Foraminiferal biostratigraphy of the Albian and Cenomanian sediments in the Polish part of the Pieniny Klippen Belt,Carpathian Mountains

Seven local biostratigraphic zones have been distinguished in the Albian and Cenomanian sediments of the Pieniny Klippen Belt: Hedbergella assemblage (Assemblage Zone, AZ), R. subticinensis-R. ticinensis (Concurrent Range Zone, CRZ), R. ticinensis- P. praebuxtorfi (CRZ), R. ticinensis- P. buxtorfi (Partial Concurrent Range Zone, PCRZ), P. buxtorfi- R. appenninica (CRZ), R. appenninica (Partial Range Zone, PRZ) and R. reicheli- R. green-hornensis (PCRZ), The zones are tentatively correlated with the ortho- and parastratigraphic zones of the Albian and Cenomanian. Three palaeoecological associations have been distinguished: “Czorsztyn”, shelf-upper slope, large proportion of nodosarids and miliolids; “Pieniny A” middle part of slope, oligotaxic planktonic assemblages dominant; “Pieniny B”, depth similar to that of “Pieniny A”, larger proportion of agglutinated foraminifers. All fall within the “Marssonella” association sensu Haig, 1979, Haig, 1979. Layers of black shales, interpreted to reflect Cretaceous oceanic anoxic events, are correlated between successions of the Pieniny Klippen Belt, and their biostratigraphical position is determined.     

The Northern Carpathians plate tectonic evolutionary stages and origin of olistoliths and olistostromes

The olistostromes formed in Northern Carpathians during the different stages of the development of flysch basins, from rift trough post-rift, orogenic to postorogenic stage. They are known from the Cretaceous, Paleocene, Eocene, Oligocene and Early Miocene flysch deposits of main tectonic units. Those units are the Skole, Subsilesian, Silesian, Dukla and Magura nappes as well as the Pieniny Klippen Belt suture zone. The oldest olistoliths in the Northern Carpathians represent the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous rifting and post-rifting stage of the Northern Carpathians and origin of the proto-Silesian basin. They are known from the Upper Jurassic as well as Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous formations. In the southern part of the Polish Northern Carpathians as well as in the adjacent part of Slovakia, the olistoliths are known in the Cretaceous- Paleocene flysch deposits of the Pieniny Klippen Belt Zlatne Unit and in Magura Nappe marking the second stage of the plate tectonic evolution - an early stage of the development of the accretionary prism. The most spectacular olistostromes have been found in the vicinity of Haligovce village in the Pieniny Klippen Belt and in Jaworki village in the border zone between the Magura Nappe and the Pieniny Klippen Belt. Olistoliths that originated during the second stage of the plate tectonic evolution occur also in the northern part of the Polish Carpathians, in the various Upper Cretaceous-Early Miocene flysch deposits within the Magura, Fore-Magura, Dukla, Silesian and Subsilesian nappes. The Fore-Magura and Silesian ridges were destroyed totally and are only interpreted from olistoliths and exotic pebbles in the Outer Carpathian flysch. Their destruction is related to the advance of the accretionary prism. This prism has obliquely overridden the ridges leading to the origin of the Menilite-Krosno basin.

In the final, postcollisional stage of the Northern Carpathian plate tectonic development, some olistoliths were deposited within the late Early Miocene molasse. These are known mainly from the subsurface sequences reached by numerous bore-holes in the western part of the Polish Carpathians as well as from outcrops in Poland and the Czech Republic.

The largest olistoliths (kilometers in size bodies of shallow-water rocks of Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous age) are known from the Moravia region. The largest olistoliths in Poland were found in the vicinity of Andrychów and are known as Andrychów Klippen. The olistostromes bear witness to the processes of the destruction of the Northern Carpathian ridges. The ridge basement rocks, their Mesozoic platform cover, Paleogene deposits of the slope as well as older Cretaceous flysch deposits partly folded and thrust within the prism slid northward toward the basin, forming the olistostromes.     

Albian and Cenomanian palaeobathymetry in the Pieniny Klippen Belt Basin, Polish Carpathians

During the Albian and Cenomanian, the Pieniny Klippen Belt Basin, a part of the Carpathian geosynclinal domain, showed a clear differentiation into an axial deepest part represented by the Pieniny and Branisko successions and two marginal zones, a southern (Nizna and Haligovce successions, in Slovakia) and a northern zone (in Poland and Slovakia) represented by the Niedzica, Czertezik and Czorsztyn successions, becoming progressively more shallow towards the north. Five palaeobathymetric foraminiferal associations have been distinguished in the axial and northern marginal zone sediments of the Klippen Basin, corresponding to: ‘A’ shelf and upper slope: relatively large proportion of nodosariids and miliolids (Czorsztyn succession); ‘B1’ middle part of slope; oligotaxic planktonic assemblage dominant (Niedzica through Branisko successions and northern part of the Pieniny succession); ‘B2’ middle part of slope: larger proportion of agglutinated foraminifers, association characteristic of sediments influenced by turbidites (submarine flyschoid channels in the Branisko succession); ‘Cl’ middle and lower parts of slope: scarce microfauna, Hedbergella and textularids dominant (Pieniny succession, middle part); ‘C2’ slope/abyssal plain transition, close to foraminiferal lysocline (probably about 3500m below sea level): scarce specimens corroded and slightly dissolved (Pieniny succession, southern part).     

Transregional zones of concentrated deformation: Structure,evolution, and comparative geodynamics

The comparative tectonic characterization of transregional linear structures (zones of concentrated deformations) is given for the Pieniny Klippen Belt, the Main Mongolian Lineament, and the transregional Alpine Fault Zone. They represent significant geodynamic elements of the Earth’s crust, which separate large crustal segments and reflect their interaction in time and space. The main features of the structure, evolution, and geodynamics inherent to zones of concentrated deformations are described. It is shown that the similarity of their outlines, morphology, internal structure, and kinematic features is combined with a clearly distinct structural position, set of rock associations, formation mechanism, and their role in the origin of mobile belts.     

Summary of paleomagnetic data from the Central West Carpathians of Poland and Slovakia: Evidence for the late cretaceous-early tertiary transpression

The paper reviews paleomagnetic data from the Central West Carpathians (CWC) of Poland and Slovakia. The CWC constitute an orogen deformed by pre-Tertiary and Tertiary events, situated on the internal side of the Pieniny Klippen Belt and the Tertiary Outer West Carpathian accretionary wedge. The CWC are regarded as the eastern prolongation of the Austroalpine series. There are paleomagnetic evidences for a counterclockwise rotation of the CWC after Oligocene. Having subtracted the effect of this rotation, Middle Cretaceous paleomagnetic poles from the CWC are brought into agreement with preGosau paleopoles from the Upper Austroalpine units of the Northern Calcareous Alps (NCA). It is inferred that a common clockwise rotation of the CWC and NCA had taken place between 90-60 Ma (Middle — Late Cretaceous) during the oblique convergence of the Austroalpine/Central Carpathian realm with the Penninic continental basement.     

Middle Jurassic stromatactis mud-mounds in the Pieniny Klippen Belt (Carpathians) — A possible clue to the origin of stromatactis

Four occurrences of Jurassic stromatactis mud-mounds were found in the Czorsztyn Unit of the Pieniny Klippen Belt (Western Carpathians) — in western Slovakia (Slavnické Podhorie, Babiná), and in the Transcarpathian Ukraine (Priborzhavskoe and Veliky Kamenets). Their stratigraphic range is from Bajocian to Callovian. The mounds consist of micropeloidal mudstones, wackestones to packstones with a fauna including pelecypods, brachiopods, ammonites and crinoids. Spicules and skeletons of siliceous sponges are abundant in every section. All of the mounds contain networks of stromatactis cavities that are partially filled with radiaxial fibrous calcite (RFC) and locally by internal sediments. At Slavnické Podhorie, the sparry masses that fill stromatactis cavities are weathered out and show casts of sponges. Parallel study of the weathered casts and their cross-sections in slabs showed that they bear all the signs of stromatactis (relatively flat bottoms and digitate upper parts, RFC initial fillings and eventual blocky calcite later filling). Almost no original sponge structures were preserved. This strongly supports the possible sponge-related origin for stromatactis cavities.     

Stages in the Magura Basin: a case study of the Polish sector (Western Carpathians)

The Magura Basin domain developed in its initial stage as a Jurassic-Early Cretaceous rifted passive margin that faced the eastern parts of the oceanic Alpine Tethys. In the pre- and syn-orogenic evolution of the Magura Basin the following prominent periods can be distinguished: Middle Jurassic-Early Cretaceous syn-rift opening of basins (1) followed by Early Cretaceous post-rift thermal subsidence (2), latest Cretaceous–Paleocene syn-collisional inversion (3), Late Paleocene to Middle Eocene flexural subsidence (4) and Late Eocene - Early Miocene synorogenic closing of the basin (5). The driving forces of tectonic subsidence of the basin were syn-rift and thermal post-rift processes, as well as tectonic loads related to the emplacement of accretionary wedge. This process was initiated at the end of the Paleocene at the Pieniny Klippen Belt (PKB)/Magura Basin boundary and was completed during Late Oligocene in the northern part of the Magura Basin. During Early Miocene the Magura Basin was finally folded, thrusted and uplifted as the Magura Nappe.     

Detrital Cr-spinel in the Šambron–Kamenica Zone (Slovakia): evidence for an ocean-spreading zone in the Northern Vardar suture?

The Šambron–Kamenica Zone is situated on the northern margin of the Levočské vrchy mountains and Šarišskà vrchovina Highland, where the Central Carpathian Paleogene joins the Pieniny Klippen Belt. Sandstone outcrops in this area. From Cretaceous to Late Oligocene in age, these sediments suggest transport directions from S and SE. The heavy mineral assemblages of this sandstone include Cr-spinel grains, mainly displaying types II and III alpine-peridotite affinities, and are representative of Ocean Island Basalt volcanism. A sample from Upper Eocene sediments at Vit’az shows a clear change in Cr-spinel composition, which turns out to have types I and II peridotite affinities, and to derive from arc and Middle Ocean Ridge Basalt volcanism, with sediment transport directions from SW and WSW. These data indicate major variations in the Upper Eocene tectonic setting, giving constraints to paleogeographic reconstruction of the Slovak Central Carpathians.     

The stratigraphic and paleoenvironmental setting of Aptian OAE black shale deposits in the Pieniny Klippen Belt, Slovak Western Carpathians

During the Jurassic and Cretaceous, the Pieniny Klippen Belt units of the Outer Western Carpathians were situated on the edge of the Paleoeuropean shelf rimming the northermost margin of the Mediterranean Tethys. During the late early Aptian humid event, Lower Cretaceous pelagic carbonate (Maiolica) sedimentation was interrupted by terrigenous input as a consequence of the first major mid-Cretaceous climate perturbations. The fluctuation of radiolarian abundance indicated an expansion of the oxygen-minimum zone due to upwelling conditions and salinity changes. Foraminifera, radiolarians, non-calcareous dinocysts, and calcareous nannofossils encountered in the West Carpathian Rochovica section enable a comparison of the black shales of the upper lower Aptian Koňhora Formation with the well-known Selli Event. Subsequent anoxia patterns (depositional, productive, and stagnant) have taken part in the depositional regime. Early Aptian climate perturbations both in the Outer Western Carpathians, Swiss Prealps (situated in a similar position on the distal southern edge of the former Paleoeuropean shelf) and/or in other parts of the world are traceable with sedimentological, biological, and chemical proxies.     

The significance of Late Devonian ophiolites in the Variscan orogen: a record from the Vosges Klippen Belt

The present work examines the lithological, structural, geochemical and geochronological records from the Klippen Belt located in the southern Vosges Mountains (NE France). The Klippen Belt is represented by discontinuous exposures of serpentinized harzburgite, ophicalcite, gabbro, gneiss and polymictic conglomerate overlain by deep marine pelitic sediments. Structural data and Bouguer anomalies reveal that the Klippen Belt coincides with a significant discontinuity now occupied by a granitic ridge. Gabbro geochemistry indicates a MOR-type affinity similar to recent slow-spreading ridges, but positive Ba, Sr, Th or U anomalies do not exclude the influence of fluids expelled from a subduction zone. A Sm–Nd isochron age of 372?±?18?Ma is thought to reflect gabbro emplacement from a highly depleted mantle source (ε_Nd?=?+11.3), and U–Pb zircon ages from a gneiss sample indicate that the basement found in the Klippen has a Neoproterozoic origin. Combined data indicate the formation of a deep basin during Late Devonian rifting. The Klippen lithologies could testify for the presence of an ocean–continent transition environment subsequently inverted during the Early Carboniferous. Basin inversion during the Middle Visean was probably controlled by rift-related structures, and resulted in folding of the sedimentary successions as well as exhumation along thrust zones of deep parts of the basin represented by the Klippen Belt. Based on correlations with the neighbouring Variscan massifs, it is proposed that the southern Vosges sequences represent a back-arc basin related to the North-directed subduction of the southern Palaeotethys Ocean. This geodynamic reconstruction is tentatively correlated with similar ophiolitic remnants in the northern part of the French Massif Central (Brévenne) and with the evolution of the southern Black Forest. The Late Devonian ophiolites are interpreted as relicts of small back-arc marginal basins developed during general closure of the Palaeozoic subduction systems.     

Large counterclockwise rotation of the Inner West Carpathian Paleogene Flysch—Evidence from paleomagnetic investigations of the Podhale Flysch (Poland)

We are reporting the first paleomagnetic results from the Podhale Flysch, which crops out in the area between the Pieniny Klippen Belt and the Tatra Mts., where claystones and mudstones were drilled at 10 localities, mainly from subhorizontal strata. In all cases, the magnetic fabric was found to be typical of undeformed sediments, with well developed magnetic lineation (aligned with the sedimentary transport direction) at some of the localities; the dominant magnetic mineral was identified as magnetite, accompanied by iron sulphides. For six of the localities, with one exception for those with poorly developed lineation, we obtained statistically well-defined paleomagnetic mean directions, on AF or on combined AF and thermal demagnetization.The overall-mean paleomagnetic direction is D=298° 1=53° k=121, a95=6°, in tectonic coordinates. Similar direction was observed for Inner Carpathian flysch from the Levoča basin (Slovakia). We conclude, that the flysch of the two basins must have travelled a few hundred kilometres to the North, after the early Miocene tectonic phase: this displacement was accompanied by about 60° counterclockwise rotation with respect to Stable Europe.     

Late Cretaceous to Early Tertiary palaeogeography of the Western Carpathians (Slovakia) and the Eastern Alps (Austria): implications from heavy mineral data

The Late Cretaceous Brezová and Myjava Groups of the Western Carpathians in Slovakia and formations of the Gosau Group of the Northern Calcareous Alps in Lower Austria comprise similar successions of alluvial/shallow marine deposits overlain by deep water hemipelagic sediments and turbidites. In both areas the heavy mineral spectra of Late Cretaceous sediments contain significant amounts of detrital chrome spinel. In the Early Tertiary the amount of garnet increases. Cluster analysis and correspondence analysis of Coniacian/Santonian and Campanian/Early Maastrichtian heavy mineral data indicate strong similarities between the Gosau deposits of the Lunz Nappe of the north-eastern part of the Northern Calcareous Alps and the Brezova Group of the Western Carpathians. Similar source areas and a similar palaeogeographical position at the northern active margin of the Adriatic/Austroalpine plate are therefore suggested for the two tectonic units.Basin subsidence mechanisms within the Late Cretaceous of the Northern Calcareous Alps are correlated with the Western Carpathians. Subsidence during the Campanian-Maastrichtian is interpreted as a consequence of subduction tectonic erosion along the active northern margin of the Adriatic/Austroalpine plate. Analogous facies and heavy mineral associations from deep water sandstones of the Manin Unit and the Klape Unit indicate accretion of parts of the Pieniny Klippen Belt during the Late Cretaceous along the Adriatic/Austroalpine margin.     

Early Cretaceous (Valanginian) sea lilies (Echinodermata, Crinoidea) from Poland

Valanginian strata in central epicratonic Poland have recently yielded crinoids, not previously recorded from the area. The fauna comprises isocrinids (Balanocrinus subteres, B. gillieroni, “Isocrinus?” lissajouxi), millericrinids (Apiocrinites sp.) and comatulids (Comatulida indet.). For comparison, a few samples of isocrinids from Valanginian strata of Hungary (Tethyan province) were also analysed. The isocrinids, cyrtocrinids and roveacrinids (sensu Rasmussen 1978 inclusive of Saccocoma sp.) were already known from the Valanginian of the southernmost Tethyan regions of Poland (Pieniny Klippen Belt and Tatra Mountains). The current study demonstrates their occurrence in central epicratonic Poland, and suggests that many Jurassic to Cretaceous stalked crinoid taxa (mainly isocrinids) predominated in the shallow-water settings of this area. Thus, the hypothesis of migration (at least from mid-Cretaceous onwards) to deep-water areas, as a response to an increase of the number of predators during the Mesozoic marine revolution, seems not to be universally applicable.     

The Šariš Transitional Zone,revealing interactions between Pieniny Klippen Belt,Outer Carpathians and European platform

The Pieniny Klippen Belt (PKB) is a narrow structure delineating the boundary between the Central and Outer Carpathians. It is built of nappes stacked during the Cretaceous and Paleocene and then re-folded in the Miocene during the formation of the Outer Carpathian overthrusts. The internal structure of the PKB at the Polish/Slovakian border first formed during northward nappe thrusting processes, which were most intense at the turn of the Cretaceous to the Paleocene. A secondary factor is the change in strike of the PKB turning from W–E to WNW–ESE, associated with dextral strike-slip faulting in the Carpathian basement (North-European Platform). These NNW-SSE oriented strike-slip fault zones, broadly parallel to the Teisseyre-Tornquist Zone, are responsible for the segmentation of the down-going plate, which influenced the subduction and collision between the North-European Platform and the Central Carpathian Block. Among them, the most important role was played by the Kraków—Myszków Fault Zone separating the Ma?opolska and Upper Silesian blocks in the Carpathian foreland. Shifts and interactions between the neighboring Pieniny and Outer Carpathian basins—during contemporaneous sedimentation and deformation—resulted in a difficult-to-define, transitional zone. Until now this zone had the rank of a tectonic unit, named “Grajcarek Unit” in Poland and “?ari? Unit” in the Slovak Republic. However, its northern boundary, often taken to represent the Central/Outer Carpathians boundary, is ambiguous. These problems are due to the spatial overlap of thrusting and gravitational flows resulting in chaotic breccias, olistoliths and olistostrome formation, which formed repeatedly and became deformed during the Maastrichtian to Early Miocene. Tectonic deformations in this area gradually vanished towards the north. This zone can therefore be defined as the Peri-Klippen part of the Magura Nappe that lacks a distinct northern tectonic limit. For this reason it is named ?ari? Transitional Zone (?TZ).     

“Cretaceous black flysch” in the Pieniny Klippen Belt, West Carpathians: a case of geological misinterpretation

This is a critical assessment of the paper by Oszczypko et al. (2004: Cretaceous Research 25, 89–113), in which they tried to prove a mid-Cretaceous age for the Szlachtowa (“black flysch”) and Opaleniec Formations, in the Pieniny Klippen Belt, West Carpathians, both of which had previously been shown to be of Jurassic age. We argue that the mid-Cretaceous age assignment is a misinterpretation, primarily resulting from their field samples having been collected from some Cretaceous lithostratigraphic units, tectonically associated with the Jurassic formations, and/or from tectonic contact-breccias involving Jurassic and Cretaceous strata. In addition, we suggest that they have overlooked a number of significant palaeontological papers, published since 1962, which record the presence of in situ ammonites, aptychi, belemnites, thin-shelled bivalves (Bositra), gryphaeids, foraminifera, and ostracod assemblages, all indicating a Jurassic (mainly Aalenian), and not a Cretaceous, age for the Szlachtowa Formation, and also the in situ Jurassic (Bajocian) ammonites and thin-shelled bivalves (Bositra), Bositra-microfacies, and age-diagnostic foraminiferal assemblages of the Opaleniec Formation.Our presentation here of recently published dinocyst data from well-preserved assemblages further supports the Jurassic ages for the Szlachtowa (“black flysch”) and Opaleniec Formations.     

Cretaceous flysch and pelagic sequences of the Eastern Alps: correlations, heavy minerals, and palaeogeographic implications

Flysch and pelagic sedimentation of the Penninic and Austroalpine tectonic units of the Eastern Alps are results of the closure of the Tethyan-Vardar and the Ligurian-Piemontais Oceans as well as of the progressive deformation of the Austroalpine continental margin. The Austroalpine sequences are characterized by Lower Cretaceous pelagic limestones or minor carbonate flysch and various siliciclastic mid- and Upper Cretaceous flysch formations. Chrome spinel is the most characteristic heavy mineral delivered by the southern Vardar suture, the northern obduction belt at the South Penninic-Austroalpine margin and its continuation into the Klippen belt sensu lato of the Carpathians. The South Penninic sequences, e.g. the Arosa zone, the Ybbsitz Klippen zone and some flysch nappes also contain chrome spinel, whereas the sediments of the North Penninic Rhenodanubian flysch zone are characterized by stable minerals and garnet.     

Mineralogy and paragenesis of the cupriferous deposits of the Acton Vale-Upton sector,Klippen Belt,Quebec

Mineralogical and paragenetic studies of the metallic and nonmetallic constituents of the carbonate-hosted cupriferous ores of the Acton Vale-Upton sector, Klippen Belt, Quebec, have revealed the following. The deposits are characterized by a simple mineralogy and a complex paragenesis. Several generations of pyrite and chalcopyrite are associated with sphalerite, galena, pyrrhotite, covellite, bornite, idaite, djurleite, malachite, azurite, Fe oxides, and minor barite. The deposits are characterized by three discrete mineral assemblages which are composed of syndiagenetic minerals, epigenetic minerals, and supergene minerals. They are hosted by concordantly interbedded lithologies that have been hydrothermally altered by intrusions. The deposits are characterized by massive lenticular bodies, stockworks, vugs, veins, and by cockade and replacement textures, solution collapse breccias, and karst phenomena. The deposits have been enriched in recent times by supergene processes. Considering that the lithostratigraphic sequence constitutes an ideal structural trap for ascending mineralizing fluids, it is the authors' opinion that the deposits are unconventional epigenetic, carbonate-hosted, Cu-dominant and/or Pb-Zn-Ba bodies which in their original form were too low grade to be economic. They required postdepositional remobilization and concentration to upgrade their protores. Based on the assumption that the ores were derived from the expulsion of metal-rich formation waters during compaction and that they were, at one point, contaminated and set in motion by magmatic solutions emanating from rising plutons of post-Taconic age, it is inferred that the thermal energy necessary to remobilize the ores was provided by the intrusions of the Acton Vale-Upton sector.     

龙门山彭州—什邡地区的巨型冰川漂砾

论述了塘坝子等地的“飞来峰”是由汶川搬运到喜州等地来的巨型冰川漂砾,同时分析了“飞来峰”石灰岩呈角砾状是由冰劈作用和厚层冰雪压碎作用,再经胶结的结果,提出了冰冻灰岩这一词语。