Plio-Quaternary tectonics of the Fucino basin and surroundings areas (central Italy)

Field observations, together with data from geophysical surveys, indicate that the major structural elements of the neotectonic evolution of the Fucino Plain are the faults of the northern and eastern borders. The tectonic evolution of the basin comprises three distinct events since the Pliocene. During the Pliocene, the NE-SW faults of the northern flank played a "master' role in the opening of the basin. Subsequently, during the Pliocene and the Quaternary, the evolution of the basin was mostly affected by the extensional activity of NW-SE faults. Finally, during the Quaternary some NW-SE faults outside the basin had left-lateral transcurrent activity, whereas extensional movements continued within the basin. All available data indicate that the alignment of NW-SE structures represents the first order structural element in the most recent tectonic activity of the area. -from Authors