See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/258840806

Vertical-axis rotations in the Sicilian fold and thrust belt: new structural
constraints from the Madonie Mts. (Sicily, Italy)

Article  in  Italian Journal of Geosciences · October 2013

DOI: 10.3301/IJG.2012.44)

CITATIONS READS

6 397

2 authors:

Giovanni Barreca Carmelo Monaco

University of Catania University of Catania
85 PUBLICATIONS   312 CITATIONS    209 PUBLICATIONS   5,125 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

PRIN - 2007 View project

Geodynamics of the Mediterranean View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Giovanni Barreca on 31 May 2014.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

Ital. J. Geosci. (Boll. Soc. Geol. It.), Vol. 132, No. 3 (2013), pp. 407-421, 11 figs. (doi: 10.3301/IJG.2012.44)
© Società Geologica Italiana, Roma 2013
Vertical-axis rotations in the Sicilian fold and thrust belt:
new structural constraints from the Madonie Mts. (Sicily, Italy)
GIOVANNI BARRECA & CARMELO MONACO (*)
ABSTRACT
A detailed geological and structural analysis was carried out in
the Madonie Mts., along the central-northern sector of the Sicilian-
Maghrebian Chain, in order to define the tectonic evolution of the
area in relation to the rotation episodes occurred since the Middle
Miocene. Upper Triassic-Middle Miocene successions are character-
ized by two fold systems with sub-perpendicular axes, the first one
trending between NNW-SSE and SSW-NNE, characterized by 15-55°
angle of plunging, the second one trending between WSW-ENE and
WNW-ESE, characterized by sub-horizontal axes. The second system
of folds is coaxial to major south-verging breaching thrust of the
Madonie Mts. over the Upper Miocene-Lower Pliocene thrust-top
deposits. Conversely, these latter show only one fold and thrust system,
roughly coaxial to the second system recognized in the Upper Trias-
sic-Middle Miocene successions. The structural analysis, compared
with published paleomagnetic data, revealed that the Neogene
thrusting was accompanied by vertical-axis clockwise rotations. In
particular, Upper Triassic-Middle Miocene successions recorded
both major 70° Langhian to Tortonian regional rotations and locally
~30° Pliocene rotations related to activity of strike-slip fault zone.
So, the structures formed during the first deformation stage were
totally rotated up to ~100°. Conversely, structures of the Upper
Miocene-Lower Pliocene deposits were involved only in the Pliocene
clockwise rotations, these latter related to activity of strike-slip faulting.
KEY WORDS: Structural analysis, vertical-axis rotations,
Neogene, Sicilian-Maghrebian Chain.
INTRODUCTION
In arc-shaped mountain belts, passive rotations can
be common and are traditionally detected either by
rotated passive markers, such as thrusts, beds, fold axes,
faults (FREUND, 1970; MARSHAK, 1988; SCHREURS, 1994),
or by paleomagnetic data (ELDREDGE et alii, 1985;
LOWRIE & HIRT, 1986; TAIT et alii, 1996; among many
others). Studies that combine both structural analysis
and paleomagnetism (RON et alii, 1984; NUR et alii, 1989;
OLDOW et alii, 1990; DE LA PIERRE et alii, 1992; PLATT et
alii, 1995; MAZZOLI et alii, 2001) provide the best con-
straints to rigid block rotation.
The Apenninic-Maghrebian Chain (AMC), in the cen-
tral Mediterranean region (see inset in fig. 1) is an arc-
shaped contractional domain whose suture orientation
ranges from ~ N-S in the Atlas region (Tunisia), E-W and
NE-SW in Sicily and Calabrian Arc, respectively, to NW-
SE in the Southern Apennines. The arcuate geometry of
the AMC was interpreted as the result of indentation
(*) Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali,
Sezione di Scienze della Terra, Università di Catania, Corso Italia, 57 -
95129 Catania, Italy. E-mail: cmonaco@unict.it
processes of the Pelagian and Adriatic blocks and conse-
quent Tyrrhenian basin rifting along the suture zone
between the Sardinia-Corse and the Afro-Adriatic blocks
(TAPPONNIER, 1977; BOCCALETTI et alii, 1990; FACCENNA
et alii, 1996; CATALANO et alii, 2004). The consequent
southeastward motion of the Calabrian Arc towards the
passive subducting Ionian oceanic slab was attained by
counter-clockwise and clockwise rotations of the Apen-
nines and Sicilian sectors, respectively (CHANNELL &
TARLING, 1975; CHANNELL et alii, 1980, 1990; CHANNELL,
1992; SAGNOTTI, 1992; SCHEEPERS et alii, 1993; SPE-
RANZA et alii, 1997).
The Sicilian segment of the AMC (hereafter the Sicil-
ian Fold and Thrust Belt, SFTB) is a thin-skinned fore-
land-verging fold and thrust system developed during the
Neogene-Quaternary Africa-Europe collision (DEWEY et
alii, 1989; B EN A VRAHAM et alii, 1990). As revealed
by paleomagnetic data (CHANNELL et alii, 1980, 1990;
GRASSO et alii, 1987; SPERANZA et alii, 1999, 2003), the
Neogene thrust migration along the SFTB has been
accompanied by clockwise rotations that, in several cases,
exceed 130° (fig. 1). This structural pattern make this
region as a suitable example for the study of vertical axis
rotations along fold and thrust systems.
Recently, many workers (GIUNTA et alii, 2000; AVEL-
LONE & BARCHI, 2003; GUARNIERI, 2004; NIGRO &
RENDA, 2005; MONACO & DE GUIDI, 2006) have compared
paleomagnetic and structural data, constraining in time
the occurrence of sin-kinematic rotations. In particular,
most of rotations (up to 70°) were attributed to the thrust
sheet emplacement (e.g. CHANNELL et alii, 1990; OLDOW
et alii, 1990; AVELLONE & BARCHI, 2003; AVELLONE et alii,
2010) and, to a lesser extent (~30°), to the propagation of
strike-slip fault systems (e.g. RENDA et alii, 2000;
GUARNIERI, 2004; MONACO & DE GUIDI, 2006; BARRECA
et alii, 2010a; BARRECA & MAESANO, 2012).
A detailed structural field analysis was carried out
along the Madonie Mts., in the central-northern segment
of the SFTB (see fig. 1 for location) in order to better con-
strain the amount of rotations provided by the paleomag-
netic studies. The structural analysis was focused on the
Upper Triassic-Lower Miocene sedimentary successions
of the Imerese and Panormide tectonic units and on the
middle Miocene-Early Pliocene top-thrust basin terrige-
nous covers. This allowed to compare tectonic structures
developed in different ages.
Our analysis was focused on large scale structural fea-
tures and mesostructures characterizing the Mt. dei
Cervi-Mt. S. Salvatore structural culminations (fig. 2).
Fold axes, fault and fracture systems, slickensides on
fault surfaces, collected on several measurement stations,
408 G. BARRECA & C. MONACO

Fig. 1 - Geological sketch map of Sicily (after FINETTI et alii, 2005). Circular arrows (and the enclosed angle) indicate the amount of clockwise
rotations calculated by palaeomagnetic analyses (from SPERANZA et alii, 1999; 2003 and references therein). Inset shows a simplified model
of lateral extrusion of the Calabrian Arc produced by the indentation of the Pelagian Block and by consequent opening of the Tyrrhenian
Basin (from CATALANO et alii, 2004, modified). Circular arrows indicate the clockwise and counterclockwise orogen-scale rotations of the
Sicilian-Maghrebides and Southern Apennines, respectively. Lines with triangles represent the front of the chain, lines with arrows the main
Plio-Pleistocene strike-slip faults, lines with barbs the main Quaternary faults.

were processed to better define the geometric and kine-
matic features of the structures occurring in the analyzed
area. The identification of the main structures and their
geometry was supported by the elaboration of 3D topo-
graphic digital elevation model of the area and by the
analysis of 1:33,000 scale aerial photographs.
GEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND
GENERAL OUTLINES
The SFTB (fig. 1) is made up of a pile of thrust sheets
deriving from the late Oligocene-middle Miocene defor-
mation of the oceanic realm of the Neotethys and of the
Africa continental paleo-margin (BIANCHI et alii, 1987;
LENTINI et alii, 1990; ROURE et alii, 1990; BELLO et alii,
2000; CATALANO et alii, 2000). The oceanic units are rep-
resented by broken formations and melange terranes
(Sicilide units) constituting far travelled portions of an
original accretionary wedge tectonically overlain by cry -
stalline rocks (Calabride units) belonging to the European
paleo-margin. As a whole, the backbone of SFTB is con-
stituted by the Meso-Caenozoic successions of the Africa
paleo-margin which are represented by stacked tectonic
units derived from the deformation of carbonate platform
(i.e. Panormide units) and pelagic (i.e. Imerese units)
domains.
In a regional view, the SFTB show a duplex geometry
with a series of foreland-verging horses bounded by two
major shear zones: a roof thrust underlying the Sicilide
units and a floor thrust represented by the detachment
level of the Meso-Caenozoic successions from the sub-
ducting African basement, regionally located along the
Upper Triassic Mufara Formation (LENTINI et alii, 1990).
Collisional processes involved the African paleo-margin
since the Middle Miocene giving rise to thrust migration
characterized by piggy-back propagation of SSE-verging
flat and ramp thrusts (BIANCHI et alii, 1987; LENTINI
et alii, 1990; ROURE et alii, 1990; BELLO et alii, 2000;
CATALANO et alii, 2000). Since the Late Miocene-Early
Pliocene, collision processes gave rise to the nucleation of
deep-seated thrusts (LENTINI et alii, 1990, 2006; BELLO et
alii, 2000; CATALANO et alii, 2000; AVELLONE et alii, 2010;
BARRECA et alii, 2010b; BARRECA & MAESANO, 2012)
whose emplacement refolded and breached the previously
stacked tectonic units (e.g. Sicilide, Panormide and
Imerese). Deep-seated thrusting was accompanied by the
development of large syntectonic marine basins at the
footwall of major structures.
During their Neogene-Quaternary propagation, the
afore-mentioned thrust underwent large clockwise rota-
tions that involved both shallow and deep seated struc-
tures, as documented by paleomagnetic data (CHANNELL
et alii, 1980, 1990; GRASSO et alii, 1987; SPERANZA et alii,
 VERTICAL-AXIS ROTATIONS IN THE SICILIAN FOLD AND THRUST BELT 409

Fig. 2 - A) Geological-structural map of Madonie Mts. range (see fig. 1 for location). Black dashed circular arrows indicate the amount of
rotations calculated by structural analysis during this work. Grey circular arrows indicate the amount of clockwise rotation calculated by
paleomagnetic analysis (from CHANNELL et alii, 1980, 1990; GRASSO et alii, 1987; OLDOW et alii, 1990; SPERANZA et alii, 1999, 2003); B) simplified
sketch map of Madonie Mts. with major contractional (thrusts and folds) structures.
410 G. BARRECA & C. MONACO

Fig. 3 - A) Panoramic view of the Madonie Mts. The refolded tectonic contact between Panormide and Imerese units is evident; B) Panoramic
view of the Petralia-Scillato thrust near Petralia; C) Panoramic view of the Mt. dei Cervi dome structure; D) Panoramic view of the southern
slope of the Madonie Mts. The refolded tectonic contact between Panormide and Imerese units and the Scillato-Petralia thrust are evident.
 VERTICAL-AXIS ROTATIONS IN THE SICILIAN FOLD AND THRUST BELT
Fig. 4 - Geological-structural map of Mt. dei
Cervi (Imerese unit) culmination (see fig. 2
for location).
1999, 2003) and supported by structural analysis in west-
ern (OLDOW et alii, 1990; GIUNTA et alii, 2000; AVELLONE
& BARCHI, 2003; GUARNIERI, 2004; NIGRO & RENDA,
2005; BARRECA & MAESANO, 2012) and in central-eastern
Sicily (MONACO & DE GUIDI, 2006). A part of total
amount of rotations (~30°) was attributed to the activity
of right-lateral strike-slip fault systems which character-
ized the post-Miocene stages of the orogenesis (Kumeta-
Alcantara Line of GHISETTI & VEZZANI, 1984; Southern
Tyrrhenian System of FINETTI et alii, 1996; Right-Lateral
W-E trending shear zone of GIUNTA et alii, 2000; RENDA et
alii, 2000). This transcurrent belt also includes high-angle
WNW-striking normal faults (BILLI et alii, 2010), whose
current activity is still debated (see PALANO et alii, 2012).
THE MADONIE MOUNTAIN RANGE
The Madonie Mountain range (fig. 2A) in central-
northern Sicily, is a structural and topographic culmina-
tion of the SFTB constituted by two major tectonic
units (for a more detailed description of stratigraphic
sequences see SCHMIDT DI FRIEDBERG et alii, 1960;
GRASSO et alii, 1978; ABATE et alii, 1982; RENDA et alii,
1999 and reference therein) deriving from the deforma-
tion of the African paleo-margin during the Neogene col-
lisional processes (DEWEY et alii, 1989). The deepest
structural position in the tectonic stack is occupied by
the ~500-m-thick pelagic sequence of the Imerese unit
outcropping at Mt. dei Cervi, mostly composed of Upper
Triassic-Lower Liassic cherty limestones and dolostones
followed upwards by Jurassic-Cretaceous radiolarites,
calcarenites and spongolites and by Eocene-Oligocene
411
marls and marly limestones, unconformably covered by
Upper Oligocene-Lower Miocene Numidian flysch-type
sequence (clays and quartzarenites). During the Middle
Miocene this unit was tectonically overlain by shallow-
water carbonate succession pertaining to the Panormide
unit (fig. 3A). This is composed of Middle-Upper Carnian
brownish clays and calcarenites (Mufara Formation)
passing upwards to Upper Triassic-Cretaceous dolostones
and limestones which are covered by Upper Cretaceous-
Oligocene pelagic limestones and marly-clays. This suc-
cession is, in turn, unconformably covered by Upper
Oligocene-Lower Miocene Numidian Flysch deposits and
forms a NNW-SSE oriented plateau with a basal thrust
clearly exposed at the bottom of the western slope of
Pizzo Carbonara (fig. 2B). Conversely, the southern slope
of Madonie Mts. is dominated by two roughly E-W ori-
ented antiformal structures; the Mt. dei Cervi ridge
(Imerese units) to the west (fig. 3B) and the Mt. San Sal-
vatore ridge (Panormide unit) to the east (fig. 3C), that
reach elevations of about 1800 m and 1900 m.a.s.l.,
respectively.
The Tortonian-Lower Pliocene thrust-top-basin
deposits (GRASSO et alii, 1978; GRASSO & BUTLER, 1991;
BARRECA, 2007) occupies the structural depressions at
the front of the major culmination (fig. 3D). These are
represented by calcarenites, conglomerates, sandstones
and clays (Tortonian), evaporites (Messinian) and chalks
(Trubi formation, Early Pliocene), unconformably overly-
ing a pile of thrust sheets constituted by chaotic Paleo-
cene-Oligocene variegated clays and marly limestones
(Sicilide unit) and by Upper Oligocene-Lower Miocene
quartzarenitic sequences (Numidian Flysch).
412 G. BARRECA
Fig. 5 - Geological-structural map of Mt. S. Salvatore (Panormide unit) culmination (see fig. 2 for location).
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
The structural analysis was carried out at first on
major contractional structures occurring in the area, evi-
denced by detailed 1:10.000 scale geological mapping.
Field scale structures have been successively compared to
mesostructural data mainly consisting of fold limbs atti-
tude (and computed axes) collected in the multilayered
Imerese succession and in the calcareous or arenaceous
deposits of Panormide succession. Moreover, kinematics
of fault planes and their statistical orientation have been
used to estimate structural rotation related to the propa-
gation of strike-slip faults.
REGIONAL TECTONIC STRUCTURES
Along the Mt. dei Cervi ridge, the Imerese sedimentary
succession forms a large structural culmination (figs. 3C, 4)
characterized by the association of non-coaxial fold
systems, whose axes show two preferential distributions,
NNW-SSE and WSW-ENE. The older system is charac -
terized fold axes plunging towards 160-170 at angles of
10-45°, sub-parallel to the coeval thrust contact between
Panormide and Imerese units. The second and more
recent system is mainly represented by ~N80E striking
& C. MONACO
large ramp anticline, with sub-horizontal axes, also
deforming the former thrust contact between Panormide
and Imerese units (figs. 3A, 3D). This anticline is coaxial
to the high angle south-verging breaching thrust (Scillato-
Petralia thrust, figs. 3C, 4) bounding, during the Torto-
nian-Messinian, a top-thrust sedimentary basin to the
south. As a whole, in the Mt. dei Cervi area, interference
between older and more recent fold systems produced a
gentle dome structure, with associated orthogonal sets of
outer-arc extensional faults (figs. 3C, 4). Within the Mt. dei
Cervi dome, some minor structures (i.e. Mt. Carca, see
fig. 4 for location) show basin-dome geometries miming
the interference pattern observed at large scale.
East of Mt. dei Cervi, the Panormide unit forms a
large NNW-SSE oriented carbonate plateau, deformed
into a gentle anticline and bounded on its western side by
a WSW-verging basal thrust over the Imerese unit (figs. 2,
3A). Similarly to the Mt. dei Cervi ridge, the Panormide
block is internally deformed by non-coaxial structural
associations consisting of contractional faults and associ-
ated folding. In particular, the basal thrust is accompa-
nied by detachment folding, mainly developed in the
Upper Triassic Mufara Fm. outcropping at the core of
major ~E-W oriented anticlines (Mt. Daino and Vallone
Faguara anticlines, fig. 5). Mesostructural analysis (see
 VERTICAL-AXIS ROTATIONS IN THE SICILIAN FOLD AND THRUST BELT 413

Fig. 6 - Field scale interference pattern observed in the Panormide succession: A) Central portion of Mt. San Salvatore culmination (see fig. 5
for location) characterized by the occurrence of NE-SW and NW-SE trending fold systems. Interference between two system produced
mushroom-type folding; B) The same pattern of folding is observed in the Mt. Daino area (see fig. 5 for location); C) C. Cipollazzo-S. L’Ostia (see
fig. 2 for location) interference structure; D) Elliptical folding geometries observed in the nearby of Geraci Siculo village (see fig. 2 for location).

below) revealed that the Mufara Fm. is deformed by two
major fold generations, oriented NNW-SSE and ENE-
WSW. At Mt. Daino (fig. 6B), interference between the
two folding phases produced type 1 folds (RAMSAY, 1967)
characterized by roughly orthogonal axes. Other inter -
ference pattern (dome and basin structures) have been
recognized to the east, along the Cozzo Cipollazzo-Serra
L’Ostia NNE-SSW oriented carbonate ridge (fig. 6C)
and near Geraci Siculo (fig. 6D). Toward the south, the
Mt. S. Salvatore culmination (figs. 5, 6A) forms a large
anticline with N115E oriented sub-horizontal axis, which
is superposed on a previous SSW-NNE trending fold system
forming mushroom-type interference figures.
As a whole, fold axes measured in the Panormide unit
(Mt. S. Salvatore ridge) appear rotated of further 30° with
respect to fold axes measured in the Imerese unit (Mt. dei
Cervi ridge), suggesting a local increase of magnitude of
structural rotations. Field scale analysis of folding revealed
414 G. BARRECA
that both the Imerese and Panormide successions were
deformed by two main fold and thrust generations (fig. 7): a
SSW-NNE fold axis trend (α in fig. 7) is roughly consistent
with the large thrust contact (a in fig. 7) between the
Imerese and Panormide nappes; a more recent WSW-ENE
to WNW-ESE (β in fig. 7) oriented ramp anticline system
accompanies the nucleation of coaxial large breaching
thrusts (b in fig. 7), responsible for the final uplift of the
Madonie Mountains (i.e. the Scillato-Petralia thrust, fig. 3D).
Conversely, on the footwall of the Scillato-Petralia thrust, the
Tortonian-Lower Pliocene thrust-top basin deposits are
characterized by only one fold and thrust system, WSW-
ENE trending, coaxial to the second system measured in the
Mt. dei Cervi and Mt. S. Salvatore area. Locally, folds in
thrust top deposits are involved into 30-45° vertical-axis
clockwise rotations (e.g. the Gangi syncline, see fig. 2A).
MESOSTRUCTURAL DATA
In order to frame field scale contractional structures
and to reconstruct the tectonic events that occurred in the
area, a detailed structural analysis of mesofold axes dis-
tribution was carried out. Data collected mostly consist of
mesofold limbs attitude and β axis measurements in well
exposed sites in the Imerese succession outcropping at
the Mt. dei Cervi ridge and along the sole thrust of the
Panormide unit, as well as in the Upper Miocene-Lower
Pliocene thrust-top deposits, with the aim to compare
tectonic structures of different age. In addition, spatial
distribution of mesofault planes from the Mt. S. Salvatore
culmination have been analyzed in order to evaluate verti-
cal-axis structural rotations related to strike-slip faulting.
Folds
Folds are mainly represented by small wavelength
parasitic conical and kink-type mesofolds within large
thrust propagation folds. Fold analysis was based on the
measurement of limb attitude of minor folds. Succes-
sively, β axis was calculated by using dedicate software
(Daisy, SALVINI, 2001) and projected on the Schmidt
lower hemisphere diagrams in order to define the statisti-
cal distribution of the structures occurring in the area.
& C. MONACO
Fig. 7 - Shaded-relief map (SW pro-
spective view) of the Mt. dei Cervi-
Mt. S. Salvatore area showing main
structural features. The first phase
folds, striking N150E (α) are sub-
parallel to the thrust contact between
Panormide and Imerese units (a)
whereas the second phase folds (β)
are coaxial to the large Scillato-
Petralia thrust ramp (b) that caused
the uplift of the Madonie Mts. since
the Late Miocene.
Limb attitudes of mesofolds from the Panormide unit
have been collected at two stratigraphic levels which are
represented by the Upper Triassic Mufara Fm. and by the
multilayered Upper Cretaceous-Eocene pelagic lime-
stones. Rare mesofolds have been recognized in the mas-
sive Upper Triassic-Cretaceous dolostones and lime-
stones. Data from Mufara Fm. were collected at stations 1
and 2 (see fig. 2A for location) in the central portion of
the NNW-SSE oriented Panormide carbonate plateau.
Measured limb attitudes and computed β axes revealed
for station 1 a double generation of folds trending 33-330
and 05-068 (fig. 8 A - station 1). At station 2, folds mainly
show axes trending 05-066 with minor dispersed distribu-
tion. These data are consistent with that collected by
RENDA et alii (1999) along the Panormide basal thrust
and in the Mt. Mufara area (fig. 2).
Folding on Upper Cretaceous-Eocene pelagic lime-
stones was investigated at stations 3, 4 and 5 (see fig. 2A
for location) where this succession mainly outcrops at the
core of larger anticlines (see also fig. 6C for station 3 and
fig. 6D for station 5). At station 3, contour density dia-
gram of β axis distribution shows a 07-200 main trend
while a minor gathering (5-10%) is represented by 15-235
trending fold generation. A 05-144 axis trend characte-
rizes folds at station 4 while two sets, trending 011-133
and 22-277 occur at station 5. As a whole, contour dia-
grams reveal that the Mufara Fm. is deformed by two fold
systems with sub-perpendicular axes trending NNW-SSE
and WSW-ENE (fig. 8A-1). Conversely, data collected on
the Upper Cretaceous-Eocene pelagic limestones (see dia-
gram in fig. 8A-2) show a more dispersed distribution for
β axes. Both axes are related to large scale dome struc-
tures (see above). Cumulative contour diagram for all
Panormide data (fig. 8A-3) shows four system of folds in
which 05-068 and 30-340 (12-14%) are prevalent on 05-015
and 13-100.
Fold axes from the Imerese units have been collected
mainly in the multilayered Jurassic-Cretaceous radio-
larites and Eocene-Oligocene marls and marly lime-
stones. Structural measurements were performed along
the southern limb (stations 6-7-8-9 see fig. 2A for loca-
tion) and eastern limb (station 10) of the Mt. dei Cervi
dome structures. At station 6, in the SW corner of Mt. dei
 VERTICAL-AXIS ROTATIONS IN THE SICILIAN FOLD AND THRUST BELT 415

Fig. 8 - Diagrams (Schmidt, lower hemisphere) of β axes density (contour mode) calculated for the investigated stratigraphic layers: A) β axes
distribution for Upper Triassic and Upper Cretaceous-Eocene successions of the Panormide Unit. Either formations show a double set of fold
axes (A-1 and A-2). As a whole, the Panormide unit is affected by four fold systems (A-3) which were interpreted as the result of interference
pattern between NNW-SSE and ENE-WSW trend and their successive rotation (~35°) due to strike-slip faulting; B) β axes distribution for the
Jurassic-Cretaceous and Eocene-Oligocene successions of the Imerese unit. Similarly to the Panormide unit, it is characterized by the occurrence
of a double generation of folds trending NW-SE and WSW-ENE (B-1). In particular, the NW-SE system is affected by double plunging of fold
axes suggesting that it was re-deformed by nucleation of the younger ENE-WSW system (see cartoon B-2); C) β axes distribution for Early
Pliocene chalks showing only one set of folds trending N110-120E, subparallel to strike-slip faults (see schematic structural map C1).
416 G. BARRECA
Fig. 9 - A) Schematic structural map of the Mt. Mufara-Mt. S. Salvatore area, showing strike-slip fault geometries; B) Block rotation model of
deformation; C) Rose diagrams showing azimuthal distribution of right-lateral and left-lateral strike-slip faults; D) Left-lateral faults are
distributed in two systems forming an angle of about 35°, resulting from clockwise rotation of a firstly formed set.
Cervi culmination, contour diagram of β axis distribution
(fig. 8B) shows a prevalent NW-SE trend (20-330) simi-
larly to the station 7, where also a SSW-NNE trend (06-017)
occurs. A double trend also characterize the site 8, while
sites 9 and 10 exhibit a marked dispersion of fold axes.
Anyhow, cumulative diagram for the Imerese succession
(fig. 8B-1) shows two prevalent sets of folds: the older
one, trending WNW-ESE, exhibits double axes plunging
at about 30°; the younger one is characterized by sub-
horizontal WSW-ENE axis distribution (see cartoon in
fig. 8B-2).
Thrust- top deposits were investigated at station 11 (see
fig. 2A for location) where Lower Pliocene chalks deposits
outcrop. Density diagram of β axes (fig. 8C) has pointed
out the occurrence of only one fold system plunging
towards N115 at angle of 13°. This trend appear coaxial to
a right-lateral strike-slip fault affecting the investigated
area (see schematic structural map in fig. 8C-1).
Faults
Mesoscale structural analysis was based on kinematic
and spatial distribution of fault and fracture systems at
the Mt. S. Salvatore structural culmination where a set of
NW-SE right-lateral and associated NE-SW left-lateral
strike-slip faults occurs (see fig. 4). Strike-slip fault distri-
bution depicts a typical block rotation mechanism of
deformation (FREUND, 1970; RON et alii, 1984; NUR et alii,
1989) in which two N120-140E striking right-lateral
strike-slip zone confine SW-NE oriented left-lateral
& C. MONACO
strike-slip faults (fig. 9A). Theseconjugate antithetical
structures bound clockwise rotated blocks (fig. 9B). The
age of strike-slip deformation is post-Lower Pliocene as it
involves the Trubi formation (see figs. 8C-1 and 9A).
It’s worth to note that meso-faults distribution of left-
lateral segments show two main azimuthal domains
trending ~N40E and ~N75E (see rose diagram in fig. 9C),
suggesting a 35° clockwise rotation of an old and aban-
doned system and development of a more appropriately
oriented new system (see model in fig. 9D).
DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
The geological-structural analysis carried out in the
Madonie Mts. area has pointed out the occurrence of con-
tractional structural associations (folds and thrusts) typi-
cal of collisional settings. Fold structures, with parallel
geometry, in well-bedded multilayered successions sug-
gest that folding occurred in shallow crustal domains,
mostly related to thrust detachment and propagation.
Field mapping and structural measurements revealed
the occurrence of non-coaxial fold systems that produced
interference pattern both at field and at regional scale.
Interference pattern at regional scale results from the
superposition of two fold systems with sub-perpendicular
axes that sometimes gives rise to “dome and basin” (RAM-
SAY, 1967) structures. In particular, NW-SE and WSW-
ENE trending fold axes characterize the Imerese succes-
sion which results deformed into a large dome structure
(e.g. the Mt dei Cervi Dome, see fig. 4). The Panormide
 VERTICAL-AXIS ROTATIONS IN THE SICILIAN FOLD AND THRUST BELT
succession is also deformed by two fold generations
which produced minor interference pattern (fig. 6).
Mesostructural data and computed β axes are sub-
stantially in agreement with field scale structures show-
ing in general a double set of folding. The analysis of
distinct fold systems has revealed that the NW-SE trend
is generally characterized by 15-30° angle of plunging,
whereas the WSW-ENE axes show a sub-horizontal
arrangement. This setting gives useful information
about timing of folding, suggesting that NW-SE trend
was an older system re-defomed by the nucleation of
younger WSW-ENE trending folds. However, the com-
parison between cumulative diagrams of Imerese and
Panormide units (see fig. 8A-3 and 8B-1) shows that the
latter appears affected by four folding systems trending
on average 30-340, 05-015, 05-068 and 13-100. This
peculiar feature could be explained considering the role
of strike-slip faulting in the post Lower Pliocene tectonic
evolution of the Madonie Mts. area. In fact, the Pa-
normide unit is strongly affected by strike-slip faults
that produced vertical rotation of the primarily devel-
oped WSW-ENE trending fold axes. In particular, strike-
slip fault pattern in the Mt. S. Salvatore area (fig. 9A)
depicts a block rotation geometry of deformation (see
model in fig. 9B) in which blocks confined among major
parallel set of faults (i.e. the NW-SE right-lateral strike-
slip faults) have undergone clockwise rotation through
left-lateral motion along block-bounding secondary
faults (see GURFUNKEL & RON, 1985; NUR et alii, 1989).
The measured value (~35°, see above; figs. 9C, 9D) is in
good agreement with rotations recorded by paleoma-
gnetic data in Lower Pliocene deposits of Madonie Mts.
(see fig. 2A)
COMPARISON WITH PALEOMAGNETIC DATA
AND TIMING OF ROTATIONS
A comparison between published paleomagnetic data
and vertical-axis rotations measured by structural analy-
sis was attempted in order to constrain the timing of
observed deformations. Paleomagnetic data collected in
the Madonie Mts. (see GRASSO et alii, 1987; SPERANZA et
alii, 1999, 2003) show that the Mesozoic-Paleogene
Panormide unit (i.e the Pizzo Carbonara-Mt. Mufara-Mt.
S. Salvatore alignment, see fig. 2A) was affected by near
100° clockwise rotations. Conversely, Lower Pliocene
thrust top basin deposits recorded on average 35° of rota-
tion; hence, 65-70° of rotations in the Panormide block
occurred before Lower Pliocene. In particular, structural
data from fold axes, relatable to different time intervals,
revealed that most of rotations occurred before Late
Miocene being the Tortonian-Lower Pliocene thrust top
deposits affected by only fold system trending WSW-
ENE. On this ground, the older NW-SE striking fold sys-
tem, that characterizes the Imerese and Panormide units,
both at regional and field scale, formed along a primary
WSW-ENE direction. This trend is consistent with the
Miocene Africa-Europe convergence direction (see
DEWEY et alii, 1989 and MAZZOLI & HELMAN, 1994) and
with paleogeographic reconstruction provided for the
SFTB units by previous authors (e.g. DEWEY et alii, 1989;
CATALANO et alii, 1996, 2000; RENDA et alii, 1999) in
which a pre-orogenic SW-NE to WSW-ENE orientation of
paleogeographic domains was emphasized.
417
Following all these considerations and taking into
account the amount of rotations provided both by paleo-
magnetic and structural measurements, a time-recon-
struction for vertical-axis rotations in the Madonie Mts.
range was attempted. In particular, first phase folding
must have developed with a primary SW-NE to WSW-
ENE direction, coaxial with the major thrust contact
between Panormide and Imerese units (fig. 10A). Accord-
ing to paleomagnetic data, these structures subsequently
rotated clockwise of about 70° (fig. 10B). Rotations in this
stage occurred during the Middle-Late Miocene after the
early stage of SFTB emplacement. Conversely, the Upper
Miocene-Lower Pliocene stage was essentially character-
ized by the nucleation of large-wavelength folds trending
WSW-ENE (fig. 10C) that accompanied the propagation
of large coaxial breaching thrusts (i.e. the Scillato-
Petralia thrust). Interference between the older and newly
formed folds has given rise to “Dome and Basin struc-
tures” (i.e. the Mt. Dei Cervi dome, see also fig. 4). Since
Middle Pliocene times, the activation of large NW-SE ori-
ented right-lateral strike faults and associate Riedel struc-
ture gave rise to processes of block rotation and drag
deformation which locally caused (i.e. along the Gangi
sincline, see fig. 2A, or in the Mt. S. Salvatore culmina-
tion, see fig. 9A) further up to 35° clockwise rotations,
with dragging and parallelization of previous structures
to major transcurrent faults (fig. 10 D).
Our analysis partially agrees with that of RENDA et alii
(1999) who interpreted the major thrust contact between
Panormide and Imerese units as a lateral ramp of a
Miocene major thrust reactivating a Mesozoic, west-east
striking, transfer fault belonging to a linked extensional
system (sensu GIBBS, 1984). Even though they recognize
the occurrence of the two fold systems and quote the lit-
erature paleomagnetic data, in their interpretation they
do not invoke rotation for explaining the ~N-S orientation
of the Miocene fold system, relating it to the propagation
of the Miocene lateral ramp.
REGIONAL IMPLICATIONS
Although the rotational mechanism in thrust sheets is
a common feature of fold and thrust belts, essentially
related to impingement upon foreland buttresses (e.g.
GHISETTI et alii, 2009 and reference therein), the occur-
rence of two contractional structure systems with sub-
orthogonal axes can be variously interpreted. The super-
position could be related to a ~90° azimuthal rotation of
the stress field or, alternatively, could be the result of
~90° rotation of the first phase structures. However, con-
sidering the Neogene convergence direction provided by
previous authors for the SFTB (NNW-SSE to NNE-SSW,
see DEWEY et alii, 1989 and MAZZOLI & HELMAN, 1994)
and the Pliocene direction of maximum horizontal com-
pression (NNW-SSE, see BARRECA et alii, 2010a; BARRECA
& MAESANO, 2012), vertical axis rotation in the SFTB
develops under a quasi-constant stress field related to a
general N-S convergence.
The NNW-SSE direction of the first phase major
thrust contact (and associated mesostructures) between
Panormide and Imerese units is inconsistent when com-
pared to Neogene Africa-Europe convergence direction.
Hence, according to paleomagnetic data, the Madonie
Mts. (fig. 2) should be considered as a large clockwise
418 G. BARRECA & C. MONACO

Fig. 10 - Timing and geometry of contractional deformation and rotation steps of the Madonie Mts. range A) formation of ENE-WSW
trending folds and thrusts (see cartoon on the right) induced by ~N-S oriented Africa-Europe convergence; B) ~70° clockwise rotation of first
phase structures during Middle-Late Miocene; C) Formation of ENE-WSW trending fold associated to deep-seated thrusting in the Late
Miocene-Early Pliocene; D) Further 35° clockwise rotation of first and second phases structures since the Middle Pliocene.

rotated block of the SFTB. In addition, by comparing
structural rotations of first phase folds in the study area
with data available from the eastern Sicily (Mt. Judica
area, 75 km to the south-east), a regional scale process for
vertical-axis rotation along the SFTB can be invoked. In
fact, the Mt. Judica unit in eastern Sicily (see fig. 1 for
location) also derives from deformation of Imerese
domain and has been affected during Middle-Late
Miocene by clockwise vertical-axis rotations (~70°)
similar to that observed in this study (MONACO & DE
GUIDI, 2006).
Taking into account i) the NNW-SSE to NNE-SSW
convergence direction for the SFTB, ii) the WSW-ENE
original configuration of paleogeographic domains
(DEWEY et alii, 1989; CATALANO et alii, 1996, 2000) and
iii) that vertical axis rotations occurred at regional scale,
a driving mechanism can be imaged and a space-time
reconstruction of rotational episodes can be recon-
structed. Clockwise rotations of the SFTB units appear
to be associated with the oroclinal bending of the frontal
thrust against the subducting Sciacca structural high
(fig. 1) (SPERANZA et alii, 1999; MATTEI et alii, 2007).
This crustal indenter, belonging to the Pelagian block
(fig. 11A), separates clockwise from counter-clockwise
rotational domains along the SFTB (see circular arrows
in fig. 1). So, geological and structural constraints, com-
pared to paleomagnetic data, have allowed a regional
space-time reconstruction of vertical-axis rotations in
the SFTB. Starting from a still unrotated WSW-ENE
chain configuration, the major amount of rotation (at
least 70°, SPERANZA et alii, 2003, see above) occurred
during the Middle-Late Miocene (fig. 11A) and can be
related to combined thrust sheet emplacement and large
scale lateral bending. Taking into account that Sardinia
rotated 45° counter-clockwise with respect to stable
Europe during Early Miocene (GATTACCECA et alii,
2007), major rotational processes in SFTB developed
subsequently to the opening of Provencal-Ligurian Basin
and positioning of the Sardinian block north of the Pela-
gian domain. As a consequence, the SFTB units were
largely bended by the collision between the Sardinian
block, including the future Calabrian Arc, and the Pela-
gian continental indenter (fig. 11A). During the Late
Miocene-Early Pliocene (fig. 11B), the development of
ENE-WSW striking breaching thrust (e.g. the Scillato-
Petralia Thrust, see fig. 6) and related ramp anticlines
 VERTICAL-AXIS ROTATIONS IN THE SICILIAN FOLD AND THRUST BELT 419

Fig. 11 - Timing and driving mechanisms of vertical-axis rotation reconstructed for the Mediterranean region: A) Major amount of rotation
(~70°) along SFTB occurred during Middle-Late Miocene (after the opening of Provencal-Ligurian Basin), caused by bending (see inset)
of the frontal thrust against the Sciacca intender (Pelagian domain); B) During the Late Miocene-Early Pliocene stage, the nucleation of
deep-seated thrusts (see inset 1) gave rise to interference pattern in the previously rotated thrust sheets. The Pliocene-Pleistocene stage was
characterized by the coeval Tyrrhenian basin rifting and the consequent south-eastwards migration of the Calabrian Arc (see inset 2) that
caused further 30-35° clockwise rotations in the SFTB, related to the propagation of major strike-slip faults.

produced interference patterns in the previously rotated CONCLUSION

thrust and fold system. Finally, in the Pliocene-Plei -
stocene (fig. 11B), strike-slip tectonics related to Cala -
brian Arc southeastward motion and coeval Tyrrhenian
spreading (FACCENNA et alii, 1996) gave rise to further
over 30° clockwise rotation produced by dragging (e.g
the Gangi syncline, see fig. 2A) and by block rotation
mechanism of deformation (e.g. the Mt. S. Salvatore
culmination, see fig. 9).
Data collected, based on meso-fold axis distribution,
and fault planes statistical orientation, compared to pub-
lished paleomagnetic data, have allowed us to define the
tectonic evolution of the area in relation to two main
rotation episodes. These occurred since the Middle
Miocene and resulted in a combination of far-field and
near-field or local rotations.
420 G. BARRECA
The structural analysis carried out in the Madonie
Mts. area shows the occurrence of two fold and thrust
systems, with sub-perpendicular axes, related to two
distinct tectonic phases. The second and more recent one
is also responsible for the thrusting of the Upper Triassic-
Middle Miocene successions (Scillato-Petralia thrust)
over the Tortonian-Lower Pliocene deposits and for the
folding of these cover succession. The superposition of
two contractional structure systems with sub-orthogonal
axes, compared to paleomagnetic data, can be interpreted
as the result of ~70° clockwise block rotation of the first
phase structures (included the old tectonic contact
between Imerese and Panormide units) around vertical
axis, occurred between Langhian and Late Tortonian
time under a roughly N-S oriented maximum horizontal
compression (see also AVELLONE & BARCHI, 2003;
MONACO & DE GUIDI, 2006). This was followed by locally
more than 30° clockwise vertical-axis rotation since the
Pliocene probably related to dragging by Plio-Pleistocene
NW-SE striking right-lateral strike-slip faults. The second
rotation episode is also consistent with the angular rela-
tionship (~35°) between the two left-lateral strike-slip
fault systems detected in the Mt. San Salvatore area that
can be interpreted as the result of clockwise block rota-
tion between major right-lateral strike-slip faults. In this
kinematic model, the ~N75E oriented faults belong to an
older rotated and abandoned system, while the ~N40E
faults represent a more recent system.
From a geodynamic point of view, the Neogene clock-
wise rotation in the Sicilian-Maghrebian Chain is related
to the regional framework of the Africa-Europe con-
vergence. The clockwise rotation followed thrusting
processes since the Early-Middle Miocene, when the colli-
sion between the Sardo-Corso Block and the Pelagian
indenter triggered the extensive southwards migration of
large nappes and a regional lateral bending of the chain,
around vertical axis, under a quasi-constant stress field
related to the N-S convergence. As regards the Plio-Plei-
stocene minor rotation episode, structural constraints
suggest their association to subsequent large right-lateral
strike-slip faulting, coeval to the Tyrrhenian opening, that
characterizes the boundary between northern Sicily and
Tyrrhenian basin.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We thank Fabio Speranza, an anonymous reviewer and the
Associated Editor for their comments that helped to clarify some
aspects of the work. The research was partially funded by grants
from University Catania (responsible C. Monaco).
REFERENCES
ABATE B., CATALANO R., D’ARGENIO B., DI STEFANO P. & RENDA P.
(1982) - Facies sedimentarie e rapporti strutturali nelle Madonie
orientali. In: R. Catalano & B. D’Argenio, guida alla geologia
della Sicilia occidentale. Guide geologiche regionali della SGI
Suppl. A., 24, 49-52, Palermo.
AVELLONE G. & BARCHI M.R. (2003) - Le pieghe minori nelle Unità
Imeresi e Trapanesi dei Monti di Palermo e il loro significato
nell’evoluzione tettonica dell’area. Boll. Soc. Geol. It., 122, 277-294.
AVELLONE G., BARCHI M.R., CATALANO R., MORTICELLI M.G. & SUL-
LI A. (2010) - Interference between shallow and deep-seated
structures in the Sicilian fold and thrust belt, Italy. Journ. Geol.
Soc. of London, 167, 109-126. doi: 10.1144/0016-76492008-163.
BARRECA G. (2007) - Carta Geologica del Settore Pedemontano delle
Madonie, scala 1:25.000. S.EL.CA. ed., Firenze.
& C. MONACO
BARRECA G., BARBANO M.S., CARBONE S. & MONACO C. (2010a) -
Archaeological evidence for Roman-age faulting in central-
northern Sicily: Possible effects of coseismic deformation. In:
Sintubin M., Stewart I.S., Niemi T.M. & Altunel E. (eds.), Ancient
Earthquakes: Geol. Soc. Am. Special Paper, 471, 223-232. doi:
10.1130/2010.2471(18).
BARRECA G., MAESANO F.E. & CARBONE S. (2010b) - Tectonic evolution
of the Northern Sicanian-Southern Palermo Mountains range in
Western Sicily: insight on the exhumation of the thrust-involved
foreland domains. Ital. J. Geosci. (Boll. Soc. Geol. It.), 129 (3),
234-247.
BARRECA G. & MAESANO F.E. (2012) - Restraining stepover deformation
superimposed on a previous fold-and-thrust-belt: a case study
from the Mt. Kumeta-Rocca Busambra ridges (western Sicily,
Italy). Journ. Geodynamics, 55, 1-17. doi: 10.1016/j.jog.2011.
10.007.
BIANCHI F., CARBONE S., GRASSO M., INVERNIZZI G., LENTINI F.,
LONGARETTI G., MERLINI S. & MOSCARDINI F. (1987) - Sicilia
orientale: profilo geologico Nebrodi-Iblei. Mem. Soc. Geol. It., 38,
429-458.
BELLO M., FRANCHINO A. & MERLINI S. (2000) - Structural model of
Eastern Sicily. Mem. Soc. Geol. It., 55, 61-70.
BEN AVRAHAM Z., BOCCALETTI M., CELLO G., GRASSO M., LENTINI F.,
TORELLI L. & TORTORICI L. (1990) - Principali domini strutturali
originatisi dalla collisione neogenico-quaternaria nel Mediterraneo
centrale. Mem. Soc. Geol. It., 45, 453-462.
BILLI A., PRESTI D., ORECCHIO B., FACCENNA C. & NERI G. (2010) -
Incipient extension along the active convergent margin of Nubia
in Sicily, Italy: Cefalù-Etna seismic zone. Tectonics, 29, TC4026.
doi: 10.1029/2009TC002559.
BOCCALETTI M., NICOLICH R. & TORTORICI L. (1990) - New data and
hypothesis on the development of the Tyrrhenian basin. Palaeo.
Palaeo. Palaeo., 77, 15-40.
CATALANO R., DI STEFANO P., SULLI A. & VITALE F.P. (1996) - Paleo-
geography and structure of the central Mediterranean: Sicily and
its offshore area. Tectonophysics, 260, 291-323.
CATALANO R., FRANCHINO A., MERLINI S. & SULLI A. (2000) - Central
western Sicily structural setting interpreted from seismic reflection
profiles. Mem. Soc. Geol. It., 55, 5-16.
CATALANO S., MONACO C., PALTRINIERI W., STEEL N. & TORTORICI L.
(2004) - The Neogene-Quaternary tectonic evolution of the
southern Apennines. Tectonics, 23, TC2003. doi: 10.1029/2003
TC001512.
CHANNELL J.E.T. & TARLING D.H. (1975) - Palaeomagnetism and the
rotation of Italy. Earth Plan. Sc. Lett., 25, 177-188.
CHANNELL J.E.T., CATALANO R. & D’ARGENIO B. (1980) - Palaeoma-
gnetism and deformation of the Mesozoic continental margin in
Sicily. Tectonophysics, 61, 391-407.
CHANNELL J.E.T., OLDOW J.S., CATALANO R. & D’ARGENIO B. (1990) -
Palaeomagnetically determined rotations in the western Sicilian
fold and thrust belt. Tectonics, 9, 641-660.
CHANNELL J.E.T. (1992) - Palaeomagnetic data from Umbria (Italy):
implications for the rotation of Adria and Mesozoic apparent polar
wander paths. Tectonophysics, 216, 365-378.
DE LA PIERRE F., GHISETTI F., LANZA R. & VEZZANI L. (1992) - Paleo-
magnetic and structural evidence of Neogenic tectonic rotation of
the Gran Sasso range (central Apennines, Italy). Tectonophysics,
215, 335-348.
DEWEY J.F., HELMAN M.L., TURCO E., HUTTON D.H.W. & KNOTT S.D.
(1989) - Kinematics of the westwern Mediterranean. In: Coward
M.P., Dietrich D. & Park R.G. (eds.), Alpine Tectonics, Geol.
Soc. London Special Publication, 45, 265-283.
ELDREDGE S., BACHTADSE V. & VAN DER VOO R. (1985) - Paleo-
magnetism and the orocline hypothesis. Tectonophysics, 119,
153-179.
FACCENNA C., DAVY P., BRUN J.P., FUNICIELLO R., GIARDINI D., MAT-
TEI M. & NALPAS T. (1996) - The dynamics of back-arc extension:
An experimental approach to the opening of the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Geophys. Journ. Int., 126, 781-795.
FINETTI I., LENTINI F., CARBONE S., CATALANO S. & DEL BEN A.
(1996) - Il Sistema Appennino Meridionale-Arco Calabro-Sicilia
nel Mediterraneo Centrale: studio geologico-geofisico. Mem. Soc.
Geol. It., 115, 529-559.
 VERTICAL-AXIS ROTATIONS IN THE SICILIAN FOLD AND THRUST BELT
FINETTI I.R., LENTINI F., CARBONE S., DEL BEN A., DI STEFANO A.,
FORLIN E., GUARNIERI P., PIPAN M. & PRIZZON A. (2005) -
Geological Outline of Sicily and Lithospheric Tectono-Dynamics
of its Tyrrhenian Margin from new CROP seismic data. CROP
PROJECT: Deep Seismic exploration of the Central Mediterra-
nean and Italy, Edited by I.R. Finetti, Elsevier.
FREUND R. (1970) - Rotation of strike-slip faults in Sistan, southeast
Iran. J. Geol., 78, 188-200.
GATTACCECA J., DEINO A., RIZZO R., JONES D.S., HENRY B., BEAU-
DOIN B. & VADEBOIN F. (2007) - Miocene rotation of Sardinia:
New paleomagnetic and geochronological constraints and geody-
namic implications. Earth Plan. Sc. Lett., 258, 359-377.
GARFUNKEL Z. & RON H. (1985) - Block rotation and deformation by
strike slip faults 2. The properties of a type of macroscopic discon-
tinuous deformation. Journ. Geophys. Res., 90, B10, 8589-8602.
GHISETTI F. & VEZZANI L. (1984) - Thin-skinned deformations of the
western Sicily thrust belt and relationships with crustal shortening:
mesostructural data on the Mt. Kumeta-Alcantara fault zone and
related structures. Boll. Soc. Geol. It., 103, 129-157.
GHISETTI F.C., GORMAN A.R., GRASSO M. & VEZZANI L. (2009) -
Imprint of foreland structure on the deformation of a thrust
sheet: The Plio-Pleistocene Gela Nappe (southern Sicily, Italy).
Tectonics, 28, Tc4015. doi: 10.1029/2008tc002385.
GIBBS A.D. (1984) - Structural evolution of extensional basin margins
Journ. Geol. Soc. London. 141, 609-620.
GIUNTA G., NIGRO F., RENDA P. & GIORGIANNI A. (2000) - The Sicilian-
Maghrebides Tyrrhenian margin: a neotectonic evolutionary model.
Boll. Soc. Geol. It., 119, 553-565.
GRASSO M., LENTINI F. & VEZZANI L. (1978) - Lineamenti stratigrafico
strutturali delle Madonie (Sicilia centro-settentrionale). Geol.
Romana, 17, 45-69.
GRASSO M., MANZONI M. & QUINTILI A. (1987) - Misure magnetiche
sui Trubi infrapliocenici della Sicilia orientale: possibili implica-
zioni stratigrafiche e strutturali. Mem. Soc. Geol. It., 38, 459-474.
GRASSO M. & BUTLER W.H. (1991) - Tectonic controls on the deposition
of late tortonian sediments in the Caltanissetta Basins of central
Sicily. Mem. Soc. Geol. It., 47, 313-324.
GUARNIERI P. (2004) - Structural evidence for deformation by block
rotation in the context of transpressive tectonics, northwestern
Sicily (Italy). Journ. Struct. Geol., 26, 207-219.
LENTINI F., CARBONE S., CATALANO S. & MONACO C. (1990) - Tettonica
a thrust neogenica nella Catena appenninico-maghrebide: esempi dal-
la Lucania e alla Sicilia. Studi Geologici Camerti, Vol. Spec., 19-26.
LENTINI F., CARBONE S. & GUARNIERI P. (2006) - Collisional and
postcollisional tectonics of the Apenninic-Maghrebian orogen
(southern Italy). In: Dilek Y. & Pavlides S. (eds.), “Post-collisional
Tectonics and Magmatism in the Eastern Mediterranean Region”.
Geol. Soc. Am. Special Paper, 409, 57-81.
LOWRIE W. & HIRT A.M. (1986) - Paleomagnetism in arcuate mountain
belts. In: The Origin of Arcs. Developments in Geotectonics, 21,
141-158, Elsevier, Amsterdam.
MARSHAK S. (1988) - Kinematics of orocline and arc formation in
thin-skinned orogens. Tectonics, 7, 73-86.
MATTEI M., CIFELLI F. & D’AGOSTINO N. (2007) - The evolution of the
Calabrian Arc: Evidence from paleomagnetic and GPS observations.
Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 263, 259-274. doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2007.
08.034.
MAZZOLI S. & HELMAN M. (1994) - Neogene patterns of relative motion
for Africa-Europe: some implications for recent central Mediterra-
nean tectonics. Geol. Rund., 83, 464-468.
MAZZOLI S., LANCI L. & DE DONATIS M. (2001) - Paleomagnetic rota-
tions in thrust belts: a case-study from the Marche-Romagna area
(Northern Apennines, Italy). Journ. Geodyn., 32, 373-393.
MONACO C. & DE GUIDI G. (2006) - Structural evidence for Neogene
rotations in the eastern Sicilian fold and thrust belt. Journ.
Struct. Geol., 28, 561-574.
Manuscript received 31 August 2012; accepted 11 December 2012; published online 23 July, 2013; editorial responsability and handling by C. Faccenna.
View publication stats
421
NIGRO F. & RENDA P. (2005) - Plio-Pleistocene strike-slip deformation
in NE Sicily: the example of the area between Capo Calavà and
Capo Tindari. Boll. Soc. Geol. It., 124, 377-394.
NUR A., RON H. & SCOTTI O. (1989) - Mechanics of distributed fault and
block rotation. Kissel C. & Lay C. (eds.), Paleomagnetic rotations
and continental deformation, 209-228, Kluwer Academic Press.
OLDOW J.S., CHANNELL J.E.T., CATALANO R. & D’ARGENIO B. (1990) -
Contemporaneous thrusting and large-scale rotations in the western
Sicilian fold and thrust belt. Tectonics, 9, 661-681.
PALANO M., FERRANTI L., MONACO C., MATTIA M., ALOISI M., BRUNO V.,
CANNAVÒ F. & SILIGATO G. (2012) - GPS veolocity and strain
fields in Sicily and southern Calabria, Italy: Update geodetic con-
straints on tectonic block interaction in the central Mediterranean.
Journal of Geophysical Research, 117, B07401. doi: 10.1029/
2012 JB009254, 2012.
PLATT J., ALLERTON S., KIRKER A. & PLATZMAN E. (1995) - Origin of
the western Subbetic arc (South Spain): palaeomagnetic and
structural evidence. Journ. Struct. Geol., 6, 765-775.
RAMSAY J.C. (1967) - Folding and fracturing of rocks. McGraw Hill,
New York, pp. 568.
RENDA P., TAVARNELLI E. & TRAMUTOLI M. (1999) - La distensione
tetidea ed il suo controllo sulle strutture compressive del sistema
appenninico-maghrebide: l’esempio dei monti delle Madonie (Sicilia
centro-settentrionale). Boll. Soc. Geol. It., 118, 179-190.
RENDA P., TAVARNELLI E., TRAMUTOLI M. & GUEGUEN E. (2000) -
Neogene deformations of Northern Sicily and their implications
for the geodynamics of the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea margin.
Mem. Soc. Geol. It., 55, 53-59.
RON H., FREUND R. & GARFUNKEL Z. (1984) - Block rotation by
strike-slip faulting: structural and paleomagnetic evidence. Journ.
Geophys. Res., 89, 6256-6270.
ROURE F., HOWELL D.G., MULLER C. & MORETTI I. (1990) - Late Ceno-
zoic subduction complex of Sicily. Journ. Struct. Geol., 12, 259-266.
SAGNOTTI L. (1992) - Palaeomagnetic evidence for a Pleistocene coun-
terclockwise rotation of the Sant’Arcangelo basin, southern Italy.
Geophys. Res. Lett., 19, 135-138.
SALVINI F. (2001) - Daisy, the structural Data Integrated Analyzer (free
software). Dipart. Sc. Geol., Univer. Studi Roma3.
SCHREURS G. (1994) - Experiments on strike-slip faulting and block
rotation. Geology, 22, 567-570.
SCHEEPERS P.J.J., LANGEREIS C.G. & HILGEN F. (1993) - Counter-
clockwise rotations in the southern Apennines during the Pleistocene:
palaeomagnetic evidence from the Matera area. Tectonophysics,
225, 379-410.
SPERANZA F., SAGNOTTI L. & MATTEI M. (1997) - Tectonics of the
Umbria-Marche-Romagna Arc (central northern Apennines, Italy):
New palaeomagnetic constraints. Journ. Geophys. Res., 102,
3153-3166.
S PERANZA F., M ANISCALCO R., M ATTEI M., D I S TEFANO A., B U -
TLER R.W.H. & FUNICIELLO R. (1999) - Timing and magnitude
of rotations in the frontal thrust systems of south-western Sicily.
Tectonics, 18, 1178-1197.
SPERANZA F., MANISCALCO R. & GRASSO M. (2003) - Pattern of orogenic
rotation in central-eastern Sicily: implications for the timing of
spreading in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Journ. Geol. Soc. London, 160,
183-195.
SCHMIDT DI FRIEDBERG P., BARBIERI F. & GIANNINI G. (1960) - La
geologia del gruppo montuoso delle Madonie (Sicilia centro-set-
tentrionale). Boll. Serv. Geol. It., 81 (1), 73-140.
ROURE F., HOWELL D.G., MULLER C. & MORETTI I. (1990) - Late
Cenozoic subduction complex of Sicily. Journ. Struct. Geol., 12,
259-266.
TAIT J.A., BACHTADSE V. & SOFFEL H. (1996) - Eastern Variscan fold
belt: paleomagnetic evidence for oroclinal bending. Geology, 24,
871-874.
TAPPONNIER P. (1977) - Evolution du système Alpin en Méditerranée:
poinconnement et écrasement rigide-plastique. Bull. Soc. Geol.
France, 7, 437-460.