In this study, we report how criteria inferred from structural and kinematic analysis of shear zone fabrics can be instrumental in deciphering events of positive or negative inversion tectonics. Mesoscopic structural and kinematic analyses are performed on well-exposed brittle-ductile thrust shear zones within curved thrust systems in the Central-Northern Apennines of Italy.

The structural and kinematic features of thrust-related tectonites make it possible to outline a history of positive inversion. S/C- and S-tectonites/fabrics are distinctive of frontal or oblique thrust ramps, respectively. In particular, S-fabrics result from selective transpressional-reactivation of pre-thrusting normal faults. By contrast, more complex composite fabrics, characterized by folded cleavage, reveal a history of negative inversion tectonics. Mesocopic cleavage folding is ascribed to shear-sense reversal along the shear surfaces during extensional reactivation of pre-existing thrusts; or to synthetic reactivation by listric foreland-dipping normal faults, merging downwards on former thrust surfaces during protracted episodes of gravitational collapse.

Shear zone fabrics identification criteria, here illustrated from thrusts of different size, if systematically used, may be diagnostic of different deformation paths, and hence provide useful tools to elucidate the tectonic history of curved thrust systems in orogens that have experienced multiple episodes of inversion.

在这项研究中，我们报告了从剪切带织物的结构和运动学分析推断的标准如何有助于破译正反转构造事件或负反转构造事件。在意大利中北部亚平宁山脉的弯曲推力系统内，对暴露良好的脆韧性推力剪切带进行了细观结构和运动学分析。

逆冲相关构造岩的结构和运动学特征使得勾勒出正反转的历史成为可能。S/C-和S-构造岩/织物分别具有正面或斜向推力坡道的特点。特别是，S-织物是由预推力正断层的选择性跨压再激活产生的。相比之下，以折叠解理为特征的更复杂的复合织物揭示了负反转构造的历史。中观解理折叠归因于在预先存在的推力的伸展重新激活过程中沿剪切面的剪切感反转；或通过利斯特里克前陆倾斜的正断层合成重新激活，在长时间的重力坍塌事件中在前冲断面上向下合并。

剪切带结构识别标准（这里从不同大小的逆冲断层进行说明）如果系统地使用，可以诊断不同的变形路径，因此为阐明经历多次反转事件的造山带中弯曲逆冲断层系统的构造历史提供有用的工具。