Integrating near-surface geophysical methods and remote sensing techniques for reconstructing fault-bounded valleys (Mellieha valley, Malta)

• DOI: 10.1016/j.tecto.2024.230263
• Publication Date: 2024-03-02T16:11:31Z
• Authors: Luciano Galone; Fabio Villani; Emanuele Colica; Davide Pistillo; Paola Baccheschi; Francesco Panzera; Jesús Galindo-Zal...; Sebastiano D'Amico
• Keywords: Geophysics -- Malta; Faults (Geology) -- Malta; Malta; Geology, Structural -- Malta; Remote sensing; Grabens (Geology) -- Malta; Extensional tectonics; Remote sensing -- Malta; Near-surface geophysics; Red beds; Extensional tectonics; Horst and graben; Malta; Near-surface geophysics; Normal fault; Red beds; Remote sensing; Red beds -- Malta; Normal fault; Horst and graben

The island of Malta (central Mediterranean) is dissected by several WSW-trending fault-line valleys related to Miocene-Pliocene extensional tectonics. Some valleys host remnants of alluvial deposits that could provide information on possible Quaternary faulting, but the thickness of these deposits and their subsurface extent is poorly constrained. Our study aimed to investigate the structural configuration of the southern sector of the Mellieha valley, which is located in the north-west part of the island and is limited by the ENE-WSW general trending Mellieha and Ghadira faults, and their relation with a thin layer of infill sediments. We employed different near-surface geophysical techniques (electrical resistivity tomography, active and passive seismic methods, ground-penetrating radar), as well as remote sensing techniques (unmanned aerial vehicle digital photogrammetry and ground-based Light Detection and Ranging) to complement classic structural surveys. The valley structure has an asymmetric graben configuration, being bounded by a normal fault to the southeast (Mellieha Fault) and other to the north-west (Ghadira Fault). Our study provides insights of possible Quaternary fault displacements and revealed the presence of an additional fault splay, the previously unmapped NNW-dipping Mellieha Fault 2 at the south-eastern edge of the valley. Additionally, by integrating results from geophysical surveys, we estimated the thickness of the valley's recent deposits, being thicker towards the Mellieha Bay sector, with maximum values of 8–10 m. Our study aligns with the general model of horst and graben structuring with associated regional tilting since the late Miocene, and supports the hypothesis that some segments of NW-trending normal faults within the North Malta Graben exhibit Quaternary activity, although with minimal throw rates (<< 0.1 mm/yr).<br/>Part of the field activities were conducted within the framework of the INGV Project “Ricerca Libera” BR2019.23 (“Unveiling silent faults in low strain-rate regions through the integration of high-resolution geophysical and seismological analyses,” Principal Investigator: Fabio Villani), the project “Multi-disciplinary monitoring system for resilient management of coastal areas (REMACO),” financed by the INTERREG V A–Italy-Malta Capitalization Programme (local P.I., S. D’Amico), and the IPAS+ (Internationalisation Partnership Awards Scheme) , supported by the Malta Council for Science and Technology ( https://mcst.gov.mt/ ).<br/>