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ABSTRACT
RIASSUNTO
856
M.R. BARCHI
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,
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reference therein), and on unpublished field work.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
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.
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
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.).
COMPARING SEISMICITY,
LITHOLOGY AND STRUCTURES
861
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
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).
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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.