Stratigraphic revision of the Cenozoic deposits of the Lungro-Verbicaro Unit (Northern Calabria): new data for the reconstruction of tectonic evolution of the southern Apennines

Marco D'Errico(*), Angelida Di Staso(*) & (**)
(*) Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università «Federico II», Largo San Marcellino, 10 - 80138 Naples, Italy. (**) Corresponding author: A. Di Staso, tel.: 0812538165, fax: 0815525611, e-mail: distaso@unina.it

Field and biostratigraphic data from Cenozoic metasedimentary succession («breccia a selce», Colle Trodo and «Scisti del Fiume Lao» Formations) of Lungro-Verbicaro Unit are reported. The «Scisti del Fiume Lao» Formation, formerly included in the ophiolite-bearing Frido Unit, defined at the Calabria-Lucania border area, is interpreted as the stratigraphic uppermost part of the above Cenozoic succession. Therefore, the occurrence of nannofossil assemblage not older than late Aquitanian, represents the minimum age constrain both to the deformation and to the HP/LT metamorphic event affecting the Lungro-Verbicaro Unit. This age is in agreement with the Burdigalian radiometric age recognized in metavolcanic and metapelitic rocks of Lungro-Verbicaro Unit.

Stratigraphy, calcareous nannofossils, dinoflagellate cysts, Cenozoic, Lungro-Verbicaro Unit, Northern Calabria.