Characterization of a mass-transport complex in the northern Sicilian margin

A frontally confined landslide represents the bulk of the Villafranca mass transport complex. It was translated toward the NE above a basal shear surface with ramp and flat geometry. Extensional structures and coherent rotated blocks mark the landslide headwall region. The main landslide body consists of coherent blocks within a chaotic matrix. In the landslide toe region, compression originated thrust related folds that created a low-relief bulge at the seafloor. Smaller scale mass transport deposits were emplaced on top of the main landslide due to retrogressive failure style.