3D Visualization of Miocene Tectonic Subsidence in the Northern and Central Vienna Basin Using BasinVis 1.0

Abstract

Summary This study analyzed and visualized data from 219 wells using a MATLAB-based program BasinVis 1.0 for the tectonic subsidence evolution of the northern and central Vienna Basin. Subsidence of the study area resulted in 3D subsidence depth maps and rate maps of tectonic subsidence in seven successive stages. Due to the position, the Vienna Basin has a complex evolution history from the piggy-back basin phase (Early Miocene) to the pull-apart basin phase (Middle – Late Miocene). The 2D/3D maps generated in this study provided insights into the evolution of the Vienna Basin, which is closely related to changes in the changing regional stress field and basin structural setting. In the piggy-back basin phase, the tectonic subsidence was shallow, E-W/NE-SW trending, and restricted to small depressions. In the late Early Miocene, the Vienna Basin changed to a pull-apart basin system with wider and deeper tectonic subsidence by sinistral strike-slip faults and related normal faults. After almost stopped tectonic subsidence of the early Middle Miocene, the development of the Vienna Basin was controlled and accelerated mainly by NE-SW trending synsedimentary normal faults, especially the Steinberg fault. The Late Miocene was characterized by the slowing down of tectonic subsidence.