The Miocene to Quaternary evolution of the Vienna Basin (northeastern part): Geodynamics, eustasy, stratigraphy and depositional systems

Abstract

Long-term research of the Vienna Basin (Central Europe) has resulted in multiple stratigraphic concepts, though these are at least in part mutually exclusive. This contribution aims to reconsider the available information on the northeastern Vienna Basin, located in Slovakia, to create a consistent stratigraphic model. Lithostratigraphic correlations based on benthic taxa - widely used elsewhere - are omitted, since these include inherently diachronous paleoecological zones. This presumption of diachroneity is further supported by the evidence of shelf-slope scale clinoforms. The following sequences were identified: (1) the Early Miocene wedge-top basin, genetically unrelated to the subsequently formed Vienna Basin; Eggenburgian-Ottnangian cycles are still obscured, and the Karpatian includes two transgressive-regressive cycles; (2) Middle Miocene early Badenian rifting including the Kúty Fm. lowstand and Lanžhot Fm., together with the Devínska Nová Ves Fm., comprising transgression and a highstand; (3) Middle Miocene late Badenian rifting including lowstand offshore Jakubov Mb. and transgressive littoral Stupava Fm., followed by the highstand offshore Studienka Mb. passing to normal regressive Matzen delta; (4) Middle Miocene Sarmatian rifting including the basal Kopčany and Radimov mbs., the offshore transgressive to regressive Holíč Fm. and the highstand normal regressive deltaic Skalica Fm.; (5) supposed Late Miocene rifting with Lake Pannon transgression resulting in the lacustrine Bzenec Fm., followed by the highstand normal regressive deltaic Čáry and alluvial Gbely fms.