Geomorphology and tectonics in the Roccamonfina Volcano (Campania-Central Italy)

This paper covers part of an extensive research program on the morphological and structural conditions of different volcanic complexes of Central Italy. The aim is to single out the relationships among the present landforms, their structural arrangement and the volcanic history of these areas. The Roccamonfina volcano is examined here; it belongs to the alkali-potassic province of Central Italy and was active between 650 ka BP and up to 50 ka BP. The morphological characteristics were examined through field survey and aerial photointerpretation. Successively all the morphological elements that might provide evidence for tectonic deformations were identified; the significant alignments of such elements and volcanic forms as well have been considered to be controlled by the surface effects of deep structural setting. Moreover the statistical analysis of stream directions have shown some preferential orientations indicating tectonic control. The analysis of the parameters amplitude of relief (Ar) and drainage density (D) allowed the identification of uplifted or lowered areas with respect to the surrounding ones. Morphological data integrated with volcanological and geological ones allowed the geomorphological evolution of the study area to be reconstructed. This evolution was strongly influenced by tectonic dislocations. NW-SE and NE-SW oriented. However, the surface effects of N-S and E-W trending tectonic directions are also discernible; these dislocations have cut the volcanic products and have conditioned the emplacement of lower order streams, thus testifying the important role they played in the very recent geomorphological evolution of the Roccamonfina area.