Boll. Soc. Geol. It., Volume speciale n. 1 (2002), 855-864, 5 ff., 2 tabb.

Lithological and structural controls on the seismogenesis

of the Umbria region: observations from seismic reflection profiles (*)
MASSIMILIANO R. BARCHI (**)

ABSTRACT

RIASSUNTO

The major seismogenic faults of Umbria, which most of the

moderate (M > 5) earthquakes of the region are related to, consist of
a set of SW-dipping normal faults, aligned along a definite NNWSSE trend, from Sansepolcro to Norcia, referred to in this paper as
the Umbria Fault System (UFS). The major recent earthquakes, for
which instrumental data have been recorded, as well as a significant
portion of the historical seismicity can be associated with the activity of the UFS.
Data on the active stress field, from both geological and geophysical sources (e.g. structural analysis, focal mechanisms, breakout data) indicate that this region is presently affected by crustal
extension, with a minimum principal stress 3 oriented SW-NE.
Seismic profiles reveal that the UFS seismogenic faults are antithetic
to a major, ENE-dipping low angle normal fault, named Altotiberina
Fault (ATF).
The instrumental seismicity within the upper crust is concentrated in a relatively shallow layer (Shallow Seismogenic Layer,
SSL), which deepens from the internal to the external sectors of the
Apenninic arc (that is, from WSW to ENE).
The geological sections show that both the ATF detachment (a
structural surface) and the envelope of the top of the basement (a
lithological boundary) deepen towards the east, showing a geometrical similarity with the SSL. Available data on the major instrumental earthquakes and on the aftershock sequences confirm this similarity.
It is possible that the ATF detachment operates a structural control on the SSL: in fact the SW-dipping seismogenic faults branch
out from the ATF, and simply do not exist below it.
The evaporites/basement boundary may represent a second,
lithological, factor controlling the distribution of the seismicity: this
boundary corresponds to abrupt variations both in the mechanical
and in the permeability properties of the rocks.
Finally, we present two geological sections, suggesting that both
Gubbio and Colfiorito normal faults reactivate, in their deeper portion, pre-existing thrusts. Considering the map view, however, it is
clear that it is not possible to hypothesise that the UFS, considered
as a whole, reactivates a single, major thrust fault. Because of the
arcuate shape of the major thrusts, which is in contrast with the
straight alignment of the normal fault systems, the different segments of the UFS reactivate different thrust faults. Concluding, it is
possible that the basement steps related to the Miocene-Pliocene
thrusts mechanically control the location of the single UFS segments; but the individual thrusts are not suitable to control the location of the UFS system, considered as a whole.
The UFS segments are aligned along a straight, NNW-SSE
trend, parallel to the ENE-dipping, ATF master fault, that is not controlled by the west dipping thrusts.

Fattori litologici e strutturali che controllano le faglie

sismogenetiche dellUmbria: osservazioni dai profili sismici a
riflessione.

KEY WORDS: Normal faults, Seismotectonics, Inversion

Tectonics, Seismic reflection profiles, Umbria-Marche
Apennines.

(*) Lavoro eseguito con il contributo finanziario del GNDT

(PE98) e della Regione Umbria. Resp. M.R. Barchi.
(**) Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra - Universit di Perugia Piazza Universit - 06100 Perugia.

Le maggiori faglie sismogenetiche dellUmbria, cui collegata la

maggior parte degli eventi di magnitudo M >5, consistono in un set
di faglie dirette, immergenti verso SW, allineate lungo la direttrice
S. Sepolcro-Norcia, che in questo lavoro viene denominato UFS
(Umbria Fault System).
I maggiori terremoti recenti della regione, per i quali esiste una
documentazione strumentale (Norcia, 1979; Gubbio, 1984; Colfiorito, 1997-98) e gran parte della sismicit storica sono connesse allattivit di questo set di faglie.
I dati sul campo di sforzi attivo (istantaneo), ricavati da meccanismi focali e dalle deformazioni dei pozzi (MONTONE et alii, 1999)
coincidono quasi perfettamente con quelli del campo di sforzi geologico (a medio termine), ricavati da misure di piani di faglia striati (LAVECCHIA et alii, 1994). Questa coincidenza induce a ritenere
che non esistano sostanziali variazioni del campo di stress durante
levoluzione tettonica recente (i.e. quaternaria) di questa regione.
Nel settore settentrionale (a nord di Gualdo Tadino), i profili sismici (BONCIO et alii, 1998; BARCHI et alii, 1999) mostrano che le faglie del UFS sono antitetiche ad una faglia diretta a basso angolo,
immergente verso ENE (faglia altotiberina, ATF). Evidenze di questa faglia sono ricavabili anche dalla geologia di superficie e del sottosuolo dellarea dei Massicci Perugini (BROZZETTI, 1995). Sulla base
di considerazioni di carattere regionale, si pu ipotizzare che la ATF
esista anche nel settore meridionale: tuttavia in questo settore non
esistono buone immagini sismiche della faglia stessa.
Analizzando i dati riguardanti la sismicit strumentale della regione, emerge che la sismicit della crosta superiore si dispone
allinterno di uno strato relativamente superficiale (SSL, Shallow
Seismogenic Layer), che si approfondisce verso i settori esterni
della catena, da WSW verso ENE e da NNW verso SSE (BONCIO &
LAVECCHIA, 2000). La geometria dello strato sismogenetico SSL, pur
ricalcando quella ipotizzabile per il passaggio fragile-duttile (FEDERICO & PAUSELLI, 1998), si trova allinterno dello strato fragile, a
profondit comprese tra 6 e 12 km.
Le sezioni geologiche costruite attraverso larea umbra, integrando dati geologici di superficie con profili sismici a riflessione,
mostrano che la geometria del SSL potrebbe essere controllata sia
da elementi strutturali che da cambiamenti litologici, che influiscono sul comportamento meccanico delle rocce.
Lipotesi del controllo di tipo strutturale, gi avanzata da BONCIO & LAVECCHIA (2000), fa corrispondere la base di SSL alla traiettoria della ATF. Poich le faglie SW immergenti di UFS, lungo cui
si sviluppano i terremoti, sono antitetiche alla ATF, che ne costituisce lo scollamento basale, esse semplicemente non esistono al di sotto di essa.
Nellipotizzare un controllo litologico sulla geometria di SSL, si
pu notare che anche il basamento si approfondisce da WSW verso
ENE. Ci dovuto principalmente ai sovrascorrimenti legati alla tettonica compressiva, che hanno coinvolto almeno la parte pi superficiale del basamento, e creano quindi una serie di gradini del tetto
del basamento, che si approfondisce verso ENE. Anche lazione delle faglie est-immergenti (in particolare ATF) contribuisce allapprofondimento del top basamento verso i settori pi esterni.
Linterfaccia evaporiti/basamento costituisce una discontinuit
importante, in corrispondenza della quale avvengono brusche variazioni delle propriet meccaniche delle rocce, messe in evidenza
dal forte contrasto nei valori della velocit di propagazione delle
onde sismiche, e della loro permeabilit. Questa discontinuit favo-

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M.R. BARCHI

risce la concentrazione degli sforzi ed influenza la distribuzione

delle pressioni dei fluidi nel sottosuolo, favorendo la nucleazione di
terremoti.
Confrontando i dati disponibili per le profondit ipocentrali
(HAESSLER et alii, 1988; DESCHAMPS et alii, 1989; AMATO et alii,
1998; BONCIO, 1998), riferite sia alle scosse principali che alle sequenze di aftershock (terremoti di Norcia 1979, Gubbio 1984, Colfiorito 1997-98) con le informazioni sulla profondit del top del basamento e della faglia altotiberina nelle stesse zone, si pu
concludere che le ipotesi di controllo strutturale e litologico sono
compatibili con i dati disponibili.
Infine, le sezioni geologiche integrate mostrano che le faglie dirette di Gubbio e di Colfiorito riattivano in profondit dei pre-esistenti piani di sovrascorrimento (inversione tettonica). Tuttavia, osservando in pianta la distribuzione dei sovrascorrimenti e delle
faglie dirette, risulta evidente la differenza tra la traiettoria arcuata
dei sovrascorrimenti e quella rettilinea dei sistemi di faglie dirette.
Il fenomeno di riattivazione limitato ai singoli segmenti di
UFS, mentre il sistema nel suo complesso controllato dalla traiettoria rettilinea delle master fault est-immergenti.

TERMINI CHIAVE: Faglie dirette, Sismotettonica, Tettonica

da inversione, Profili sismici a riflessione, Appennino
umbro-marchigiano.
INTRODUCTION

In the past few years the Structural Geology group of

the Perugia University began a multidisciplinary research
project on the seismogenesis of the Umbria region; this
activity has been developed after the 1997-98 Colfiorito
seismic sequence. The project consists of many branches:
the active extensional faults have been studied through
geological mapping and structural analysis (MIRABELLA
& PUCCI, this Vol.), interpretation of seismic reflection
profiles (BONCIO et alii, 1998; BARCHI et alii, 1999; COLLETTINI et alii, 2000; PAUSELLI et alii, this Vol.), numerical modelling with finite elements techniques (PAUSELLI
et alii, 1998), analytical models of fault mechanics (COLLETTINI, this Vol.). This interdisciplinary approach is
essential for correctly modelling the relationships
between the geometry of the seismogenic faults and the
observed seismicity: in particular, the interpretation of
the seismic profiles allows a 3-D reconstruction of the
fault geometry at depth (orientation, length, depth of
detachment, ecc.), independently from seismological
data, such as focal mechanisms and shape of the aftershock sequence.
The aim of this paper is to offer a synthetic view of
the results achieved untill now, and in particular to discuss the possible control of structural (faults) and/or lithological (stratigraphical boundaries) factors, on the spatial distribution of the seismicity of the region.
Although alternative views have been presented by
BOCCALETTI et alii (1995) and CELLO et alii (1997), most
authors converge in describing both the recent tectonic
evolution and the active faults in the Umbria-Marche
region as related to an extensional stress field. In particular, the major seismogenic faults of Umbria, which most
of the moderate (M > 5) earthquakes of the region are
related to, consist of a set of SW-dipping normal faults,
aligned along a definite NNW-SSE trend, from Sansepolcro to Norcia (fig. 1), referred to in this paper as the
Umbria Fault System (UFS). Both the major recent
events, for which instrumental data have been recorded
(Norcia 1979, Gubbio 1984, Colfiorito 1997-98, Gualdo
Tadino 1998), and a significant portion of the historical
seismicity (BOSCHI et alii, 2000), can be associated, at

least from the geometrical point of view, to the activity of

the UFS (fig. 1). Available knowledge on the UFS faults,
along with a comprehensive list of references, have been
recently summarised by BARCHI et alii (2000).
It is worth noting, however, that some significant historical earthquakes (e.g. Fabriano 1741, Cagli, 1781) are
located too far east to be referred to the UFS activity.
Moreover, at least in the southern sector, paleoseismicity
data document the activity of a second, more easterly
located, alignment of seismogenic faults (M. Bove-M. Vettore alignment, see BARCHI et alii, 2000, and references
therein).
The data on the active stress field, from both geological and geophysical sources (e.g. structural analysis,
focal mechanisms, breakout data) indicate that this
region is presently affected by crustal extension, with an
inferred minimum principal stress 3 oriented SW-NE
(LAVECCHIA et alii, 1994; MONTONE et alii, 1999). In this
tectonic environment, the presence of minor, oblique or
strike-slip earthquakes (e.g. the 16th October 1997, 4.3 Mw
earthquake of the Colfiorito sequence, EKSTROM et alii,
1998) can be related to the activity of near-vertical, transfer faults, reactivating pre-existing faults (e.g. PUCCI &
MIRABELLA, this Vol.): the main set trends about N-S,
shows left lateral movement, and possibly reactivates
transpressive lateral ramps of the regional thrusts.
At least in the northern sector of the UFS (north of
Gualdo Tadino), the seismic profiles reveal that the seismogenic faults are antithetic to a major, ENE-dipping
low angle normal fault, named Altotiberina Fault (ATF,
BONCIO et alii, 1998; 2000; BARCHI et alii, 1999), whose
presence was previously inferred by BROZZETTI (1995)
from surface mapping of the extensional faults of the
region. Regional geology suggests that the ATF (or a
vicariant, ENE-dipping fault) could be present in the
southern sector as well, but no good seismic image of
such fault is available.
Finally, it is important to consider the spatial relationships between the UFS (as well as the other extensional systems) and the compressional structures of this
part of the Northern Apennines. The Northern Apennines
are a typical arc-shaped belt: from the hinterland (west)
to the foreland (east), all the main structural features of
the region (e.g. the Tuscan Nappe front, the internal and
the external border of the Umbria-Marche Ridge, respectively indicated as WUT and ORT in fig. 1) are similarly
arc-shaped, with an eastward convexity (BALLY et alii,
1986; DEIANA & PIALLI, 1994). On the contrary, the later
extensional structures, which bound Pliocene-Pleistocene
neo-autochthonous basins, are not arc-shaped and are
essentially aligned along NNW-SSE trends: the Tiber Valley-Umbria Valley system and the UFS (from Gubbio to
Norcia) are good examples of this straight shape. As a
result the compressive arcs of the Northern Apennines
are obliquely dissected by these later, extensional fault
systems (fig. 1).

THE SHALLOW SEISMOGENIC LAYER (SSL)

AND THE MECHANICAL STRATIGRAPHY
OF THE UMBRIA UPPER CRUST

Instrumental data show that most of the crustal seismicity of the Umbria-Marche region is confined in the
upper crust (depth < 15 km), even if, in the same region,

LITHOLOGICAL AND STRUCTURAL CONTROLS ON THE SEISMOGENESIS

857

Fig. 1 - Shaded relief and schematic structural map of Umbria, showing the major contractional and extensional faults of the region. The
traces of the ATF and of the UFS segments are reported. The map is based on the compilation of published data (BARCHI et alii, 2000, and
reference therein), and on unpublished field work. On the right side the focal mechanisms of the major recent earthquakes of the region
are reported (after DESHAMPS et alii, 1984; HAESSLER et alii, 1988; AMATO et alii, 1998). Thrusts: WUT = Western Umbria Thrust; IRT = Inner
Ridge Thrust; ORT = Outer Ridge Thrust. Boreholes: SnD = S. Donato1; PG2 = Perugia2.
Topografia e carta strutturale schematica dellUmbria. Oltre alle principali strutture compressive ed estensionali della regione, sono riporate in
evidenza le tracce della faglia Altotiberina (ATF) ed i segmenti del sistema sismogenetico dellUmbria (UFS). La mappa deriva dalla compilazione di dati gi pubblicati (BARCHI et alii, 2000, and reference therein), integrati con i risultati di rilevamenti di terreno, ancora inediti. Sulla
destra sono rappresentati i meccanismi focali dei principali terremoti recenti che hanno colpito lUmbria, ripresi dai lavori di DESHAMPS et alii,
1984; HAESSLER et alii, 1988 e AMATO et alii, 1998. Sovrascorrimenti: WUT = Western Umbria Thrust; IRT = Inner Ridge Thrust; ORT = Outer
Ridge Thrust. Perforazioni profonde: SnD = S. Donato1; PG2 = Perugia2.

858

M.R. BARCHI

TABLE 1
Recent instrumental earthquakes in the Umbria region.
Data sources: DESHAMPS et alii, 1984; HAESSLER et alii,
1988; AMATO et alii, 1998; EKSTROM et alii, 1998.
Principali terremoti recenti dellUmbria. Dati ricavati da:
DESHAMPS et alii, 1984; HAESSLER et alii, 1988; AMATO et
alii, 1998; EKSTROM et alii, 1998.

deeper, subcrustal earthquakes (>30km) have been recorded, related to the deep structural setting of the region
(SELVAGGI & AMATO, 1992). In this paper, we will essentially deal with the shallow seismicity, which can be related to the activity of the UFS.
BONCIO et alii (1998) and BONCIO & LAVECCHIA
(2000) observe that the instrumental seismicity, if considered in a cross-view with respect the UFS (i.e. along
a SW-NE trending section), defines a wedge-shaped
seismogenic volume, whose base deepens from WSW to
ENE, showing a fairly good fit with the ATF trajectory.
The main shocks are located close to the base of this
volume, that we will name shallow seismogenic layer
(hereinafter SSL). The same authors note that in a tie
view, i.e. moving along the UFS, the SSL progressively
deepens from NNW (Citt di Castello) to SSE (Norcia).
This observation is consistent with the data reported in
tab. 1, showing the hypocentral depth of the main
shocks and of the aftershock sequences for the recent
earthquakes of Gubbio 1984 (HAESSLER et alii, 1988),
Colfiorito 1997-98 (AMATO et alii, 1998; BASILI &
BARBA, 2000) and Norcia 1979 (DESCHAMPS et alii,
1989; BONCIO, 1998). This data set is not homogeneous,
since the accuracy of the depth determination is greater for the more recent events (Colfiorito) and less precise for the oldest (Norcia). Major uncertainties regard
the main shock locations, due to the lack of a temporary local network. Nevertheless, available data consistently indicate a deepening of the SSL from SSW to
NNE. Considering the data in a 3-D view, the SSL deepens from the internal to the external sectors of the
Apenninic arc, which is obliquely dissected by the UFS
(fig. 1).
The geometry of the SSL can be compared with the
depth of the brittle/ductile transition, which is controlled
by the temperature. Thermal modelling of the brittle/ductile transition through the Northern Apennines
lithosphere has been performed by FEDERICO & PAUSELLI (1998) and PAUSELLI & FEDERICO (This Vol.),
using heat flow data. The modelled boundary can be
compared with the bottom of the SSL below the studied
region: both surfaces deepen towards the east, but the
depth of the brittle/ductile transition is at a depth of 15-20

Fig. 2 - Relationships between the geometry of the Brittle-Ductile

transition (modelled along the CROP03 profile, see location in fig. 1)
and the distribution of the instrumental seismicity (modified after
PAUSELLI & FEDERICO, This Vol.). Microseismicity is confined in a
Shallow Seismogenic Layer (SSL, see text for explanations), located
within the upper crust, shallower than the estimated brittle-ductile
transition. Note also the relationship between the distribution of the
hypocenters and the trace of the Altotiberina Fault (ATF).
Relazioni tra la geometria della transizione fragile-duttile (modello
costruito lungo il profilo crostale CROP03, la cui localizzazione riportata in fig. 1) e la distribuzione della sismicit strumentale (modificato da PAUSELLI & FEDERICO, This Vol.). Si nota che la microsismicit della crosta superiore risulta confinata in uno strato
superficiale (Shallow Seismogenic Layer SSL) a profondit inferiori
a quelle stimate per la transizione fragile-duttile. anche evidente la
relazione tra la distribuzione della sismicit strumentale e la traiettoria in profondit della Faglia Altotiberina (ATF).

km, whilst the base of the SSL is found at of 8-12 km

depth (fig. 2).
Therefore the mechanical stratigraphy of the brittle
upper crust is to be considered, searching for the lithological and/or structural features, capable of controlling the
frictional parameters along the fault surfaces (SCHOLZ,
1990), which influence the observed distribution of the
seismicity with depth and the geometry of the SSL.
From a lithological point of view, the Umbria-Marche
upper crust can be divided into five main litho-structural
units, clearly recognisable in all the seismic profiles
throughout the region (BARCHI et alii, 1998). They are,
from top to bottom: Miocene Turbidites, Oligocene-Jurassic Carbonates, Triassic Evaporites, Phyllitic Basement,
Crystalline Basement. Each of these units can be considered internally homogeneous from a lithological and
mechanical point of view.
PAUSELLI et alii (1998) evaluated the Young modulus
E of these major litho-structural Units, using the equation
(BARTON, 1986):
E = Vp2 (1+) (12)/(1-).
The values of P-wave velocity Vp were measured in
deep wells of the region (BALLY et alii, 1986; BARCHI et
alii, 1998), or derived from the results of DSS seismic
refraction experiments (PONZIANI et alii, 1995; DE
FRANCO et alii, 1998). The results are reported in tab. 2.
These data show that the brittle upper crust is
markedly layered, consisting of alternated strong and

LITHOLOGICAL AND STRUCTURAL CONTROLS ON THE SEISMOGENESIS

TABLE 2
Mechanical stratigraphy of the Umbria-Marche upper crust.
Data sources: BARCHI et alii, 1998; PAUSELLI et alii, 1998.
Stratigrafia meccanica della crosta superiore in UmbriaMarche. Dati ricavati da BARCHI et alii, 1998; PAUSELLI et
alii, 1998.

weak layers. The terms weak and strong are here

used in a relative sense: the phyllitic basement is a relatively weak layer, lying between stronger units.
The boundary between the Evaporites (Vp > 6 km/s)
and the phyllitic basement (Vp about 5 km/s) is a zone of
inversion of the P wave velocity (i.e. across this boundary
the velocity decrease with depth). It is also worth to note
that the Evaporites, consisting of alternated dolomites
and anhydrites (GHELARDONI, 1962; MARTINIS & PIERI,
1963) and traditionally considered as the main dcollemnt level of the Apennines (e.g. BALLY et alii, 1986),
would represent at present a relatively strong layer within
the sedimentary cover.

GEOLOGICAL SECTIONS THROUGH

THE UMBRIA FAULT SYSTEM

Two geological sections through the Umbria seismogenic region are shown in fig. 3 (see location in fig. 1):
from NW to SE, they cross respectively the seismogenic
districts of Gubbio-Valfabbrica (section A) and Colfiorito
(section B).
Section A crosses the southern termination of the
Gubbio anticline and the Gubbio fault, representing a
segment of the UFS (fig. 1). It is based on surface geology data (BROZZETTI, 1995), on the interpretation of a
network of closely spaced seismic reflection profiles
(BARCHI et alii, 1999; PAUSELLI et alii, this Vol.), calibrated on deep wells, and on the results of DSS seismic
refraction experiments (BIELLA et alii, 1993).
In the westernmost part of the section, the S. Donato1
well (ANELLI et alii, 1994) drilled at about 180 m a.s.l. the
ATF surface, tectonically juxtaposing the Miocene Turbidites (Marnoso-Arenacea Fm.) on the Triassic Evaporites
(Burano Fm.). At greater depth (2390 m and 3977 m b.s.l.,
respectively) the same well shows the presence of tectonic
imbrications, involving the Triassic Evaporites and the
Phyllitic basement: these structures demonstrate the
involvement of at least the shallower part of the basement
(Phyllitic basement) in the major thrust sheets, as confirmed also, in a regional framework, by the seismic
reflection profiles (BARCHI et alii, 1998). The thrust sur-

859

faces drilled by the S. Donato1 well crop out about 30 km

further to the east, in correspondence with the front of
the Inner Ridge of the Apennines (IRT in fig. 1).
In the eastern part of the section, the seismic reflection profiles effectively constrain the geometry of the
Gubbio fault, which is shown to be antithetic to the ATF:
the intersection between the Gubbio fault and the ATF
occurs at a depth of about 5 km. In its shallower part, the
Gubbio fault displaces the back-limb of the Gubbio anticline, whilst at depth it inverts the displacement of a preexisting thrust fault.
Section B crosses the northern part of the M.Subasio
anticline, the Valtopina synclinorium and finally the
Annifo and Colfiorito intermountain basins. It is based on
recently acquired surface geology data and on the interpretation of a seismic reflection profile (MIRABELLA &
PUCCI, this Vol.). The seismic profile shows that the basement is imbricated at depth by two major thrusts, producing the stepping and deepening of the basement
towards east.
The seismic profile does not reveal the trajectory of
the ATF, whose presence is hypothesised only on the
base of regional geology speculations. Along this section,
the UFS is represented at surface by the M. le Scalette
Fault, which in this zone dips 55-70 towards SW. Some
movements were observed along the M. Le Scalette fault
surface during the Colfiorito (1997-98) earthquakes,
interpreted as genuine surface faulting by CELLO et alii
(1998) and as secondary phenomena by BASILI et alii
(1998) and CINTI et alii (1999). The continuation at depth
of the fault surface, dipping towards SW, has been traced by the interpretation of the seismic profile: the average dip (about 40) corresponds to the slip plane as inferred from the focal mechanism of the main shock
(EKSTROM et alii, 1998) and from the alignment in cross
section of the aftershock sequence (AMATO et alii, 1998).
At a depth of about 8 km, the trace of the active normal
fault corresponds to the position of the innermost basement step: this observation suggests that the position of
the basement steps, generated by Miocene-Pliocene
thrust tectonics, may have controlled the location of the
later normal faults. The intersection with the ATF of the
active, SW-dipping fault has to be hypothesised at a
depth of at least 10 km, beyond the resolution of the
available seismic data.
Considering the geological sections, we can see how
both the ATF detachment (a structural surface) and the
envelope of the top of the basement (a lithological boundary) deepen towards the east, showing a geometrical
similarity with the SSL.
Moving from NW to SE, the horizontal distance
between the ATF and the SW-dipping faults of UFS
increases, as well as the depth of their intersection. We
can expect that the intersection of the Citt di Castello
fault with ATF would be shallower than the Gubbio/ATF
(i.e. less than 5 km): the CROP03 profile (BARCHI et alii,
1998, location in fig. 1) shows the presence of an antithetic fault at the eastern border of the Tiber basin, also
confirmed by geomorphologic data (CATTUTO et alii,
1995); another, antithetic fault has been placed more to
the east on the basis of seismic reflection interpretation
and on re-interpretation of the existing geological maps.
The intersection of the ATF with these antithetic faults is

860

M.R. BARCHI

Fig. 3 - Two geological cross-sections through the Gubbio fault (Section 1, modified after COLLETTINI & BARCHI, submitted) and the
Colfiorito fault (Section 2, modified after MIRABELLA & PUCCI, This Vol.).
Sezioni geologiche attraverso la faglia di Gubbio (Sezione 1, modificata da COLLETTINI & BARCHI, submitted) e le faglie di Colfiorito (Sezione 2,
modificata da MIRABELLA & PUCCI, This Vol.).

at relatively shallow depth (about 4 km), and is located

just below the Tiber Valley.
Symmetrically, moving towards SSE, the depth of the
intersection between the different UFS segments and the
ATF is expected to deepen progressively, becoming greater than 10 km in the Norcia area.

COMPARING SEISMICITY,
LITHOLOGY AND STRUCTURES

Fig. 4 presents a plot of the available data on the

depth of the instrumental seismicity, of the top of the
basement and of ATF, moving from northwest (Citt di

SEISMOGENESIS OF THE UMBRIA REGION

861

Castello) to southeast (Norcia) along the UFS alignment.

a) Earthquakes: the hypocentres of the main shocks,
as well as the associated aftershock sequences, deepen
from Gubbio (6-7 km) to Norcia (10-11 km). A further,
slight deepening of the instrumental seismicity moving
towards south-east (LAquila) has been shown by BONCIO
& LAVECCHIA (2000). No instrumental data are available
for the Citt di Castello-Sansepolcro area, that is the
locus of historical seismicity (e.g. 1458, 1789, 1917, BOSCHI et alii, 2000). If the trend illustrated in fig. 4 is
regionally significant, in this zone the seismicity is expected to be shallower (4-5 km?) than in the Gubbio zone.
b) Basement: using seismic reflection data, the depth
of the top of the basement (D) can be established, with
reasonable approximation, in the northern part of the
studied region, from Sansepolcro (D = 4-5 km) to Colfiorito (D = 8-9 km). No seismic profile is available in the
Norcia area. However, it can be noted that in the UmbriaMarche region the top of the basement deepens from
west to east, due to the steps produced by the east-verging
thrusts (fig. 3): these features have been clearly evidenced
by the CROP03 profile (BARCHI et alii, 1998 fig. 4).
According to most authors, the basement depth is also
expected to increase from the northern to the southern
part of the thrust belt, as a consequence of the increase
of the shortening (e.g. BALLY et alii, 1986). This regional
framework suggests a relatively high value (11-12 km?)
for the basement depth in the Norcia area.
c) ATF: seismic reflection profiles effectively describe
the geometry of the ATF from Sansepolcro to Gualdo
Tadino: in this northern sector the intersection between
ATF and the antithetic, west-dipping faults of UFS deepens from 4-5 km to 7-8 km. South of Gualdo Tadino, the
geometry of ATF (or other, east-dipping detachments) is
not traceable in the available seismic reflection profiles. It
would be possible that the ATF is only a local feature, bordering the western side of the Tiber Basin from Citt di
Castello to Perugia, and that no east-dipping normal fault
is present in the southern sector. However, no significant
difference can be observed in the geometric characters of
the seismicity and of the active normal faults north and
south of the Gualdo Tadino area. The continental basin
related to the ATF (Tiber Basin) continues towards SSE
from Perugia to Spoleto (Umbria Valley, fig. 1), with
trend, sedimentary features and age which are grossly
similar to those of the northern part. At a regional scale,
studies by many different authors, based on surface geology data and/or interpretation of seismic reflection profiles, demonstrate the role of gently east-dipping, extensional master faults in the formation and evolution of the
Miocene-Pliocene basins of the Northern ThyrrenianTuscany domain (BARTOLE et alii, 1991; KELLER et alii,
1994; LIOTTA & SALVATORINI, 1994; BARTOLE, 1995; JOLIVET et alii, 1998). The geometry at depth of these faults
has been revealed by the CROP03 profile (BARCHI et alii,
1998b), showing that the activity of east-dipping, relatively
flat, normal faults is a common feature in the MioceneQuaternary tectonic evolution of the Northern Apennines.
In conclusion, the presence of an east-dipping detachment, geometrically and cinematically equivalent to the
ATF, has to be hypothesised also in the sector south of
Gualdo Tadino: probably such a detachment is deeper,
beyond the resolution of the seismic profiles.

Fig. 4 - Comparison between seismicity, lithology and structures

along the UFS system. Seismological data are derived from DESHAMPS
et alii, 1984; HAESSLER et alii, 1988; AMATO et alii, 1998; EKSTROM
et alii, 1998 (see also tab. 1). Basement and ATF depths are derived
by seismic reflection profiles (BARCHI et alii, 1998; BARCHI et alii,
1999; MIRABELLA & PUCCI, This Vol.).
Confronto tra dati sismologici, profondit del basamento e strutture
lungo il sistema delle faglie sismogenetiche umbre (UFS). I dati sismologici sono derivati da DESHAMPS et alii, 1984; HAESSLER et alii, 1988;
AMATO et alii, 1998; EKSTROM et alii, 1998, mentre le profondit del
basamento e della faglia Altotibeina derivano dalla interpretazione di
profili sismici a riflessione (BARCHI et alii, 1998; BARCHI et alii, 1999;
MIRABELLA & PUCCI, This Vol.).

The presented data show that both the ATF (a structural surface) and the top of the phyllitic basement (a
stratigraphic boundary) deepen towards the east, reaching a depth that is comparable with the thickness of the
SSL. From a geometrical point of view, both surfaces are
likely to control the distribution of the seismicity and the
depth of the SSL.
The structural control operated by the ATF trajectory
on the geometry of the SSL, is quite evident (BONCIO &

862

M.R. BARCHI

stress guide (LISTER & DAVIS, 1989), whose failure produces the largest earthquakes.
THE ROLE OF INVERSION TECTONICS

Fig. 5 - Scheme of negative tectonic inversion for the Umbria Fault

System. The scheme is based on dip data measured along the Gubbio fault and on seismic profiles through the same structure.
Schema di inversione tettonica negativa, applicata alle faglie del sistema UFS. Lo schema basato sulla struttura di Gubbio, e prende in
considerazione le immersioni rilevate in affioramento, lungo il piano
di faglia principale e le interpretazioni dei profili sismici disponibili.

LAVECCHIA, 2000; BONCIO et alii, 2000): assuming that

ATF is the master fault, from which the SW-dipping
faults (UFS) splay out, the UFS seismogenic faults simply
do not exist below the ATF, corresponding to the base of
the SSL.
The evaporites/basement boundary may represent
another, lithological, factor controlling the distribution of
the seismicity and the nucleation of the main ruptures.
The evaporites/basement boundary is a lithological and
mechanical discontinuity, corresponding to abrupt variations in the mechanical properties (as related to the seismic velocity) and possibly in the permeability of the rocks.
Seismic reflection and down-hole data show that the
evaporites, as well as the overlying carbonates, are horizons of relatively high seismic velocity (5.5-6.1 km/s, tab.
2), constituting a highly competent level. High Vp values
have been measured in rocks consisting of alternated
anhydrites and dolomites. The present-day, brittle behaviour of the sedimentary cover (carbonates and evaporites)
is suggested by the distribution of the instrumental seismicity: the main shocks are generally located in the lower
part of the sedimentary cover (within the evaporites?),
while the aftershock volume is located within the carbonates/evaporites imbrications.
On the contrary, the phyllitic basement is to be considered a relatively weak layer, as suggested by sensibly
lower values of seismic velocity (about 5 km/s, tab. 2).
Experimental studies of the seismic properties the phyllites of the Elba Island (Tuscan basement) confirmed low
values of Vp (BURLINI & TANCREDI, 1998). It is reasonable
to suppose that the changes in the mechanical properties
of the rocks can induce corresponding variations in the
frictional properties of the fault zone and of the surrounding rocks (COLLETTINI & BARCHI, submitted).
Considering this mechanical stratigraphy, characterised by the presence of a weak basement below a
strong sedimentary cover (evaporites and carbonates),
the lower part of the sedimentary cover, located some km
above of the brittle/ductile transition, has superior
strength properties. This layer can therefore act as a

The geological sections of fig. 3 suggest that the location of the main SW-dipping normal faults (UFS) is controlled by pre-existing thrusts, which may have been partially reactivated, following the modes of negative
inversion tectonics. The influence of pre-existing faults on
the location and geometry of the active normal faults, and
in particular the possible inversion of the thrust faults in
the present-day extensional stress regime has been largely
debated in the literature. The hypothesis of a reactivation
has been considered by different authors at different
observation scales and different depths (e.g. BALLY et alii,
1986; CALAMITA et alii, 1994; LAVECCHIA et alii, 1994).
At the surface, the normal fault planes cropping out
along the UFS (e.g. Gubbio, Colfiorito and Norcia faults)
are characterised by relatively high dip (50-70). The
available focal mechanisms (fig. 1) indicate that the seismogenic rupture planes, possibly related to the same
faults at hypocentral depth, are characterised by relatively
low dip (30- 40). In cross-section view, the resulting, listric geometry of the normal faults is likely to join at depth
the west-dipping thrust faults (fig. 5), representing a case
of partial, extensional reactivation of an inherited, reverse
fault (negative inversion). The process of fault reactivation mechanically favours the movement along a nonAndersonian (relatively low-angle) normal fault (SIBSON,
1990). Many authors (e.g. CELLO, 2000; GHISETTI & VEZZANI, 2000) also underlined the role of high fluid pressures, which can facilitate the reactivation of partially
misoriented (e.g. relatively low angle) normal faults, e.g.
in the Colfiorito area (COLLETTINI, this Vol.).
As previously discussed, integrated geological and
geophysical investigations demonstrate that at least the
shallower levels of the basement were involved in the
major thrust sheets, probably during the last stages of the
compressional deformation (BARCHI et alii, 1998). From a
mechanical point of view, the basement steps resulting
from the thrust sheets imbrications, correspond to places
of lateral heterogeneity between weak basement (phyllites) and strong sedimentary cover (evaporites and carbonates). These lateral discontinuities might constitute
places of stress concentration and consequent preferential nucleation of the later normal faults.
In fact, the sections of fig. 3 suggest that both the
Gubbio and Colfiorito faults reactivate, in their deeper
portion, pre-existing thrust faults.
Considering the map view (fig. 1), however, it is clear
that, even if the thrust reactivation is suitable for the single normal fault segments (e.g. Gubbio and Colfiorito
faults), it is not possible to hypothesise that the UFS, considered as a whole, reactivates a single, major thrust fault.
Because of the contrast between the arcuate shape of
the major thrusts and the straight alignment of the normal
fault systems, the different segments of UFS reactivate different thrust faults. In particular, moving from NW to SE,
the normal faults reactivate progressively more eastern
and younger thrusts: the Gubbio fault reactivates the Gubbio thrust (a portion of WUT in fig. 1), the Colfiorito fault
reactivates the Inner Ridge thrust (IRT in fig. 1), the Norcia fault reactivate the Outer Ridge thrust (ORT in fig. 1).

SEISMOGENESIS OF THE UMBRIA REGION

In conclusion, some important structural features of

the UFS normal faults can be summarised:
the basement steps related to the Miocene-Pliocene
thrust systems mechanically control the location of the
single UFS segments;
the arc-shaped thrusts possibly control the segmentation of the UFS system: the N-S trending portions of the
thrusts are reactivated as transfer faults in the extensional
stress field;
the single thrusts do not control the location of the
UFS system, considered as a whole: in fact UFS segments
are aligned along a straight, NNW-SSE trend, obliquely
dissecting the Umbria-Marche fold and thrust belt and
progressively disrupting more eastern and younger arcs
moving from North to South.
The latter point can be explained keeping in mind
that the UFS consists of fault segments, which are antithetic to the East-dipping, ATF master fault, whose trajectory is not likely to be controlled by the west dipping
thrust faults.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The researches here summarised were supported by GNDT and
Regione dellUmbria grants. The paper benefits by the constant discussion with the other members of the research group, in particular
Cristiano Collettini, Costanzo Federico, Francesco Mirabella, Cristina Pauselli and Stefano Pucci. I am very grateful to Luigi Burlini
and Gianluca Valensise for their comments, that greatly improved
the manuscript.

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Manoscritto pervenuto il 20 Dicembre 2000; testo approvato per la stampa il 21 Settembre 2001; ultime bozze restituite il 27 Marzo 2002.