Original scientific paper

Stratigraphy and Palaeogeography of Miocene Deposits from the Marginal Area of Zumberak Mt. and the Samoborsko Gorje Mts. (Northwestern Croatia)

D. Vrsaljko
D. Pavelić
Z. Bajraktarević

Abstract

Miocene sediments rimming the Palaeozoic–Mesozoic–Palaeogene rocks, form Zumberak Mt. and the Samoborsko Gorje Mts. Spatial analysis of the setting and development of the surface Miocene stratigraphy, at the marginal areas of the Zumberak and Samoborsko Gorje Mts., allows four palaeogeographic areas to be distinguished: Zumberak, Plesivica–Sveta Jana, Samobor–Sveta Nedelja and Grdanjci. In the Miocene deposits (totaling 350 m), within the area of Zumberak, coarse-grained clastics from deltaic deposits of Pannonian age prevail. Here only, 50 m of sediments of Pliocene–Pleistocene age overlie the Miocene deposits whereas Mesozoic carbonates represent the basement. The Plesivica–Sveta Jana area is characterized by a 600 m sequence of Miocene deposits, mainly overlying Triassic dolomites, where finely-grained layers of marls and silts prevail. In this area, Miocene successions from the Badenian to the Pontian are characterized by a continuity of sedimentation with an inherited depositional environment. In the area of Samobor–Sveta Nedelja, the basement is diverse: Triassic dolomites, volcanogenic–sedimentary complex of Cretaceous age and a clastic–carbonate complex of Palaeogene age. The Miocene succession shows a regressive trend from the Badenian to the Pontian and the total thickness is estimated at 400 m. The area of Grdanjci differs considerably from the other Miocene palaeorelief. An approximately 50 m-thick series of coarse-grained clastics with coal is distinguished, of unclear stratigraphic age (Ottnangian?). Miocene sediments of the Grdanjci area are represented by both a transgressive type of conglomerates and shallow water limestones of Badenian age, with a total thickness of about 100 m.

The development of the Miocene stratigraphy of the Zumberak and Samoborsko Gorje Mts. is generally correlative with that in the other parts of the Pannonian area, though it does exhibit local variations. Comparison of the Miocene palaeorelief of Zumberak Mt. with the Samoborsko Gorje Mts., together with neighbouring areas, enabled wider correlation with other parts of northern Croatia, and the more distant Western and Central Paratethys.

Keywords

Stratigraphy; Palaeogeography; Miocene; Zumberak Mt.; Samoborsko Gorje Mts.; Northwestern Croatia; Central Paratethys; Pannonian Basin; Croatia

Hrčak ID:

3652

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/3652

Publication date:

29.12.2005.

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