Premium
Postcollisional lithospheric evolution of the Southeast Carpathians: Comparison of geodynamical models and observations
Author(s) -
Göğüş Oğuz H.,
Pysklywec Russell N.,
Faccenna Claudio
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
tectonics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.465
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1944-9194
pISSN - 0278-7407
DOI - 10.1002/2015tc004096
Subject(s) - geology , lithosphere , mantle (geology) , delamination (geology) , thermal subsidence , seismology , seismic tomography , lithospheric flexure , tectonics , geophysics
Abstract Seismic evidence and thermal and topographic transients have led to the interpretation of lithospheric removal beneath the Southeast Carpathians region. A series of numerical geodynamic experiments in the context of the tectonic evolution of the region are conducted to test the surface‐crustal response to lithosphere delamination and slab break‐off. The results show that a delamination‐type removal (“plate‐like” migrating instability) causes a characteristic pattern of surface uplift/subsidence and crustal extension/shortening to occur due to the lithospheric deformation and dynamic/thermal forcing of the sublithospheric mantle. These features migrate with the progressive removal of the underlying lithosphere. Model results for delamination are comparable with observables related to the geodynamic evolution of the Southeast Carpathians since 10 Ma: the mantle structure inferred by seismic tomography, migrating patterns of uplift (>1.5 km) and subsidence (>2 km) in the region, crustal thinning in the Carpathian hinterland and thickening at the Focsani depression, and regional extension in the Carpathian corner (e.g., opening of Brasov basin) correlating with volcanism (e.g., Harghita and Persani volcanics) in the last 3 Myr.