Interpretation of subhorizontal crustal reflections by metamorphic and rheologic effects in the eastern part of the Pannonian Basin

The geologic origin of subhorizontal reflections, often observed in crustal seismic sections, was investigated by establishing metamorphic facies and strength of rocks in depth, and correlating these properties to seismic reflection sections from eastern Hungary. Estimation of the depths of metamorphic mineral stability zones utilized the principles developed by Fyfe et al. and known geothermal data of the area. The strength versus depth profile was derived by relating local seismic P -wave interval velocities to Meissner et al. 's activation energy. The results show that the series of subhorizontal reflections, observed in the Pannonian Basin, are a consequence of combined metamorphic and rheologic changes in depths. The synthesis of the integrated data set suggests that the retrograde alteration of the pre-Tertiary basement above the percolation threshold was made possible by the softening effect of shear zones and their water-conducting capacity. The subhorizontal reflections of highest energy, of the consolidated crust below the percolation threshold, originate in the depths of greenschist, amphibolite and granulite metamorphic mineral facies, which were formed in geothermal and pressure conditions similar to those existing today. These results imply the overprint of earlier (Variscan) metamorphic sequences of the crust by more recent retrograde metamorphic processes.     

Stratigraphic and lithologic characteristics of Pleistocene fluvial deposits in the Danube and Sava riparian area near Belgrade (Serbia)

The Quaternary sediments in the Danube and Sava riparian area near Belgrade have a considerable thickness. Several categories of deposits (fluvial-lacustrine, fluvial and aeolian) of Pliocene and Quaternary age have been identified. Their thickness, granulometric composition and paleontological features change depending on the distance from the recent Danube and Sava riverbeds. The Pleistocene fluvial deposits are underlain by sediments of the Late Miocene (Sarmatian and Pannonian) or the Plio-Pleistocene age, and are overlain by fluvial-palustrine deposits of the Pleistocene age and recent alluvial deposits. Pleistocene fluvial deposits that form a major part of the Quaternary sediments, have a great significance, since they are proved to be excellent collectors of ground water. Although these deposits are at lower altitudes in the area of Srem, they could be correlated with the high Danube and Morava terraces in Serbia and Drava in Croatia on the basis of their lithologic and paleontological features.     

Integrated evaluation of urban groundwater hydrogeochemistry in context of fractal behaviour of groundwater level fluctuations

The present study was carried out as part of a complex survey of urban groundwater quality and quantity in Szeged, southeast Hungary. The concentrations of 12 inorganic contaminants in 28 shallow groundwater monitoring wells were determined over a 2-year period (2010–2012). The evaluation of concentrations indicates remarkable contamination all over the city. Discriminant analysis (DA) was used to evaluate the spatial changes of groundwater quality. The groundwater levels were measured over a 14-year period (2000–2013). The fractal properties of water level fluctuations time series characterizing the groundwater system and Tisza River were investigated using rescaled range (R/S) analysis. The resulting Hurst exponents clearly showed the persistency and thus long memory effects of both the groundwater and the river flow. Comparison of the results of DA with the results of R/S analysis thus implies that the geological conditions and the changing groundwater quantities are not related to groundwater quality.

EDITOR A. Castellarin

ASSOCIATE EDITOR A. Fiori     

The Požarevac loess–paleosol sequence: a record of increased aridity in the south-eastern margin of the Carpathian Basin during the last 350 ka

The loess sequence preserved in the Požarevac brickyard in north-eastern Serbia comprises eight loess units separated by seven paleosols. Geochronological investigation using amino acid racemization and luminescence dating support stratigraphic correlations of loess units L3, S2LL1 and L1 at the Požarevac section with loess of glacial cycles E [Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 10], D (MIS 9–8), C (MIS 7–6) and B (MIS 5–2) across central Europe. Correlation with the marine oxygen-isotope stratigraphy and associated paleoclimatic inferences are further supported by magnetic susceptibility, particle size and carbonate content measured in Požarevac sediments. Malacological investigations at the Požarevac section reveal the continuous presence of the Chondrula tridens and Helicopsis striata faunal assemblages throughout the last 350 ka. The loess malacological fauna, which is characterized by the complete absence of cold-resistant and cold-preferring species, suggests a stable, dry and relatively warm glacial and interglacial climate, compared with other central European loess localities. Together these data suggest that the south-eastern part of the Carpathian (Pannonian, Middle Danube) Basin was a refugium for warm-preferring and xerophilous land-snails during the generally unfavorable glacial climates of the late Middle and Late Pleistocene.     

Relationship Between the Geometric Parameters of Rock Fractures,the Size of Percolation Clusters and REV

Modeling fractured rocks with numerical methods requires some derived parameters, among which the fracture network connectivity and the size of the representative elementary volume (REV) are both of crucial importance. Percolation and REV analyses were made by the RepSim code. The program uses input parameters such as fractal dimension of the fracture midpoints (D _c), length exponent (E) and relative dip (α ^r) data. For percolation analysis, the relative sizes of the largest percolation clusters have been calculated by stochastic realizations of the simulated fracture networks with different parameter triplets. Furthermore, fracture networks can be classified into three major types on the basis of their (E,D _c,α ^r) parameters. For the REV calculations, the porosity of the generated fracture network was calculated. The derived REV size of a fracture network depends essentially on input parameters and shows a decreasing tendency with increasing D and E and vice versa. The method mentioned above was tested on both metamorphic samples of the Pannonian Basin and Variscan granitoid rocks of the Mórágy Complex. Percolation values predicted for the Mórágy granite are highly sensitive to alterations in the input parameters. The amphibolite bodies displayed a modeled fracture network with 80 to 90% of all fractures being interconnected, while the largest achievable percolation cluster size of gneiss is less than 10%. The REV size of the amphibolite is about 20 m as a result of connected fractures filling the whole body, while gneiss has lower porosity and higher REV (approximately 70 m).     

Refinement of genetic and structural models of the úrkút manganese ore deposit (W-Hungary, Europe) using statistical evaluation of archive data

Although the úrkút manganese ore deposit in western placecountry-regionHungary has been exploited for at least 90 years, there are still numerous open questions concerning ore genetics as well as structure and geometry of the ore body. A large set of available archive data for the deposit have been reviewed and evaluated in order to solve some of the most crucial problems. For processing, besides diverse GIS approaches, univariate and multivariate statistical methods were used on the created unified database. The main aims of the mathematical treatment were giving a classification scheme for the wide spectrum of Mn-ores based on their chemical composition (Mn, Fe, Si, P) as well as evaluation of their spatial distribution. For the ore characterization and understanding the genetic processes, cluster and discriminant function analyses were used. Results of the multivariate treatment verified the existence of different ore types and provided an exact chemical definition for all of them. It alsoinferred that the main geochemical processes that took place in ore genesis were similar for all sample groups (ore types) with significantly different weights in each case. A 3D evaluation of the úrkút mine heading map system shows that the ore body covers the footwall surface as a stratiform sheet throughout the study area. Palaeo-relief studies suggest a significant difference between the footwall and hanging wall morphologies which clearly implies tectonic activity following ore deposition. The deposit was affected by an E-W compression stress field near the Aptian-Albian transition causing folding of the Mn deposit.     

Primordial geodynamics of Southern Carpathian-Balkan basements (Serbo-Macedonian Mass): Avalonian vs. Cadomian arc segments

This review deals with a highly complex set of dismembered peri-Gondwanan exotic polymetamorphic basement systems accommodated outside of the well-explored European Variscides, extending from the controversial Serbo-Macedonian hinterland up to the East Moesian Alpine foreland. The isotopic and limited detrital zircon ages are coupled with the lithotectonic and palinspastic record in order to restore the earliest peri-Gondwanan developments in modern-day South-east Europe (Carpatho-Balkanides and surrounding areas). The results suggest that these rather bewildering, occasionally underexplored tectonometamorphic suites exhibit Cadomian arc inheritance in a flanking part of this belt, whilst inferior Avalonian are positioned more internally.     

A hidden suture within the northern Paleotethyan margin: Paleogeographic/paleo-tectonic constraints on the late Paleozoic 'Veles Series' (Vardar Zone,North Macedonia)

There is little consensus in characterizing the effects of the migrated late Pan-African/Lower Paleozoic configuration (western Paleotethys and precursory Paleozoic oceans) and its Variscan, late Variscan, and Eo-Cimmerian involvement. Constrained by a limited choice of the geological, biostratigraphical, and paleogeographical constraints, the focus of this regional geological synthesis is the little-known Devonian – Lower Carboniferous polymetamorphic 'Veles Series' (southern Vardar-Axios Zone, Northeast Mediterranean). Kinematic reconstructions indicate that the drifted carbonate platform assemblage of the 'Veles Series' including its Lower Carboniferous collision occurred along an active margin of southwestern Moesia, Laurussian foreland. Despite the fact that the dominant, low-grade metamorphic imprint across the 'Veles Series' is compatible with the ‘soft’ Eo-Cimmerian docking (i.e. Triassic), the documented Lower Carboniferous age suggests a Variscan involvement.A distinctive Late Paleozoic age is consistent with the north Gondwana and Variscan developments, reflected by the peculiar protoliths pallet portraying the presence of the oceanic crust to deep-marine equivalents. Accommodated to the west (paleo-south) of the late Cadomian Serbo-Macedonian Unit (a segment of the former peri-Gondwanan terrane assembly) and to the north of the Cimmerian Minoan system (East Mediterranean), the 'Veles Series' reflects a migrated rift to carbonate platform system. Despite the significant Alpine overprinting, based on this regional geological synthesis we propose that the 'Veles Series' is a 60 km-long suture segment documenting a so far rather poorly explored Variscan segment of the Paleotethyan lithosphere exposed within Balkans/Northeast Mediterranean.     

Kyanite eclogite xenolith from the orthogneiss terrane of the Tisza Megaunit, Jánoshalma area, crystalline basement of southern Hungary

New evidence for high-pressure, eclogite facies metamorphism in the crystalline basement of the Tisza Megaunit (southern Hungary) is reported. The retrogressed mafic eclogite forms a small lens in the orthogneiss and it was found in the borehole near Jánoshalma. The carbonated eclogite contains the peak metamorphic assemblage omphacite + garnet + phengite + kyanite + clinozoizite + rutile + K-feldspar + quartz. Omphacite (Xjd_0.40–0.41Xdio_0.52–0.53Xhd_0.05Xaug_1.55–2.85) occurs in the matrix and as inclusions in garnet (Xpy_0.37–0.38Xgrs_0.21–0.22Xalm_0.39–0.40Xsps_0–0.01Xadr_0–0.01) and kyanite. Thermobarometry based on net-transfer reactions between garnet, omphacite, kyanite and phengite yields P–T conditions of 710 ± 10 °C and 2.6 ± 0.75 GPa. Retrogression during decompression is manifested by formation of symplectites; the most typical are diopside + plagioclase after omphacite, corundum + spinel + plagioclase after kyanite and biotite + plagioclase after phengite. Carbonatization along the veins of the retrogressed eclogite was probably coeval with formation of these symplectites. At places where carbonate is absent the rock was completely hydrated and retrogressed down to the greenschist facies with the development of actinolite. Similar eclogites together with abundant orthogneisses occur mainly in the eastern parts of the Tisza Megaunit, suggesting the existence of an ancient (possibly Variscan) subduction/accretionary complex.     

Late Pleistocene loess‐palaeosol sequences in the Vojvodina region,north Serbia

Late Pleistocene loess‐palaeosol sequences are widespread in the Vojvodina region, with thicknesses reaching a maximum of about 20 m. Our investigations include more than 40 of these loess sections. Geochronology of the last glacial loess‐palaeosol sequences, based on luminescence dating and amino acid racemisation, provides correlations between Upper Pleistocene loess‐palaeosol sediments in Vojvodina and comparable deposits at other European localities. Sedimentary logs of magnetic susceptibility, grain‐size measurements and carbonate content, combined with malacological evidence, indicate two main relatively cold and arid phases during the last glacial period, related to intensive accumulation of loess units L1L1 and L1L2, as well as many brief episodes of dry and windy climatic conditions, suggesting a possible relationship with cold events recorded in the North Atlantic region. Generally, late Pleistocene climate in the region was dry and relatively warm, compared with glacial period sites in central Europe, and was characterised by sharp differences between glacial and interglacial modes. New data and interpretations presented in this study emphasise the significance of loess‐palaeosol sequences in Vojvodina for the reconstruction of the temporal and spatial evolution of late Pleistocene palaeoclimate in this part of Europe. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.