Regional Geological Structures in the Fold and Thrust System of the External Areas of Lucanian Mountain Chain (Southern Apennines)

Serafina Carbone, Fabio Lentini

Tentative geological profiles across the external areas of the Lucanian Apennines (southern Italy) have been worked out by means of field and well data. The aim of this study is to describe the general geometrical framework and to discuss the possible time-space evolution of the processes associated with the thrust faulting. Starting from the external zones, it is possible to distinguish the internal margin of the Pliocene-Pleistocene foreland-foredeep system (Apulian foreland, Bradanic trough); the more advanced front of the chain (Metaponto nappe), composed of Oligocene-Miocene and Pliocene-Quaternary units; and the true mountain chain, made by several large thrust sheets of Triassic-Miocene structural-stratigraphic units. The time-space migration of the thrust belt-for deep system from early Miocene to Quaternary time is demonstrated by the relationship between structural units and by facies analysis. In particular, new interpretation about the geodynamic role of the lower Miocene turbidites allows us to recognize that a "pre-Irpinian basin" originated during Aquitanian-Burdigalian times. On the inner flank of this basin, the mesoauthochthonous Albidona Flysch was deposited. From middle Langhian to Tortonian, this basin assumed--because of the foredeep migration--the configuration of the well-known "Irpinian basin." It was subdivided into piggy-back basins, resting upon the nappes (Gorgoglione Flysch) and foredeep buried by the "External Flysches." After Tortonian time and until the present, this complicated thrust sheet was progressively emplaced onto the recent foredeep originated from the downfaulted Apulian foreland.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91032©1988 Mediterranean Basins Conference and Exhibition, Nice, France, 25-28 September 1988.