Guidebook - Ispra

Introduction
The fieldtrip “Geological Structure of the Romanian
Carpathians” strives to cross the major tectonic units
of this segment of the Tethyan Chains, with the
purpose of presenting a general approach to the tectonic
and paleogeographic (paleotectonic) problems.
Knowledge of Carpathian geology allows us to understand
the prolongation of the Alps toward the Balkans
and the Dinarides. In order to accomplish the abovementioned
tasks during the fieldtrip, a part of the
significant geological cross sections in the East and
South Carpathians as well as in the Apuseni Mts will
be visited. Thus we will examine the tectonic units issued
from the Tethyan Ocean - squeezed in the Main
Tethyan Suture Zone or obducted on the continental
margins – and their deformed continental margins.
In the areas crossed by the fieldtrip geological maps
and older fieldtrip guidebooks are available. It should
be remembered that in respect to the geological maps
or other guides, in the guidebook proposed here more
or less important differences are possible, determined
by the progress of our knowledge and/or a better understanding
of the geological processes.
Geological Map of Romania, scale 1: 200,000, sheets:
Rădăuti, Topliţa, Piatra Neamţ, Odorhei, Brașov,
Turda, Brad, Deva, Tg. Jiu, Baia de Aramă, Reșiţa.
Geological Map of Romania, scale 1: 50,000, sheets:
Vatra Dornei, Pojorâta, Câmpulung Moldovenesc,
Dămuc, Voșlăbeni, Miercurea Ciuc, Brașov, Zărnești,
Codlea, Zlatna, Câmpeni, Avram Iancu, Biharia, Brad,
Deva, Lupeni, Schela, Tismana, Obârșia Cloșani,
Orșova, Reșiţa, Bocșa.
The Structure of the East Carpathians (Moldavia-
Maramureș Area) by M. Săndulescu et al., 1981,
Guide to Excursion B1.
Structural Relations between Flysch and Molasse
(The East Carpathians Model) by M.Săndulescu et
al., 1981, Guide to Excursion A5.
The Structure of the Apuseni Mountains by M.Bleahu
et al., 1981, Guide to Excursion B3.
Metamorphosed Paleozoic in the South Carpathians
and Its Relations with the Pre-Paleozoic Basement by
H.Kräutner et al., 1981, Guide to Excursion A1.
The Structure of the South Carpathians (Mehedinţi-
Banat Area) by S.Năstăseanu et al., 1981, Guide to
Excursion B2.
Excursion to South Carpathians, Apuseni Mountains
and Transylvanian Basin. Description of stops by
Berza et al., 1994 ALCAPA II.
GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF THE ROMANIAN CARPATHIANS
Leader: M. Sandulescu
Associate Leader: R. Dimitrescu
Geology of the South Carpathians in the Danube
Gorges (Romanian Bank) by Pop et al., 1997.
General Geological Setting
General Structure and Evolution of the Romanian
Carpathians
(according to Săndulescu, 1980, 1984, 1994)
The Carpathians are a segment of the Tethyan
Chains; toward west they join the Alps and toward
south and south-east the Balkans and the Rhodope.
The Carpathian Foreland includes several platforms
(Scythian, Moesian) or cratons (East European) as
well as the Cimmerian North Dobrogea Orogen
(Figure1). The Carpathian Folded Area is the result
of several tectogenetic events of different ages: Cretaceous
(generating the Inner Zones named Dacides)
and Miocene (the Outer Zones named Moldavides).
Upper Cretaceous and/or Paleogene post-tectogenetic
covers develop above the Inner Zones. The Pannonian
and the Transylvanian, Neogene molassic depressions
overlie important parts of the Inner Zones and a part
of their post-tectogenetic covers. A Neosarmatian-Eopleistocene
molassic asymmetric foredeep develops
in front of the Orogen, partly (inner limb) superposed
on its external zones (Figure 1). The Folded Area can
be divided into several major tectonic ensembles:
The Main Tethyan Suture Zone (MTS) which
groups together tectonic units constituted by Middle
Triassic-Middle Jurassic ophiolitic complexes overlapped
by sedimentary formations whose age (Middle
and Upper Triassic, Jurassic or Upper Jurassic-Lower
Cretaceous) is different from the age of the ophiolites
they cover. The MTS which runs along the Vardar
Zone (between the European and the Apulian continental
margins) splits – from Beograd toward north
or north-west - into two branches: the South Pannonian
(separating the Apulian microplate from the
Fore-Apulian one) and the Transylvanidian-Pienidian
(situated between the European and the Fore-Apulian
margins) (Figure2).
The Fore-Apulian Microcontinent (FAM) is situated
on the opposite side with respect to the European
margin, considering the MTS a major geotectonic axis
of symmetry of the Tethyan Chains. The FAM groups
together the Austroalpine, the Central West Carpathians
and the North Apusenide units (Figure 1), as well
as the units covered by the Pannonian Depression
B12
3 - B12
Volume n° 1 - from PR01 to B15