Page 3 - 36 Elevation of the last interglacial highstand in Sicily
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ARTICLE IN PRESS 5
F. Antonioli et al. / Quaternary International 145– 146 (2006) 3–18
(Sectors 3 and 4). Also, the eastern Sicily coastline can oriented normal fault systems producing differentially
be further divided into the following segments, from N uplifted blocks, thus yielding alternating structural highs
to S, and there are differences in tectonic behaviour: NE and basins (D’Angelo et al., 1997). In the Capo San Vito
Sicily, part of the Appennine–Maghrebian Chain; promontory (Figs. 1, 2, and 4), this structural pattern is
Mount Etna volcanic region; Catania Plain foredeep reflected by the occurrence of subsided sectors, presently
area. The geological background to the range of coastal occupied by coastal plains (Castelluzzo and Cornino
features are summarized below. Plains; Abate et al., 1991) and structural highs. More-
over, the recent tectonics create favourable conditions
2.1. Sector 1—NW area for the onset of both deep-seated and surficial gravita-
tional slope deformation, particularly along the eastern
The NW sector of Sicily (including the Egadi flank of the peninsula (Agnesi et al., 1995). The Capo
Archipelago, sector 1 of Fig. 1) represents the emerged San Vito promontory and the Egadi islands are
western edge of the Sicilian–Maghrebian Chain, which characterized by Mesozoic and Tertiary units composed
originated from the deformation of the Meso-Cenozoic of carbonates, evaporites and siliciclastic deposits,
Northern African continental margin. The geological overlain unconformably by late orogenic clastic deposits
setting of the area (Fig. 2) is characterized by overthrust (Abate et al., 1991, 1997). Several sub-horizontal
tectonic units referable to the Panormid carbonate erosion surfaces, interpreted as raised marine terraces,
platform and its margins, or units belonging to other are present at different heights up to 85 m along wide
palaeogeographic domains (such as the Trapanese basin; coastal tracts of western Sicily. Their formation has
Giunta and Liguori, 1972; Catalano and D’Argenio, been considered to be of Middle–Upper Pleistocene age
1982; Abate et al., 1991, 1993). Stacking of SE-verging since they cut not only carbonate rocks and marlstones
thrust sheets in the Middle–Upper Miocene and in the of Mesozoic age but also terrigenous, evaporitic and
Middle Pliocene tectonic phases led to brittle rocks calcarenitic formations of Late Miocene to Lower
being emplaced over more ductile rocks. Pleistocene age (D’Angelo and Vernuccio, 1996). Cefalu`
is included in this sector and comprises a coastal cliff
Quaternary disjunctive and strike-slip tectonics, oc- with preserved beach deposits at +9/12 m, dated here to
curred mainly along NW–SE, NE–SW, N–S and E–W
Fig. 2. Map summarising regional geology, the broad tectonic setting of Sicily and sites quoted in this paper. A: Augusta; C: Catania; S: Siracusa; F:
Favignana; L:Levanzo.
