Apennine orogeny

The Apennine orogeny was a mountain-building event that occurred in southern Europe and the Mediterranean region during the Paleogene and Neogene periods, approximately 65.5 to 2.6 million years ago. This geological process was responsible for the formation of the present-day Alps and uplifted plateaus in the Balkan Peninsula, Corsica, and Sardinia.1

The Apennine Range itself, forming the backbone of peninsular Italy, is considered one of the younger ranges within the Alpine system. Its geology is primarily composed of marine sedimentary rocks, including shales, sandstones, and limestones, deposited from the Tethys Sea. The orogeny involved intense metamorphism, folding, and faulting of these rocks. Volcanic activity was also associated with this period, occurring in various parts of Europe. The Apennine orogeny developed through several tectonic phases, with a climax in the Miocene and Pliocene epochs.21