Deformation Sequence and Paleofluids in Carbonate Buckle Folds Under Transpression (Pag Anticline, External Dinarides, Croatia)

Abstract

Contractional deformation structures at the front of transpressional orogens display complex three‐dimensional geometries deviating from the interpretative templates commonly applied in thrust belts. Accordingly, detailed constraints on deformation patterns and associated paleofluid circulation are desirable, especially for fracture geometry and permeability predictive purposes. The Pag anticline, which is located in the Dinaric fold and thrust belt, provides an appropriate field site for studying fold‐ and fault‐related deformation structures in a transpressive setting. We performed a multiscale structural analysis together with petrographic and stable isotope characterization of the deformation‐related calcite cements. Structural mapping suggests that the Pag anticline is a detachment fold developed mainly by buckling, since large‐scale thrust faults are absent. Fold tightening in a transpressive setting produced a complex deformational structure including two sets of N‐S right‐lateral and E‐W left‐lateral late‐stage strike‐slip fault sets trending oblique to the NW‐SE fold axis. The pre‐folding deformation pattern includes incipient normal faults likely related to the forebulge stage, veins and stylolites coherent with NE‐SW layer parallel shortening contraction in a strike‐slip regime, and metric to decametric scale conjugate thrusts coherent with layer parallel shortening in a compressive regime. Buckle folding preceded propagation of a series of accommodation structures during fold tightening. Petrographic and isotopic data indicate meteoric alteration of the Cretaceous platform carbonates in the prefolding stage, likely due to forebulge subaerial exposure. Layer parallel shortening and early syn‐folding veins involved formational fluids resulting from mixed marine and meteoric fluids during folding at shallow burial conditions. Eventually, meteoric fluid infiltrated again along strike‐slip faults, acting as cross‐formational conduits in the postfolding stage.