Lithospheric structure of Central Europe: Puzzle pieces from Pannonian Basin to Trans‐European Suture Zone resolved by geophysical‐petrological modeling

Abstract

We have analyzed the thermochemical structure of the mantle in Central Europe, a complex area with a highly heterogeneous lithospheric structure reflecting the interplay of contraction, strike slip, subduction, and extension tectonics. Our modeling is based on an integrative 3‐D approach (LitMod) that combines in a self‐consistent manner concepts and data from thermodynamics, mineral physics, geochemistry, petrology, and solid Earth geophysics. This approach minimizes uncertainties of the estimates derived from modeling of various data sets separately. To further constrain our 3‐D model we have made use of the vast geophysical and geological data (2‐D and 3‐D, shallow/crustal versus deep lithospheric experiments) based on experiments performed in Central Europe in the past decades. Given the amount and the different nature/resolution of the available constraints, one of the most challenging tasks of this study was to consistently combine them, finding a trade‐off between all local and regional data sets available in a way that (i) preserves as many structural details as possible and (ii) summarizes those data sets into a single robust regional model. The resulting P/T‐dependent mantle densities are in LitMod 3‐D calculated based on a given mineralogical composition. They therefore provide more reliable estimates compared to pure gravity models, which enhance modeling of the crustal structures. Our results clearly indicate presence of several lithospheric domains characterized by distinct features, Pannonian Basin being one of the most outstanding ones. It has the thinnest crust and lithosphere in the area modeled, characterized by relatively fertile composition.

Determination of rock densities in the Carpathian-Pannonian Basin lithosphere: based on the CELEBRATION 2000 experiment

“…When comparing the results obtained with the results of previous works (e.g., Zeyen et al, 2002;Grabowska and Bojdys, 2005;Dérerová et al, 2006;Grabovska et al, 2011;Grinč et al, 2013;Alasonati Tašarová et al, 2008, 2009, 2016 we can note that our results are in good agreement with the previous results. The results obtained in this paper extend our present information and knowledge significantly about the crustal and lower lithosphere densities of the Carpathian-Pannonian Basin area.…”

“…Table 2 and Figure 3 provide a range of average densities for the upper and lower crust, and lower lithosphere in the individual tectonic units. Figure 3 also shows the minimum and maximum depths for the depth of the sedimentary basement (Bielik, 1988;Kilényi andŠefara, 1989;Lenkey, 1999;Kováč, 2000;Bielik et al, 2005), the top and bottom boundaries of the upper and lower crust (Grad et al, 2006;Hrubcová et al, 2005;Środa et al, 2006;Janik et al, 2011), and the lower lithosphere (Zeyen et al, 2002;Dérerová et al, 2006;Grinč et al, 2013;Alasonati Tašárová et al, 2008, 2009, 2016.…”

“…For evaluation of the density data of the Neogene and Palaeogene sediments (Tables 1, 2 and Fig. 3) we used the data published, for example, in the papers of Eliáš and Uhman (1968), Dabrowski (1971Dabrowski ( , 1976, Husák (1977Husák ( , 1986, Tomek et al (1979Tomek et al ( ),Šefara et al (1987, Bielik (1988), Ibrmajer and Suk 1989;Bucha et al (1994), Szafián et al (1997), Šefara and Szabó (1997), Królikowski and Petecki (2001), Makarenko et al (2002), Zeyen et al (2002), Bielik et al (2005, Dérerová et al (2006), Ba la and Witek (2007), Csicsay (2010), Csicsay et al (2012), Grinč et al (2013), Alasonati Tašárová et al (2008, 2009, 2016. We also take into account the results and knowledge published by Nafe and Drake (1957 , Table 1.…”

Geophysical and petrological modeling of the lower crust and uppermost mantle in the Variscan and Proterozoic surroundings of the Trans-European Suture Zone in Central Europe

“…Tibet (interpreted to be an eclogite, Razi et al, 2014 and references therein) or in the Superior Province (interpreted to be an anisotropic harzburgite, Musacchio et al, 2004). The eclogitic nature of the highvelocity upper mantle slice beneath TESZ was in fact postulated by Puziewicz (2006) and recently assumed in the models presented by Alasonati Tašárová et al (2016).…”

Calculation of temperature distribution and rheological properties of the lithosphere along transect IV in the Western Carpathian-Pannonian Basin region

“…The Carpathian-Pannonian Basin region has been covered by extensive geophysical surveys, and an enormous amount of geological and geophysical data such as deep seismic reflection and refractions data (Mayerová et al, 1994;Tomek et al, 1989;Vozár andŠantavý, 1999), gravity data Alasonati Tašárová et al, 2009;Zahorec et al, 2013), surface heat flow data (Čermák et al, 1991;Majcin, 1993), geoelectric data (Putiška et al, 2012a,b), magnetotelluric data (Ádám, 1996) has been collected and is available for calculations and modelling in order to reconstruct the structure of the lithosphere and geodynamical and tectonic processes within it. Despite the fact that the Carpathian-Pannonian Basin area becomes very well explored and studied, the main focus still lays on the lithospheric structure reconstruction (Alasonati Tašárová et al, 2009, 2016Grinč et al, 2013;Hrubcová et al, 2010;Dérerová et al, 2006;Grad et al, 2006;Bielik et al, 2005 and many others). We believe that rheological modelling can provide additional information to already existing lithosperic models and contribute to better understanding of interactions among different tectonic units from rheological point of view.…”