New Kinematic Model Unveils Ancient Rifted Margins of the Alpine Tethys

An international research team led by CNR-IGG Torino has developed a new kinematic model that sheds light on the intricate history of Mesozoic rifting at the Tethys–Atlantic junction. This innovative study provides unprecedented insights into the evolution of ancient rifted margins and introduces a reproducible workflow to reconstruct these complex geological features.

The study integrates data from modern Atlantic rifted margins (see Frasca et al., 2021) with advanced hypotheses and high-resolution tectonic markers and seismic imaging to reconstruct the formation of the Alpine Tethys, which occurred between Africa and Europe during the Mesozoic (230-83 million years ago). Drawing on multidisciplinary data from regions like the Alps, Ionian Sea, Pyrenees, and southern North Atlantic, it addresses a long-standing challenge in plate tectonics: reconstructing fossil rifted margins often obscured or altered by subsequent geological processes like subduction. This comprehensive approach not only advances our understanding of Italy's tectonic history but also establishes a robust framework for exploring similar fossilized systems worldwide.

Bibliographic references

Frasca, G., Manatschal, G. & Chenin, P. (2024). Kinematic reconstruction of the Alpine Tethys and surrounding Mesozoic rifted margins. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch), 113, 1053–1065. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-024-02407-9. 

Frasca, G., Manatschal, G., Cadenas, P., Miró, J., & Lescoutre, R. (2021). A kinematic reconstruction of Iberia using intracontinental strike-slip corridors. Terra Nova, 33, 573–581. https://doi.org/10.1111/ter.12549. 

 For information: Gianluca Frasca, CNR-IGG (gianluca.frasca@igg.cnr.it).