The tectono-stratigraphic evolution of the Fucino Basin (central Apennines, Italy): new insights from the geological mapping of its north-eastern margin.

We present the geological map of the north-eastern margin of the Fucino Basin, which is mainly characterized by Plio-Quaternary continental deposits that show transition from deeper-water lacustrine environment, marginal lacustrine system, and fluvial facies. These deposits unconformably overlie upper Messinian Lago-Mare sediments and pre-orogenic carbonate succession. The occurrence of Caspiocypris tiberina in the Plio-Quaternary lacustrine sediments, coupled with the normal magnetic polarity of Casa Colombaia section, led to suggest the onset of the sedimentation of these continental deposits to the late Piacenzian (2.58-3.04 Ma). The upper Messinian deposits are characterized by ostracod assemblages related to the Loxocorniculina djafarovi zone, pointing to the last Lago-Mare event of the Messinian Salinity Crisis (5.40-5.33 Ma). This new stratigraphic framework may be useful to refine the long-term slip rates of the still active normal faults that affect the north-eastern margin of the Fucino Basin.