The interplay between the emplacement of crustal blocks (e.g. ''ALCAPA '', ''Tisza'', ''Dacia'') and subduction retreat is a key issue for understanding the Miocene tectonic history of the Carpathians. Coeval thrusting and basin formation is linked by transfer zones, such as the Mid-Hungarian fault zone, which seperates ALCAPA from Tisza-Dacia. The presented study provides new kinematic data from this transfer zone. Early Burdigalian (20.5 to~18.5 Ma) SE-directed thrusting of the easternmost tip of ALCAPA (Pienides), over Tisza-Dacia is linked to movements along the Mid-Hungarian fault zone and the Periadriatic line, accommodating the lateral extrusion of ALCAPA. Minor Late Burdigalian (~18.5 to 16 Ma) NE-SW extension is interpreted as related to back-arc extension. Post Burdigalian (post-16 Ma) NE-SW shortening and NW-SE extension correlate with ''soft collision'' of Tisza-Dacia with the European foreland coupled with southward migration of active subduction. During this stage the Bogdan-Voda and Dragos-Voda faults were kinematically linked to the Mid-Hungarian fault zone. Sinistral transpression (16 to 12 Ma) at the Bogdan-Voda fault was followed by sinistral transtension (12-10 Ma) along the coupled Bogdan-Dragos-Voda fault system. During the transtensional stage left-lateral offset was reduced eastwards by SW trending normal faults, the fault system finally terminating in an extensional horse-tail splay.

The Tertiary kinematic history of the Maramures area is constrained by integrating thermochronological (fission track and (U-Th)/He analysis) data with field-based structural investigations. This study focuses on the tectonic evolution of the northern rim of the TiszaDacia block during collision with the European margin. Cretaceous nappe stacking, related metamorphism as well as Late Cretaceous exhumation are evidenced by zircon fission track data.

The juxtaposition of the ALCAPA and Tisza–Dacia continental blocks, although one of the key issues in the evolution of the Carpathians, is not well known in terms of associated effects on the sedimentary systems during frontal foreland development. Most of the contact between ALCAPA and Tisza–Dacia being covered by post-tectonic deposits, these effects can best be observed in northern Romania. Sedimentological data on facies, palaeocurrents and modal composition of sandstones combined with micropalaeontological data and 2D well-calibrated seismic lines constrain the tectonic history of the contact zone between ALCAPA and Tisza–Dacia. Pervasive deposition of sand-dominated siliciclastics beginning in late Early Oligocene (Late Rupelian) times is interpreted to reflect the onset of convergence between ALCAPA and Tisza–Dacia in the study area. The depocentre of coarse siliciclastic material migrates southward, finally forming a southeastward-thinning clastic wedge in the Transylvanian Basin. This Burdigalian-age clastic wedge is interpreted as fill of a flexural foreland basin that formed in response to the coeval thrusting of parts of ALCAPA (Pienides) over Tisza–Dacia. A shift from an E–W to SE–NW striking basin axis during Oligocene times towards a WSW–ENE oriented basin axis during Burdigalian times is interpreted as a result of clockwise rotation of Tisza–Dacia during basin formation.