[en] We evaluated 55 multidimensional diagrams proposed during 2004-2013 for the tectonic discrimination of ultrabasic, basic, intermediate, and acid magmas. The Miocene to Recent rock samples for testing the diagrams had not been used for constructing them. Eighteen test studies (2 from ocean island; 2 from ocean island/continental rift; 6 from continental rift; 4 from continental arc; 2 from island arc; 1 from mid-ocean ridge, and 1 from collision) of relatively fresh rocks fully confirmed the satisfactory functioning of these diagrams for all tectonic fields for which they were proposed. Eight additional case studies on hydrothermally altered or moderately to highly weathered rocks were also presented to achieve further understanding of the functioning of these diagrams. For these rocks as well, the diagrams indicated the expected tectonic setting. We also show that for testing or using these diagrams the freely-available geochemistry databases should be used with caution but certainly after ascertaining the correct magma types to select the appropriate diagram sets. The results encourage us to recommend these diagrams for deciphering the tectonic setting of older terranes or areas with complex or transitional tectonic settings. (authors)

[en] The Danube / Kisalfoeld Basin is the north-western sub-basin of the Pannonian Basin System. The lithostratigraphic subdivision of the several-km-thick Upper Miocene to Pliocene sedimentary succession related to Lake Pannon has been developed independently in Slovakia and Hungary. A study of the sedimentary formations across the entire basin led us to claim that these formations are identical or similar between the two basin parts to such an extent that their correlation is indeed a matter of nomenclature only. Nemcinany corresponds to the Kalla Formation, representing locally derived coarse clastics along the basin margins (11- 9.5 Ma). The deep lacustrine sediments are collectively designated the Ivanka Formation in Slovakia, while in Hungary they are subdivided into Szak (fine-grained transgressive deposits above basement highs, 10.5 - 8.9 Ma), Endroed (deep lacustrine marls, 11.6 -10 Ma), Szolnok (turbidites, 10.5 - 9.2 Ma) and Algyoe Formations (fine-grained slope deposits, 10 - 9 Ma). The Beladice Formation represents shallow lacustrine deltaic deposits, fully corresponding to Ujfalu (10.5-- 8.7 Ma). The overlying fluvial deposits are the Volkovce and Zagyva Formations (10 - 6 Ma). The synoptic description and characterization of these sediments offer a basin-wide insight into the development of the basin during the Late Miocene. The turbidite systems, the slope, the overlying deltaic and fluvial systems are all genetically related and are coeval at any time slice after the regression of Lake Pannon initiated about 10 Ma ago. All these formations get younger towards the S, SE as the progradation of the shelf-slope went on. The basin got filled up to lake level by 8.7 Ma, since then fluvial deposition dominated. (authors)

[en] The Sulov Conglomerates represent mass-transport deposits of the Sulov-Domaniza Basin. Their lithosomes are intercalated by claystones of late Thanetian (Zones P3 - P4), early Ypresian (Zones P5 - E2) and late Ypresian to early Lutetian (Zones E5 - E9) age. Claystone interbeds contain rich planktonic and agglutinated microfauna, implying deep-water environments of gravity-flow deposition. The basin was supplied by continental margin deposystems, and filled with submarine landslides, fault-scarp breccias, base-of-slope aprons, debris-flow lobes and distal fans of debrite and turbidite deposits. Synsedimentary tectonics of the Sulov-Domaniza Basin started in the late Thanetian-early Ypresian by normal faulting and disintegration of the orogenic wedge margin. Fault-related fissures were filled by carbonate bedrock breccias and banded crystalline calcite veins (onyxites). The subsidence accelerated during the Ypresian and early Lutetian by gravitational collapse and subcrustal tectonic erosion of the CWC plate. The basin subsided to lower bathyal up to abyssal depth along with downslope accumulation of mass-flow deposits. Tectonic inversion of the basin resulted from the Oligocene-early Miocene transpression (σ₁ rotated from NW-SE to NNW-SSE), which changed to a transpressional regime during the Middle Miocene (σ₁ rotated from NNE-SSW to NE-SW). Late Miocene tectonics were dominated by an extensional regime with σ₃ axis in NNW-SSE orientation. (authors)

[en] An assemblage of trace fossils comprising Asteriacites stelliformis, A. quinquefolius, Biformites insolitus, Helminthoidichnites isp., Lingulichnus isp., Lockeia siliquaria, Palaeophycus tubularis, Planolites isp., Protovirgularia isp. A, Protovirgularia isp. B, Protovirgularia isp. C, Psammichnites isp., Rusophycus isp., and Treptichnus isp. from the Po Formation (Visean-Serpukhovian) exposed along the base of Ganmachidam Hill near the village of Chichong, Spiti Valley in the Himalaya, is described. Storm beds (tempestites) are highly bioturbated. Sedimentary structures such as hummocky cross-stratification (HCS), low-angle planar and trough cross beds, and shallow, slightly asymmetrical gutter casts are observed. The overall trace fossil assemblage indicates the presence of upper shoreface to lower shoreface Cruziana ichnofacies of an open shelf. (authors)

[en] The Komjatice depression, situated on the Danube Basin's northern margin, represents a sub-basin of the Neogene epicontinental Central Paratethys Sea and Lake Pannon. The paper provides an insight into the character of sediment provenance evolution by study of well cores (ZM-1, IV-1, MOJ-1, VR-1 wells). A modern combination of provenance, sedimentology and biostratigraphy together with the reported redefinition of Pannonian formations resulted in a new lithostratigraphy of the study area. Moreover, newly published volcanic rock age data were used for calibration of biostratigraphy. The overall age span of the sedimentary fill is occupied only by late Badenian-Sarmatian (Serravallian) to Pannonian (Tortonian-Messinian) strata: 1) the basal alluvial sediments of the newly defined Zlate Moravce Formation; 2) late Badenian-Sarmatian (Serravalian) marine sediments of the Vrable-Pozba Fm., connected with tectonic opening of the depression; 3) Pannonian (Tortonian) coarse grained sediments of the Nemcnany Fm. with an erosional base; 4) Pannonian (Tortonian-Messinian) predominantly fine-grained, basin floor to slope Ivanka Fm., sandy deltaic Beladice Fm. and predominantly muddy, alluvial Volkovce Fm. In the middle Miocene provenance is situated in Paleozoic sequences and Neogene volcanic rocks occurring currently in the NE. During the late Miocene, provenance is changed to the NNW (Tribec Mts.), although the transport from the NE also remained. (authors)

[en] Metaultramafic rocks closely associated with eclogites in the Veporic unit of the Western Carpathians record a complex P-T evolution, including the effects of high-pressure (HP) metamorphism. The investigated metaultramafite is chemically similar to pyroxenite, has a fine- to medium-grained texture, is composed predominantly of olivine and amphibole, and contains minor amounts of garnet, orthopyroxene, spinel, chlorite, ilmenite and carbonates. The high- pressure mineral assemblage is garnet (XMg = 0.46-0.47) + olivine (XMg = 0.71-0.73) + low-Al orthopyroxene (XMg = 0.77-0.78; Al = 0.02-0.03 apfu) + ilmenite + chlorite (XMg = 0.87-0.89) + Cr-spinel. Chromium-rich spinel is most likely a relict from the pre-HP metamorphic stage, possibly of magmatic origin. Calculations using a garnet- orthopyroxene Fe-Mg exchange thermometer, Al-in-orthopyroxene barometer, and thermodynamic modelling in the system SiO₂-TiO₂ Al₂O₃-FeO-MgO-CaO-H₂O indicate that the peak conditions of metamorphism reached 2.4±0.4 GPa and 702±20 grad C. Subsequent decompression and retrogression is recorded by the formation of aluminous orthopyroxene, replacement of garnet by symplectites of Al-spinel and amphibole (hornblende), transformation of Cr-spinel to Al-spinel and formation of abundant amphibole in the matrix. Metaultramafic rocks in the Veporic unit thus provide evidence, in addition to that from associated eclogites, for high-pressure metamorphism in the pre-Alpine basement of the Western Carpathians, which is most likely of Variscan age. (authors)

[en] Tanystropheus and other possible archosauromorph fossils have been discovered from Middle to Upper Triassic shallow marine sedimentary sections in Villay (Villany Hills, southern Hungary). Four fragmentary cervical vertebrae can be assigned to Tanystropheus sp. based on characteristic features including the strongly elongate and hollow vertebral body with extremely reduced neural spine. Besides the cervicals, various teeth, classified into four different morphotypes including longitudinally striated, carinated and ziphodont ones, are thought to belong to archo sauromorphs, since they markedly differ from the frequently found teeth of fish and sauropterygians. In addition, three enigmatic cranial bones that might represent some circumorbital elements, have been found as well, and are referred to here as Sauropsida indet. These fossils, originated from the same tectonic unit as those from the Anisian of Bihor (Romania), are of great importance for a better understanding of the poorly known semi-aquatic to terrestrial vertebrate fauna of the Middle to Late Triassic of central Europe. (authors)

[en] Hydrocarbon exploration in the Bernhardsthal and Bernhardsthal-Sued oil fields documents an up to 2000 m thick succession of middle and upper Badenian deposits in this part of the northern Vienna Basin (Austria). Based on palaeontological analyses of core-samples, well-log data and seismic surveys we propose an integrated stratigraphy and describe the depositional environments. As the middle/late Badenian boundary is correlated with the Langhian/ Serravallian boundary, the cores capture the crucial phase of the Middle Miocene Climate Transition. The middle Badenian starts with a major transgression leading to outer neritic to upper bathyal conditions in the northern Vienna Basin, indicated by Bathysiphon-assemblages and glass-sponges. A strong palaeo-relief and rapid synsedimentary subsidence accentuated sedimentation during this phase. The middle/late Badenian boundary coincides with a major drop of relative sea level by about 200 m, resulting in a rapid shift from deeper marine depositional environments to coastal and freshwater swamps. In coeval marine settings, a more than 100 m thick unit of anhydrite-bearing clay formed. This is the first evidence of evaporite precipitation during the Badenian Salinity Crisis in the Vienna Basin. Shallow lagoonal environments with diverse and fully marine mollusc and fish assemblages were established during the subsequent late Badenian re-flooding. In composition, the mollusc fauna differs considerably from older ones and is characterized by the sudden appearance of species with eastern Paratethyan affinities. (authors)

[en] Complexly zoned microcrystals of uraninite were encountered in orthogneiss from the central Tauern Window in Austria (K1 gneiss, Felbertal scheelite mine) and analysed in-situ for U, Th and Pb with state-of-the-art FE-SEM/EDX techniques. A three times finer spatial resolution was achieved using an acceleration voltage of 8 kV, compared to the classic 15-20 kV set-up of U-Th-total Pb electron microprobe dating. The lower voltage allows a spheroid of material with a diameter of only 0.3 μm to be selectively analysed. Careful tests on three uraninite reference materials show that the low-voltage method yields sufficient precision and accuracy for U-Th-total Pb uraninite dating, with errors on individual spot ages in the order of 10-30 Ma. By means of this innovative analysis technique, small-scale age zoning patterns could be resolved and dated in the uraninite microcrystals from the orthogneiss. Based on microstructures observed in backscattered electron images we interpret that an older uraninite generation in the rock, with a late Permian formation age (∼260 Ma), was recycled two times through a coupled dissolution-reprecipitation process at ∼210 Ma and at ∼30 Ma. The younger dissolution-reprecipitation phase at ∼30 Ma coincides with the Alpine regional metamorphism (lower amphibolite facies). The two older ages (∼210 Ma and ∼260 Ma) have been previously recognized in rocks from the Tauern Window by uraninite dating, but it is the first time here that both are recorded in the same rock and even the same uraninite grain. The present study shows that recrystallized accessory uraninite can provide a sensitive geological 'hard disk' where several discrete thermal events of an area are stored. In addition, our work attests that the mineral uraninite has an unexpected geochronological robustness, even on the microcrystal scale. (authors)

[en] This article is concerned with nannofossil study of Tithonian-Berriasian sediments of Eastern Crimea. The NJT 16, NJT 17a, NJT 17b, NKT, and NK 1 nannofossil zones were determined. The occurrence of Nannoconus kamptneri minor, one of the potential marker-types of the Tithonian-Berriasian boundary (the base of the NKT Zone) of the Tethyan sequence in the Feodosiyan section is assigned here to the Pseudosubplanites grandis ammonite Subzone and the magnetic Chron M18n. The base of the NKT Zone is closer to the Grandis Subzone base than to the base of the Jacobi Subzone. Contradictions in the interpretation of magnetic chrons obtained by the present authors (Arkadiev et al. 2018) and by Bakhmutov et al. (2018) might be caused by mistakes admitted in the latter work on the compiled section. (authors)