Mélanges represent a significant component of collisional and accretionary orogenic belts and occur widely around the world. Since its first introduction and use, the term has evolved to cover both processes (tectonic, sedimentary, and diapiric) and tectonic settings of mélange formation. The meaning and significance of various terms referring to the origin of ‘block-in-matrix chaotic rocks’ are still subject to debate. This study presents a historical overview of the evolving mélange concept and investigates the relationships between mélange types and their tectonic settings of formation. We investigate the contribution of mass-transport versus contractional deformation processes at the onset of mélange formation and throughout the evolution of different mélange types, and the nature of the continuum and transition from broken formations to true tectonic mélanges. A mélange is a mappable chaotic body of mixed rocks with a block-in-matrix fabric whose internal structure and evolution are intimately linked to the structural, sedimentary, magmatic, and metamorphic processes attending its origin. On the basis of a comparative analysis of exhumed, ancient on-land mélanges and modern tectonic environments, where mélange-forming processes are at work, such units are classified into those related to extensional tectonics, passive margin evolution, strike-slip tectonics, subduction zones, collisional tectonics, and intracontinental deformation. Sedimentation and contractional deformation contribute significantly to mélange formation in all these tectonic environments, although the internal structure of deposits is strongly controlled and overprinted by processes that prevail during the last stages of mélange formation in a single tectonic setting. Tectonic mélanges are commonly subordinate to broken formations and are restricted to narrow, elongated-to-coalescent fault zones, large-scale fault zones, and plate boundaries.

The terms mélange and broken formation have been used in different ways in the literature. The lack of agreement on their definition often leads to confusion and misinterpretations. An evaluation of the various uses of these terms allows us to consider several types of chaotic rock bodies originated by tectonic, sedimentary and diapiric processes in different tectonic settings. Our review of stratal disruption and mixing processes shows that there exists a continuum of deformation structures and processes in the generation of mélanges and broken formations. This continuum is directly controlled by the increase of the degree of consolidation with burial. In tectonically active environments, at the shallow structural levels, the occurrence of poorly consolidated sediments favors gravitational deformation. At deeper structural levels, the deformation related to tectonic forces becomes gradually more significant with depth. Sedimentary (and diapiric) mélanges and broken formations represent the products of punctuated stratal disruption mechanisms recording the instantaneous physical conditions in the geological environment at the time of their formation. The different kinematics, the composition and lithification degree of sediments, the geometry and morphology of the basins, and the mode of failure propagation control the transition between different types of mass-transported chaotic bodies, the style of stratal disruption, and the amount of rock mixing. Tectonically broken formations and mélanges record a continuum of deformation that occurs through time and different degrees of lithification during a progressive increase of the degree of consolidation and of the diagenetic and metamorphic mineral transformation. Systematic documentation of the mechanisms and processes of the formation of different broken formations and mélanges and their interplay in time and space are highly important to increase the understanding of the evolutionary history of accretionary wedges and orogenic belts

The Casaglia Monte della Colonna (CMC) body, from the middle Miocene Marnoso-arenacea Formation of the Northern Apennines, covering more than 350 square kilometers, provides a rare opportunity to study the geometry and the internal deformation of a large, basin-wide submarine landslide. Although the head zone of the landslide has not been preserved, the body has a transitional zone, a contractional ramp cutting off more than 200 meters of the footwall stratigraphic succession, and a very wide lobe spilling over onto the adjoining basin plain deposits. The extent of the body, the depth of the ramp cut-off and the widening of the lobe are comparable with the largest present-day submarine landslides, not often observed in fossil examples.