Geometry, segmentation pattern and displacement variations along a major Apennine thrust zone, central Italy

Abstract Hundreds of kilometres-long, arc-shaped, continuous thrust faults commonly imply very large displacements by detachment-dominated thrusting. Therefore, their occurrence has a large impact on fold–thrust belt structure. One of the major thrust faults of the central-northern Apennines, the Umbria–Marche–Sabina Thrust Zone, is traditionally believed to represent one such feature, characterised by displacements of several tens of kilometres. However, detailed studies of this structure revealed that it is actually composed of a series of partially overlapping fault segments, rather than consisting of a single, continuous thrust. Cross-section balancing and restoration, carried out by the integration of surface geological data with available sub-surface information, points out relatively limited amounts of thrust displacement (

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