Wide-angle seismic data from the East Sicily margin: Imaging the deep structure of a Tethyan transform margin and the modern Calabria subduction lateral slab tear.
Abstract
It is generally accepted that a STEP fault (Subduction Tear Edge Propagator) has accommodated the roll back of the Ionian Slab along the eastern Sicily Margin since 6 to 7 Ma. However the location of this lithospheric scale tear fault, and its surface expression is controversial. Constrain by numerous bathymetric imaging and shallow sub-surface multi-channels seismic (MCS) studies, variety of fault geometry was proposed. Moreover the role of the Malta Escarpment in this geodynamic system also remain the object of debates. It may be linked to the opening of the Ionian basin during a phase of strike-slip rifting since more than 180 Ma. Here we present the results of modelling of two wide-angle seismic profiles from the DIONYSUS survey (R/V Meteor, Oct. 2014). The first profile (DY-P3) was recorded by 25 Ocean- Bottom-Seismometers (OBS) and 3 land stations, and the second profile (DY-P1) by 52 OBS. Forward modelling of both profiles reveals a zone of abrupt crustal thinning from about 30 km below the Hyblean plateau and East-Sicily continental domain, to values of 8-15 km over a short lateral distance of 20-30 km. In the northern profile (DY-P3) the crust east of this abrupt thinning is of transitional thickness (15 km) and characterized by seismic velocities and velocity gradients similar to thinned continental crust. In the southern profile (DY-P1) this crust is 6-8 km thick, and the velocity gradients are close to those of oceanic crust. On this profile about 50-60 km eastward from the base of the Malta Escarpment, a lateral change of crustal velocities was modelled. Here a recent shallow transtensional deformation has been observed in MCS data at the position of this structure and linked to an elongated basin visible in the bathymetry and was linked to the STEP fault location. The results of the wide-angle seismic modelling suggest an ancient origin for the Malta Escarpment, formed as a transform margin during opening of the Ionian Basin about 180 Ma ago. The geometry of the modern day STEP fault is largely obscured in the northern profile because of the superposition of the structures with the ancient Tethyan transform Margin. In the southern wide-angle seismic profile these two structures are distinct and this allow us to conclude that the Malta Escarpment offshore SE Sicily has not been re-activated by the recent STEP-fault activity.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2016
- Bibcode:
- 2016AGUFM.T54A..01D
- Keywords:
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- 8104 Continental margins: convergent;
- TECTONOPHYSICSDE: 8120 Dynamics of lithosphere and mantle: general;
- TECTONOPHYSICSDE: 8150 Plate boundary: general;
- TECTONOPHYSICSDE: 8175 Tectonics and landscape evolution;
- TECTONOPHYSICS