Journal of Geodynamics 29 (2000) 445±457

Methods for determining the Pleistocene±Holocene

component of displacement on active faults reactivating
pre-Quaternary structures: examples from the Central
Apennines (Italy)
A. Pizzi*, V. Scisciani
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, UniversitaÁ `G.d'Annunzio' Chieti, Campus Universitario, Madonna delle Piane,
66013, Chieti Scalo, Italy

Abstract

In the tectonically active fault system of the Central Apennines Ridge (Italy) several normal/
transtensive faults mapped as Quaternary structures show evidence of pre-Neogene thrusting activity.
Therefore, determining the amount of fault-slip during Pleistocene±Holocene times is crucial for seismic
hazard assessment. Three principal lines of evidence have been used in this study for estimating the pre-
Quaternary activity of extensional fault systems in the Central Apennines. The ®rst is the geological and
stratigraphic record (i.e. thickness and facies variations) for pre-Quaternary successions. The second is
the widespread structural analysis evidence of extensional faults involved in Neogene thrust tectonics;
whether considering a passive role (e.g. fault carried and tilted above a thrust-sheet) or inversion (e.g.
positive inversion and related minor structures). The third is the geomorphological evidence, particularly
erosion surface analysis, which permits the understanding of the relief generated by tectonics after the
formation of post-thrusting erosional surfaces. Preliminary results from some faults which belong to the
Sibillini Mts. and the Norcia extensional fault zones show clear evidence of Quaternary
reactivations. # 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction

The axial zone of the Italian Central Apennines is a tectonically active area characterized by

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +39-0871-3556420; fax: +39-0871-355-6454.

E-mail address: Pizzi@unich.it (A. Pizzi).

0264-3707/00/$ - see front matter # 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S 0 2 6 4 - 3 7 0 7 ( 9 9 ) 0 0 0 5 3 - 8
446 A. Pizzi, V. Scisciani / Journal of Geodynamics 29 (2000) 445±457

widespread seismicity and historical earthquakes of moderate magnitude M < 7 (e.g.

Westaway, 1992). Extensional faults a€ecting the Umbria±Marche Apennines Ridge show
geological and morphotectonic evidence of Quaternary activity, and a NNW±SSE average
trend. These structures are characterised by normal to transtensive behavior, and their
kinematics is in good agreement with the focal mechanism solutions indicating a T-axis
(Scarpa, 1990; EkstroÈm et al., 1998) generally oriented NE±SW (Fig. 1). Extensional fault
segments are arranged in distinct fault zones, with a maximum length of about 30±40 and 10±
15 km, spaced. In general, such fault zones do not occur at range fronts, while basins on the
downthrown blocks are quite small (5±7 km long) with respect to fault zone length (Fig. 2).
The above basins are ®lled with Quaternary continental deposits, whereas carbonate bedrock

Fig. 1. Regional tectonic map of the Umbria±Marche Abruzzi fold and thrust belt (Central Apennines: Italy). (1)
Thrust and transpressive fault; (2) Normal fault; (3) Western Umbria and Pre-Apennines; (4) Umbria±Marche±
Abruzzi Apennine Ridge; (5) Pedeapennines (a) Peri-Adriatic area (characterised by wide outcrops of Middle
Pliocene±Lower Pleistocene transgressive deposits); (6) Quaternary volcanoclastic deposits. The boxed areas are
investigated in this study: (A) Montagna dei Fiori normal fault; (B) Sibillini Mts. Fault zone; (C) Norcia Fault
zone.
 A. Pizzi, V. Scisciani / Journal of Geodynamics 29 (2000) 445±457 447

Fig. 2. Schematic structural map of the Umbria±Marche Apennines Ridge.

units generally crop out both in the footwall and in the hangingwall blocks. This, together with
a well-de®ned stratigraphy of most of the outcropping succession (Jurassic±Miocene), allows
one to accurately assess the stratigraphic separation across major faults. As a result, the total
amount of extension and the long-term slip-rates can be easily determined, whereas Holocene
slip-rate data are scarce, because the application of classical paleoseismological techniques is
restricted to the short, sector where Quaternary deposits occurs (i.e. within the basins). An
additional complication of the geology of the area is due to the occurrence of Quaternary
448 A. Pizzi, V. Scisciani / Journal of Geodynamics 29 (2000) 445±457

extensional faults that reactivate pre-Neogene extensional faults. Some of these features belong
to normal faults that are well documented as Jurassic faults (Castellarin et al., 1982;
Centamore et al., 1986) related to Tethyan rifting phase, whereas younger, mostly Cretaceous
(Alvarez, 1989; Winter and Tapponier, 1991; Cello et al., 1996) and Miocene (Castellarin et al.,
1978; Calamita and Deiana, 1980; Compagnoni et al., 1990; Alberti et al., 1996; Adamoli et al.,
1997; Calamita et al., 1998) extensional faults have only recently been recognised.
Concerning the geomorphology of the area, the major planation surface, modelled during
the late Lower Pliocene (Coltorti and Pieruccini, this volume), may provide the appropriate
constraints for discriminating between the pre-Pliocene structures and the Plio-Quaternary
ones.
The aim of this work is to recognize pre-Quaternary extensional fault segments within active
fault zones in the Central Apennines, and to identify those that were reactivated during the
Quaternary, in order to evaluate the amount of Quaternary displacement and to separate this
component from the total displacement, with the aim of calculating their long-term slip rate.

2. Methods of analysis

We investigated some major faults within the Umbria±Marche Apennines (in the Sibillini
Mts., in the Norcia and Montagna dei Fiori fault zones of Fig. 1) using structural, geological
and geomorphological methods of analysis.

2.1. Geological and stratigraphic record

Geological and stratigraphic evidence for normal faulting in pre-Quaternary times are mostly
due to thickness and facies variations.
In the Central Apennines, several cases of huge thickness variations within the same litho-
chronostratigraphic unit may be related to pre-Quaternary extensional tectonic phases. Case
examples include mainly growth faults controlling the accommodation space, in the
hangingwall blocks, as well as thickness and facies changes between the two sides of the fault.
In many cases, the relative abundance of debris facies (mostly calcareo-clastic coarse grained
deposits and, locally, olistolithes) characterises the sedimentary succession on the down-thrown
blocks in syn-tectonic extensional, pre-Quaternary environments (Castellarin et al., 1978;
Accordi et al., 1988; Compagnoni et al., 1990; Calamita et al., 1998).
In the study area, the outcropping succession is schematically made of a Lower Liassic
platform carbonate unit, a Middle Liassic±Oligocene marly limestones pelagic unit, a Lower±
Middle Miocene marly hemipelagic unit and an upper Miocene±Pliocene siliciclastic sequence.
Several phases of extensional tectonics are recorded in the whole stratigraphic sequence. As
mentioned above, Jurassic faults are particularly well exposed in the ®eld because they separate
distinctive syn-rift successions (e.g. Centamore et al., 1986) made up of condensed seamount
sequences in the footwall and complete pelagic sequences resting on the downthrown blocks.
On the other hand, the recognition of extensional faults related to younger phases (i.e.
Cretaceous or Miocene) is more problematic. Cretaceous faults, for example, often show small
displacements (e.g. Cello et al., 1996), hence the stratigraphic control exerted by these faults is
 A. Pizzi, V. Scisciani / Journal of Geodynamics 29 (2000) 445±457 449

not well de®ned, whereas Miocene normal faults have been discovered only in a few instances,
since the associated sediments have been rarely preserved by erosion.
One of the few examples where Miocene strata are preserved both in the hangingwall and
footwall blocks of a main normal fault, is to be found on the western ¯ank of the Montagna
dei Fiori anticline. Here, the normal fault (Fig. 1) shows a downthrow of about 1500 m, and
has been considered by some authors as Quaternary in age (e.g. C.N.R., 1983). However,
thickness variations of the Miocene deposits within the hangingwall and the footwall blocks
and the huge amount of calcareo-clastic material interbedded in the hangingwall, suggest a syn-
sedimentary activity for this fault. According to Calamita et al. (1998), the downthrow
calculated by a restored cross-section across the Montagna dei Fiori normal fault (Fig. 3), is
comparable to the thickness variations of the Miocene deposits across the fault. These
geological and stratigraphical features strongly suggest the growth of the Montagna dei Fiori
normal fault during Miocene times (Burdigalian p.p. ± Tortonian p.p.).

2.2. Structural analysis

Structural analysis may be a useful tool to recognise the relative chronology of faults. Within
the active extensional fault zones of the Central Apennines, we recognised, in fact, some
normal fault segments which were deformed during the growth of the apenninic fold and
thrust-belt, hence suggesting a pre-Neogene origin for these structures. Their misinterpretation
as active faults may lead therefore to overestimate the Quaternary amount of extension in the
area.
Particularly in the study area, structural analysis allowed us to recognise normal fault
segments which were either passively involved (i.e. fault carried and tilted above a thrust-sheet)

Fig. 3. Restored geological cross-section of the western sector of the Montagna dei Fiori anticline (Calamita et al.,
1998). The downthrow of the major normal fault is comparable to the thickness variation of Miocene deposits
across the fault.
450 A. Pizzi, V. Scisciani / Journal of Geodynamics 29 (2000) 445±457

or inverted (e.g. positive inversion and related minor structures). One of the best examples is
along the Montagna dei Fiori normal fault which is clearly o€set by minor back-thrusts related
to the Neogene compressive tectonics (Adamoli et al., 1997; Calamita et al., 1998). In fact,
where massive Lower Liassic limestone and Eocene marls are in tectonic contact, the normal
fault plane is cross-cut by conjugate reverse shear planes (Fig. 4), since the high angle normal
fault plane acted as an obstacle to the thrust which was propagating within the hangingwall
block of the normal fault (buttressing e€ect sensu Welbon, 1988).
Another case study is the Sibillini Mts. fault zone, which is mainly referred to Quaternary
extensional tectonics by many authors (Brozzetti and Lavecchia, 1994; Calamita and Pizzi,
1994; Calamita et al., 1994). Here, one of the WSW-dipping normal fault segments (Fig. 5),
shows a downthrow of about 400 m. Bedding within the hangingwall block is characterised by

Fig. 4. Montagna dei Fiori normal fault o€set by conjugate reverse shear planes related to Neogene thrust tectonics.
(Cn) = massive Middle Liassic limestone; (Sr) Eocene marls. From Calamita et al., 1998.
 A. Pizzi, V. Scisciani / Journal of Geodynamics 29 (2000) 445±457 451

Fig. 5. Normal fault plane along the Sibillini Mts. fault zone. The Lower Cretaceous marls (MF) in the hangingwall
of the fault have a nearly vertical bedding, whereas the massive Lower Liassic limestone (Cm) in the footwall are
sub-horizontal. See text for explanation.

folding and near vertical beds only close to the fault plane. In our opinion, the above features
represent buttressing structures developed during the Neogene compressive tectonics near a
pre-existing normal fault. Additional evidence can be found northward, where the same fault
zone is located on the western limb of an anticline. Here, as shown in Fig. 6, a fault segment
realizes a younger on older contact interpreted, according to Calamita et al. (1992), as a pre-
existing normal fault plane which rotated during Neogene times. Structural analysis of cut-o€
angles between bedding and minor conjugate fault planes observed along this fault zone, seem
to support this interpretation (Fig. 7).

2.3. Geomorphological analysis

Across the Umbria±Marche Apennines Ridge, planation surfaces have been recognized by
many authors (e.g. Blumetti and Dramis, 1992; Calamita et al., 1994; Coltorti and Pieruccini,
this volume). The latter authors referred the age of the major ¯at planation surface to the late
Lower Pliocene; we used the vertical o€set of this planation surface to evaluate the Quaternary
displacement of normal fault zones. In fact, we compared the stratigraphic fault o€sets with
the displacement of the planation surface (Fig. 8) in order to discriminate, within a given fault
zone: (i) fault segments displaying pre-Quaternary activity only (exhumed faults); (ii) pre-
Quaternary fault segments activated during the Quaternary (reactivated faults); (iii) fault
segments with Quaternary activity only (newly±generated faults).
Topographic pro®les (Fig. 9) drawn along the footwall blocks (grey solid line) and
hangingwall blocks (black solid line) of the Sibillini Mts. and Norcia fault zones allowed us to
452 A. Pizzi, V. Scisciani / Journal of Geodynamics 29 (2000) 445±457

Fig. 6. Tilted pre-thrusting normal fault along the Sibillini Mts. fault zone. The present day con®guration displays
an older on younger contact (Ma = Maiolica Fm.: Upper Jurassic±Lower Cretaceous; CD = Calcari diasprini
Fm.: Middle Jurassic).

interpolate the remnants of a planated surface (Blumetti and Dramis, 1992; Coltorti and
Farabollini, 1995), and to infer the original trend of this surface (black and grey dashed lines
for the footwall and hangingwall block, respectively). The calculated o€set of the reference
surface (shaded area) allows one to evaluate the amount of Quaternary displacement …Dp† for
each fault zone. Comparing these values with the stratigraphic o€set, derived from the
geological cross-sections drown across the Sibillini Mts. (S1±S7) and the Norcia fault zones
(N1±N4), the pre-Quaternary o€set, can be computed by subtracting to the total geological
downthrow (R ), the value of the planation surface o€set …Dp): …R ÿ Dp = pre-Quaternary
downthrow). Plotting these result on an along-strike (NNW±SSE) downthrow-variation
diagram (Fig. 10) allows one to make the following observations:
 A. Pizzi, V. Scisciani / Journal of Geodynamics 29 (2000) 445±457 453

Fig. 7. Tilted minor conjugate normal faults in the hangingwall of the fault in Fig. 5.

1. The pre-Quaternary and Quaternary curves of Fig. 10, show a mainly sub-parallel trend (i.e.
each represents the 50% of the total geological downthrow) except in sections S2 and N2,
where pre-Quaternary downthrow is about 75±80% of the total. This suggests that fault
zones localisation is possibly controlled by pre-existing faults and normal fault reactivation
seems to be a common mechanism in the Central Apennines (long-lived faults).
2. The two peaks, where Quaternary downthrow is highest and exceeds the pre-Quaternary
o€set (S6 and N3), correspond to the sectors where Quaternary basins occur.
3. Considering the beginning of the main activity for the Quaternary normal faults in the
Umbria±Marche Apennines Ridge at about 1.1±1.2 M yr (Blumetti and Dramis, 1992;
Coltorti et al., 1998; Calamita et al., 1999), we obtain, for these fault zones, long-term slip
rates in the range of 0.6±0.9 mm/yr.

3. Concluding remarks

Stratigraphic, structural and geomorphological methods have been used to estimate the
Quaternary activity in the Central Apennines extensional fault systems, where several normal
faults show evidence of pre-Neogene activity. In this context, determining the true amount of
Pleistocene±Holocene displacement is crucial for any seismic hazard assessment.
454 A. Pizzi, V. Scisciani / Journal of Geodynamics 29 (2000) 445±457

Fig. 8. Schematic block diagram showing the use of planation surface remnants to distinguish among exhumed,
reactivated and newly generated faults.

Stratigraphic analysis allowed us to recognise pre-Quaternary (synsedimentary) fault activity

along a fault zone by identifying changes between the hangingwall and footwall successions
(thickness and facies variations of the sedimentary bodies). Structural analysis was useful for
identifying pre-existing normal fault segments, and for assessing the relative chronology of
deformation (e.g. normal fault planes deformed during Neogene compressive tectonics).
Geomorphological analysis was used for discriminating Quaternary fault activity. Estimating
planation surface o€sets we were able, in fact, to distinguish among newly generated,
reactivated, and exhumed fault segments.
Our results indicate that Quaternary fault zones distribution is controlled by pre-existing
normal faults and that probably less than 50% of the total geological downthrow is generally
related to Quaternary normal faulting. Considering the beginning of the Quaternary activity
 A. Pizzi, V. Scisciani / Journal of Geodynamics 29 (2000) 445±457 455

Fig. 9. Topographic pro®les along the Sibillini Mts. (top) and the Norcia fault zones (bottom). Solid lines are the
topographic pro®les (black = hangingwall block, grey = footwall block); dashed lines are the planation surface
pro®les reconstructed by remnants interpolation (black = hangingwall block, grey = footwall block); dashed areas
is the o€set of the planation surface; (S1±S7) and (N1±N4) are geological cross-sections traces along the Sibillini
Mts. and Norcia fault zones. Pro®le are located in Fig. 2.

for the Sibillini Mts. and Norcia fault zones at about 1.1±1.2 M yr, we obtain, for these fault
zones, long-term slip rates in a range of 0.6±0.9 mm/yr.
The along-strike sinusoidal distribution of measured o€sets (Fig. 10) also suggests a fault
segmentation pattern, where high displacement values during the Quaternary match well with
those sectors, where Quaternary basins occur. This result appears to be in good agreement with
historical and seismological data showing that epicentral sites, in the Central Apennines, are
mostly located within intramontane basins, hence suggesting that deformation concentrates,
during the Quaternary, mainly within basin areas.
456 A. Pizzi, V. Scisciani / Journal of Geodynamics 29 (2000) 445±457

Fig. 10. Downthrow-variation diagram drawn along the Sibillini Mts. (top) and the Norcia (bottom) fault zones.
Field and calculated measurements shown by solid symbols, curves represent smoothed data. Note how the
maximum o€set …DP curve) occurs in the narrow sector where Quaternary basins exist. See text for discussion.

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