Pliocene to Quaternary tectonics in the Horná Nitra Depression (Western Carpathians)

Abstract

Abstract:The Horná Nitra Depression is an Upper Miocene-Quaternary intramontane sedimentary basin. This N-S elongated half-graben structure is rimmed from the west by the marginal Malá Magura fault which is the most distinctive fault in the Horná Nitra Depression, traditionally considered as an active fault during the neotectonic phase. This dislocation is attended by contrasting landforms and their parameters. The low S-index of about 1.10, at least two generations of wellpreserved faceted slopes along this fault, and longitudinal river valley profiles point to the presence of a low-destructed actual mountain front line, which is typical for the Quaternary active fault systems. Comparison with known normal fault slip rates in the world makes it possible to set an approximate vertical slip rate between 0.3-1.1 m · kyr -1 . The present-day fault activity is considered to be normal, steeply dipping towards the east according to structural and geophysical data. The NNW-SSE present-day tectonic maximum horizontal compressional stress S H and perpendicular minimum horizontal compressional stress S h was estimated in the Horná Nitra region. The Quaternary activity of the Malá Magura fault is characterized by irregular movement. Two stages of important tectonic activity along the fault were distinguished. The first stage was dated to the Early Pleistocene. The second stage of tectonic activity can by dated to the Late Pleistocene and Holocene. The Malá Magura fault is permeable for gases because the soil atmosphere above the ca. 150 meters wide fault zone contains increased contents of methane and radon.

Late Quaternary fault activity in the Western Carpathians: evidence from the Vikartovce Fault (Slovakia)

“…Therefore we used the idealized mountain front defined by the flow-line, which delimits the lower facet's L edges (cf. Vojtko et al 2011).…”

The first stripped gravity map of the Turčianska Kotlina Basin

“…For verification of this hypothesis and to study in more detail the tectonic contact between the crystalline mountains and the detailed geoelectric, electrical resistivity tomography, microgravity and radon measurements (e.i., Putiška et al, 2012;Mojzeš et al, 2006;Kušnirák et al, 2011 ). These measurements could help also to interpret the areas of planation surfaces and alluvial deposits of the TKB (Kováč et al, 2011;Vojtko et al, 2011;Petrýdesová et al, 2011;Kušnirák et al, 2011).…”

Reconstruction of ancient drainage in the contact karst of the Harmanecká dolina Valley, Western Carpathians, based on mineralogical data from the allochthonous sediments and isobase geomorphometry

“…The subsequent phase, when the 3rd-4th order isobase surface formed, and later on the 2nd-3rd one (Figure 11c), indicates and strong erosional incision of the palaeo-valleys. An interesting the tectonic processes that took place from the end of the Miocene to the Holocene (H ok et al, 2000;Kováč et al, 2002;Vojtko et al, 2011).…”