Dashed yellow line shows the extent of carbonate platforms: MICP and HP (Hyblean carbonate platform) in the Central Mediterranean. (a) Main geotectonic features marked by the circled numbers: 1. Hyblean-Malta Plateau (HMP) bounded on the south by the Medina Wrench (S3) and on the west by the Scicli Fault (S1), 2. Gela Basin (foredeep) bound on the west by the Sciacca Fault (S2), 3. Ionian crust overlain by an accretionary prism, 4. Sicilian-Maghrebian thrust belt, 5. Calabrian Arc, 6. Pantelleria Rift and main grabens: Pantelleria Graben (PG) is separated by the Sciacca Fault (S2) from the Linosa Graben (LG), Malta Graben (MG), and the Medina Trough (MT), 7. Ionian oceanic crust. (b) Maltese Islands: North Gozo Graben (NGG), North Malta Graben (NMG), location of seismic lines 1 to 6, and main faults (in red) and wells mentioned in the text. (c) Cross section A-A’ along the Cenozoic foreland succession of the Malta Horst (legend for lithology in Fig. 2). (d) Generalized NW–SE cross-section along Malta Horst showing influence of WMP basement on thrusting (no erosion shown). Stratigraphy based on MTZ and NAX wells.