Ground-penetrating radar signature of Quaternary faulting: a study from the Mt. Pollino region, southern Apennines, Italy

Abstract. With the aim of unveiling evidence Late Quaternary faulting, a series ground-penetrating radar (GPR) profiles were acquired across southern portion Fosso della Valle–Campotenese normal fault (VCT), located at Campotenese continental basin (Mt. Pollino region) in Apennines active extensional belt (Italy). A set 49 GPR profiles, traced nearly perpendicular to this fault, was using 300 and 500 MHz antennas carefully processed through customized workflow. The data interpretation allowed us reconstruct pseudo-3D model depicting boundary between Mesozoic bedrock sedimentary fill basin, which close proximity fault. Once signature faulting reviewed defined, we interpret near-surface alluvial colluvial sediments dislocated by conjugate (W- E-dipping) discontinuities that penetrate inside underlying Triassic dolostones. Close contact deposits bedrock, some buried scarps offset wedge-shaped are interpreted as coseismic ruptures, subsequently sealed later deposits. Our dataset represented good trade-off dense 3D-GPR volume conventional 2D data, normally requires higher degree subjectivity during interpretation. We have thus reconstructed reliable subsurface pattern, discriminating master faults secondary splays. This contribution better characterizes an area falls within seismic gap is considered prone severe surface faulting. results encourage further research study site, whilst also recommend our workflow for similar regions characterized high hazard scarcity geophysical data.