My field areas are located either in compressional and extensional environments, from northern Italy to Sicily.
Current activity focuses 1) on the characterization of thrust faults in the Po Plain and coastal Marche region, 2) on the study of seismogenic sources of the inner Abruzzi extensional region and 3) on the study of the seismogenic sources in the Thyrrenian and Jonian coastal areas of Calabria.
1) We calculated Plio-Pleistocene slip rates on the blind thrusts of the outer Northern Apennines fronts, that are the potential sources of highly damaging earthquakes, as shown by the Mw 5.9-5.8 2012 Emilia-Romagna seismic sequence. We also made a reconstruction of the geometry of the central Marche coastal thrust system, evaluating the long-term slip rates. In both cases we used subsurface geological and geophysical data building a coherent 3D geological model and developing a procedure for slip rate calculation that includes the decompaction of clastic units.
Detail can be found in the following paper:
- Maesano, F.E., G. Toscani, P. Burrato, F. Mirabella, C. D’Ambrogi, R. Basili (2013). Deriving thrust fault slip rates from geological modeling: examples from the Marche coastal and offshore contraction belt, Northern Apennines, Italy. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 42, 122-134; doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2012.10.008. Downloadable @: http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8323
2) We are studying the evolution of bedrock fault scarps widely outcropping along the mountain slopes. The mainstream interpretation if these features is that they represent the surface expression of the active normal faults that generate the destructive earthquakes of the region. As such, they are used for deriving fault parameters that eventually enter in the seismic hazard calculations. They are also used as paleoseismological indicators for determining exposing events, i.e. earthquakes, and obtaining average return and elapsed times. The aim of this study is to understand if there are other processes not tectonics that may govern the evolution of the fault ribbon. The study is undergone in the framework of a FIRB Project financed by the Italian Government.
3) In Calabria we are studying the seismogenic source of the large 1905 earthquake occurred on the western coast of central Calabria. The identification of the source is made difficult by its probable offshore location. We are using seismic and bathymetric data aquired during a scientific cruise, and we will match the observation derived from their interpretation with those coming from marine terrace mapping.
Detail can be found in the following paper:
Loreto, M.F., U. Fracassi, A. Franzo, P. Del Negro, F. Zgur, L. Facchin (2013).Approaching the seismogenic source of the Calabria 8 September 1905 earthquake: New geophysical, geological and biochemical data from the S. Eufemia Gulf (S Italy). Marine Geology, 343, 62-75, doi: 10.1016/j.margeo.2013.06.016.
I also studied with collegues from other Research Institutes and Universities the geometry and rate of activity of the Amendolara Ridge, that is a fold system running ca. E-W along the southern part of the Taranto Gulf, east coast of Calabria near the border with Basilicata. This area is characterized by a low background seismicity with few exception, the most notably of which was the 24 April 1836 earthquake (Mw 6.2, Calabria Settentrionale), which was associated with a tsunami wave that inundated the northern Calabria coast. We discovered that the Amendolara Ridge, that can be followed for more than 80 km from the off-shore to on-land, is governed by an active SSW-verging thrust system. Evidence come from deformed Late Pleistocene marine terraces, and from high resolution seismic and bathymetric data, aquired during a scientific cruise. We also found that a potential tsunami threat is given by the widespread off-shore landslides potentially triggered by seismic shacking.
Detail can be found in the following paper:
- Santoro, E., L. Ferranti, P. Burrato, M.E. Mazzella, C. Monaco (2013). Deformed Pleistocene marine terraces along the Ionian Sea margin of southern Italy: Unveiling blind fault-related folds contribution to coastal uplift. Tectonics, 32, 3, 737-762, doi: 10.1002/tect.20036.
- Ferranti, L., F. Pepe, P. Burrato, E. Santoro, M.E. Mazzella, D. Morelli, S. Passaro, G. Vannucci (2012). Geometry and modeling of an active offshore thrust-related fold system: The Amendolara Ridge, Ionian Sea, southern Italy. Rendiconti Online Societa Geologica Italiana, 21, 222-224.
Some 80 km more to the South, we studied the Pleistocene flight of marine terraces that contours the Crotone peninsula coastline. The study was undergone to characterize the off-shore thrust system, that represent the innermost crustal structures of the Calabrian accretionary wedge. We also identified uplifted Holocene beach deposits. The publication of this research is in preparation.
Interactive map of the study areas.
This is a screen shot from Google Earth where I show the areas where I did field work or where I'm undergoing research activities. The north is to the left.
