GEOLÓGIA A TEKTONIKA STYČNEJ OBLASTI CENTRÁLNYCH A EXTERNÝCH KARPÁT NA ZÁPADNOM SLOVENSKU – PREHĽAD NOVÝCH VÝSLEDKOV A KONCEPCIÍ

New data gathered in the Pieniny Klippen Belt (PKB) and adjacent zones along the Central–External Carpathians boundary in western Slovakia allow for a formulation of an updated model of its structure and tectonic evolution. In general, these zones evolved as an accretionary complex in front of the prograding Central Western Carpathian orogenic wedge during the latest Cretaceous to Paleogene. Step-by-step forward accretion of Oravic units of the PKB (Šariš, Subpieniny, Pieniny) with piggyback frontal elements of the Fatric units (Drietoma, Manín, Klape) was followed by incorporation of the External Carpathian Biele Karpaty and Magura units and brought about transfer of the Oravic elements from the wedge tip to its rear. The wedge growth was accompanied by steepening of the PKB structures up to final overturning and backthrusting to the south in places. By this process, the PKB were ultimately placed in the centre or southern limb of an asymmetric fan-wise accretionary wedge, i.e. in a backstop position between the wedge and rigid Central Carpathian block. Consequently, the original fold-and-thrust structures of the PKB were modifi ed or largely obliterated by superimposed out-of-sequence thrusting, transpressional and transtensional deformation. In addition to a rather poor brittle structural record that is mostly related to younger post-thrusting deformation, these processes are nicely registered by synorogenic clastic sediments in both the trench-foredeep basins in the lower plate of the convergent system (Oravic units) and in the piggyback, wedge-top basins above the deformed wedge (Gosau-type basins). Sedimentary record in the wedge-top area is diff erentiated into several transgression/regression cycles that are interpreted in terms of the critical wedge theory.