Transtensive faulting in carbonates at different crustal levels: examples from SW Helvetics and Central Apennines

G. Luca Cardello (a,b) & Telemaco Tesei (c)
(a) Department of Earth Sciences , University of Orléans– ISTO, Rue de la Férrolerie, 45071, Orléans, France. E-mail: luca.cardello@univ-orleans.fr (b) Geological Institute, Eth Zuerich. (c) Department of Earth Sciences, University of Perugia, Italy.

Fault rocks at different crustal depths generate different fault structures and tectonites mostly depending on lithology, fluid flow and temperature. In this note we address the fault zone development and deformation mechanisms that occur in carbonate lithologies at different crustal levels. We compare faults exhumed near the brittle-ductile transition in the Helvetic Nappes in theAlps and similar faults from the upper crust in the Gran Sasso area in the Central Appenines. We observe the different role of deformation processes at different depth and lithology and assess the tendency for localization at the Brittle Ductile Transition.

Alps, Apennines, BDT, carbonatic successions, cataclasites, mylonites