Tectonic Evolution and Current Deformation of the NW Sicily Channel and the Lampedusa Plateau Based on Multi-Resolution Seismic Profiles Analysis
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PhD School in Earth, Environment and Resources Sciences - XXX Cycle - PhD Thesis Tectonic evolution and current deformation of the NW Sicily Channel and the Lampedusa Plateau based on multi-resolution seismic profiles analysis Melania Meccariello Advisor Prof. L. Ferranti PhD Coordinator Prof. M. Fedi Co-advisor Prof. F. Pepe 2017 INDEX ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................... 5 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................... 12 1. BACKGROUND GEOLOGICAL SETTING ..................................... 18 1.1 The Sicily Channel in the regional geological contest ................... 18 1.2 Structural setting and active deformation of SW Sicily ............... 21 1.3 Regional distribution of lithostratigraphic units ........................... 29 1.4 Structural frame of the Sicily Channel ........................................... 31 1.5 Seismo-tectonic frame of the Sicily Channel .................................. 40 1.6 Volcanism in the Sicily Channel ...................................................... 41 2. FUNDAMENTALS OF SEISMIC REFLECTION ACQUISITION AND INTERPRETATION ............................................................................ 43 2.1 The seismic reflection analysis ........................................................ 43 2.2 Techniques of acquisition of the analysed seismic reflection profiles ......................................................................................................... 45 2.3 Seismo-stratigraphic analysis .......................................................... 48 2.4 Eustatism and tectonics controlling continental margin evolution… .................................................................................................. 51 3. MULTI-CHANNEL SEISMIC REFLECTION PROFILES AND WELL-LOG ANALYSIS .............................................................................. 55 3.1 Materials ............................................................................................ 55 3.2 Well-log data analysis ....................................................................... 57 3.2.1 Well-log database ........................................................................... 57 3.2.2 Lithostratigraphic units recognized in wells and comparison with on-land equivalents .................................................................................. 60 3.2.3 Well-log stratigraphic correlations ................................................. 68 3.3 Multi-channel seismic reflection profiles analysis ......................... 74 3.3.1 Methods .......................................................................................... 74 3.3.2 Seismic velocities ........................................................................... 75 3.3.3 Seismo-stratigraphic interpretation ................................................. 81 3.3.4 Main structural lineaments ............................................................. 85 2 3.3.4.1 Egadi Thrust System……………………………………………….86 3.3.4.2 Adventure Thrust System………………………………………….93 3.3.4.3 Transcurrent Belt.………………………………………………….96 3.3.4.4 Gela Nappe.……………………………………………………….102 3.3.4.5 Extensional faults of the Pantelleria rift………………………104 3.3.5 Structural analysis ........................................................................ .107 3.3.5.1 Selinunte Fault Belt.……………………………………………...107 3.3.5.2 Sciacca Fault Belt.………………………………………….........111 3.3.5.3 Isopach maps.……………………………………………………..114 4. HIGH RESOLUTION, SINGLE CHANNEL SEISMIC REFLECTION PROFILES ........................................................................ 122 4.1 Data acquisition .............................................................................. 122 4.2 Data processing ............................................................................... 125 4.3 Seismo-stratigraphic analysis ........................................................ 128 4.3.1 Unit MD ........................................................................................ 129 4.3.2 Unit A ........................................................................................... 130 4.3.3 ES1 ................................................................................................ 133 4.3.4 Unit B ............................................................................................ 134 4.3.5 ES2 ................................................................................................ 135 4.3.6 Unit C ............................................................................................ 136 4.3.7 Unit D ........................................................................................... 136 4.4 Calibration of seismic profiles using well logs and on-land outcrops ..................................................................................................... 137 4.4.1 Well-log analysis .......................................................................... 138 4.4.2 Correlation with on-land outcrops ................................................ 143 4.5 Stratigraphic interpretation .......................................................... 145 4.6 Adopted seismic velocities .............................................................. 145 4.7 Structural analysis .......................................................................... 147 4.7.1 Evidence of syn-tectonic sedimentation in the SCS profiles ........ 147 4.7.2 Tectonic control on the depositional pattern of unit C ................. 155 4.7.3 Mound and fluid distribution ........................................................ 162 4.7.4 Structural framework .................................................................... 168 3 4.7.5 Analysis of fold geometries .......................................................... 172 4.7.6 Isopach maps of unit A and B ...................................................... 180 5. THE LAMPEDUSA PLATEAU ......................................................... 186 5.1 Seismo-stratigraphic analysis ........................................................ 186 5.2 Structural analysis .......................................................................... 192 5.3 Timing of deformation ................................................................... 196 5.4 Insights from outcrop and space geodetic data ........................... 200 5.4.1 Structural observations on Lampedusa Island .............................. 200 5.4.2 GNSS data analysis....................................................................... 205 5.5 Tectonic evolution of the northern Lampedusa Plateau ............. 208 6. DISCUSSIONS ..................................................................................... 215 6.1 Structural setting of the NW Sicily Channel: update of existing models ........................................................................................................ 215 6.1.1 Timing of deformation .................................................................. 215 6.1.2 Structural style and the role of inherited structures ...................... 219 6.1.3 Extension and positive reactivation in the Sicily Channel Rift .... 225 6.2 High-resolution Pleistocene tectono-stratigraphic evolution of the Capo Granitola and Sciacca offshore ..................................................... 225 6.2.1 Unveiling the structural-stratigraphic framework ........................ 225 6.2.2. Comparison between coastal and offshore Quaternary ............... 228 6.3 Integration of MCS and SCS reflection profiles .......................... 230 6.3.1 Structural pattern .......................................................................... 230 6.3.2 Fold-grow rate .............................................................................. 234 6.4 Geodynamic and seismo-tectonic implications ............................ 237 7. CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................. 243 REFERENCES ............................................................................................. 246 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................... 261 4 ABSTRACT This thesis deals with the tectonic evolution and the active deformation of the NW part of the Sicily Channel and of the offshore area around the Lampione-Lampedusa islands in the central part of the Channel. While the study sector in the northwest spans across both the offshore prolongation of the Sicilian foreland fold and thrust belt and the Saccense sector of its foreland, the sector in the central part is located in the Pelagian sector of the foreland. As such, they are representative of the two main tectonic processes, namely contraction and extension, that acted together in the Channel during the Pliocene-Quaternary. In a paleogeographic reconstruction, both study areas belong to the Pelagian Block that represents part of the northern continental margin of Africa. During the Miocene-Pleistocene, Mesozoic-Miocene carbonate platform, seamount and slope rocks found in the NW part of the Channel were deformed and incorporated within the chain as a result of Africa-Europe convergence, whose front migrated from NW towards the SE (ARGNANI et al., 1986; 1990; CATALANO, 1986; CATALANO et al., 1996; ANTONELLI et al., 1988; ROURE et al., 2012; CIVILE et al., 2014). In light of new advancements in knowledge on the current geodynamics of the central Mediterranean and Pelagian