The geodynamic evolution of Pindos foreland basin in SW Greece

Abstract

The distribution of Eocene-Oligocene turbidite facies in the Pindos foreland and the paleocurrent directions of submarine fan deposits, of the Peloponnesus area, document the proximal part of an underfilled foreland basin. The definition of Pindos foreland basin attributes sediment accommodation solely to flexural subsidence driven by topographic load of the thrust belt and sediment loads in the foreland basin. The restriction of the coarse grained deposits and the basin underfilled conditions are related to the Pindos foreland evolution, and especially to the internal thrusting and produced intrabasinal highs. The presence of strike-slip faults can affect the geometry of a basin by causing changes in depth and width, resulting in the transformation from a uniform to non-uniform configuration. This change has an intensive impact on depositional environments along the basin axis. Strike-slip faults that cross-cut intrabasinal highs produce pathways for the sediment distribution on both sides of the highs. Distributary channels that discharge into the basin are perpendicular to its axis and shift axially at the basin floor. The strike-slip and thrust faulting operated contemporaneously for much of their active periods, although it appears that thrust faulting, initiated slightly earlier than strike-slip faulting.