TECTONICS AND SEDIMENTATION WITHIN A MESSINIAN FOREDEEP IN THE CENTRAL APENNINES, ITALY

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Abstract
The Marche‐Abruzzi thrust system is part of the Central Apennine fold‐and‐thrust belt of mainland Italy. Our study area covers the SE portion of the Umbria‐Marche‐Abruzzi region and the northern part of the Gran Sasso Mountains. A thick pile of turbidites is exposed in this area; they were deposited within a Messinian foredeep in front of the evolving fold‐and‐thrust belt. We have used regional structural interpretations together with unpublished well‐log and seismic data to construct a cross‐section across the external portion of the thrust system.Our work suggests that: (i) deformation of the sediments in the Messinian foredeep began shortly after their deposition, and continued until the late Pliocene; (ii) the restored (pre‐deformation) width of the basin was approximately twice that of the present‐day basin, and the depocentre migrated eastwards at a rate of about 4 cm/yr; (iii) the geometry and physiography of the Messinian foredeep were controlled by a number of longitudinal and transverse structural features which may be related to foreland ramp activity or to differential flexuring of the Apulian lithosphere, respectively.