We provide here a first-hand description of the coseismic surface effects caused by the Mw 6.4 Petrinja earthquake that hit central Croatia on 29 December 2020. This was one of the strongest seismic events that occurred in Croatia in the last two centuries. Field surveys in the epicentral area allowed us to observe and map primary coseismic effects, including geometry and kinematics of surface faulting, as well as secondary effects, such as liquefaction, sinkholes and landslides. The resulting dataset consists of homogeneous georeferenced records identifying 222 observation points, each of which contains a minimum of 5 to a maximum of 14 numeric and string fields of relevant information. The earthquake caused surface faulting defining a typical ‘conjugate’ fault pattern characterized by Y and X shears, tension cracks (T fractures), and compression structures (P shears) within a ca. 10 km wide (across strike), NW–SE striking right-lateral strike-slip shear zone (i.e., the Petrinja Fault Zone, PFZ). We believe that the results of the field survey provide fundamental information to improve the interpretation of seismological, GPS and InSAR data of this earthquake. Moreover, the data related to the surface faulting may impact future studies focused on earthquake processes in active strike-slip settings, integrating the estimates of slip amount and distribution in assessing the hazard associated with capable transcurrent faults.

This paper presents a detailed geological map at the 1:20,000 scale of the Tocomar basin in the Central Puna (north-western Argentina), which extends over an area of about 80 km² and displays the spatial distribution of the Quaternary deposits and the structures that cover the Ordovician basement and the Tertiary sedimentary and volcanic units. The new dataset includes litho-facies descriptions, stratigraphic and structural data and new ²³⁴U/²³⁰Th ages for travertine rocks. The new reconstructed stratigraphic framework, along with the structural analysis, has revealed the complex evolution of a small extensional basin including a period of prolonged volcanic activity with different eruptive centres and styles. The geological map improves the knowledge of the geology of the Tocomar basin and the local interplay between orogen-parallel thrusts and orogen-oblique fault systems. This contribution represents a fundamental support for in depth research and also for encouraging geothermal exploration and exploitation in the Puna Plateau region.

A seismic sequence that affected the Durrës region in late 2019 to early 2020 sheds new light on the structural architecture and active tectonic setting of the northern outer Albanides. Stress inversion analysis using focal mechanisms confirms that the area is dominated by ENE-trending horizontal maximum compression. The seismogenic sources consist mainly of ENE-dipping thrust faults roughly parallel to the coastline. The hypocentre distribution indicates that most of the earthquakes, including the M _w 6.4 main shock, nucleated within the basement, with only some of the shallow aftershocks tending to cluster around the deeper portion of previously identified seismogenic structures within the sedimentary cover. Our results, unravelling for the first time the fundamental role of deeply rooted, crustal ramp-dominated thrusting in seismogenesis, imply a profound reconsideration of the seismotectonic setting of the region in terms of a correct assessment of seismic hazard in this densely populated area of Albania.

Organic and inorganic thermal indicators throughout the Late Paleozoic sedimentary fill of the Aragón-Béarn Basin in the western Pyrenees, integrated with stratigraphic and structural data, point to a two-stage tectonic evolution: (i) High heat flow values and widespread magmatic intrusions driven by deeply rooted strike-slip faults characterized the first stage. This regime accompanied the rapid and localized deposition of the lower sedimentary succession and ended with uplift and erosion. (ii) The second stage was characterized by lower heat flow values, shallower strike-slip faults active during the deposition of an upper transgressive sedimentary succession and minor magmatic intrusions. The lower portion of the succession (Unidad Gris, Unidad de Transito and Unidad Roja Inferior, mainly Stephanian-Early Permian in age) records maximum temperatures between 170°C and 220°C as shown by clay mineral-based geothermometers (KI between 0.40 and 0.52°D2q, conversion of mixed layer illite-smectite to discrete illite), vitrinite reflectance (about 2.5%), and total homogenization temperatures from host-rock quartz cements between 160 and 180°C. The upper portion of the succession (Unidad Roja Superior, mainly Upper Permian in age) records maximum temperatures between 100-110° and 150°C as indicated by KI values between 0.57 and 0.94°D2q, illite content in mixed layer illite-smectite of 85-92%, and fluid inclusions in host-rock quartz-calcite cements. Local thermal maturity anomalies affected selected portions of the Late Paleozoic sedimentary succession with organic matter and clay minerals reaching respectively Ro%: 4.2-4.7% and KI up to 0.32°D2q in the lower sequence, and Ro% 2.9% in the upper sequence. These localized anomalies with respect to the basin thermal signature are the result of contact metamorphism related to the emplacement of magmatic intrusions across the sedimentary fill during two different magmatic events

Some new results and preliminary remarks about the Plio–Quaternary structural and evolutionary characteristics of the outer Marche Apennines south in the Conero promontory are presented in this study. The present analysis is based on several subsurface seismic reflection profiles and well data, kindly provided by ENI S.p.A. and available on the VIDEPI list, together with surface geologic–stratigraphic knowledge of Plio–Quaternary evolution from the literature. Examples of negative vs. positive reactivation of inherited structures in fold and thrust belts are highlighted. Here, we present an example from the external domain of the Marche Apennines, which displays interesting reactivation examples from the subsurface geology explored. The study area shows significant evolutionary differences with respect to the northern sector of the Marche region previously investigated by the same research group. The areal distribution of the main structures changes north and south of the ENE–WSW oriented discontinuity close to the Conero promontory. Based on the old tripartite classification of the Pliocene, the results of this work suggest a strong differential subsidence with extension occurring during the Early Pliocene and principal compressive deformation starting from the Middle Pliocene and decreasing or ceasing during the Quaternary. The main structure in this area is the NNW–SSE Coastal Structure, which is composed of E-vergent shallow thrusts and high-angle deep-seated normal faults underneath. An important right-lateral strike–slip component along this feature is also suggested, which is compatible with the principal NNE–SSW shortening direction. As mentioned, the area is largely characterized by tectonic inversion. Starting from Middle Pliocene, most of the Early Pliocene normal faults became E-vergent thrusts.