Klippen Belt, Flysch Belt and Inner Western Carpathian Paleogene Basin Relations in the Northern Slovakia by Magnetotelluric Imaging

Abstract

The paper presents the interpretation of magnetotelluric measurements along the SW–NE profile near Stara Ľubovňa (Northern Slovakia). The profile passes through the Outer Carpathian Flysch Belt, Klippen Belt and ends in the Inner Western Carpathians Paleogene NW from Ružbachy horst structure. The interpretation of the older measurements from profile Mt4 was utilized and, moreover, the 3-D geoelectrical model of studied region was constructed. The magnetotelluric data interpretations verified the northern inclination of Flysch belt structures and their smaller thickness out of Klippen Belt in direction to the Carpathian electrical conductivity zone axis. We consider this as a consequence of the flower structure—more precisely the southern branch of the suture zone related to mentioned conductivity zone. Northerly from this zone the thickness of the Outer Carpathian Flysch Belt increases and the structures have inclination to the south, i.e. to the subduction zone. The contact of Flysch Belt with Klippen Belt has a fault character and it is subvertical, slightly inclined to the North. The southern boundary between Klippen Belt and Inner Western Carpathians has also fault character and is very steep. We detect the continuation of the Ružbachy horst to the NE in the basement of Inner Western Carpathian Paleogene. The structural discordance between this horst and Klippen Belt direction is a result of younger tectonic processes. According to our results the depth distribution of the pre-Tertiary basement below the Inner Western Carpathian units is non-uniform; the basement is broken to a number of partial blocks—horsts and grabens.