Role of Meso-Cenozoic paleogeography on Messinian and Early Pliocene tectonic-controlled sequences within Central Apennines (Italy)

The Apennines chain is a Neogene fold-and-thrust belt that developed on ensialic crust after the Europe-Africa collision during the Alpine orogeny. The major thrust systems in the Central Apennines strike northwest-southeast and plunge gently toward the southwest. The systems include, from southwest to northeast the Simbruini, Velino-Sirente, Marsica, Morrone, Gran Sasso and Maiella thrust sheets. Additional thrusts and related folds are concealed beneath several km of Pliocene-Quaternary synorogenic sediments to the northeast of the topographic front of the range . The exposed sequences consist of thick Triassic-middle Miocene carbonate platform, slope and ramp facies. The kinematic history of thrusting in the central Apennines is recorded by Miocene through Pliocene synorogenic sediments; younger rocks are progressively involved in the chain.