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Comment on “Gravity modeling reveals a Messinian foredeep depocenter beneath the intermontane Fucino basin (Central Apennines)” by
Language
English
Obiettivo Specifico
3T. Fisica dei terremoti e Sorgente Sismica
Status
Published
JCR Journal
JCR Journal
Peer review journal
Yes
Title of the book
Issue/vol(year)
/839 (2022)
ISSN
0040-1951
Publisher
Elsevier
Pages (printed)
229540
Issued date
August 15, 2022
Abstract
The Fucino Pliocene-Quaternary extensional basin represents a
puzzling tectonic structure in the central part of the Apennine chain
(Italy). Bordered by seismogenetic faults responsible for strong earthquakes
in the last millennium (Mw = 6–7), differently from other
elongated intermontane basins in this area, it has a rounded shape and
extends for 15–20 km both in the E-W and N-S directions. This structural
peculiarity is also demonstrated by the very intense gravity low, with
amplitude >30 mGal (e.g., Cella et al., 2021), associated with this basin.
Available reflection seismic data in this area are often considered of low
quality (e.g., Compagnia Mediterranea Idrocarburi, 1999), and no deep
well (i.e., >200 m depth) is present in this basin, so that its structure at
depth results poorly constrained.
In a recent paper, Mancinelli et al. (2021; hereafter this paper will be
referred to as MSPM), by forward modelling residual gravity data try to
confirm a recent 2D seismic stratigraphic interpretation (Patruno and
Scisciani, 2021) and the relative model of the Fucino basin structure. In
this interpretation of seismic data, the Pliocene-Quaternary units
infilling the basin overlies an older (Messinian) siliciclastic flysch,
instead of a carbonate substrate as hypothesized in previous studies (e.
g., Cavinato et al., 2002; Cella et al., 2021). The forward gravity
modelling attempted in MSPM would confirm the presence of huge
volumes of Miocene sediments, with a thickness up to 1000 m, and
would support the hypothesis of the presence of a, rapidly filled, transient
Messinian foredeep basin.
However, we have concerns about the quality of the gravity modelling
proposed in MSPM, and consequently we are doubtful about the
geological conclusions that are drawn from it.
puzzling tectonic structure in the central part of the Apennine chain
(Italy). Bordered by seismogenetic faults responsible for strong earthquakes
in the last millennium (Mw = 6–7), differently from other
elongated intermontane basins in this area, it has a rounded shape and
extends for 15–20 km both in the E-W and N-S directions. This structural
peculiarity is also demonstrated by the very intense gravity low, with
amplitude >30 mGal (e.g., Cella et al., 2021), associated with this basin.
Available reflection seismic data in this area are often considered of low
quality (e.g., Compagnia Mediterranea Idrocarburi, 1999), and no deep
well (i.e., >200 m depth) is present in this basin, so that its structure at
depth results poorly constrained.
In a recent paper, Mancinelli et al. (2021; hereafter this paper will be
referred to as MSPM), by forward modelling residual gravity data try to
confirm a recent 2D seismic stratigraphic interpretation (Patruno and
Scisciani, 2021) and the relative model of the Fucino basin structure. In
this interpretation of seismic data, the Pliocene-Quaternary units
infilling the basin overlies an older (Messinian) siliciclastic flysch,
instead of a carbonate substrate as hypothesized in previous studies (e.
g., Cavinato et al., 2002; Cella et al., 2021). The forward gravity
modelling attempted in MSPM would confirm the presence of huge
volumes of Miocene sediments, with a thickness up to 1000 m, and
would support the hypothesis of the presence of a, rapidly filled, transient
Messinian foredeep basin.
However, we have concerns about the quality of the gravity modelling
proposed in MSPM, and consequently we are doubtful about the
geological conclusions that are drawn from it.
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