Late Tortonian–Quaternary tectonic evolution of central Sicily: the major role of the strike-slip deformation

We here propose a new kinematic picture of central Sicily based on the results of detailed field mapping of three relevant vast areas of the region, combined with the interpretation of the available Literature subsurface data. Our study focused on the tectonic boundary of a structural depression, the Caltanissetta Basin, which is now infilled with a thick allochthonous tectonic wedge, with its unconformable thrust-top basin deposits. Our data refer to the tectono-sedimentary evolution of this thrust wedge from the Late Tortonian to the Quaternary. The study points out the occurrence of regional E-W oriented dextral shear zones, cutting the NE-oriented trends of the thrust belt. These new evidence would confirm the major role of the E-W trend in the tectonic inversion of the external portions of the Africa paleomargin in Sicily. Our results could contribute to a better understanding of the location in Sicily of the tectonic lineaments accommodating the hundrends of kilometers of lateral displacement, caused by the Late Miocene-Quaternary Tyrrhenian Basin opening to the north of the island.