fig. 12. Detailed structural map of the Crati Graben. For mesoscopic-scale structural data, see Fig. 13.
The above structural interpretation contrasts with the one proposed by Rossetti et al. (2001), which explained the
ophiolite outcrops (i.e. the Authors lower complex) as a tectonic windowthrough the Alpine terranes (Stilo, Castagna
and Bagni units, belonging to the Authors upper complex). Ophiolite rocks were in fact claimed to be arranged into
an anticlinal fold, whose NW-SE striking axis extended from Gimigliano to C.da Cavor` a. Albeit assuming the same
original geometric relationships among the units of the Chain, our interpretation allows a better explanation of the
evident overthrusting of ophiolite rocks over the Orthogneiss Unit and the Slate and metapelite Unit, as observed near
Gimigliano.
3.2. Transtensional area
The Crati Graben (Lanzafame and Tortorici, 1981; Tortorici, 1981; Tansi et al., 2005a) is characterized by N-
S-trending transtensional Quaternary faults (Figs. 6, 12 and 14), which separate Late Miocene-Quaternary deposits
from the Calabrian Terranes outcropping in the Coastal Chain and in the Sila Massif, on its western and eastern
margins, respectively. Such deposits are represented, in the depocentral zone, by a Middle Pliocene-Middle Pleistocene
conglomerate-sand-clay marine succession, closed at the top by Late Pleistocene-Holocene fan-delta and alluvial
deposits.
N-S normal faults show seismogenic activity, as testied both by historical IX-X MCS events (Postpischl, 1985;
Boschi et al., 1995, 1997) and by instrumental earthquakes (Moretti et al., 1990). Morphologically, these faults are
4
0
8
C
.
T
a
n
s
i
e
t
a
l
.
/
J
o
u
r
n
a
l
o
f
G
e
o
d
y
n
a
m
i
c
s
4
3
(
2
0
0
7
)
3
9
3

4
1
4
Fig. 13. Mesoscopic-scale structural data gathered at the stations shown in Figs. 6, 7, 11 and 12. Diagrams (Schmidts net, lower hemisphere) showthe attitude of fault planes, slickensides (arrows),
and the orientation of the principal axes of the stress ellipsoid (
1
,
2
,
3
), obtained through the right-dihedrons method (Angelier, 1979). Data elaboration was performed by means of the software
DAISY 3 (Salvini, 2002).
C. Tansi et al. / Journal of Geodynamics 43 (2007) 393414 409
represented by sharp rectilinear escarpments, marked by active alluvial fans, bounding the uplifted footwalls. The
mountain fronts reach elevations of about 700 m, and are characterized by 300400 mhigh cumulative fault escarpments
along which triangular/trapezoidal facets (70100 m high) are to be found. An antecedent drainage network ows
perpendicular to the fault segments; it is made of deeply entrenched canyons on the uplifted blocks, and of at valleys
on the down-thrown blocks (Tortorici et al., 1995; Tansi et al., 2005a).
At the mesoscopic-scale (cf. Fig. 13), normal faults show fault planes striking from N-S to NNE-SSW, with sub-
vertical to oblique slickensides, indicating a right-lateral component of motion related to an extensional direction (
3
)
oriented N125E.
4. Discussion and conclusion
The structural studies carriedout betweenthe Crati Grabenandthe CatanzaroTrough(central Calabria) have revealed
the geometrical and kinematic characteristics of a regional NW-SE-trending left-lateral strike-slip zone, induced by an
E-W oriented sub-horizontal
1
. According to Van Dijk et al. (2000), this shear zone was active in the study area from
Middle Miocene to Middle Pleistocene only.
Within the study area, three major left-lateral strike-slip faults, arranged in a right-hand en echelon pattern, were
identied: the Falconara-Carpanzano Fault, the Amantea-Gimigliano Fault, and the Lamezia-Catanzaro Fault. In the
overlapping regions between the strike-slip faults (cf. Fig. 14), transpressional regimes induced the tectonic extrusion
of the deep-seated units of the Oligocene-Early Miocene Chain (the uppermost portion of the Mesozoic Carbonate
Complex, and the Ophiolite Unit). These units are arranged into push-ups, formed by thrusts oriented NNE-SSW and
associated folds, penetrating the overlying units of the Calabrian Terranes. Accordingly, the transpressional regime
modied the original geometric relationships among the NE-verging units of the orogenic belt, contributing locally to
the late moderate thickening of the Chain.
In particular, two major Mesozoic carbonate push-ups (Mt. CocuzzoMt. Guono and Mt. S. Lucerna) were extruded
within the transpressional area of overlapping FCF-AGF. In the area of overlapping AGF-LCF, the two regional
ophiolite push-ups of Mt. Reventino and of Gimigliano were also extruded. Moreover, in correspondence with the SE
termination of the Falconara-Carpanzano Fault, active transtensional tectonics has developed along the N-S-trending
Crati Graben since Late Pliocene (Tansi et al., 2005a,b).
Mesoscopic-scale structural analyses permitted the evaluation of the stress eld (Fig. 13). Moreover, the consistency
between the geometrical pattern of the strike-slip faults and the collected kinematic data, on the one hand, and those
predicted by experimental and theoretical models, on the other (see below; cf. Xiaohan, 1983, or Sylvester, 1988),
has allowed us to interpret the above-mentioned push-ups as supercial responses in the overlapping areas of deep
strike-slip faults. With this in mind, let us consider the mathematical elastic-plane model proposed by Xiaohan (1983)
concerning plane stresses, which describes the concentration of the stresses (
1
and
3
) and the trajectories of
1
in the
vicinity of en echelon right-stepping left-lateral strike-slip faults (Fig. 15). In the study area, the regional shortening
directions (
1
), responsible for the activation of the strike-slip faults, is E-W oriented, as testied by the kinematic
evidence found along the FCF and AGF. In the area of overlapping between the above faults, the direction of
1
tends to
be parallel to the direction of the strike-slip faults (trending about WNW-ESE), as deduced from thrusts and folds. Yet,
in the transtensional zone of the Crati Graben, the orientation of
3
rotates, and tends to be parallel to the FCF: at the
mesoscopic scale, this re-orientation is documented in the measurement stations from 39NO to 51NO (Fig. 13),
where the average extension direction is oriented WNW-ESE.
According to Van Dijk et al. (2000), the uplift mechanism of the deep-seated units of the Chain should generally
be ascribed, at a regional scale, to reverse-oblique strike-slip movement along the NW-SE regional shear zone, with
associated NE- and SW-verging thrusts. However, in the overlapping areas between strike-slip faults, the modality of
extrusion of the deep-seated portions of the Chain can be better explained by means of the above described kinematic
model.
Like the Calabrian-Lucanian boundary (cf., e.g. Catalano et al., 1993), though in a different time interval (Early-
Middle Pleistocene versus Middle Miocene-Middle Pleistocene, and perhaps up to the presentcf. below), the
overthrust migration towards the foreland was probably inhibited by the thickening of the continental crust: as a
consequence, strike-slip tectonics became the dominant mode of deformation.
In the study area, the observed geometrical pattern of the three major strike-slip faults points to the existence of
a left-lateral shear zone of higher hierarchical order, striking on average N160 (cf. inset in Fig. 14). The shear zone,
410 C. Tansi et al. / Journal of Geodynamics 43 (2007) 393414
Fig. 14. Kinematic scheme of the study area. On top-right, the left-lateral shear zone of higher hierarchical order, striking on average N160.
marked by outcrops of Sheared basement remnants (cf. Fig. 6), is also responsible for the lateral juxtaposition of
different paleogeographic domains.
The considered regional left-lateral strike-slip fault system thus signicantly conditioned the post-Tortonian evo-
lution of central Calabria, during the late-orogenic and post-collisional phases which involved the Apulian block and
the Calabrian Arc. Such an interpretation is in contrast with the ones proposed by Mattei et al. (1999), and by Rossetti
et al. (2001), which recognized a single extensional phase, active since Late Miocene, as being responsible for the
development of NNE-SSW-trending normal faults in the same study area.
Finally, the age of the regional NW-SE left-lateral strike-slip system still deserves thorough investigation. In fact,
besides the evidence from historical and instrumental earthquakes in the study area (Moretti et al., 1990; Boschi et al.,
1995, 1997; INGV, 2006) and from paleoseismological investigations (Galli and Bosi, 2003), the kinematic scheme of
Fig. 14 suggests that the cause of the active N-Sfault systemof the Crati Graben could be found in the regional NW-SE
shear zone (cf. Falconara-CarpanzanoFault), eventhoughthe debate onthe relationships withthe Calabrian-Sicilianrift-
zone still remains open. In addition, according to Monaco and Tortorici (2000), the southernmost fault of the shear zone
(LCF, in the present study) may still be active. Further mesoscopic-scale eld surveys, paleoseismological investigations
(concerning soil horizons dislocated by N-Sstriking transpressive thusts), and analyses of Radon anomalies (Tansi et al.,
C. Tansi et al. / Journal of Geodynamics 43 (2007) 393414 411
Fig. 15. 2D-kinematic FEMmodel of transpressional and transtensional structures induced by en echelon left-lateral strike-slip faults (after Xiaohan,
1983, modied). (a) Geometrical scheme; (b) stress concentration (dotted: transpressional zone; ruled: transtensional zone; values of in bar); (c)
re-orientation of
1
trajectories; (d) re-orientation of
3
trajectories.
2005b), are currently being carried out, in order to better characterize the seismotectonic features of central and northern
Calabria.
Acknowledgments
Authors are very grateful to the colleagues M. F` olino Gallo and R. Sirianni for their precious contribution during the
eld surveying and in the realization of the gures. The manuscript beneted fromprecious suggestions and comments
by C. Monaco and L. Tortorici, and by the reviewers G. Prosser and F. Rossetti.
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