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Relocation of earthquake clusters show seismogenic transverse structures in the Inner Northern Apennines (Italy)

Relocation of earthquake clusters show seismogenic transverse structures in the Inner Northern Apennines (Italy)
Relocation of earthquake clusters show seismogenic transverse structures in the Inner Northern Apennines (Italy)

The Inner Northern Apennines (Italy) are a region with a dominant N-S to NNW-SSE fault system, but dissected and offset by several E-W to NE-SW trending structures and lineaments. The knowledge about the nature of these transverse structures, their origin, activity and role in current tectonic motions is limited and debated. To better establish the location, subsurface shape, and kinematics of faults related to the Livorno-Empoli lineament, one of the major transverse structures in the Northern Apennines, we analysed the seismicity in western Tuscany. In the Viareggio Basin we identified and relocated two distinct earthquake clusters as well as calculated 12 new focal mechanisms. The results show that the clusters consisted of several swarms from the years 2006, 2015, 2016 and 2021. The events had a depth between 2 and 15 km and were located along a NE-SW oriented, SE dipping fault system dissecting the Viareggio Basin. Focal mechanisms show oblique normal slip. We interpret the fault system to form a connection between the Viareggio Basin and the Lucca Basin to the east as well as continuing offshore. The results show that the transversal faults of the Inner Northern Apennines are seismogenic, with the length, position and onshore to offshore nature of the fault suggesting reactivation of pre-existing structures.

Apennines, Italy, earthquakes, seismicity and tectonics, transversal structures
Kaerger, Lauretta
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Ventisette, Chiara Del
c1750a3a-3027-47fd-a45c-5f8544eed19a
Vannucchi, Paolo
0109684a-707c-4048-b033-f4df07af0379
Molli, Giancarlo
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Pagli, Carolina
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Keir, Derek
5616f81f-bf1b-4678-a167-3160b5647c65
Kaerger, Lauretta
0f1fdf97-a957-48ad-b743-5c8a784fff04
Ventisette, Chiara Del
c1750a3a-3027-47fd-a45c-5f8544eed19a
Vannucchi, Paolo
0109684a-707c-4048-b033-f4df07af0379
Molli, Giancarlo
dbdefd74-d079-45a9-8766-d25047d5bd36
Pagli, Carolina
290edb22-712b-4563-a868-af4c21fdb6b0
Keir, Derek
5616f81f-bf1b-4678-a167-3160b5647c65

Kaerger, Lauretta, Ventisette, Chiara Del, Vannucchi, Paolo, Molli, Giancarlo, Pagli, Carolina and Keir, Derek (2024) Relocation of earthquake clusters show seismogenic transverse structures in the Inner Northern Apennines (Italy). Frontiers in Earth Science, 12, [1474036]. (doi:10.3389/feart.2024.1474036).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The Inner Northern Apennines (Italy) are a region with a dominant N-S to NNW-SSE fault system, but dissected and offset by several E-W to NE-SW trending structures and lineaments. The knowledge about the nature of these transverse structures, their origin, activity and role in current tectonic motions is limited and debated. To better establish the location, subsurface shape, and kinematics of faults related to the Livorno-Empoli lineament, one of the major transverse structures in the Northern Apennines, we analysed the seismicity in western Tuscany. In the Viareggio Basin we identified and relocated two distinct earthquake clusters as well as calculated 12 new focal mechanisms. The results show that the clusters consisted of several swarms from the years 2006, 2015, 2016 and 2021. The events had a depth between 2 and 15 km and were located along a NE-SW oriented, SE dipping fault system dissecting the Viareggio Basin. Focal mechanisms show oblique normal slip. We interpret the fault system to form a connection between the Viareggio Basin and the Lucca Basin to the east as well as continuing offshore. The results show that the transversal faults of the Inner Northern Apennines are seismogenic, with the length, position and onshore to offshore nature of the fault suggesting reactivation of pre-existing structures.

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Accepted/In Press date: 24 September 2024
Published date: 14 October 2024
Keywords: Apennines, Italy, earthquakes, seismicity and tectonics, transversal structures

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 495376
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/495376
PURE UUID: f1eff6c6-9357-49cd-a47f-342ac01ed2b8
ORCID for Derek Keir: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-8787-8446

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Date deposited: 12 Nov 2024 17:34
Last modified: 13 Nov 2024 02:44

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Contributors

Author: Lauretta Kaerger
Author: Chiara Del Ventisette
Author: Paolo Vannucchi
Author: Giancarlo Molli
Author: Carolina Pagli
Author: Derek Keir ORCID iD

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