The Black Sea basin: tectonic history and Neogene–Quaternary rapid subsidence modelling

Abstract

The Black Sea basin originated as a back-arc basin during Cretaceous times. Continental rifting took place during the Aptian to Albian with large-scale crustal thinning and separation occurring since the Cenomanian, mainly along a former Albian volcanic arc. Both western and eastern Black Sea basins opened almost simultaneously during Cenomanian to Coniacian times. However, during the Santonian to Palaeocene, the Black Sea region was affected by compressional deformation. Apart from a tensional event that took place in eastern part of the region during the Eocene, deepening of the basin has been induced by compressional deformation from latest Eocene to recent times. Kinematic and dynamic modelling of the subsidence history of the Black Sea basin shows that downward bending of the lithosphere beneath the basin due to compressional deformation could be the cause of this rapid additional subsidence.