Alpine compressional tectonics in the Southern Alps. Relationships with the N-Apennines

The southern Alps orogenic development has been produced by non-cylindrical accretion of arcuated thrust belts. Apart from the Dinaridic influence in the eastern sector, the remaining parts of the Southern Alps were deformed mainly by the Oligo-Miocene, Miocene and Plio-Pleistocene events. The Middle-Late Miocene compressional events produced widespread deformation in the central and eastern regions of the Southern Alps with ENE-trending prevailing structures, including the NNE trending thrusts of the Giudicarie region. The Messinian to Plio-Pleistocene compressional structures mainly affected the eastern regions of the Southern Alps along the southernmost border in the "Friuli external arc'. This last belt is probably kinematically linked to the buried frontal Apennine chain. A comparison between the neoalpine tectonic accretion of the Southern Alps and the Northern Apennines is attempted in the frame of the geodynamic evolution of the Western Mediterranean domains.