Together but separate: decoupled Variscan (late Carboniferous) and Alpine (Late Cretaceous–Paleogene) inversion tectonics in NW Poland
In Europe, formation of the Palaeozoic Variscan orogenic belt, and the Mesozoic–Cenozoic Alpine–Carpathian orogenic belt led to a widespread inversion events within forelands of both orogenic domains. We used legacy 2-D seismic data together with the newly acquired 3-D seismic data that, for the fir...
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Published in | Solid earth (Göttingen) Vol. 13; no. 3; pp. 639 - 658 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Gottingen
Copernicus GmbH
18.03.2022
Copernicus Publications |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | In Europe, formation of the Palaeozoic Variscan orogenic belt, and the Mesozoic–Cenozoic Alpine–Carpathian orogenic belt led to a widespread inversion events within forelands of both orogenic domains. We used legacy 2-D seismic data together with the newly acquired 3-D seismic data that, for the first time, precisely imaged sub-Zechstein (i.e. sub-evaporitic) upper Palaeozoic successions in NW Poland in order to develop a quantitative, balanced 2-D model of the late Palaeozoic–recent evolution of this area, characterised by a complex pattern of repeated extension and inversion. Four main tectonic phases have been determined: (1) Late Devonian–early Carboniferous extension and subsidence possibly related to extensional reactivation of Caledonian thrusts, (2) late Carboniferous inversion caused by the Variscan orogeny, (3) Permo-Mesozoic subsidence related to the development of the Polish Basin and (4) its Late Cretaceous–Paleogene inversion. Variscan and Alpine structures form a superimposed multilayer inversion system, mechanically decoupled by the Zechstein evaporites. |
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ISSN: | 1869-9529 1869-9510 1869-9529 |
DOI: | 10.5194/se-13-639-2022 |