Bacchiani, Alberto (2025) Assessing the activity and capability of Quaternary faults in the Southern Apennines (Matese and Irpinia regions) through integration of near-surface and upper crustal investigations. [Tesi di dottorato]

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Abstract

The analysis conducted in this Thesis highlights the complexity of studying active fault systems in the Southern Apennines, where inherited structures can influence the present-day tectonic activity. Through the comparison of fault systems in the Matese and Irpinia regions, it becomes evident that the structural inheritance plays different roles depending on factors such as depth of rooting, tectonic setting, and stress localization. Deeply rooted inherited structures, like those observed in the Matese area such as the Central Matese Fault System (CMFS) and the Northern Matese Fault System (NMFS), are mechanically integrated within the seismogenic layer. This characteristic became important when new structures formed in the current tectonic regime overprint the inherited structures, leading their reactivation. In fact, comparing the CMFS to the NMFS became evident that the inherited ~W-E oriented faults are reactivated and integrated in the NMFS pattern while the entire CMFS seems to be never overprinted by structures related to the current tectonic regime as a result that it doesn’t show evidence of reactivation. In contrast, shallow-rooted structures, such as the Pescopagano fault (PF) located in the Irpinia Region, show more limited involvement in deep deformation and are likely decoupled from the main seismogenic sources, although they may still participate in surface deformation during large, rare events. The regional tectonic framework provides essential context for understanding how inherited faults evolve and interact with newly formed structures. The current extensional regime promotes the selective reactivation of pre-existing faults, depending on their orientation and depth. Therefore, distinguishing between reactivated and newly formed faults, and understanding their geological history, is fundamental to improving seismic hazard assessment in this complex orogenic system. Ultimately, this Thesis underscores the importance of adopting both a multidisciplinary approach, encompassing for example field activity, structural geology, geophysics and paleoseismology, and a multiscale approach, ranging from local observations to a broader regional geological framework.

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