The Southern Julian Prealps (SJP) belong to the sector of the External
Dinarides included in the WSW-ENE trending, SSE-verging thrust belt of the
eastern Southalpine Chain in evolution from the Middle Miocene to the
present. On the basis of new geological mapping and mesostructural analysis,
the geological framework of the Bernadia carbonate massif was pointed out. In
the Bernadia area only cover sequences outcrop ranging from Early
Creataceous to Early Eocene. Scanty outcrops of glauconitic arenites (Lower
Miocene) are present in the footwall of the major Neogene thrusts. During the
Mesozoic the Bernadia massif was part of the Friulian Carbonate Platform
(FCP). Starting from Late Cretaceous to Early Eocene the study area was part
of the WSW–verging Dinaric chain-foredeep system. The Paleogene imbricate
thrust-system shows staircase trajectory and duplex-geometries; thrusts are
mainly NNW-SSE trending and show WSW tectonic transport. Inherited
Upper Cretaceous normal faults (NNE-SSW- and NW-SE-trending) are often
inverted in lateral and frontal ramps respectively. Starting from Middle
Miocene the S-SSE verging thrust system of the Southalpine Chain started,
giving rise to a low-angle, approximately WSW-ENE to WNW-ESE trending
thrusts. Neoalpine compression deformed the Paleogene structural belt,
producing dome-basin structural pattern. Moreover the Neogene–Quaternary
thrusts often re-utilised the Dinaric ramps as frontal or lateral ones.
