The reconstruction of middle Miocene-late Pleistocene Tuscan shelf evolution (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy) through a re-interpretation and geometrical-kinematic validation of seismic profiles.

The Middle Miocene- late Pliocene tectonic evolution of the Tuscan Shelf (northern Tyrrhenian Sea) between Elba Island and Monte Argentario Promontory is re-defined by the re-interpretation of vintage seismic profiles. The location and first evolution of Neogene sedimentary basins in those areas were controlled by structural inheritance since they developed on top of major thrusts before and during the Tyrrhenian Sea formation. Successive minor crustal extension contributed to today's structural setting and basin geometries. Using forward kinematic modeling, the geometrical validation of the seismic transects is presented here. The geometrical validation has been tied to the Martina-1 and Mimosa-1 wells, and the forward models have been successively compared with the geologic constraints derived from the available regional-scale geologic information (geological maps and literature data). Complete forward modeling from the Miocene to the late Pleistocene is forwarded along with an estimation of crustal shortening and extension that may account for the observed geometries of the seismic horizons and the modern basin geometries.