Miklós Kázmér

Birth, life and death of the Pannonian Lake

Abstract The Miocene-Pliocene Pannonian Lake formed in an extensional basin system behind the compressional arc of the Carpathians. Its size and depth were comparable to those of the Caspian Sea. Subsidence began in Middle Miocene times, forming deep, pelagic basins, separated by reef-bearing ridges. Clastic influx filled the marginal basins during Middle Miocene time. Prograding deltas dissected the lake and completed the infilling of the basin system by the end of the Pliocene. Basin plain, prodelta, delta front, delta plain, beach, fluviatile, and marsh environments can be recognized. Terminal Miocene uplift of the Carpathians isolated the Pannonian region from the rest of Paratethys. The subsequent decrease of salinity resulted in the evolution of an endemic, freshwater mollusc fauna. Rich nutrient influx from rivers supported high organic productivity (dinoflagellates, diatoms, nannoplankton, foraminifers, ostracods, etc.), yielding organic-rich sediments. Preservation of organic matter was helped by a stratified water column and oxygen deficient bottom conditions. Deep burial, continuing subsidence, and high geothermal flux due to an extremely thin crust, led to the formation of commercially exploitable oil and gas accumulations. Shallow lacustrine zones of basin margins provided suitable environments for a rich Congeria-Melanopsis mollusc fauna. Wave action on beaches produced commercially exploitable pure quartz sand deposits. Taxodium and Alnus forests flourished around the lake producing enormous lignite deposits. Besides a rich land snail and mammal fauna, prehominids lived in the forests. There was a warm, temperate climate, with probably frostfree winters. Basaltic volcanoes overlooked the landscape, and maars hosted minor lakes with rich algal flora forming oil shale. The catchment area included most of the Carpathians and parts of the Apls and Dinarides. The positive water balance resulted in a supposed overflow in the southern margin, supplying exotic fauna to the South Carpathian and Dacian basins of the Eastern Paratethys. The Pannonian Lake was completely filled by the end of Pliocene. Recent lakes in the Carpathian Basin are not descendants of it.

The Palaeogene forearc basin of the Eastern Alps and Western Carpathians: subduction erosion and basin evolution

Scarce Palaeogene sediment remnants in the Eastern Alps and Western Carpathians are interpreted as remains of a continuous forearc basin. New apatite fission-track geochronological data corroborate mild Paleocene–Eocene exhumation and relief formation in the Eastern Alps. Palinspastic restoration and nine palaeogeographical maps of the Eastern Alps and Western Carpathians ranging from the Paleocene to the Late Oligocene epoch illustrate west to east migration of subsidence in the forearc basin. Subsidence isochrons indicate that oblique subduction of the European plate below the Adriatic plate was responsible for forearc basin migration at a rate of 8 mm a−1. The Periadriatic Lineament was formed as a result of shearing by oblique subduction. The Neogene to recent Sumatra forearc basin is an analogue for the evolution of the East Alpine–West Carpathian forearc basin.

Is Evolution of Blind Mole Rats Determined by Climate Oscillations

The concept of climate variability facilitating adaptive radiation supported by the “Court Jester” hypothesis is disputed by the “Red Queen” one, but the prevalence of one or the other might be scale-dependent. We report on a detailed, comprehensive phylo-geographic study on the ∼4 kb mtDNA sequence in underground blind mole rats of the family Spalacidae (or subfamily Spalacinae) from the East Mediterranean steppes. Our study aimed at testing the presence of periodicities in branching patterns on a constructed phylogenetic tree and at searching for congruence between branching events, tectonic history and paleoclimates. In contrast to the strong support for the majority of the branching events on the tree, the absence of support in a few instances indicates that network-like evolution could exist in spalacids. In our tree, robust support was given, in concordance with paleontological data, for the separation of spalacids from muroid rodents during the first half of the Miocene when open, grass-dominated habitats were established. Marine barriers formed between Anatolia and the Balkans could have facilitated the separation of the lineage “Spalax” from the lineage “Nannospalax” and of the clade “leucodon” from the clade “xanthodon”. The separation of the clade “ehrenbergi” occurred during the late stages of the tectonically induced uplift of the Anatolian high plateaus and mountains, whereas the separation of the clade “vasvarii” took place when the rapidly uplifting Taurus mountain range prevented the Mediterranean rainfalls from reaching the Central Anatolian Plateau. The separation of Spalax antiquus and S. graecus occurred when the southeastern Carpathians were uplifted. Despite the role played by tectonic events, branching events that show periodicity corresponding to 400-kyr and 100-kyr eccentricity bands illuminate the important role of orbital fluctuations on adaptive radiation in spalacids. At the given scale, our results supports the “Court Jester” hypothesis over the “Red Queen” one.

Miocene siliciclastic deposits of Naxos Island: Geodynamic and environmental implications for the evolution of the southern Aegean Sea (Greece)

An interdisciplinary study has been carried out on Naxos Island, located in the southern Aegean Sea (Greece), which shows Miocene geodynamic and environmental changes in a classic example of a collapsing orogen. Early to Mid-Miocene siliciclastic deposits on Naxos have been shed from an uplifting mountainous realm in the south, which included a patchwork of at least four source terrains of different thermal histories.Petrography of pebbles suggests that the source units formed part of a passivecontinental margin succession (external Pelagonian unit), and an ophiolite succession mainly of deep-water cherts and limestones deposited on basalt substratum (Pindos unit). The continental margin source contributed rounded zircon crystals of Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous age and broadly scattering Paleozoic zircon fission-track cooling ages. A distal pebble assemblage of Paleogene shallow-water carbonates passing into flysch-like, mixed calcarenitic and siliciclastic components with volcanic arc components is subordinately present. High-grade metamorphic components from the nearby metamorphic core complex are not present. The depositional evolution reflects increasing relief and, in some parts, a fluvial succession with rhythmic channel deposition, possibly due to runoff variability forced by orbital cyclicity. Upsection, the depositional trend indicates increasing seasonality and decreasing humidity in the source region. The Miocene sedimentary succession has been deposited on an ophiolite nappe. Juxtaposition of this ophiolite nappe occurred as an extensional allochthon during large-scale extension in the Aegean region at the margins of an exhuming metamorphic core complex.

Large-scale strike-slip displacement of the Drauzug and the Transdanubian Mountains in early Alpine history: Evidence from permo-mesozoic facies belts

Abstract Both the Drauzug (Italy, Austria) and the Transdanubian Mountains (Hungary) show great differences in facies compared to the geological units that presently surround them, i.e. proximal facies contrast with distal facies in the Permo-Triassic. Lower Liassic strata in the Drauzug and the Transdanubian Mountains indicate an extensional regime causing typical structural features such as tilted blocks, fault scarps, and drowned carbonate platforms. The Permo-Mesozoic facies zones provide markers for the paleogeographic fitting of the Drauzug and the Transdanubian Mountains with areas today lying some 300–400 km to the west: the Drauzug corresponds to the Lombardian basin and the westernmost part of the Northern Calcareous Alps while the Transdanubian Mountains correspond to the westernmost part of the Lombardian basin, the Trento platform, and the Belluno trough. The Drauzug and the Transdanubian Mountains (together with the South Alpine realm) were displaced to the east along strike-slip faults during the Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous opening of the Central Atlantic and Ligurian-Piemont oceans and the simultaneous subduction of the Vardar ocean at the eastern margin of Apulia. Finally in Late Oligocene and Miocene times the Southern Alps were displaced back to the west along the dextral Periadriatic fault system.

Erosional and Depositional Textures and Structures in Coastal Karst Landscapes

Exposed surfaces of limestones on marine coastlines are characterized by a tremendous range of rock textures and structures. Many of them are features limited to coastal areas and are morphologically and genetically distinct from inland analogs. This distinction is due to idiosyncrasies of both coastal environments and coastal limestones. Processes operating in coastal settings are not limited to dissolution by fresh water and involve profound chemical and physical action of sea water and marine biota. In addition, these processes act upon rocks that are frequently younger and diagenetically less mature than inland limestones that have undergone deep burial and accompanying changes. The outcomes are distinct types of karren sculpturing, bioerosional markings, deposited and precipitated fabrics, bioconstructions, and compound structures that are unique to coastal karst. Many are limited to particular microenvironmental settings and certain elevations with respect to the sea level and can, therefore, be used as powerful paleoenvironmental and past sea level indicators.

Calcareous nannofossil age constraints on Miocene flysch sedimentation in the Outer Dinarides (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro)

Abstract Flysch deposits are associated with the Outer Dinaride nappe front. They overlie Eocene platform carbonate to bathyal marl successions that subsequently cover Cretaceous platform carbonates of Apulia and the Dinaride nappes. Planktonic foraminifer biostratigraphy indicates Eocene age of flysch sedimentation. New calcareous nannofossil data reveal that several assemblages are present; besides the dominant Mid-Eocene species, Cretaceous, Paleocene, Oligocene and Miocene taxa were also identified throughout the entire flysch belt. Widespread occurrence of nannofossil species of zone NN4-6 indicates that flysch deposition lasted up to at least the Mid-Miocene. Ubiquitous occurrence of various pre-Miocene taxa demonstrates that extensive, possibly submarine, sediment recycling has occurred in the Cenozoic. As flysch remnants are typically sandwiched between thrust sheets, these new stratigraphic ages give a lower bracket on deformation age of the coastal range. The data provide a link between Cretaceous compression in the Bosnian Flysch and recent deformation in the Adriatic offshore area.

Triassic and Jurassic Oceanic/Paraoceanic Belts in the Carpathian-Pannonian Region and its Surroundings

Mafic/ultramafic rocks and associated oceanic/ paraoceanic sediments of two ages occur in the Carpathian-Pannonian region. The older rocks indicate Middle Triassic rifting and spreading and occur in the Meliata unit of the Inner Carpathians, in the Transylvanides of the East Carpathians, and in the Vardar zone of the Dinarides and Hellenides. These localities can be united into a Middle Triassic-Late Jurassic Vardar ocean, forming the westernmost embayment of the Triassic Tethys ocean. The younger mafic/ultramafic rocks occur in the Penninic-Valais unit of the Alps, in the Pieniny Klippen Belt of the Carpathians, in the Bukk unit of the innermost West Carpathians, in the Mecsek unit of the Pannonian region, in the Mures ophiolite belt of Apuseni Mts., in the Black flysch nappe of the East Carpathians and in the Severin nappe of the South Carpathians. These indicate rifting and/or spreading starting in late Early Jurassic. Most of these localities can be united in a Middle Jurassic-Early Cretaceous “Penninic” oceanic zone. Consequently, in the Carpathian-Pannonian-Dinaride region the Jurassic “Penninic ocean” lay to the north of the Triassic Vardar ocean. Its opening was most likely caused by the interaction of the opening of the Atlantic and back-arc basin formation connected with Vardar subduction.

Rapid Profiling of Marine Notches Using a Handheld Laser Distance Meter

Abstract Kázmér, M. and Taborošl, D., 2012. Rapid profiling of marine notches using a handheld laser distance meter. A rapid, single-user profiling method for rocky shores is described. The Leica Disto D8 handheld laser distance meter measures distance up to 100 m and inclination in 360°. It automatically calculates horizontal distance and vertical elevation. Memory storage accommodates data for 30 measurement points, allowing easy plotting of shore profiles. This technique allows even inaccessible, dangerous, and overhanging cliff faces to be evaluated faithfully and within minutes. It is a major improvement over standard methods that often involve risky coasteering and climbing. Examples are given from marine notches in Thailand.

Incremental growth and mineralogy of Pannonian (Late Miocene) sciaenid otoliths: paleoecological implications

Incremental growth and mineralogy of Pannonian (Late Miocene) sciaenid otoliths: paleoecological implications Ontogenetic age and body dimensions were studied on three extremely well-preserved sciaenid fish otoliths from sublittoral marls of Lake Pannon from Doba, Bakony Mts, Hungary. Macroscopic and microscopic observations offered clear evidence for the preservation of the genuine structural characteristics, for instance the bipartite incremental features. Ontogenetic ages were assigned for the three specimens as 16, 7 and 6 years by counting the annuli of the sagittae. Analytical results prove that the original aragonitic mineralogy has been preserved making them, and probably other Late Miocene teleost fossils, suitable for future microchemical analysis to reconstruct the past physicochemical environment.