Deciphering the cooling history of the Sila Massif: Insights into the Calabrian Arc tectonic drivers

Throughout the Cenozoic, the rock uplift of the Calabrian Arc has been strongly influenced by the retreat of the Ionian slab, where a rollback subduction process has been ongoing since Paleogene times. This complex geological setting has resulted in diverse geodynamic processes, including active extension, mantle dynamics, and the potential influence of slab tearing contributing to the uplift of the Calabrian Arc. Within this geodynamic setting, the topography of the Sila Massif is characterized by an exceptional combination of high elevation and an extensive plateau surface. Such landforms represent strong evidence for recent uplift that has not been fully compensated by erosion. This, along with the possible influence of an underlying tear fault, provides a crucial window into the complex interplay between subduction-controlled tectonics, uplift and erosional response.

Here, we used (U-Th)/He low-temperature thermochronology to investigate the cooling history of the Sila Massif, aiming to constrain the timing and rates of exhumation and thereby elucidate the dominant drivers of exhumation. Our preliminary results reveal higher and potentially more variable long-term erosion rates since the Mid-Miocene than the previously estimated 0.1 km/Myr. These elevated exhumation rates require re-evaluating the dominant tectonic drivers within the Calabrian Arc.

By analyzing the spatial and temporal patterns of exhumation derived from our thermochronological data, we can evaluate the relative contributions of different tectonic processes. Here, we discuss the influence of the Catanzaro deep-seated fault in correlation to the disparate evolution of the Sila Massif and the rest of the Calabrian Arc. Our findings provide a new perspective on the influence of deep-seated faults in sculpting the landscape and shaping the evolution of the Calabrian Arc.