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The Periadriatic foredeep (Italy) was generated by Neogene downbending of the Adria Plate under the Apennine Chain. The basin is filled with Plio-Pleistocene siliciclastic turbidites. Its substratum consists of the carbonate succession of the southwestern Adria Plate margin. The influence of the basin's morphology on sedimentation and subsequent tectonic evolution is investigated in the Abruzzo sector of the foredeep (Cellino Basin). The substratum is composed of Messinian evaporites that dip towards the Apennines (W). A NNW component along the depocentral axis is divided into four blocks with different depths. The substratum was also affected by a Messinian extensional fault system, not involving the overlying Pliocene sequence. This morphology controlled the distribution of the turbidites in the lower part of the Cellino Basin. The Plio-Pleistocene compressional deformation of the foredeep produced an inner complex structure (Internal Structure), involving the foredeep substratum and an outer imbricate thrust system (Coastal Structure), detached over the faulted Messinian evaporites. This thrust system is parallel to the extensional faults, suggesting a strong influence of the substratum morphology on the development of the compressional structures. The overall structural setting was validated with a balanced cross-section. Outof-sequence thrusting and non-coeval deformation within each thrust sheet characterize the local tectonic history.

The area east of the Gran Sasso Chain in central Italy has been explored in detail because it holds a hydrocarbon field (Cellino Field), located in the Lower Pliocene foredeep turbidites of the Cellino Formation. Correlation has been made between the hydrocarbon-bearing sedimentary bodies and the same stratigraphic intervals cropping out only few kilometres to the west. The area, thus, offers a rare example where comparison can be made between lithofacies – observed in the field, electrofacies – displayed by the electric logs of the wells, and seismofacies – revealed by seismic survey. This surface–subsurface integrated study of the Cellino Formation has revealed the presence of different turbiditic facies associations, their related electrical expressions and the possibility of a seismostratigraphic subdivision of the unit. These correlations exemplify the different resolution of these three complementary methods of investigation.