Combined use of thermal indicators to study the tectono-sedimentary evolution of Southern Apennines (Italy)

The reconstruction of the thermal history of folded and thrust units is crucial to define the pattern of tectonic loading and the time-space evolution of an orogen where tectonic exhumation processes occurred at shallow crustal levels. In the present study, a well-constrained reconstruction of the thermal maturity in the axial zone of the southern Apennines has been achieved by the combined use of different thermal indicators in diagenesis. The major results are: (i) documentation of a jump in thermal maturity from the Apenninic Platform derived tectonic unit (from immature to early mature stages of hydrocarbon maturation) to the Lagonegro Basin derived tectonic units (late diagenetic zone); (ii) documentation of along-strike slighter variations in the Lagonegro units, concerning thermal maturity (thus maximum burial temperatures). This can be related to changes in amounts of tectonic burial and erosion/exhumation because of the lack of cylindricity of contractional structures; (iii) recognition of an independent thermal evolution of the allochthonous chain compared with the Apulian Platform tectonic unit with Mt Alpi area (in the late mature stage of hydrocarbon generation) interpreted as a sector of localized, intense exhumation within the External Zone of the orogen