The Langhian (Middle Badenian) carbonate production event in the Moravian part of the Carpathian Foredeep (Central Paratethys): a multiproxy record

Abstract

The carbonate production event in the Moravian part of the Carpathian Foredeep is known as a deposition of a carbonate–siliciclastic complex in the marginal part of the basin, correlating with the time period from the last occurrence of Helicosphaera waltrans (14.36 Ma) to the last occurrence of Sphenolithus heteromorphus (13.34 Ma). Sedimentological and microfacial data, analysis of foraminifera, calcareous nannoplankton, red algae, mollusks, palynology, as well as oxygen and carbon stable isotopes from foraminiferal tests, were used to interpret the specific paleoenvironment of the carbonate production event. The event was accelerated by a decrease of terrigenous input due to a large transgression and, primarily, an increasingly arid climate. Production of carbonate was related to oligotrophic conditions, expansion of sea-grass meadows, summer downwelling circulations and winter stratification of the water column. Autochthonous and semi-autochthonous carbonates were deposited in shallow-water near the fair-weather wave-base; allochthonous carbonates were transported to the outer shelf by gravity flows. Climatic instability and relative sea-level changes, induced mainly by substantial tectonic activity, caused the carbonate bodies to be small with a high ratio of siliciclastic components, indicating only a short-term and spatially restricted environment suitable for carbonate production. Exceptionally, carbonate production persisted longer during the whole sea-level cycle (“Rousinov Ridge”). Siliciclastic intercalations in these larger limestone bodies represent catastrophic rain events that transported a higher amount of terrigenous material into the basin. The specific climatic conditions of the carbonate production event, namely climatic instability and aridification with episodic intensive rain, were associated with the Middle Miocene climatic transition in the study area.