A plate kinematics approach to the tectonic analysis of the Tyrrhenian-Apennines System

Eugenio Turco (a), Antonio Schettino (a), Chiara Macchiavelli (a) & Pietro Paolo Pierantoni (a)
(a) School of Science & Technology, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy. E-mail: eugenio.turco@unicam.it

We present a new approach to the structural and tectonic analysis of the Tyrrhenian – Apennine system since the early Burdigalian, based on a non-rigid plate kinematics approach. This approach allows to determine finite rotations for the tectonic blocks involved in the evolution of the Apennine chain, though in a framework that allows finite strain of the tectonic elements during their rotation. The method has allowed to give a quantitative rigorous explanation of the transverse structures of the mountain belt.

Tyrrhenian, Apennines, Non-rigid plate kinematics