Paleomagnetic and geochronologic constraints on the geodynamic evolution of the Central Dinarides.

ABSTRACT: The geodynamic evolution of the Dinaride Mountains of southeastern Europe is relatively poorly understood, especially in comparison with the neighboring Alps and Carpathians. Here, we construct a new chronostratigraphy for the post-orogenic intra-montane basins of the Central Dinarides based on paleomagnetic and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age data. A first phase of basin formation occurred in the late Oligocene. A second phase of basin formation took place between 18 and 13 Ma, concurrent with profound extension in the neighboring Pannonian Basin. Our paleomagnetic results further indicate that the Dinarides have not experienced any significant tectonic rotation since the late Oligocene. This implies that the Dinarides were decoupled from the adjacent Adria and the Tisza-Dacia Mega-Un

SUBMITTER: de Leeuw A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4802511 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature