New Berriasian palaeopole from the Central West Carpathians (Tatra Mountains, southern Poland): does it look Apulian?

Abstract

SUMMARY A palaeomagnetic study was carried out in the northern part of the Central West Carpathians in the Tatra Mts (20 ◦ E, 49 ◦ N). Berriasian pelagic carbonates from the Krizna nappe (Fatricum) were investigated at three localities (166 samples), embracing a ∼100-m vertical section. A mixed-polarity pre-folding, magnetite-related component was calculated for 87 samples, representing the Lower and Middle Berriasian. The palaeopole (152 ◦ E, 63 ◦ N) is located close to the coeval Eurasian palaeopole, implying a net post-Berriasian 15 ◦ -20 ◦ clockwise tectonic rotation of the Krizna nappe in the investigated area relative to stable Europe. Berriasian palaeolatitudes from the Tatra Mts are similar to those from the Pieniny Klippen Belt and Northern Calcareous Alps, but systematically higher than in the Transdanubian and Italian (Apulian) sections. Taking into account the fact that palaeomagnetic data from the overlying Ter tiary rocks indicate ∼60 ◦ counter-clockwise rotation of the Central West Carpathians after the Oligocene, the Krizna nappe must have rotated clockwise before the Eocene, probably during the Late Cretaceous thrusting. Available palaeomagnetic data point to a palaeotectonic affinity of the Central West Carpathi- ans and Northern Calcareous Alps in the Mesozoic. The Central West Carpathians and Northern Calcareous Alps reveal a rotation pattern that is predominantly clockwise, whereas areas be- longing to the Apulian plate (e.g. Transdanubian Mts, Southern Alps, and Appenines) show mostly counter-clockwise rotations.