Evolution of the Gelasian (Pleistocene) slope turbidite systems of southern Marche (Peri-Adriatic basin, central Italy)

Abstract

Examples of slope channels and canyons being diverted by structurally related sea-floor topography are commonly found both on the modern seabed and in the subsurface, in deepwater fold and thrust belts but their depositional histories have rarely been documented using examples from outcrop. The synthesis of outcrop (original geological field mapping at 1:10,000 scale) and subsurface data sets from the early Pleistocene stratigraphic succession of the Peri-Adriatic basin provides a window into the overall evolutionary pattern of large intraslope turbidite systems that, during the Gelasian (2.58-1.80 Ma), shed Apenninederived clastic sediments into the adjacent deep-water basin. Trends from mapping and paleocurrent indicators converge to indicate that the sea-floor bathymetric expression of a thrust-related anticline, the north-trending Jesi-Nereto-Zaccheo structure, likely influenced the downslope transport direction of gravity flows and sediment dispersal pattern. During early and middle Gelasian time, coarse-grained turbidite deposition occurred on the western flank of the intraslope anticline by westerly sourced, northward-flowing turbidity currents, indicating that the opposing sea-floor topography was sufficient to cause the diversion of turbidite systems, forcing them to travel near parallel to the east-facing regional paleoslope for significant distances. By very late Gelasian time, the intraslope accommodation space on the western flank of the anticline had filled and turbidites were dispersed through diporiented conduits incising across the crest of the underlying structure.

Multi‐scale analysis of a migrating submarine channel system in a tectonically‐confined basin: The Miocene Gorgoglione Flysch Formation, southern Italy

“…The reconstruction of the evolutionary history of an ancient turbidite system is one of the main goals of recent outcrop studies (e.g. Pickering et al, 2015;Di Celma et al, 2016;Greene & Surpless, 2017). For this purpose, the accurate interpretation of the stratigraphic record and the analysis of spatial and temporal changes in depositional architectures are of primary importance (e.g.…”

Sedimentology, faunal content and pollen record of Middle Pleistocene palustrine and lagoonal sediments from the Peri-Adriatic basin (Abruzzi, eastern central Italy)

“…The unconformities separating these units are well recognizable along the basin margins and document the combined effects of global climate changes and phases of basin reorganization linked to the effects of long-term and regional-scale tectonics (e.g., Ori et al, 1991;Artoni, 2013;Bigi et al, 2013). Overall, these allogroups record a pronounced regressive trend recorded by an upward progression from slope and shelf mudstones of Qm1 (Cantalamessa et al, 2009;Di Celma, 2011;Di Celma et al, 2010, 2014, 2016a through littoral sandstones and conglomerates of Qm2 (Cantalamessa and Di Celma, 2004;Di Celma et al, 2016b) to conglomeratedominated fluvial deposits of Qc (Di Celma et al, 2015). Outcrop equivalents of the Qm and Qc units, displaying strong similarities in terms of both lithology and vertical stacking of facies, have been identified along the Adriatic side of Italy in the Emilia, Marche, and Molise Apennines (Cantalamessa and Di Celma, 2004;Amorosi et al, 2009;Bracone et al, 2012aBracone et al, , 2012bGunderson et al, 2014).…”

Sedimentology, faunal content and pollen record of Middle Pleistocene palustrine and lagoonal sediments from the Peri-Adriatic basin, Abruzzi, eastern central Italy

“…The unconformities separating these units are well recognizable along the basin margins and document the combined effects of global climate changes and phases of basin reorganization linked to the effects of long-term and regional-scale tectonics (e.g., Ori et al, 1991;Artoni, 2013;Bigi et al, 2013). Overall, these allogroups record a pronounced regressive trend recorded by an upward progression from slope and shelf mudstones of Qm1 (Cantalamessa et al, 2009;Di Celma et al, 2010, 2016aDi Celma, 2011) through littoral sandstones and conglomerates of Qm2 (Cantalamessa and Di Celma, 2004;Di Celma et al, 2016b) to conglomerate-dominated fluvial deposits of Qc (Di Celma et al, 2015). Outcrop equivalents of the Qm and Qc units, displaying strong similarities in terms of both lithology and vertical stacking of facies, have been identified along the Adriatic side of Italy in the Emilia, Marche, and Molise Apennines (Cantalamessa and Di Celma, 2004;Amorosi et al, 2009;Bracone et al, 2012aBracone et al, , 2012bGunderson et al, 2014).…”