Zircon populations from the Rožňava Formation volcanic rock complex have been analysed. Euhedral zircons from the 1 st volcanogenic horizon with fine oscillatory growth zoning, typical of magmatic origin, gave the average concordia age of 273.3 ± 2.8 Ma, with Th/U ratios in the range of 0.44-0.73. The Permian ages ranging from 266 to 284 Ma were identified in the wider, zoned or unzoned, central zircon parts, as well as in their fine-zoned oscillatory rims. The average concordia age of 275.3 ±2.9 was obtained from the euhedral zircon population of the 2 nd volcanogenic horizon of the Rožňava Formation. The analyses were performed on zoned magmatic zircons in the age interval from 267 to 287 Ma, with Th/U ratios in the range of 0.39-0.75. In the later zircon population two inherited zircon grains were dated giving the age of 842 ± 12 Ma (Neoproterozoic) and 456 ± 7 Ma (Late Ordovician). The magmatic zircon ages document the Kungurian age of Permian volcanic activity and contemporaneous establishment of the south-Gemeric basin. The time span of volcanic activity corresponds to the collapse of the Western Carpathian Variscan foreland which expanded southward.

Several magmatic events based on U-Pb zircon geochronology were recognized in the Permian sedimentary succession of the Northern Gemeric Unit (NGU). The Kungurian magmatic event is dominant. The later magmatism stage was documented at the Permian-Triassic boundary. The detrital zircon assemblages from surrounding sediments documented the Sakmarian magmatic age. The post-orogenic extensional/transtensional faulting controlled the magma ascent and its emplacement. The magmatic products are represented by the calc-alkaline volcanic rocks, ranging from basaltic metaandesite to metarhyolite, associated with subordinate metabasalt. The whole group of the studied NGU Permian metavolcanics has values for the Nb/La ratio at (0.44-0.27) and for the Nb/U ratio at (9.55-4.18), which suggests that they represent mainly crustal melts. Magma derivation from continental crust or underplated crust is also indicated by high values of Y/Nb ratios, ranging from 1.63 to 4.01. The new 206 U-238 Pb zircon ages (concordia age at 269 ± 7 Ma) confirm the dominant Kungurian volcanic event in the NGU Permian sedimentary basin. Simultaneously, the Permian-Triassic boundary volcanism at 251 ± 4 Ma has been found for the first time. The NGU Permian volcanic activity was related to a polyphase extensional tectonic regime. Based on the new and previous U-Pb zircon ages, the bulk of the NGU Permian magmatic activity occurred during the Sakmarian and Kungurian. It was linked to the post-orogenic transpression/transtension tectonic movements that reflected the consolidation of the Variscan orogenic belt. The Permian-Triassic boundary magmatism was accompanied by extension, connected with the beginning of the Alpine Wilson cycle.

U-Pb dating (SHRIMP) of magmatic zircon ages from the Northern Gemericum Permian volcanics (Petrová Hora Formation) yielded the Concordia age of 272.4 ± 7.3 Ma for basaltic andesite, as well as the Concordia age of 275.2 ± 4 Ma for rhyodacites. Both zircon ages correspond to the Cisuralian Epoch in the time span of the Kungurian Stage. Acquired 206 Pb/ 238 U zircon age data support the nearly contemporaneous origin of the acid and basic volcanogenic members in the Northern Gemericum Permian strata. The bimodal volcanic suite proves the transtension/extension tectonic regime in the North Gemeric sedimentary basin during the Late Cisuralian. The magmatic zircon ages of rhyodacites, occurring in the lower thrust sheet of the Bôrka Nappe (Jasov Formation), gave a younger Concordia age of 266 ± 1.8 Ma proving the Guadalupian Epoch, in the time span of the Wordian/Capitanian. In comparison to the Northern Gemericum realm, this age refers to the relatively younger stage of rift-related extensional movements. In the wide Alpine-Dinarides realm the Middle Permian (Guadalupian) movements are related to the beginning of the Alpine sedimentary cycle. Thus, the Middle Permian rifting expresses the beginning of the formation of the future Meliata oceanic trough.