The Sicily mainland thrust belt. Evolution during the Neogene

The Neogene tectonic evolution of Sicily mainland is here illustrated using available data and performing new deep geologic sections. A South to Southeast vergent arched belt developed on Sicily mainland, involving the sedimentary cover of the old African continental margin. Facies and structural affinities along tectonic strike of the chain are pointed out, as well as synchronism in the kinematics and timing of deformation. Some variations in the architecture of the pile is induced by the local distribution of a number of thrust systems, having different size, geometry and palcogeographie origin. The role of the Upper Palcozoic complex, as important buried element of the belt, is emphasized; its development appears related to the accretion at depth of a multiduplex stack. A complex deformative history is outlined by several accretionary events, starting in the middle Oligocene-early Miocene with East-vergent transport direction, followed after the Miocene by rotation of thrusts. Transpression movements in the hinterland were simultaneous with thrust activity in the most external zones, during the latest Miocene to Pleistocene. Through the various stage of deformation, the wedging of the chain was accompanied by the development of foredeep and piggyback basins affected by strong subsidence and active synsedimentary tectonics.