The specchio unit (northern apennines, Italy): An ancient mass transport complex originated from near-coastal areas in an intra-slope setting

Within the Eocene-Oligocene syn-orogenic deposits of the Epiligurian succession (Northern Apennines of Italy), a field-based study of the Specchio Unit (lower Rupelian) reveals that this complex is made up of three distinct but amalgamated mass-transport deposits (MTDs), the largest of which reaches a maximum volume of cu. 150 km(3). These bodies were deposited inside the complex system of intraslope basin systems, developed atop the submerged Ligurian accretionary prism at the collision with the Adria continental plate. The MTDs originated from catastrophic retrogressive collapses starting from the upper slope and involving progressively shallow-water environments, from distal shelfal pro-delta and delta-front sediments up to proximal coastal fan-delta deposits. These recurrent and close in time, catastrophic slope failures were probably caused by tectonic and climatic triggers, such as the enhanced tectonic activity due to incipient Apenninic continental collision and the onset of harsh climatic conditions, as suggested by oxygen isotopic maxima (e.g., Oi-la event). Although the wedge toe/foredeep systems are generally considered the principal loci of such, usually located in deep-water settings, here we stress the importance of catastrophic mass transport events also atop the wedge, in shallow-water depositional domains. Mass transport processes also have a fundamental role in reshaping the upper physiographic profile of an evolving accretionary wedge. The correct interpretation of such mass transport processes has also important implications for geohazard forecasting in modern active continental margins, for example in terms of tsunamigenic potential.