The kinematics of intra-arc shear zones play a key role in the secondary shaping of orogenic arcs such as the Calabrian Arc (central Mediterranean). Comparison of the Neogene structural development of the Petilia-Rizutto Fault Zone and the basement structure of the bordering Sila massif reveals that the fault zone is the surface expression of a deep NW-SE trending sinistral crustal oblique shear zone. This shear zone continues over a length of more than 130 km across the northern segment of the Calabrian Arc and shows a post-Eocene sinistral displacement of about 50 km. The late Neogene forearc basin development and syndepositional tectonics along the fault zone are reconstructed in great detail by analyzing the middle Miocene-Recent tectonic sequence stratigraphy. A strike-slip cycle can be recognized whereby the subsequent activity of Riedel shears, tensional faults, and P shears, positive flower structures and principle displacement wrench faults, can accurately be traced in time.

Observed phenomena are discussed in terms of the activity of a conjugate system of oblique thrust zones within the growing accretionary complex. The evolution of special types of thrust belt basins is illustrated. These include oblique thin-skinned pull-apart basins, oblique rhomboidal ''harmonica'' basins, and ''detached slab'' basins (new terms introduced here), evolving one into the other. A new feature illustrated is the recurrent basin inversion which generated passive roof duplexes through back-shear motion and out-of-sequence thrusting along the wedge. The fault patterns and the style of inversion tectonics imply an E-W directed axis of effective compressive stress in this part of the arc.

This resulted from an interaction of (1) local E-W directed compression related to a differential displacement of two parallel segments of the arc (generated by the migration to the southeast of the Calabrian Arc and opening of the Tyrrhenian backarc basin); (2) alternating NW-SE directed compression and extension (related to pulsating thrust wedge dynamics with phases of accretion and underthrusting respectively) and (3) regional, compressive interplate stress (middle Messinian-middle Pliocene). All structures are overprinted by post middle Pleistocene extensional faulting (related to rapid uplift of intra-arc massifs) and reversal along thrust planes and transcurrent faults. This extensional collapse reflects isostatic adjustments in response to plate rupture which was provoked by regional compressive stress. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1994