GEOMETRY AND DEFORMATION TRANSFORMATION OF THE XIMALIN FAULT

The Ximalin fault is the northwest section of the Ximalin-Shuiquan fault, which is part of the north-edge fault zone of the Yanghe Basin, located in the conjunction of the Zhangjiakou-Bohai fault zone and Shanxi fault-depression basin, and its structural geometry and deformation characteristics can facilitate the research on the interaction of the two tectonic belts. In this paper, data of geological surveys and geophysical exploration are used to study this fault exhaustively, concerning its geometry, structural features and activity as well as its relationship with adjacent faults and rule in the deformation transform of the north-edge fault zone of the Yanghe Basin. The results show that the Ximalin Fault is a strike-slip feature with thrust component. Its vertical slip rates are 0.17mm/a and 0.25~0.38mm/a, and the horizontal slip rate is 0.58~0.67mm/a and 0.50mm/a during the late Middle Pleistocene and Holocene, respectively. It is formed alternately by the NW-trending main faults and secondary NE-trending faults, of which the former is characterized by high-angle reverse with sinistral strike-slip, and the latter shows normal faulting. The two sets of structures have specific structural geometry relations, and the motion manners and deformation characteristics match each other. During the active process of the north-edge fault of the Yanghe Basin, the NW trending Ximalin fault played a role similar to a transform fault in deformation change and stress transfer, and its sinistral strike slip activity accommodated the NE trending normal faulting at the both ends.     

Gravity and magnetic field characteristics and hydrocarbon prospects of the Tobago Basin

The Tobago Basin, which is located offshore northern Venezuela with a southern margin close to Trinidad and Tobago, has an area of approximately 59,600 km². The Tobago Basin has relatively favourable hydrocarbon prospects, and to date, exploration work has mainly concentrated on small areas of the southwestern portion of the basin. To conduct a comprehensive study of the structural framework of the basin and the characteristics of the basement in order to identify prospective zones for hydrocarbon exploration, shipborne‐measured and satellite‐measured gravity data, shipborne‐measured magnetic data, and aeromagnetic survey data were analysed. A regularisation filtering method was used to separate and obtain regional and residual gravity and magnetic anomalies. Directional gradients of gravity and magnetic anomalies and the total horizontal gradient and vertical second derivative of gravity anomalies were employed to extract information about fault structures. Regression analysis methods were used to determine the basement depth. The geological significance of the gravity and magnetic fields was examined, the structural framework of the basin was assessed, the basement depth was estimated, and favourable hydrocarbon exploration prospects within the basin were identified. The results show that the Tobago Basin contains complex structures consisting mainly of two groups of faults trending in northeasterly and northwesterly directions and that the major northeasterly trending faults control the main structural configuration and depositional system within the basin. The basement of the Tobago Basin has deep rises and falls. It can be divided into the following four secondary tectonic units: the western sub‐basin, the central uplift area, the southern sub‐basin, and the northeastern sub‐basin. The central uplift area and northeastern sub‐basin are most likely to have developed hydrocarbon accumulations and should be targeted for further exploration.     

辽宁省主要活动断层与地震活动特征分析

本文结合编制 1：100 万辽宁省地震构造图,分析了辽宁省近 20 年来地震构造环境相关研究成果,确定辽宁地区共有第四纪以来活动断裂 29 条：全新世断裂 1 条;晚更新世断裂 5 条;早、中更新世断裂 23 条。其中北东向晚更新世活动断裂和北西向全新世活动断裂为辽宁地区的主要控震、发震构造。北东向晚更新世活动断裂与北西向断裂交汇部位、海城河隐伏断裂的端点部位和鸭绿江断裂南西端黄海海域是未来发生中强地震的主要部位。本研究可为深入研究辽宁地区地震构造条件、编制第五代全国地震区划图提供基础资料。     

张家口-宣化盆地断裂特征与活动性研究

运用地质地貌调查、地球物理勘探和年代测定等方法,对张家口—宣化盆地的四条主要断裂(张家口断裂、万全断裂、洗马林—水泉断裂和洋河断裂)的空间展布特征和活动性进行分析和研究,获得其活动时代、活动速率等参数。研究表明:上述断裂第四纪期间持续活动,以脆性变形为特征;总体上NW向断裂以高角度的正(或逆)倾滑断层为主,NE或NEE向的断裂以高角度的正断层为主;盆地内活动断裂总体来说活动强烈,多处可见断裂正断运动及左旋走滑运动的地质剖面,早更新世以来单条断层的平均垂直活动速率大于0.07~0.30mm/a,总垂直活动速率可能达到1.33mm/a。     

Structural interpretation of the Erzurum Basin,eastern Turkey,using curvature gravity gradient tensor and gravity inversion of basement relief

The Erzurum Basin has received more attention in petroleum potential research because of its particularity in geographic and tectonic position. There remains debate on the basement structure of the basin since igneous rocks and faults make the structure and stratigraphy more complicated. We utilize gravity data to understand the structure of the Erzurum Basin. This study describes an edge enhancement technique based on the eigenvalues and determinant obtained from the curvature gravity gradient tensor (CGGT). The main goal of this technique is to delineate structural boundaries in complex geology and tectonic environment using CGGT. The results obtained from theoretical data, with and without Gaussian random noise, have been analyzed in determining the locations of the edges of the vertical-sided prism models. The zero contours of the smallest eigenvalue delineate the spatial location of the edges of the anomalous sources. In addition, 3-D gravity inversion of Bouguer anomalies has been used with purpose to estimate the structure of the substrata to allow modeling of the basement undulation in the Erzurum basin. For this reason, the Parker–Oldenburg algorithm helped to investigate this undulation and to evidence the main linear features. This algorithm reveals presence of basement depths between 3.45 and 9.06 km in the region bounded by NE–SW and E–W trending lineaments. We have also compared the smallest eigenvalue zero contours with the HGM images and Tilt derivative (TDR) of Bouguer anomaly map of the study area. All techniques have agreed closely in detecting the horizontal locations of geological features in the subsurface with good precision.     

The Quaternary Tectonic Stress Field of the Kunming Basin and Its Surrounding Areas

The Kunming basin is a Cenozoic faulted basin controlled by N-S trending active faults. there are totally 8 main active faults in and around the Kunming basin area. Inversion of fault slip data suggests that the stress field of the Kunming basin has experienced two major stages. In the first stage (from the late-Pliocene to mid-Pleistocene), the regional tectonic stress field was characterized by near E-W compression and near N-S extension. In the second stage (from the late-Pleistocene to the present), the tectonic stress field has been mainly characterized by NNW-SSE compression and NEE-SWW extension. Under such a stress field, the near N-S trending faults in the region mainly show a lateral slip.     

Observation and analysis of low-frequency crustal earthquakes in Lake Van and its vicinity,eastern Turkey

Lake Van is located in very intensely deformed tectonic settings in the eastern Turkey. The surrounding area of Lake Van has major tectonic structures; NE and NW trending active conjugate strike-slip faults, pull-apart basins along these faults, E-W trending active thrust faults, folds, compressional ramp basins, N-S trending folds, NE-SW aligned continental collision-related volcanoes and N-S trending tensional cracks functioned as magma conduits. Since the area is tectonically very active, the earthquake activity within the basin and the surrounding area of Lake Van is very high. In this study, we have analysed the records of VANB broadband station of Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute's network for the seismic events (2000–2004) that occurred in the basin and in the vicinity of Lake Van. Based on the spectral analysis of earthquake data, we have mainly observed three types of seismic events; hybrid event, long period event and tremor. We have suggested that the observed hybrid, long period and tremor type of seismic events that occurred in the study area are related to the upward moving materials and stress loading in the mid and lower crust based on the geophysical data.     

深井盆地南缘断裂特征与活动性研究

深井盆地是山西断陷盆地带北段内部一个规模很小的次级盆地,为中更新世以来发育的三角型山间小型盆地。盆地附近断裂发育,构造复杂,深井盆地南缘断裂为主控边界断裂,控制着盆地的发展演化。本文通过对地形地貌、断裂剖面、地层测年及地震活动等方面的分析和研究,获得了断裂活动时代和活动速率等参数,综合阐述了断裂的空间展布及活动特征。研究表明:深井盆地南缘断裂晚第四纪期间仍在活动,最新活动时代为晚更新世晚期;断裂具有分段性,西段长约6km,多处可见断裂错断晚更新世地层剖面,属正断倾滑性质;东段表现为盆地与黄土斜坡直接接触,由西向东断裂地貌表现逐渐减弱,未见明显的断裂剖面,止于NW向构造,附近发生的4次4 3/4级地震与该段断裂关系密切。     

利用密集台阵近震层析成像研究云南宾川上地壳速度结构

滇西北宾川盆地是发育于红河断裂和程海断裂交汇处的晚新生代张扭断陷盆地,该区活动断裂发育且历史地震比较活跃.对宾川盆地及邻区进行高精度浅层和上地壳精细结构研究,有助于深入认识该区主要发震构造的深浅部特征.基于2017年在宾川盆地及其附近开展的为期2个月的密集台阵观测数据,我们对该区96个小震共拾取了117221条初至P波和5475条初至S波震相,并利用simul2000开展了地震重定位和体波层析成像研究.结果表明：（1）小震活动主要集中在宾川盆地东缘断裂的弧形转折部位,并在洱海南侧呈现沿北东向断裂的条带状分布现象,反映了区域上近南北向至北东向断裂是主要控震构造,其次是北西向断裂带.（2）0 km的速度分布与区域地形有很好的对应关系.山地呈现高速异常,宾川盆地呈现低速异常.从3 km至9 km,高低速分界与断层有很好的对应,并且越往深部,近南北向至北北东向的宾川盆地东缘断裂在上地壳构造的控制作用越明显.（3）上地壳层析成像结果同时揭示了宾川盆地东缘断裂的三维形态变化在空间上呈现出南北部倾角大、中部倾角缓的变化特征,可能与区域地块的旋转变形过程有关.（4）综合高精度浅层速度结构和地震重定位结果可知,区域上的近南北向至北北东向断裂正逐步取代北西向构造,成为主要的区域分界断裂和控震构造.新的研究结果为深入理解该区的主要控震构造及其深部结构特征提供了重要依据.     

尖扎渡口一隆务河口断裂带活动性初步研究

尖扎盆地发育一组近南北向断裂带,即尖扎渡口—隆务河口断裂带。通过对该断裂带野外调查,表明该断裂带长约20km,为逆冲断层,最新活动为早中更新世,晚更新世以来未见活动。     

Fault-generated mountain fronts in the central apennines (Central Italy): Geomorphological features and seismotectonic implications

The morphotectonic framework of the Central Apennines is given by faulted blocks bounded by normal faults, mostly trending NW–SE, NNW–SSE and NE–SW, which cut previous compressive structures. Such a structural setting is consistent with the focal mechanisms of the earthquakes which often occur in this area. In this paper, three lithologically different normal fault-generated mountain fronts are analysed in order to assess the relations between their geomorphic features and active tectonics. They border the Norcia depression (Sibillini Mts, Umbria), the Amatrice–Campotosto plateau (Laga Mts, Lazio) and the Fucino basin (Marsica Mts, Abruzzi). The Norcia depression is bounded by a N20°W trending normal fault to the east and by a parallel antithetic fault to the west. The main fault has a 1000 m throw and gives rise to a wide fault escarpment, characterized by: (1) sharp slope breaks due to low angle gravity faults; (2) important paleolandslides; and (3) several fault scarplets on the piedmont belt affecting Quaternary deposits. The Amatrice–Campotosto plateau is delimited by the western slope of Mt Gorzano which runs along a N20°W trending normal fault having a 1500m throw. Minor parallel faults dislocate Quaternary landforms. Large-scale massmovements also occur here. The Fucino basin was struck by the 1915 Avezzano earthquake (I=XI MCS) which produced extensive surface faulting along two parallel NW trending normal fault escarpments on the eastern border of the basin. There is paleoseismic evidence including buried gravity graben in Late Glacial gravels and tectonic dip-slip striations on Holocene calcitic crusts covering bedrock normal fault planes. These data suggest that active extensional tectonics plays a major role in the slope morphogenesis of the Central Apennines and they indicate the importance of geomorphic analysis in seismic zonation of this area.     

On the Limitation of the H/V Spectral Ratio Using Seismic Noise as an Exploration Tool: Application to the Grenoble Valley (France), a Small Apex Ratio Basin

The H/V spectral ratio method based on seismic noise (HVSRN) was used in the Grenoble Basin (France), an Alpine valley characterized by a small apex ratio. The resonance frequencies obtained in the experiments were compared to the thickness of the sediments deduced from a microgravimetric survey and to the 1-D theoretical assessment of site responses. Given the abundance of data on the sediments and depth of the basin, the values of the theoretical resonance frequency f_o can be determined quite accurately. However, it has been observed that the effects of basin geometry can disturb f_o measurements using the HVSR method, in particular for a case like the Grenoble Basin, which has a small apex ratio (w/H) and strong suspected 2-D and/or 3-D effects. Interpretation of f_o values in terms of bedrock depth gives rise to estimation errors of about 10% in certain cases, with the most significant errors (>50%) occurring on the edges of the basin, where subsurface layers are characterised by larger heterogeneities and where the basin topography is accentuated. This study suggests that great care must be taken when using the HVSRN method as an exploration tool, at least in valleys with a small apex ratio.     

Inversion of ambient seismic noise HVSR to evaluate velocity and structural models of the Lower Tagus Basin,Portugal

During its history, several significant earthquakes have shaken the Lower Tagus Valley (Portugal). These earthquakes were destructive; some strong earthquakes were produced by large ruptures in offshore structures located southwest of the Portuguese coastline, and other moderate earthquakes were produced by local faults. In recent years, several studies have successfully obtained strong-ground motion syntheses for the Lower Tagus Valley using the finite difference method. To confirm the velocity model of this sedimentary basin obtained from geophysical and geological data, we analysed the ambient seismic noise measurements by applying the horizontal to vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) method. This study reveals the dependence of the frequency and amplitude of the low-frequency (HVSR) peaks (0.2–2 Hz) on the sediment thickness. We have obtained the depth of the Cenozoic basement along a profile transversal to the basin by the inversion of these ratios, imposing constraints from seismic reflection, boreholes, seismic sounding and gravimetric and magnetic potentials. This technique enables us to improve the existing three-dimensional model of the Lower Tagus Valley structure. The improved model will be decisive for the improvement of strong motion predictions in the earthquake hazard analysis of this highly populated basin. The methodology discussed can be applied to any other sedimentary basin.     

香港地区断裂构造的新活动性

香港地区主要分布有北东东－近东西、北东和北西向三维断裂。北东向断裂分布全区，燕山期有过强烈活动，第四纪早－中期仍有过活动，以后的活动性不明显。其余两组构造虽然具有不同的发展历史，但在新构造运动中为一组共轭构造。在晚更新世（距今９－１１万年）仍有明显活动全新世以来活动性相对较弱，全新世滑动速度为０．６－０．９ｍｍ／ａ     

涉县盆地控盆构造晚第四纪活动特征

涉县断裂为太行山隆起区内涉县盆地的控盆构造,走向由NE转为近EW向,倾向NW/N,中部在井店东被EW向断裂错断,是控制涉县盆地的一组断裂。本文采用地质地貌调查、河流阶地分析和地质测年等方法,研究了涉县断裂晚第四纪活动特征。研究发现,涉县断裂带由多组断裂构成,带宽约200m,在清漳河两侧表现为山前的陡崖地貌、基岩破碎变形带,具有正断兼走滑特征,在基岩变形带上部发育走向NNE向和NWW向次级滑动面,次级滑动面错断第四系黄土,最新活动到晚更新世;断裂在盆地区通过,地表形成低缓陡坎,断裂错断Q2-3地层,表现为上陡下缓的正断层。通过对涉县断裂两侧清漳河河流阶地、夷平面和地层年龄综合分析,估算涉县断裂晚更新世以来平均垂直滑动速率为0.06～0.08mm/a,中更新世以来平均垂直滑动速率为0.22～0.34mm/a,垂直差异活动主要发生于中更新世期间。     

The role of strain partitioning on intermontane basin inception and isolation,External Western Gibraltar Arc

The intermontane Ronda Basin, currently located in the Western Betics External Zones, started as an embayment of the Betic foreland basin during the Tortonian. We have characterized a post-Serravallian, basin-related deformation event that overprinted the former fold-and-thrust belt. Updated structural and kinematic maps allow us to identify NW–SE basinward-dipping normal faults at the southwestern and northeastern boundaries of the basin and NE–SW shortening structures (large-scale folds and reverse faults) affecting both the outcropping basement and partially the basin infill. In order to test the possible tectonic activity of these structures during the last 5 Ma, exhaustive geomorphologic analyses in the Ronda Basin area have been done. This included the qualitative study of relief and drainage network, together with the characterization of quantitative indices (SLk, Smf, V_f and HI). These results obtained from this analysis are coherent with structural data and suggest that the identified post-Serravallian structures were active up to at least 5 Ma. We also conclude that the Ronda Basin was generated by along strike segmentation of the relief in the Western Betics induced by NE–SW (arc-parallel) stretching accompanied with NW–SE shortening. In the NW basin boundary, the strain was partitioned into ENE–WSW dextral strike-slip faults and NE–SW shortening structures, which gave rise to a Messinian transpressive structural high that disconnected the former Ronda Basin from its parental foreland basin.     

NEW DISCOVERY OF RESHUI-TAOSTUO RIVER FAULT IN DULAN,QINGHAI PROVINCE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS

The 40km-long, NEE trending Reshui-Taostuo River Fault was found in the southern Dulan-Chaka highland by recent field investigation, which is a strike-slip fault with some normal component. DEM data was generated by small unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV)on key geomorphic units with resolution<0.05m. Based on the interpretation and field investigation, we get two conclusions:1)It is the first time to define the Reshui-Taostuo River Fault, and the fault is 40km long with a 6km-long surface rupture; 2)There are left-handed dislocations in the gullies and terraces cut by the fault. On the high-resolution DEM image obtained by UAV, the offsets are(9.3±0.5) m, (17.9±1.5) m, and(36.8±2) m, measured by topographic profile recovery of gullies. The recovery measurements of two terraces present that the horizontal offset of T₁/T₀ is(18.2±1.5) m and the T₂/T₁ is (35.8±2) m, which is consistent with the offsets from gullies. According to the historical earthquake records, a M5 3/4 earthquake on April 10, 1938 and a M_S5.0 earthquake on March 21, 1952 occurred at the eastern end of the surface rupture, which may be related to the activity of the fault. By checking the county records of Dulan and other relevant data, we find that there are no literature records about the two earthquakes, which is possibly due to the far distance to the epicenter at that time, the scarcity of population in Dulan, or that the earthquake occurred too long ago that led to losing its records. The southernmost ends of the Eastern Kunlun Fault and the Elashan Fault converge to form a wedge-shaped extruded fault block toward the northwest. The Dulan Basin, located at the end of the wedge-shaped fault block, is affected by regional NE and SW principal compressive stress and the shear stress of the two boundary faults. The Dulan Basin experienced a complex deformation process of compression accompanying with extension. In the process of extrusion, the specific form of extension is the strike-slip faults at each side of the wedge, and there is indeed a north-east and south-west compression between the two controlling wedge-shaped fault block boundary faults, the Eastern Kunlun and Elashan Faults. The inferred mechanism of triangular wedge extrusion deformation in this area is quite different from the pure rigid extrusion model. Therefore, Dulan Basin is a wedge-shaped block sandwiched between the two large-scale strike-slip faults. Due to the compression of the northeast and southwest directions of the region, the peripheral faults of the Dulan Basin form a series of southeast converging plume thrust faults on the northeast edge of the basin near the Elashan Fault, which are parallel to the Elashan Fault in morphology and may converge with the Elashan Fault in subsurface. The southern marginal fault of the Dulan Basin(Reshui-Taostuo River Fault)near the Eastern Kunlun fault zone is jointly affected by the left-lateral strike-slip Eastern Kunlun Fault and the right-lateral strike-slip Elashan Fault, presenting a left-lateral strike-slip characteristic. Meanwhile, the wedge-shaped fault block extrudes to the northwest, causing local extension at the southeast end, and the fault shows the extensional deformation. These faults absorb or transform the shear stress in the northeastern margin of the Tibet Plateau. Therefore, our discovery of the Dulan Reshui-Taostuo River Fault provides important constraints for better understanding of the internal deformation mode and mechanism of the fault block in the northeastern Tibetan plateau. The strike of Reshui-Taostuo River Fault is different from the southern marginal fault of the Qaidam Basin. The Qaidam south marginal burial fault is the boundary fault between the Qaidam Basin and the East Kunlun structural belt, with a total length of ~500km. The geophysical data show that Qaidam south marginal burial fault forms at the boundary between the positive gravity anomaly of the southern East Kunlun structural belt and the negative gravity anomaly gradient zone of the northern Qaidam Basin, showing as a thrust fault towards the basin. The western segment of the fault was active at late Pleistocene, and the eastern segment near Dulan County was active at early-middle Pleistocene. The Reshui-Taostuo River Fault is characterized by sinistral strike-slip with a normal component. The field evidence indicates that the latest active period of this fault was Holocene, with a total length of only 40km. Neither remote sensing image interpretation nor field investigation indicate the fault extends further westward and intersects with the Qaidam south marginal burial fault. Moreover, it shows that its strike is relatively consistent with the East Kunlun fault zone in spatial distribution and has a certain angle with the burial fault in the southern margin of Qaidam Basin. Therefore, there is no structural connection between the Reshui-Taostuo River Fault and the Qaidam south marginal burial fault.     

渤海海域主要新构造活动断裂带

渤海位于渤海湾盆地的东部,是我国华北地区新构造活动最强烈的地区之一,盆地内的沉积盖层(N-Q)中断裂极为发育。许多研究者从不同角度对渤海新构造进行过研究,但认识不一。笔者基于以往的工作,对该区新构造作了较深入的分析,确定渤海新构造运动起始于中新世晚期(12~10Ma BP)。从三维空间分析盖层断裂,并按其与盆地基底断裂的成因关系,将新构造活动的断裂分为继续活动断裂和新生断裂,并划分出3条主要的新构造活动断裂带:北东(偏北)向营口-潍坊断裂带北段是继续活动构造带,右旋逆平移活动,活动性弱;北西西向北京-蓬莱断裂带亦为继续活动构造带,左旋正平移活动,活动性较强;北东向庙西北-黄河口断裂带为新生构造带,右旋平移活动,活动性强。后两者组成一对以庙西北-黄河口断裂带为主的偏共轭活动构造带,该区域地震活动与之关系密切。最后探讨了渤海地区新构造期北东东-南西西至近东西向水平挤压的构造应力场及其与新构造活动断裂带发育的关系。提出新构造应力场与古近纪盆地裂陷阶段的应力场截然不同,新构造为地壳共轭剪切破裂系统,古近纪盆地构造是发育于地壳上部的伸展构造系统,这是两期不同体制的构造系统。     

A new model of back-arc spreading in the Parece Vela Basin, northwest Pacific margin

Abstract Swath bathymetric data, single-channel seismic reflection profiles, magnetic and gravity anomalies in the northern part of the Parece Vela (West Mariana) Basin were obtained by comprehensive surveys conducted by the Hydrographic Department of Japan. The central zone of the Parece Vela Basin is characterized by the north-south trending chain of depressions in a right-stepping en echelon alignment. The morphology of these depressions is diamond shaped and bordered by steep escarpments of 1000-1500 m relative height. These fault escarpments extend northeastward and southwestward from the depressions into the surrounding basin floor and then gradually fade out. These escarpments have an S-shaped trend, and their geometry seems to be symmetric about the depressions. Minor ridges and troughs trending orthogonal to these escarpments are recognized. It is concluded that these depressions and escarpments are the topographic expression of extinct spreading axes and S-shaped transform faults, respectively. The age of the central depressions seems to be young, although details of tectonic processes forming them remains unsolved. The western province of the basin floor and basement is extremely rugged and characterized by minor ridges and troughs trending in a north-south direction. Although magnetic anomalies of the basin are very weak, magnetic lineations trending parallel to the topographic trend are recognizable in the central and western parts of the basin. Based on updated geomorpholog-ical features and magnetic anomalies revealed by the present survey, together with the previously published data including drilling results, it is proposed that the evolution of Parece Vela Basin took place in four stages of opening and tectonic activity: rifting, east-west spreading, northeast-southwest spreading with counter-clockwise rotation of spreading axes, and post-spreading deformation and volcanism. This proposed spreading model of the Parece Vela Basin is similar to that of the adjacent Shikoku Basin. The spreading axes of both basins were segmented and gradually rotated counter-clockwise in a later phase of the basin evolution, after the cessation of relatively uniform spreading nearly in an east-west direction.     

Complex basin development in a wrench-dominated back-arc area: Tectonic evolution of the Crati Basin,Calabria, Italy

Field data and seismic reflection profiles of various resolutions, calibrated by deep well logs, have been used to unravel the tectonic evolution of the Crati Basin (southern Italy). The study area is located in the northern portion of the Calabrian Arc, a well-developed arc-shaped feature of the circum-Mediterranean belts, consisting of a series of ophiolite-bearing tectonic units and overlying basement nappes. NW–SE oriented left-lateral strike-slip faults exerted a major control on the tectonic evolution of northern-central Calabria, from Middle Miocene to Lower Pleistocene times. Such faults, arranged in an en-échelon geometry and dissecting the pre-existing Late Oligocene–Early Miocene orogenic belt, led to a structural setting including major N-S striking synforms – as the offshore Paola Basin and the Crati Basin are interpreted based on our results – separated by a broad antiformal ridge. Since the Middle Pleistocene, both E- and W-dipping normal faults developed in the southernmost sector of the Crati Basin, probably as a consequence of both uplift of the orogenic edifice and Tyrrhenian back-arc extension. The pre-existing regional strike-slip faults became inactive in this sector of the belt. However, working as persistent barriers, it is envisaged here that they inhibited the southern propagation of the newly formed normal faults, which therefore propagated towards the north. A minimum value of cumulative displacement of ca. 600 m has been unraveled for the central sector of the Crati Basin since Middle Pleistocene times. This yields a vertical strain rate of ca. 0.9 mm/y during the last 700 ka.