Upper Jurassic Carbonate Sediments and Reefs in the Carpathian Foreland of Poland

Abstract

Paleogeographic analyses and plate reconstructions indicate that the Upper Jurassic series of the Carpathian foreland accumulated on the Eurasian shelf of the Tethys Ocean. In the Carpathian foreland of southern Poland, marine Upper Jurassic carbonate series, exceeding 1000 m in thickness, are covered by Tertiary Molasse series or by thrust units of the Outer Carpathians. From a lithostratigraphic point of view, six facies units can be recognized in these Oxfordian to Tithonian carbonates, namely calcareous plankton, calcareous sponge, algal-oolitic, calcareous-marly coquina, dolomitic-calcareous, and upper algal series. During the lower part of the Upper Jurassic, deeper neritic conditions prevailed (calcareous plankton series). These gave way to upward shoaling conditions (calcareous sponge series, deeper basin calcareous-marly series) and a final shallow water environment (algal-oolitic and younger series). Thickness changes of the calcareous-marly series and the diachronous character of the facies boundary between the Oxfordian and Kimmeridgian show that the basin deepened to the south. Barrier reefs and associated fore-reef and back-reef facies occur within the algal-oolitic series. These trend northwest-southeast and reach 30-50 m in thickness. The reefs were mainly built by algae. Algal reefs under the Molasse and Carpathian thrust sheets are potential hydrocarbon exploration targets. The paleogeographic position of themore » Jurassic of the Carpathian foreland lies within the Tethys realm, which contains a large part of the world's producible oil reserves; this lends encouragement to this play.« less