DACIAN BASIN - GeoEcoMar

2.1. Dacian Basin paleogeographic evolution: its beginnings, development and filling
of data used, mostly subsurface information, is marked on a special sheet of the
atlas. The paleogeographic maps have been prepared at rather small time intervals
(Fig. 2.1): Early-Middle Sarmatian (s. l.), Middle-Late Sarmatian (s. l.), Maeotian,
Early Pontian, Late Pontian-Dacian and Romanian (Levantine).
The Saulea et al. (1969) Neogene paleogeographic atlas represents the basic
framework required for any future project on Dacian Basin. However, the maps lack
data in the areas where the Dacian Basin extends out of the Romanian territory, to
the south of Danube River, offering an incomplete image of the basin.
Several years before the Neogene paleogeographic atlas of Romania of Saulea
et al. (1969) was published, a similar collection of paleogeographic maps was drawn
at the Research Institute of the Romanian Oil Ministry (Hristescu et al., 1962-1963) 1 .
Unfortunately this atlas was not made available for public viewing, being in the
format of a scientific report, and kept private.
The paleogeographic maps of Saulea et al. (1969) have been updated and developed
by Papaianopol et al., 1987 and Marinescu and Papaianopol (1989, 1995,
2003). The new work advances the paleogeograhic knowledge of the Lower, Middle
and Upper Pontian times of the Dacian Basin. New paleogeographic maps have
been presented for the Dacian and Romanian times.
Connections of the Dacian Basin with marine bodies which could explain the
calcareous nannoplankton occurrences have been studied by Mărunţeanu (2006).
Paratethys paleogeographic maps. The understanding of the Dacian Basin evolution
within the Paratethys domain improved with the publication of the Central
and Eastern Europe paleogeographic atlas (Hamor et al., 1988). The easternmost
part of Paratethys (Caspian Basin and the Black Sea Depression) is not included
in the Central and Eastern Europe atlas. Three paleogeographic maps display the
Paratethys realm during the existence of the Dacian Basin (Fig. 2.1).
The paleogeographic image of the entire Paratethys domain is incorporated in
the atlas of Peritethys (Dercourt et al., 2000). Only two maps are devoted to the time
span of Dacian Basin existence (Fig. 2.1).
The lithologic - paleogeographic work of Popov et al. (2004) is dedicated to the
Paratethys domain. Four maps (Fig. 2.1) of the Popov et al. (2004) paleogeographic
atlas represent the Late Neogene time when the Dacian Basin was part of the Paratethys
realm.
1 Hristescu, E., Constantinescu, I., Micşa, L., Bosoancă, G., Grigorescu, M., Burlacu, A., Ichim, T., Vasilescu, E.,
Vasiliu, M., Cristodulo, D., Diaconescu, R., Dicea, M., 1962-1963. Atlasul hărţilor litologo-paleogeografice
ale sedimentarului din R.P.R. Ministerul Industriei Petrolului si Chimiei, D.G.F.E.T.-T.E.G., Intreprinderea de
Laboratoare Geologice. Unpublished report.
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