Tectonics and evolution of the northern part of the Black Sea in the Late Miocene and Pliocene

Abstract

Summary The Ukrainian sector of the Black Sea was studied with the interpretation of seismic reflection data along seismic lines having a total length of some 30 000 km. The strong compression occurred in the Late Miocene. The compression caused the generation and additional growth of thrusts and anticline folds. The broad onshore terrain that was exposed in a roughly E-W direction across the present shallow and deep-water parts of the Black Sea was formed as a result of the compression. The onshore terrain partially occupied the area where the present-day water depth reaches 2000 m. The weaker compressional stresses caused a continuation of the syn-depositional growths of many anticline folds after the main phase of compression. The upper apexes of folds were severely eroded during the gradual subsidence of the Late Miocene land. The shallow sea penetrated into the land between local folds and created gulfs, lagoons, lakes and islands. Then, the accelerated subsidence of the Black Sea Basin led to the formation of the deep-water sea having the present-day water depth. The results will undoubtedly entail a revision of most present-day geodynamic models of the entire Black Sea region