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Interplay of thrust, back-thrust, strike-slip and salt tectonics in a fold and thrust belt system: an example from Zakynthos Island, Greece

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Abstract

The southwestern flank of the Hellenic fold and thrust belt, situated along the southern edge of the Dinarides–Albanides–Hellenides continental convergent zone, was examined for reconstructing the tectonic deformation. This investigation presents an integrated study of onshore sedimentological and structural analyses, as well as offshore seismic lines, across the Pliocene–Pleistocene sedimentary succession in Zakynthos Island. Back-thrust faults, using the Triassic evaporites as decollement surface, during the Pliocene, and coeval diapiric intrusions formed three sub-basins on the hangingwall of the Kalamaki back-thrust fault. This interaction is responsible for the growth of the Skopos Mountain and the soft sediment deformation that formed synclines and slumps, respectively. Back-thrust and strike-slip faults were active during the early Pleistocene, and diapiric intrusions modified the bathymetry on the sea floor, giving rise to slumps and recumbent folds. At least five events of synsedimentary diapiric intrusions have been recognized and are marked by five slump horizons. During the Holocene, the diapiric intrusions between the Kalamaki back-thrust and the Vrachionas anticline could be either related to normal faults or gravitationally driven.

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Acknowledgments

This research was carried out at the: (1) Laboratory of Sedimentology, Department of Geology, University of Patras, Greece, (2) Laboratory of Marine Geology and Physical Oceanography, University of Patras, Greece, and (3) School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. We would like to thank Editor Prof. Xypolias and the two reviewers’ Prof. Caputo and Prof. Pascucci for their constructive comments which improved the paper.

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  1. Laboratory of Sedimentology, Department of Geology, University of Patras, Patras, Greece

    A. Zelilidis & P. Tserolas

  2. Laboratory of Marine Geology and Physical Oceanography, University of Patras, Patras, Greece

    G. Papatheodorou, D. Christodoulou, E. Fakiris, X. Dimas, N. Georgiou & G. Ferentinos

  3. School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia

    A. G. Maravelis

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  1. A. Zelilidis
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Zelilidis, A., Papatheodorou, G., Maravelis, A.G. et al. Interplay of thrust, back-thrust, strike-slip and salt tectonics in a fold and thrust belt system: an example from Zakynthos Island, Greece. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 105, 2111–2132 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-016-1299-y

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