New Mesozoic APWP for Adria aided by data from the Transdanubian Range Unit – Tectonic interpretation in the Europe – Africa geodynamic system

Abstract

Mesozoic paleomagnetic data from the Transdanubian Range Unit (TRU) of the Pannonian Basin has been revised and updated to enable its paleogeographic evolution within SE Europe to be evaluated. After a 30° declination correction, the TRU data are fully consistent with those for Adria which has an almost identical stratigraphic history. This enabled a revised Apparent Polar Wander Path (APWP) to be constructed for the combined data. Comparing this with the corresponding African and European APWP shows that Adria separated from Europe around 190 Ma, then moved independently southwards between 170–120 Ma (a 30° clockwise rotation changing to counter-clockwise around 155–145 Ma). After 155 Ma, there was a northward movement that brought Adria close to the stable European margin by 115 Ma. This latter may have been with or independently of Africa. After 100 Ma, Africa and Adria moved in coordination until the end of the Cretaceous. This sequence of events correlated well with geologically established tectonic events. These include the major extensional phases in the Alpine Tethys during the southward shift and large clockwise rotation (170–155/145 Ma). This was followed by ophiolite obduction in the Neotethys (West and East Vardar) around 155–145 Ma as a result of the dramatic reversal in the displacement of Adria. Finally, around 115 Ma, the TRU was emplaced over Austroalpine units as a thick nappe associated with the general uplift in the Adriatic realm.