Seismic interpretation of the Laga Basin; constraints on the structural setting and kinematics of the Central Apennines

The Messinian Laga basin is the largest foreland basin within the Central Apennines fold and thrust belt (Italy). This area, actively investigated in the 1980s and 1990s for hydrocarbon resources, is considered a valuable analogue for clastic reservoirs developed in confined structural settings. Furthermore, it represents a key area for understanding the evolution of the Apennines, as it links the internal, structurally uplifted Early Miocene fold and thrust belt of the western Central Apennines with the more external and recent belt to the east. Despite several papers published on this area, the only reconstruction of the substratum structure is an internal and classified industry report. During the present study, we had access to a seismic database comprising 200 km of seismic profiles that were collected between 1983 and 1990. These data allowed us to reconstruct the structural setting of the Laga basin substratum, define the lateral continuity of the main compressional structures within the basin, construct a balanced cross-section, and define the shortening values. © 2011 Geological Society of London.