Tracing metamorphism, exhumation and topographic evolution in orogenic belts by multiple thermochronology: a case study from the Nízke Tatry Mts., Western Carpathians

Abstract

A combination of four thermochronometers [zircon fission track (ZFT), zircon (U-Th)/He (ZHe), apatite fission track (AFT) and apatite (U-Th-[Sm])/He (AHe) dating methods] applied to a valley to ridge transect is used to resolve the issues of metamorphic, exhumation and topographic evolution of the Nízke Tatry Mts. in the Western Carpathians. The ZFT ages of 132.1 ± 8.3, 155.1 ± 12.9, 146.8 ± 8.6 and 144.9 ± 11.0 Ma show that Variscan crystalline basement of the Nízke Tatry Mts. was heated to temperatures [210°C during the Mesozoic and experienced a low-grade Alpine metamorphic overprint. ZHe and AFT ages, clustering at *55-40 and *45-40 Ma, respectively, revealed a rapid Eocene cooling event, documenting erosional and/or tectonic exhumation related to the collapse of the Carpathian orogenic wedge. This is the first evidence that exhumation of crystalline cores in the Western Carpathians took place in the Eocene and not in the Cretaceous as traditionally believed. Bimodal AFT length distributions, Early Miocene AHe ages and thermal modelling results suggest that the samples were heated to temperatures of *55-90°C during OligoceneMiocene times. This thermal event may be related either to the Oligocene/Miocene sedimentary burial, or Miocene magmatic activity and increased heat flow. This finding supports the concept of thermal instability of the Carpathian crystalline bodies during the post-Eocene period.

Constraining exhumation pathway in an accretionary wedge by (U-Th)/He thermochronology—Case study on Meliatic nappes in the Western Carpathians

“…These thermal events depicted in Fig. 4 may be related to either the Oligocene/Miocene sedimentary burial and/or to Miocene magmatic activity associated with increased heat flow; both incidences have been reported from other parts of the CWC (Danišík et al, 2004(Danišík et al, , 2008a(Danišík et al, ,b, 2010(Danišík et al, , 2011Vojtko et al, 2013).…”

“…This basin evolution may be recorded by the ZFT ages of ca. 155-130 Ma (Danišík et al, 2010(Danišík et al, , 2011, and this event could well be related to the opening of the Penninic Ocean further to the NW (Plašienka et al, 1997;Putiš et al, 2008). On the other hand, the closing of the South-Penninic Basin since ca.…”

Multiple low-temperature thermochronology constraints on exhumation of the Tatra Mountains: New implication for the complex evolution of the Western Carpathians in the Cenozoic

“…[]) and existing AFT, ZFT, and ZHe data, where AFT ages show a clear younging trend toward the former plate boundary (Pieniny Klippen Belt). Note that in several places with pre‐Miocene AFT ages, the Miocene thermal event [ Danišík et al ., ] has been reported. AFT data are compiled from the following studies: Anczkiewicz et al .…”

“…[, ]; Baumgart‐Kotarba and Kráľ []; Burchart []; Danišík et al . [, , , , , ]; Kráľ []; Kováč et al . []; Struzik et al .…”

Microstructures of shear zones from selected domains of the Western Tatra Mountains

“…be gan dur ing the Late Neogene (e.g., DanišÍk et al, 2008DanišÍk et al, , 2010DanišÍk et al, , 2011.…”