The Canavese Zone corresponds to a narrow tectonic unit, consisting of a Paleozoic metamorphic basement followed by Permian volcanic and volcanoclastic rocks, and a upper Permian(?) to Lower Cretaceous stratigraphic succession pertaining to the distal passive margin of Adria. It is tectonically interposed between the Southern Alpine units, to SE, and the Austroalpine Sesia Zone, to NW, along the NE-striking Internal (ICL) and External (ECL) Canavese Lines, respectively. The Canavese Zone is inferred representing the remnant of the Jurassic syn-rift stretching, thinning and dismemberment of the distal passive margin of Adria, occurring along a low-angle crustal-scale detachment fault (e.g., Ferrando et al., 2004). However, although this sector is of high interest for better understanding the evolution of the distal passive margin of Adria and subsequent evolution of the Inner Western Alps, detailed geological maps are limited only to large-scale maps (e.g., Mattirolo et al., 1912) and sketches (e.g., Novarese, 1912; Baggio, 1965; Ahrendt, 1972; Ferrando et al., 2004 cum biblio). We present here preliminary data of the geological map of the Canavese Zone, at 1:5,000 scale, that aims to cover the lack of a detailed geological – structural mapping of this sector. Our findings document the occurrence of an heterogeneous upper Permian – Lower Cretaceous stratigraphic succession, which shows significant lateral and vertical facies variations controlled by syn- to post-extensional multistage faults, NE- and WNW-striking. Later Alpine- and Insubric-related deformation reactivated those Jurassic faults forming the present-day complex tectonic jigsaw. Our results show that geological mapping is crucial for a better understanding of the primary physiography of the distal margin of Adria and its role in the subsequent Alpine tectonics.
Multistage tectono-stratigraphic evolution of the Canavese Zone (Western Alps): constraints from geological mapping
Succo, Andrea;BALESTRO, GIANNI;FESTA, Andrea
2015-01-01
Abstract
The Canavese Zone corresponds to a narrow tectonic unit, consisting of a Paleozoic metamorphic basement followed by Permian volcanic and volcanoclastic rocks, and a upper Permian(?) to Lower Cretaceous stratigraphic succession pertaining to the distal passive margin of Adria. It is tectonically interposed between the Southern Alpine units, to SE, and the Austroalpine Sesia Zone, to NW, along the NE-striking Internal (ICL) and External (ECL) Canavese Lines, respectively. The Canavese Zone is inferred representing the remnant of the Jurassic syn-rift stretching, thinning and dismemberment of the distal passive margin of Adria, occurring along a low-angle crustal-scale detachment fault (e.g., Ferrando et al., 2004). However, although this sector is of high interest for better understanding the evolution of the distal passive margin of Adria and subsequent evolution of the Inner Western Alps, detailed geological maps are limited only to large-scale maps (e.g., Mattirolo et al., 1912) and sketches (e.g., Novarese, 1912; Baggio, 1965; Ahrendt, 1972; Ferrando et al., 2004 cum biblio). We present here preliminary data of the geological map of the Canavese Zone, at 1:5,000 scale, that aims to cover the lack of a detailed geological – structural mapping of this sector. Our findings document the occurrence of an heterogeneous upper Permian – Lower Cretaceous stratigraphic succession, which shows significant lateral and vertical facies variations controlled by syn- to post-extensional multistage faults, NE- and WNW-striking. Later Alpine- and Insubric-related deformation reactivated those Jurassic faults forming the present-day complex tectonic jigsaw. Our results show that geological mapping is crucial for a better understanding of the primary physiography of the distal margin of Adria and its role in the subsequent Alpine tectonics.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.