The basement complexes in Italy, with special regards to those exposed in the Alps: A review

Abstract

Most of the sedimentary rocks occurring in Italy are post-Carboniferous. All what lies below is considered basement, mostly metamorphic or igneous. Understanding the pre-Carboniferous evolution depends on the reconstruction of the sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous evolution of the basement. In general, the basement sedimentary protoliths were Lower to Middle Paleozoic siliciclastic rocks, while the igneous protoliths belong to an Ordovician cycle. The prevailing metamorphism, from very-low grade to granulite facies, is Variscan. It was followed by the formation of large amounts of granitic melts.