Active tectonics in the Calabrian Arc: Insights from the Late Miocene to Recent structural evolution of the Squillace Basin (offshore eastern Calabria)

Abstract

The Calabrian Arc represents one of the most active sectors of the upper plate of the Tyrrhenian-Ionian subduction system. This research aims to reconstruct the evolution of the Squillace Basin (Ionian offshore of the Calabrian Arc) from the Late Miocene to Recent times and recognise active shallow and deep structures using a multiscale approach. The latter is based on interpreting high-penetration and high-resolution seismic reflection profiles, calibrated with well-log data coupled with bathymetric data and the distribution of instrumental earthquakes. Data highlight three steps in the evolution of the Squillace Basin. A Late Miocene extensional event led to the formation of WNW-ESE oriented horst and half-graben structures. During the Pliocene, deformation was localised in the central and northern sectors of the basin and expressed by a WNW-ESE oriented strike-slip fault and NW-SE normal to trastensional faults, respectively. A transpressional event started in the Early Pleistocene, causing the positive inversion of deep (> 3 km) extensional faults and the formation of NW-SE to WNW-ESE oriented transpressional/reverse faults and related anticlines. The kinematics of these faults agree with the NW-SE oriented left-lateral Albi-Cosenza, Lamezia-Catanzaro and Petilia-Sosti crustal fault zones developed in north Calabria. The results of this work suggest that the transpressional structures in the northwestern sector of the basin likely represent the offshore prolongation of the Albi-Cosenza fault zone. NW-SE to WNW-ESE trending, shallow (<2 km) high-angle normal faults offset the younger deposits. Their depth and direction indicate that these faults are secondary structures formed in the extrados of the anticlines associated with the transpressional faults. The distribution of earthquakes shows events with M > 3 and depth <15 km located in the hanging wall of transpressional faults. The integrated data suggest that these structures are active and probably responsible for the major earthquakes that affected the Ionian offshore.