Geology of the eastern slopes of the Simbruini Mts. between Verrecchie and Capistrello (Central Apennines – Abruzzo, Italy)

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a geological mapping project across the eastern Simbruini Mts. and the higher Roveto Valley (Central Apennines). The study area belongs to the Latium-Abruzzi Domain, which is characterized by a Cretaceous and Miocene carbonate platform succession followed by a thick upper Miocene terrigenous succession. A unique feature of the study area is the existence of a thick clastic unit, the 'brecce della Renga fm.'; this unit was produced by the dismantling of the margins of a large pre-orogenic extensional structural high, which rose within the foredeep basin starting in the early Tortonian. Following the Messinian-Pliocene Apennine chain building phase, the area was subjected to post-orogenic Quaternary extension, related to the opening of the Tyrrhenian sea. A geological map on the 1:20,000 scale illustrates the main stratigraphic and structural features of the area. ARTICLE HISTORY

Geological map of the Mt. Vettoretto–Capodacqua area (Central Apennines, Italy) and cross-cutting relationships between Sibillini Mts. Thrust and Mt. Vettore normal faults system

“…The latter phase is welldocumented, because it produced a significant control on the sedimentation in foredeep basins (Calamita et al, 1998;Fabbi & Rossi, 2014;, and on the trajectory and geometry of thrusts (Tavarnelli., 1995;Calamita et al, 2012). The Miocene extensional activity can explain the occurrence of normal faults with large stratigraphic throw, coupled with few present-day topographic evidence (Compagnoni et al, 1990;Fabbi & Rossi, 2014;Fabbi, 2016;2018). Finally, a last pre-Quaternary syn-compressional extensional phase has also been described in the Sibillini Mts.…”

Magnesium as Environmental Tracer for Karst Spring Baseflow/Overflow Assessment—A Case Study of the Pertuso Karst Spring (Latium Region, Italy)

“…The entire area is characterized by a highly fractured Cretaceous rocks, with a karst setting presenting karren, sinkholes, and other karst forms [57]. On the carbonate rocks, composed by the alternation of granular limestone and dolomite layers, there are some rather limited areas where Quaternary alluvial deposits, pudding stone, and clay outcrop [58,59].…”

Fluvial inverse modeling for inferring the timing of Quaternary uplift in the Simbruini range (Central Apennines, Italy)

“…The latter were progressively eroded and became the main sourcerocks area of the "Brecce della Renga Fm." succession (Carminati et al, 2014;Fabbi, 2012Fabbi, , 2016Fabbi, , 2018Fabbi & Rossi, 2014).…”

“…This paleogeography was probably related to the presence of pre‐orogenic normal faults that, during the foreland bending, formed Cretaceous and Miocene carbonate structural highs (Compagnoni, Galluzzo, & Santantonio, 1990; Fabbi & Rossi, 2014). The latter were progressively eroded and became the main source‐rocks area of the “Brecce della Renga Fm.” succession (Carminati et al., 2014; Fabbi, 2012, 2016, 2018; Fabbi et al., 2014; Fabbi & Rossi, 2014).…”

“…In fact, in contrast with other sectors of the Central Apennines, this part of the chain lacks well-defined intermontane basins, except for the northern termination of the Simbruini ridge, the Oricola-Carsoli basin, which has recently been described in detail (D'Orefice et al, 2014). The post-orogenic tectono-sedimentary history is only recorded by several sedimentary cycles of alluvial and slope deposits, cropping out along the mountain slopes and on top of the relief, where they represent the relicts of paleosurfaces (e.g., Fabbi, 2018).…”