Towards a new time scale for the Upper Miocene continental series of the Pannonian basin (Central Paratethys)

Abstract

Abstract. In this study we assert that most of the "Pontian" stratigraphic succession of western Hungary is much older than Pontian stage (older than 7 Ma). In fact, these strata form a clearly distinct chronostratigraphic unit between the Pontian strata (as they are defined in the type area of the Black Sea basin) and the Pannonian strata (as they are defined in the type area of the Vienna basin). To denote such a problematic chronostratigraphic interval we propose the introduction of a new stage (or substage) named Transdanubian between the Pannonian sensu stricto (s.s.) and Pontian s.s. stages of the Upper Miocene series of the Central Paratethys System (ca. 9.0-7.4 Ma in the chronology adopted in this study).The Transdanubian stage has been defined in terms of biostratigraphy, lithostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy and allostratigraphy. The location of a suitable stratotype has also been proposed. As a first approach, we tried to avoid the introduction of new terms in the already complex chronostratigraphic nomenclature of the Pannonian basin. However, we arrived to the conclusion that the introduction of the Transdanubian as a new stage (or substage) is a necessary breakthrough, to avoid further confusion and circular reasoning involving facies associations versus chronostratigraphic units.Transdanubian strata represent a distinct anticipation of the Pontian facies within the intra-Carpathian area. The fact that these strata have been reported for decades as "Pontian" in the literature has been the source of much terminological confusion and chronostratigraphic miscorrelation.

Late Miocene and Pliocene history of the Danube Basin: inferred from development of depositional systems and timing of sedimentary facies changes

“…Timing of this boundary is based on the age of the Szák Formation at 8.9 Ma (Cziczer et al 2009). Thus, our definition of the first Pannonian lacustrine depositional cycle upper boundary can also be correlated with the uppermost portion of the "Pannonian cycle PAN2" defined in the southernmost part of the DB by Sacchi & Horváth (2002).…”

“…This is dated by folding of the Pannonian sediments -"Sava folds"; sensu Fodor et al (1999) and it first reached the northern regions during the Late Pliocene (indicated by the transpressive tectonic regime in the Western Carpathians causing their accelerated uplift; sensu Minár et al 2011). All these tectonic events were induced by the movement of the Adriatic plate northward (Sacchi & Horváth 2002;Ruszkiczay-Rüdiger et al 2005;Horváth et al 2006).…”

“…Gradual infilling of the individual depocenters or basins is reflected in the extent of specific sedimentary facies and their change over time and space. Evaluation of hundreds of seismic lines and electrical logs from boreholes penetrating the sedimentary fill of the lake's individual depocenters documents the presence of a great number of depositional systems in shallow-and deep-water settings whose positions varied over time and space (Juhász 1991;Pogácsás & Seifert 1991;Csató 1993;Vakarcs et al 1994;Magyar et al 1999;Sacchi & Horváth 2002;Kováč et al 2006;Csató et al 2007;Juhász et al 2007;Uhrin et al 2009;Magyar 2009;Leever et al 2011).…”

Neogene-Quaternary Volcanic forms in the Carpathian-Pannonian Region: a review

“…commonly along deep and old structural weakness zones of the basement) that encountered a shallow subsurface zone of water-saturated filled sedimentary basins in the region [5]. The various thickness of the shallow marine and fluvio-lacustrine siliciclastic Neogene sedimentary infill [60][61][62][63][64][65] over the fractured, commonly karstic Mesozoic and Paleozoic carbonatic and metamorphic rock units [66][67][68], provided a combined aquifer that the rising mafic magma interacted with. As a result, the Pannonian Basin was a playground of phreatomagmatic volcanism through the Late Miocene to Pleistocene [58,69,70].…”

Loss of 40Ar(rad) from leucite-bearing basanite at low temperature: implications on K/Ar dating.

“…In the Neogene, shortly before the volcanism started, a large lake, Lake Pannon, occupied the Pannonian Basin [46][47][48][49]. The lacustrine sandstones, mudstones and marls of the brackish Lake Pannon are the base of the immediate underlying pre-volcanic substrate of the BBHVF [48,[50][51][52][53][54]. Prior to the volcanism the BBHVF area was most likely an alluvial plain [38,48].…”