The tectonic and geodynamic evolution of the Pelagian platform and of the Pantelleria Rift System, located in the foreland of the Apennine-Sicilian-Maghrebian Belt, from the Late Oligocene onward, is still debated. Here we present a new interpretation based on structural data collected in the Malta and Gozo islands. With a tectonic back-stripping approach, we recognized two main extensional events separated by a period of tectonic quiescence: (D1) Early Miocene WNW-ESE extension and (D2) Late Miocene to Pliocene N-S extension that led to the opening of the Pantelleria Rift System. During both extensional events the Maltese Islands and the Pelagian Platform were located in the foreland of the Apennine-Sicilian-Maghrebian Belt (Western Mediterranean Arc), in a period of slab rollback. We suggest that both tectonic events are an evidence of the extensional regime imposed on the foreland area by the rollback of the subducting slab. The switch in the main extension axis between D1 and D2 (WNW-ESE vs. N-S) can be interpreted as a result of the varying orientation and distance of the trench due to the progressive development of the Western Mediterranean Arc and provides an independent tool to “monitor” the slab rollback. Results obtained in this study allowed, for the first time, to bind the tectonic evolution of the area with the geodynamic evolution of the Western and Central Mediterranean.

Martinelli, M., Bistacchi, A., Balsamo, F., Meda, M. (2019). Late Oligocene to Pliocene extension in the Maltese Islands and implications for geodynamics of the Pantelleria Rift and Pelagian Platform. TECTONICS, 38(9), 3394-3415 [10.1029/2019TC005627].

Late Oligocene to Pliocene extension in the Maltese Islands and implications for geodynamics of the Pantelleria Rift and Pelagian Platform

Martinelli, M
;
Bistacchi, A;
2019

Abstract

The tectonic and geodynamic evolution of the Pelagian platform and of the Pantelleria Rift System, located in the foreland of the Apennine-Sicilian-Maghrebian Belt, from the Late Oligocene onward, is still debated. Here we present a new interpretation based on structural data collected in the Malta and Gozo islands. With a tectonic back-stripping approach, we recognized two main extensional events separated by a period of tectonic quiescence: (D1) Early Miocene WNW-ESE extension and (D2) Late Miocene to Pliocene N-S extension that led to the opening of the Pantelleria Rift System. During both extensional events the Maltese Islands and the Pelagian Platform were located in the foreland of the Apennine-Sicilian-Maghrebian Belt (Western Mediterranean Arc), in a period of slab rollback. We suggest that both tectonic events are an evidence of the extensional regime imposed on the foreland area by the rollback of the subducting slab. The switch in the main extension axis between D1 and D2 (WNW-ESE vs. N-S) can be interpreted as a result of the varying orientation and distance of the trench due to the progressive development of the Western Mediterranean Arc and provides an independent tool to “monitor” the slab rollback. Results obtained in this study allowed, for the first time, to bind the tectonic evolution of the area with the geodynamic evolution of the Western and Central Mediterranean.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
geodynamic evolution; Maltese islands; Pantelleria rift system; Pelagian platform; slab rollback; tectonic evolution;
Maltese Islands, Pelagian Platform, Pantelleria rift system, Tectonic evolution, Geodynamic evolution, Slab roll-back
English
2019
38
9
3394
3415
reserved
Martinelli, M., Bistacchi, A., Balsamo, F., Meda, M. (2019). Late Oligocene to Pliocene extension in the Maltese Islands and implications for geodynamics of the Pantelleria Rift and Pelagian Platform. TECTONICS, 38(9), 3394-3415 [10.1029/2019TC005627].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/246966
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