Chapter 5 DISCUSSION

No significant differences were found with the original map. We can confirm lithologies and the detailed survey has made it possible identifying the reverse fault that leads the Longano on the Cusano formation. The most important difference is related to the reverse fault bringing the Cusano formation on the Upper Cretaceous (UK) limestones, which had previously been identified as a lowering area on sheet 172 of Caserta Nord. The collected data on the fault plane show a NW-SE general orientation with NE deep direction with about 75 ° deep (340N NE 75 °), which is consistent with the general asset of normal Apennine faults, born from the chain collapse phase. Microscopic analysis shows a certain heterogeneity between samples more or less proximal (distal) to the main cutting area. Furthermore, it can be stated that the presence of numerous shear surfaces on samples testifies to a sequence of cataclastic deformation events (fluid and non fluid-assisted) which intercepted the FRB transept studied over time. In general, the measured Dr varies between a minimum value of 1.29 and a maximum of 1.5, showing a variable range of chemical disequilibrium, which is consistent with the numerous breach events mentioned above.

Frequency analysis was described by a fractal relationship over a limited fractal range, and clearly deviate from the relationship at small and large particle sizes, which are both underrepresented compared to an ideal fractal distribution. The deviation at the small range of particle sizes is probably not an artefact of limited precision of measurement, since the smallest particle size is generally at least twice as large as the precision. However, both deviations could be due to sampling errors, because very small particles might be overlooked, and sample areas were chosen so as not to be dominated by a few very large particles. These errors will not affect the central part of the curve where the value of Ds has been determined. Plots showed quite similar and monotonous power lowcurves showing some slight slope changes only in a few circumstances. Generally, from the graphs we do not notice the presence of a preferential orientation of the clasts (Rf-phi) which in fact create a tail Gaussian that extends towards the rounded rather than elliptical morphology. (roundness and ellipticity graphs). We also note that small clasts prevail thanks to the results visible on the histograms of the area and diameter and with a fairly regular frequency distribution.

The values of the Ds parameter oscillate around 1 and 1.5, positioning themselves in the first half of the axis in the PSD graph, indicating a medium-low mechanical energy. Overall, all the samples analyzed are positioned in the Corrosive Wear field showing a trend (mostly valid for sample_6, but also for Ai_2 and Ai_10) towards Volume Reduction and Fluid-assisted Brecciation processes. The right fields of the graph do not seem to make the slightest contribution to formation of the cataclasites under examination.