Relay ramps in active normal fault zones: A clue to the identification of seismogenic sources (1688 Sannio earthquake, Italy)

Abstract

Research Article| March 01, 2006 Relay ramps in active normal fault zones: A clue to the identification of seismogenic sources (1688 Sannio earthquake, Italy) D. Di Bucci; D. Di Bucci 1Dipartimento della Protezione Civile, Servizio Sismico Nazionale, Via Vitorchiano n. 4, 00189 Rome, Italy Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar B. Massa; B. Massa 2Dipartimento di Studi Geologici ed Ambientali, Università del Sannio, Via Port'arsa n. 11, 82100 Benevento, Italy Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar A. Zuppetta A. Zuppetta 2Dipartimento di Studi Geologici ed Ambientali, Università del Sannio, Via Port'arsa n. 11, 82100 Benevento, Italy Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information D. Di Bucci 1Dipartimento della Protezione Civile, Servizio Sismico Nazionale, Via Vitorchiano n. 4, 00189 Rome, Italy B. Massa 2Dipartimento di Studi Geologici ed Ambientali, Università del Sannio, Via Port'arsa n. 11, 82100 Benevento, Italy A. Zuppetta 2Dipartimento di Studi Geologici ed Ambientali, Università del Sannio, Via Port'arsa n. 11, 82100 Benevento, Italy Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 02 Dec 2004 Revision Received: 22 Jun 2005 Accepted: 24 Jul 2005 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (2006) 118 (3-4): 430–448. https://doi.org/10.1130/B25783.1 Article history Received: 02 Dec 2004 Revision Received: 22 Jun 2005 Accepted: 24 Jul 2005 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation D. Di Bucci, B. Massa, A. Zuppetta; Relay ramps in active normal fault zones: A clue to the identification of seismogenic sources (1688 Sannio earthquake, Italy). GSA Bulletin 2006;; 118 (3-4): 430–448. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B25783.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Relay ramps commonly occur in areas of active extension. They have relevance in terms of fault segmentation, fault linkage, and related seismic potential. We propose consideration of field evidence of an active relay ramp in a seismic area as a clue to the definition of a seismogenic normal fault. We have chosen the Calore River valley as our study area. It is located within the core of the Apennine chain of the Italian Peninsula and is characterized by active extension and associated severe seismicity. In particular, a destructive earthquake struck the study area in 1688. We integrated data deriving from a geological field survey with original geomorphic and mesostructural analyses and new radiometric dating (40Ar/39Ar). Results indicate that brittle deformation detected in the northern part of Mt. Camposauro could represent the surface expression of the NE-dipping main fault of an active extensional system we refer to as the Calore River fault system. Its structural connection with the neighboring Boiano Basin extensional fault system is marked by an area of complex deformation, which links them and can be described as a stage 3 relay ramp. Given that the Boiano Basin fault system is a seismogenic source, the identification of a relay ramp implies a seismogenic role also for the Calore River fault system. In turn, these results allow us to suggest a new hypothesis for the seismogenic source of the 1688 Sannio earthquake. Finally, we discuss the implications on the seismic potential of two seismogenic structures linked by a relay ramp. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.