Internal Dinarides Research Articles

Paleomagnetic contribution to resolving the tectonic evolution of the Drina–Ivanjica Unit, Internal Dinarides

Paleomagnetic contribution to resolving the tectonic evolution of the Drina–Ivanjica Unit, Internal Dinarides

Impact of mechanical stratigraphy on deformation style and distribution of seismicity in the central External Dinarides: a 2D forward kinematic modelling study

The External Dinarides fold-thrust belt formed during Mid-Eocene–Oligocene times by SW-propagating thrusting from the Internal Dinarides towards the Adriatic foreland. Although previously considered as structurally quite uniform, recent work reported along-strike contrasting deformation styles in two structural domains within this fold-thrust belt. The two areas with very contrasting deformation styles are separated by the N–S-striking dextral Split-Karlovac Fault, a 250 km long, transpressive transfer fault. The southeastern domain is characterized by a thin-skinned SW-vergent nappe stack in contrast to the northwestern domain, where a set of blind, thick-skinned top-SW thrust duplexes prevail underneath the passive NE-vergent backthrusts. To better understand why the External Dinarides underwent such contrasting along-strike deformation, we reconsidered a temporal and spatial along- and across-strike distribution of Paleo-Mesozoic lithofacies to both sides of the Split-Karlovac Fault and estimated the role of mechanical stratigraphy on deformation styles in this part of the fold-thrust belt. Therefore, we constructed a new 2D kinematic forward model in the western backthrust-dominated domain. Our best-fit forward-modelled balanced cross section across the central Velebit Mtn. portrays a 75 km wide triangle zone. This zone took up at least 47 km of shortening during Eo-Oligocene times. It comprises a set of thin-skinned NE-vergent backthrusts detached in the upper Paleozoic atop a SW-vergent thick-skinned antiformal stack detached in the lower Paleozoic Adriatic basement. The NE-vergent backthrusts likely nucleated at lateral facies boundaries related to extensional half grabens that locally formed during Middle Triassic and Late Jurassic passive margin extension. During the Eo-Oligocene folding and thrusting, the selective inversion of inherited Mesozoic half grabens boundary faults into the NE-vergent backthrusts in the northwestern domain led to the observed along-strike changes in the deformation style of the External Dinarides. A seismotectonic analysis of instrumentally recorded earthquakes suggests contrasting seismic behaviour along the central and southern Velebit transects within the northwestern structural domain. The central Velebit Mtn. triangle structure appears to currently accommodate dominantly strike-slip motion, with reverse faulting being confined to east of the Split-Karlovac Fault. In contrast, seismicity along the southern Velebit cross section appears to be confined to the structurally lowermost parts of the triangle zone and the foreland, while it´s structurally higher parts are less seismically active. Also, a predominance of reverse faulting along this transect suggests ongoing accommodation of shortening in this part. Our results indicate that both the variations in the mechanical stratigraphy and the pre-orogenic structural inheritance obtained during rifting and passive margin stages exert control on contractional structures within the External Dinarides, including the distribution of present-day seismicity.

Tectono-sedimentary evolution of the NE dinarides margin: vestiges of the Adria-Europe convergence in cretaceous sedimentary formations of central Serbia

The Cretaceous sedimentation along the NE Dinarides margin occurred in basins above the Europe-dipping Neotethyan Sava subduction zone positioned between Adria- and Europe-derived continental units. The Cretaceous sedimentation on the upper plate of the Sava subduction system took place in a fore-arc basin, developed in frontal parts of the active European continental margin. The Cretaceous sedimentation in the lower Adria plate domain of the Sava subduction system includes sediments deposited in the basin developed over the passive continental margin of the Internal Dinarides and the sediments deposited in the Sava subduction trench. While the Cretaceous sedimentation on the entire Adriatic continental margin was associated with an overall contraction, which led to the progressive subsidence towards the end of the Cretaceous, the fore-arc basin on the European continental margin displays three depositional cycles during the Early Cretaceous-Cenomanian, Turonian-Santonian, and Campanian-early Paleogene, reflecting three stages of deformation, contraction, extension, and ultimately contraction again during the Adria-Europe collision.

Torn Between Two Plates: Exhumation of the Cer Massif (Internal Dinarides) as a Far‐Field Effect of Carpathian Slab Rollback Inferred From 40Ar/39Ar Dating and Cross Section Balancing

AbstractExtension across the southern Pannonian Basin and the internal Dinarides is characterized by Oligo‐Miocene metamorphic core complexes (MCCs) exhumed along mylonitic low‐angle extensional shear zones. Cer MCC at the transition between Dinarides and Pannonian Basin occupies a structural position within the distal‐most Adriatic thrust sheet and originates from two different tectonic processes: Late Cretaceous‐Paleogene nappe‐stacking during a continent‐continent collision with Adria in a lower plate position, and exhumation related to Miocene extension driven by the Carpathian slab‐rollback. Structural data and a balanced cross section across the Cer massif show linking of the exhuming shear zone to a breakaway fault, which reactivated the early Late Cretaceous most internal nappe contact. Paleozoic greenschist‐to amphibolite‐grade lithologies surround a polyphase intrusion composed of I‐ and S‐type granites and were exhumed along a shear zone characterized by top‐N transport. Thermobarometric analyses indicate an intrusion depth of 7–8 km of the Oligocene I‐type granite; cooling below ∼500°C occurred at 25.4 ± 0.6 Ma (1σ) yielded by 40Ar/39Ar dating of hornblende. Biotite and white mica from this intrusion as well as from the mylonitic shear zone yield 40Ar/39Ar cooling ages of 17–18 Ma independent of the used techniques (in situ laser ablation, single‐grain total fusion, single‐grain step heating, and multi‐grain step heating). White mica from the S‐type granite yield an 40Ar/39Ar cooling age of 16.7 ± 0.1 Ma (1σ). Associated dikes intruding the shear zone were also affected by N‐S extension resulting in the exhumation of the MCC, which was triggered by the opening of the Pannonian back‐arc basin in response to the Carpathian slab‐rollback.

GEOCHEMISTRY AND PETROGENESIS OF OLIGOCENE DACITES FROM THE CENTRAL BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA WITH INSIGHT IN THE POSTCOLLISIONAL TECTONIC EVOLUTION OF CENTRAL DINARIDIC OPHIOLITE BELT

<p>Magmatic rocks of post-Late Eocene magmatic formation are widespread in the Sava segment of SavaVardar suture zone and adjoin areas. The rocks formed as a response to transpressional-transtensional tectonic activity preceded by the Cretaceous-Eocene compression of the Internal Dinarides and Tisia Unit as fragments of Eurasian continental lithosphere. Central Bosnia Tertiary volcanic rocks (CBTVR), erupted as dacites in Lower Oligocene, are peculiar rocks of this formation either by their location (southernmost distal outcrops) or geological setting (extrusive within the melange of the Internal Dinaride Ophiolite Belt).</p><p>Major element composition of the CBTVR reveals high-K calc-alkaline geochemical affinity whereas trace element discriminate the rocks as shoshonitic. The rocks are LILE-enriched and show negative TaNb, P and Ti anomalies, and positive Pb anomalies typical of subduction related volcanic rocks. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns exhibit significant LREE/HREE enrichment [(La/Yb)cn = 21.4 - 33.4]. Geochemical affinity of the CBTVR combined with tectonic position of extrusions suggests derivation of the melts from the subcontinental mantle which had inherited strong orogenic signature during an ancient subduction.</p>

Post-collisional mantle delamination in the Dinarides implied from staircases of Oligo-Miocene uplifted marine terraces

The Dinarides fold-thrust belt on the Balkan Peninsula resulted from convergence between the Adriatic and Eurasian plates since Mid-Jurassic times. Under the Dinarides, S-wave receiver functions, P-wave tomographic models, and shear-wave splitting data show anomalously thin lithosphere overlying a short down-flexed slab geometry. This geometry suggests a delamination of Adriatic lithosphere. Here, we link the evolution of this continental convergence system to hitherto unreported sets of extensively uplifted Oligocene–Miocene (28–17 Ma) marine terraces preserved at elevations of up to 600 m along the Dinaric coastal range. River incision on either side of the Mediterranean-Black Sea drainage divide is comparable to the amounts of terrace uplift. The preservation of the uplifted terraces implies that the most External Dinarides did not experience substantial deformation other than surface uplift in the Neogene. These observations and the contemporaneous emplacement of igneous rocks (33–22 Ma) in the internal Dinarides suggest that the Oligo-Miocene orogen-wide uplift was driven by post-break-off delamination of the Adriatic lithospheric mantle, this was followed by isostatic readjustment of the remaining crust. Our study details how lithospheric delamination exerts an important control on crustal deformation and that its crustal signature and geomorphic imprint can be preserved for millions of years.

An arid phase in the Internal Dinarides during the early to middle Miocene: Inferences from Mg-clays in the Pranjani Basin (Serbia)

Lacustrine strata record long-term variations in climatic and tectonic perturbations during orogen evolution. Here we use the sedimentological record of the early to middle Miocene intramontane lacustrine Pranjani Basin (Serbia) to study tectonic and climatic variations during the evolution of the Dinaridic orogen. Our study focuses on a Mg-clay-bearing succession that belongs to the second depositional cycle. A detailed sedimentological, mineralogical and geochemical study shows that the investigated Mg-clays bearing succession consists of an alternation of smectite- (± analcime or sepiolite), dolomite-sepiolite and sepiolite layers. We interpret this high-order cyclicity to have been driven by variable water availability, i.e. by the interplay between runoff, groundwater influx and evaporation. Furthermore, we relate these pulses in water variability to wet and dry intervals under semi-arid to arid climatic conditions. Dry intervals produced a negative water balance promoting the deposition of sepiolite - and dolomite - dominated facies. Wet intervals and a positive water balance stimulated higher terrestrial input and thus favored the deposition of smectite-dominated facies. Our new data combined with a review of previous studies reveal longer-term basin-wide lake level and chemistry fluctuations, which we relate to closed and open lake phases. We suggest that these phases can be explained by alternating humid and arid phases superimposed on tectonically induced uplift and subsidence. The arid phases led to lake shrinking and deposition of an evaporite-bearing succession. During the intervening humid phase, the lake expanded. In contrast to the lakes formed in the external part of the Dinarides, the lakes that existed in its internal part contain evaporite-bearing successions, indicating that this arid phase was regionally extensive and possibly orographically controlled.

Deciphering the geodynamic evolution of the Dinaric orogen through the study of the ‘overstepping’ Cretaceous successions

AbstractAlong the Dinaric–Hellenic orogen, the Late Jurassic – Early Cretaceous ophiolite obduction over the Adria continental margin was sealed by sedimentation of clastic terrestrial deposits rapidly followed by a widespread carbonate platform system since the Early Cretaceous period. These Cretaceous sediments presently crop out over areas of varying extension, from several hundred kilometre wide undeformed continuous covers to small-scale tectonic slivers involved in the tectonic stack following the latest Cretaceous–Palaeogene collision. These deposits are unconformably sedimented above the units formed by the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous nappe stacking above the eastern Adria continental margin. We studied these deposits in a large area between western Serbia and eastern Bosnia. In the studied area, these deposits are divided into three lithostratigraphic groups according to their age, depositional environment and type of underlying basement. The Mokra Gora Group sediments (upper Aptian–Maastrichtian) were deposited on top of previously obducted and weathered ophiolites, the Kosjerić Group (Cenomanian–Campanian) overlies composite tectonic units comprising obducted ophiolites and their underlying continental basement portions, while the Guča Group (Campanian–Maastrichtian) exclusively rests on top of continental basement. The reconstructed sedimentary evolution of these groups, together with the comparison with the syn- and post-obduction deposits at the front of the ophiolitic nappe(s) in a wider area of the internal Dinarides (e.g. Pogari Group and Bosnian flysch), allowed us to clarify the obduction mechanisms, including their tectonic context, the changes in depositional environments and the timing of depositional and tectonic events, and, in a wider view, shed light on the geodynamic evolution of the Dinaric belt.

Late Paleozoic microfaunas in the pebbles of the Podlipoglav conglomerate, Central Slovenia

The Paleozoic conglomerate at Podlipoglav in the transitional area between the External and Internal Dinarides of Slovenia contains limestone pebbles that have been examined micropaleontologically. The recovered conodont faunas are marked by the obvious absence of shallow-water taxa. The Lower to Middle Devonian faunas are characterized by relatively abundant polygnathids that are assigned to the Emsian and early Eifelian excavatus-nothoperbonus, laticostatus and costatus Zones. The Pennsylvanian conodont faunas contain relatively deep-water Neolochriea or gondolellids indicating an early Bashkirian and Moscovian age. A presence of the radiolarian species Pseudoalbaillella nodosa suggests a deep-water setting during the early Moscovian and it is the oldest yet-reported albaillellid finding in Central Europe.

Crustal Thickness Beneath the Dinarides and Surrounding Areas From Receiver Functions

AbstractKnowledge about the crustal thickness is one of the key elements in the reconstruction of the regional tectonic history. The Dinaric mountain belt is one of the most enigmatic segments of the Alpine‐Mediterranean collision zone, characterized by large variations in crustal thickness and not studied sufficiently. We present a new Moho depth map for the wider Dinarides region which was created using teleseismic earthquake recordings from 87 permanent and temporary seismic stations in the region. Teleseismic data were analyzed using the receiver function method to extract converted P to S waves.The resulting Moho topography fits well within a structural framework comprising a thicker crust under the Dinarides, which gradually becomes thinner toward the Pannonian and Adriatic domains. The profiles crossing the northwestern Dinarides are marked by a relatively sharp decrease in crustal thickness north of the main thrust front. This transition is followed by significant crustal thinning toward the Pannonian basin. The Mohorovičić discontinuity lies the deepest in the central and southern Dinarides, at depths of over 55 km. Here similarly to the northwestern segment we observe a jump in the crustal thickness when transitioning toward the Internal Dinarides, which hints at possible underthrusting (or subduction) of the Adria plate in this region. Moho depths in the transition zone toward the Pannonian basin and in the Pannonian basin proper vary between 25 and 35 km. In the Adriatic domain, we find crustal thickness ranging from 30 km to more than 45 km around the Central Adriatic islands.

Late Triassic radiolarians from the Grivska formation, internal Dinarides, SW Serbia

Upper Triassic (upper carnian - rhaetian) grey cherty limestone are known in the internal Dinarides under the name of ?Grivska Formation?. Sediments of the Grivska Formation are characterized by microfossils only - conodonts and radiolarians, and did not yield any macrofossils. Micropa - laeontological research of Upper Triassic siliceous rocks was performed at the locality Lim river, in the vicinity of Bistrica Village in SW Serbia. Radiolarian assemblages are characterized by such species as Capnodoce anapetes De Wever, C. sarisa De Wever, Sarla hadrecaena (De Wever), Praehexasaturnalis tenuispinosus (Donofrio & Mostler), Xiphothecaellla longa (Kozur & Mock). According to the radiolarian data, the investigated cherts are of latest carnian to early norian age.

Structural and geochronological constraints from the Drina-Ivanjica thrust sheet (Western Serbia): implications for the Cretaceous\u2013Paleogene tectonics of the Internal Dinarides

We have investigated successive episodes of ocean-continent and continent–continent convergence in Western Serbia (Drina-Ivanjica thrust sheet). The coupled application of structural and petrological analyses with Illite Crystallinity measurements and K/Ar dating has revealed the timing and structural characteristics of multiple regional deformation phases, and allowed us to revise the origin of the different Triassic units outcropping in the study area. D1 tectonic burial was characterized by anchizonal metamorphism, dominantly WNW-verging isoclinal folding (F1), and related axial planar cleavage (S1) formation in the Paleozoic basement and the stratigraphic cover of the Drina-Ivanjica thrust sheet exposed along the northern rim of this thrust sheet. The timing of D1 deformation is constrained by K/Ar ages suggesting 135–150 Ma tectonic burial for the Drina-Ivanjica thrust sheet. D1 deformation and metamorphism is correlated with the closure of the Vardar ocean by top-W to NW ophiolite obduction and the underthrusting of the Adriatic distal passive margin below the oceanic upper plate. Since D1 structures are lacking in the southern occurrences of Triassic rocks within the study area it is proposed that this Triassic is may not be the original sedimentary cover of the Drina-Ivanjica Paleozoic basement. We propose that this southern Triassic originated from a more external Dinaridic thrust sheet and was transported to its present-day position by a top-NE backthrust presumably during late Early Cretaceous–Paleogene times. Map-scale, NW–SE striking D2 thrust faults and abundant NW–SE trending F2 folds observed in all units correspond to the general trend of the Dinaridic orogen and are attributed to the latest Cretaceous–Paleogene collision between Adria and Europe. Regional Latest Cretaceous–Paleogene shortening was followed by strike-slip tectonics (N–S shortening and perpendicular extension) and subsequent Miocene normal faulting in both orogen-parallel and orogen-perpendicular directions driven by slab rollback processes of the Carpathian-Dinaridic realm.

Magneto-biostratigraphy and paleoenvironments of the Miocene freshwater sediments of the Sarajevo-Zenica Basin

The Sarajevo-Zenica Basin of Bosnia-Herzegovina was part of the Dinaride Lake System, a large network of Miocene long-lived freshwater basins in southeastern Europe. The basin contains a thick sedimentary succession of carbonates, coals and mixed siliciclastic deposits that reflects the paleoclimatic and tectonic evolution of the region. In this study, we present novel integrated (magneto-bio)stratigraphic and sedimentological data and reconstruct the paleoenvironmental evolution of the Sarajevo-Zenica Basin during its two main evolutionary phases (thrusting and extension). The basal “Oligo-Miocene” freshwater paleoenvironments are characterized by alternating palustrine, shallow lacustrine and distal fluvial phases. The base level fluctuations are largely controlled by syn-sedimentary pulses of tectonic loading during the final phase of thrusting in the Internal Dinarides. The majority of this succession is considered early Miocene in age, which contrasts with previous Oligocene age estimates. The subsequent extensional phase initiated not later than ~18.4 Ma. This coarsening upward sequence of lacustrine carbonates, silts, sands and conglomerates is correlated between 17.2 and 15 Ma (C5Cr-C5Br) by means of integrated bio-magnetostratigraphy. During this upper extensional phase, subsidence and sediment influx was generally controlled by activity along the basin bounding normal fault, overruling smaller scale climatic influences. We conclude that the existence of the long-lived Sarajevo lake is coeval with other Dinaric and southern Pannonian lakes, and overlaps in time with the Miocene Climatic Optimum. Sedimentation in the Sarajevo-Zenica basin terminated at ~15–14 Ma which concurs with both the end of the climatic optimum as well as the cessation of extension in the Dinarides. These results will help to better quantify the paleoclimatic changes in the Dinaride Lake System as well as the regional tectono-sedimentary events, such as potential migrations of deformation across the Dinarides.

Shallow and deep lithosphere slabs beneath the Dinarides from teleseismic tomography as the result of the Adriatic lithosphere downwelling

The study area covers the Dinarides and southwestern part of the Pannonian basin as the marginal zone between the Adriatic microplate (African plate) and the Pannonian tectonic segment (Eurasian plate). We created a three-dimensional seismic velocity model to 450km depth using teleseismic tomography. Our travel-time dataset was collected by means of 40 seismic stations from the ORFEUS database and Croatian Seismological Survey database. A set of 90 teleseismic earthquakes were selected in the time range 2014–2015, and relative P-wave travel-time residuals were calculated. For the first time the seismic P-wave velocity model of a relatively high resolution on the entire Dinaridic mountain belt was obtained. Based on this model, a more reliable insight in the relations of the lithosphere plates has been achieved.We imaged a fast velocity anomaly extending underneath the entire Dinaridic mountain belt which indicates cold, rigid materials. The anomaly is steeply sloping towards the northeast and directly indicates the sinking of the Adriatic microplate underneath the Pannonian tectonic segment. In the Northern Dinarides the anomaly extends to the depth of 250km, whereas in the Southern Dinarides it covers greater depths, up to 450km. The shallow Adriatic slab extends along the External Dinarides, while the deep Adriatic slab extends beneath the Internal Dinarides and ophiolite zones in the area of central and southern Dinarides. Different slab depths are interpreted as the faster convergence of the plate in the southern Dinarides than in the northern, or the convergence of the plates had started in the southern part and systematically developed to the north.

Chert blocks in the ophiolitic mélange of Zlatibor Mt. (SW Serbia): Age and geodynamic implications

Cherts are quite frequently occurring rocks in the Internal Dinarides, an extremely complex area composed of several tectonostratigraphic units in which oceanic sediments, ophiolites and partly metamorphosed parts of the distal continental margin of Adria are preserved. Therefore, these cherts differ in age and the original depositional environment in which they were formed. Results of investigations carried out in the chert blocks found in the melange in the vicinity of Jasenovo village on SE slopes of Zlatibor Mt. are presented here. Radiolarian cherts from the studied localities represent blocks in melange of the East-Bosnian-Durmitor Unit, exposed in a large tectonic window below the Triassic carbonates of Drina-Ivanjica Unit. Biostratigraphic data revealed Callovian-early Kimmeridgian ages of the studied chert blocks, thus implying a Kimmeridgian or younger age of obduction of the West Vardar ophiolites.

Neotectonics of the Dinarides–Pannonian Basin transition and possible earthquake sources in the Banja Luka epicentral area

This study provides evidence for post-5Ma shortening in the transition area between the Dinarides fold-and-thrust belt and the Pannonian Basin and reviews possible earthquake sources for the Banja Luka epicentral area (northern Bosnia and Herzegovina) where the strongest instrumentally recorded earthquake (ML 6.4) occurred on 27 October 1969. Geological, geomorphological and reflection seismic data provide evidence for a contractional reactivation of Late Palaeogene to Middle Miocene normal faults at slip rates below 0.1mm/a. This reactivation postdates deposition of the youngest sediments in the Pannonian Basin of Pontian age (c. 5Ma). Fault plane solutions for the main 1969 Banja Luka earthquake (ML 6.4) and its largest foreshock (ML 6.0) indicate reverse faulting along ESE–WNW-striking nodal planes and generally N–S trending pressure axes. The spatial distribution of epicentres and focal depths, analyses of the macroseismic field and fault-plane solutions for several smaller events suggest on-going shortening in the internal Dinarides. Seismic deformation of the upper crust is also associated with strike-slip faults, likely related to the NE–SW trending, sinistral Banja Luka fault. Possibly, this fault transfers contraction between adjacent segments of the Dinarides thrust system. The study area represents the seismically most active region of the Dinarides apart from the Adriatic Sea coast and the bend zone around Zagreb. We propose that on-going thrusting in the internal Dinarides thrust system takes up a portion of the current Adria–Europe convergence.

Influence of terrestrial sedimentation in Pennsylvanian rocks of Croatia

Sedimentary rocks of Pennsylvanian age outcrop at several regions in Croatia. Most of these rocks were deposited in a marine environment, in different tectonic units: Karst (External) Dinarides, Internal Dinarides and Tisia. Pennsylvanian deposits contain a significant amount of terrestrial debris, related to the uplift of the Hercynian mountain belt and its intense erosion. Remnants of land flora are not common, but are present at almost all localities. The most diverse and the best preserved Pennsylvanian land flora in Croatia was discovered on the Velebit Mt. and in the Lika Region. It was dominated by ferns, pteridosperms and cordaitales. The fossil flora from Banovina is less diverse, with pteridosperms, scarce ferns, horsetails and lycopods. The sporadic occurrence of lycopods and horsetails was reported from the mountains of NW Croatia. In the Gorski Kotar Region only plant detritus was observed. Ferns and pteridosperms from Papuk Mt. were discovered in older, Mississippian deposits. Palaeobotanical data reopen the discussion about the palaeogeographic position of the research areas.

Lower Cretaceous carbonate gravity-flow deposits from the Bohinj area (NW Slovenia): evidence of a lost carbonate platform in the Internal Dinarides

AbstractIn the Bohinj area (NW Slovenia), a distinctive interval of carbonate gravity-flow deposits overlying the pelagic Biancone limestone was analyzed for microfacies and dated with radiolarians. This interval, newly described as the Bohinj Formation, consists of a 3 m thick carbonate breccia capped by a 4 m thick massive calcarenite. The breccia is composed of clasts of carbonate platform facies, isolated ooids and oncoids, and bioclasts of shallow-marine benthos. Intraclasts of pelagic calpionellid wackestone and rare chert clasts are also present. Radiolarians from the pelagic limestone below indicate a latest Tithonian to earliest Berriasian age, and those above indicate a Berriasian to Early Valanginian age. Paleogeographically, the area was part of the Bled basin, which had a relatively distal position on the Adriatic continental margin. This position is suggested by flysch-type deposits in the area that are Early Cretaceous in age and thus correlate with the Bosnian Flysch in the central Dinarides. The Bohinj Formation provides evidence of a carbonate platform that must have been located more internally but is now not preserved. This inferred platform (named the Bohinj Carbonate Platform) may have developed on top of a nappe stack, which formed during the early emplacement of the internal Dinaric units onto the continental margin. The platform correlates regionally with genetically similar isolated carbonate platforms of the Alpine – Dinaride – Carpathian orogenic system, e.g., with the Plassen Carbonate Platform in the Northern Calcareous Alps and the Kurbnesh Carbonate Platform in Albania.

Composition and provenance of Neogene sedimentary rocks of Dilj gora Mt. (south Pannonian Basin, Croatia)

The petrographic composition and transport direction of medium and coarse-grained clastic material of Dilj gora Mt. which is located in the south Pannonian basin, show that this area experienced several changes in provenance of arriving detritus through the Neogene. Detritus for the oldest Lower Miocene (Ravan unit) was transported generally from the south and most probably derived from clastic and carbonate sediments and metamorphic rocks of the Internal Dinarides. Detritus of the Lower Miocene–Middle Miocene (Tuk unit) was originated by weathering of acid magmatic and metamorphic rocks with significant input of materials from local sources, primarily from the Internal Dinarides and from Požeska gora and Dilj gora Mts. During the entire Middle Miocene (Zdenci, Dubovik and Glogovica units) and through the older part of the Late Miocene (Croatica and Pavlovci unit) the deposition of siliciclastic gravel and sandy detritus was less significant. Only the Middle Miocene deposits (Kasonja unit) contain clastic detritus derived from granitoids, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks of the hinterland. The source area of this detritus was most probably in the Slavonian Mts. (Papuk, Psunj, Požeska gora Mt.) or the mountains of northern Bosnia (Motajica Mt.). At the time of late Upper Miocene (Andrasevec and Nova Gradiska units) detritus derived from different metamorphic and older sedimentary rocks. The structural and mineralogical maturity of these sediments and their transport directions indicates an Alpine-Carpathian provenance of material. Most of the detritus of the Pliocene sediments (Cernik unit) also belong to an Alpine-Carpathian provenance, however a small part of it is of local origin and came from uplifted and mainly sedimentary rocks.Determinated various textural characteristics and diverse modal compositions and provenance of Neogene clastic material of Dilj gora Mt. can be attributed to differing source rock compositions and locations of source areas, but they are also the product of different controls on sedimentation such as different rates of subsidence and extension of Pannonian Basin interrupted by compressional events, basin water-level fluctuations connected with global sea-level changes and infilling of PB by delta progradation.

Cenozoic granitoids in the Dinarides of southern Serbia: age of intrusion, isotope geochemistry, exhumation history and significance for the geodynamic evolution of the Balkan Peninsula

Two age groups were determined for the Cenozoic granitoids in the Dinarides of southern Serbia by high-precision single grain U–Pb dating of thermally annealed and chemically abraded zircons: (1) Oligocene ages (Kopaonik, Drenje, Željin) ranging from 31.7 to 30.6 Ma (2) Miocene ages (Golija and Polumir) at 20.58–20.17 and 18.06–17.74 Ma, respectively. Apatite fission-track central ages, modelling combined with zircon central ages and additionally, local structural observations constrain the subsequent exhumation history of the magmatic rocks. They indicate rapid cooling from above 300°C to ca. 80°C between 16 and 10 Ma for both age groups, induced by extensional exhumation of the plutons located in the footwall of core complexes. Hence, Miocene magmatism and core-complex formation not only affected the Pannonian basin but also a part of the mountainous areas of the internal Dinarides. Based on an extensive set of existing age data combined with our own analyses, we propose a geodynamical model for the Balkan Peninsula: The Late Eocene to Oligocene magmatism, which affects the Adria-derived lower plate units of the internal Dinarides, was caused by delamination of the Adriatic mantle from the overlying crust, associated with post-collisional convergence that propagated outward into the external Dinarides. Miocene magmatism, on the other hand, is associated with core-complex formation along the southern margin of the Pannonian basin, probably associated with the W-directed subduction of the European lithosphere beneath the Carpathians and interfering with ongoing Dinaridic–Hellenic back-arc extension.