Pliocene—Quaternary sedimentation in the Northern Apennine Foredeep and related denudation

• DOI: 10.1017/s0016756800009006
• Publication Date: 2009-05-01T05:28:32Z
• Authors: Carlo Bartolini; Riccardo Caputo; Marco Pieri
• Keywords: Denudation

Abstract The deposits of the Pliocene—Quaternary foredeep Northern Apennine cover at present an area 103000 km 2 . original boundaries basin are not known, since marginal have been eroded, in particular those inner, southwestern border. During Pliocene times was reduced by thrust tectonics and amount shortening may be tentatively estimated. volume Quaternary sediments inferred with good approximation from maps base (base Hyalinea balthica Zone) successions. has corrected adding estimate underthrust sediments, while no correction attempted for eroded deposits. estimates 97000 95000km 3. reflecting deposits, therefore significantly less than volumes originally deposited. Present transformed ‘net’ (0% porosity) volumes, order to obtain relative net supply rates: 0.021 (Pliocene) 0.047 (Quaternary) 3 /a. Other unmeasurable factors (volume variations due weathering silicates, loss leached carbonates) induce a probably unimportant underestimate rates. Available data allow approximate range Holocene deposited during last 6000 BP (221–276km ) rate (0.037–0.046km /a), that is different one. Applying porosity correction, these rates related source (128000km denudation 0.41–0.46mm/a 0.36–0.51 mm/a (Holocene). rates, deduced direct measurements bed load suspended apenninic alpine rivers, do differ ones. reliable area, consequently rate. However, minimum 160000–177 000 times. Assuming, as working hypothesis, did one, average thickness 1240–1390 m could beginning Pliocene. This agreement values obtained coalification vegetal organic matter outcrops, suggests post-orogenic successions ‘higher’ sheets completely removed vast areas.