The Crati River Basin: geomorphological and stratigraphical data for the Plio–Quaternary evolution of northern Calabria, South Apennines, Italy

Abstract

Abstract:In this paper, we present the results of an integrated geomorphological and stratigraphical study carried out in the eastern side of the Crati River valley (northern Calabria, South Italy). This area is characterized by the occurrence of three order palaeosurfaces that, along with low-sloping palaeovalleys and structural landforms, are striking features of the landscape. The relationships between morpho-tectonic and sedimentary evolution of the Crati Basin has been assessed through sandstone detrital modes, morphostratigraphy and geomorphological correlation with adjacent areas. The two main unconformity surfaces that typify the Quaternary fill were correlated to different steps of landscape evolution. The presence of both erosional and depositional palaeosurfaces has been a useful marker for reconstructing sedimentary and morphogenetic events, and hence to detect drainage network evolution and changes in source sediment area. In particular, we recognized that the study area experienced, during the late Pliocene-Early Pleistocene a period of subaerial landscape modelling as suggested by low-sloping palaeovalleys and related fluvial deposits (1 st Order Palaeosurface). At that time, the source of the detrital constituents of the PPS Unit sandstones was mainly from the Sila Massif. The onset of Coastal Range identification and uplift (Early Pleistocene) marks a change in the geomorphic scenario with tectonic driven stream incision and valley development along the eastern side of Coastal Range, along with the occurrence of depositional and erosional landsurfaces (2 nd Order Palaeosurface) at footslopes. During this period, the Coastal Range and Sila Massif were the sources for the detrital constituents of the PlS Unit sandstones. The progressive uplift of Coastal Range during late Early Pleistocene and the marked backstepping of the depositional systems along the Sila footslope was accompanied by alternating phases of down-cutting and base-level stability resulting in the development of a step-like distributed 3 rd Order Palaeosurface. The presence of dolostone in detrital modes is clear evidence of stream piracy phenomena of ancient palaeovalleys by the Crati valley-facing drainage network.

3‐D Architecture and Plio‐Quaternary Evolution of the Paola Basin: Insights Into the Forearc of the Tyrrhenian‐Ionian Subduction System

“…Along the eastern flank of the basin, the convergent pattern of PQ2 reflectors and the tilted reflections of PQ1 only observed in Sections , and (orange sections in Figure ) suggests that deposition of PQ2 occurred during the uplift of the central sector of the Coastal Chain (Figures c and b). This is coeval with the emersion of the Coastal chain during Late Pliocene–Early Pleistocene (Robustelli & Muto , ), and with the increase of the uplift rate of the Sila Massif (Olivetti et al, ). The growth of the Coastal Chain led to the separation of the proto‐Paola Basin into two sectors corresponding to the Paola and Crati basins (Figure b).…”

“…Also, 40 Ar/ 39 Ar analysis was performed by Rossetti et al (2004) on samples collected in the northern sector of the Coastal Chain, and documents the main tectonic contacts were completed between 30 and 15 Ma. Geomorphological analysis of the Coastal Chain reveals low-sloping paleovalleys and related fluvial deposits (first-order paleosurface), suggesting the area experienced subaerial landscape modeling during the Late Pliocene-Early Pleistocene (Robustelli & Muto, 2017).…”

The Culmination of an Oblique Time‐Transgressive Arc Continent Collision: The Pollino Massif Between Calabria and the Southern Apennines, Italy

“…Antithetic thrusting is not widely reported in the Apennines and the SW vergence of the Raganello fault is likely related to an unusual late-stage circumstance such as the Pleistocene tectonic crisis of Calabria. This crisis includes CW rotation and longitudinal 10.1029/2017TC004932 Tectonics extension of the forearc, both of which are thought to have contributed to the opening of the Crati-Sibari-Corigliano trough (Brozzetti, Cirillo, Liberi, et al, 2017;Cifelli et al, 2007;Reitz & Seeber, 2012;Robustelli & Muto, 2017). The extension related to this trough may be the unusual factor compromising the shallow part of the backstop of the Calabria-Apulia collision.…”

Geochemical Characterization of Spring Waters in the Crati River Basin, Calabria (Southern Italy)

“…The inner areas present colder, sometimes snowy, winters and fresher, with some precipitation, summers [35,36]. Geologically, the Crati basin is an intra-arc tectonic depression located in the north-western part of the Calabrian Arc, which is an arc-shaped continental fragment interposed between the Sicilian Maghrebide belts, to the south, and the Apennine edifice, to the north [37][38][39]. In particular, the Crati basin is a graben bounded by three morpho-structural highs: the plutonic and metamorphic crystalline rocks of the Sila Massif to the east, the crystalline and sedimentary rocks of the Coastal Chain to the west and south, and the carbonate and siliciclastic sedimentary rocks of the Pollino group to the north [40].…”