The geology and geotectonic setting of the Kozuf mountain area (R. Macedonia)

The area of Kozuf Mountain widespread in the south of the Republic of Macedonia, in the central and the western part of Vardar zone. This area is a section of the mountain chain of E-W direction Kozuf - Nidze (Kajmakcalan)-Starkov Grob. It’s a young mountain chain formed in Uppermost Miocene-Pliocene- Quaternary time, as a result of neotectonic vertical movements and volcanic activity. Many traces of the geological, tectonic, magmatic and metamorphic processes which occurred in the Vardar zone also are presented in area of Kozuf Mountain with relicts of rock complexes and tectonic structures of Proterozoic, Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic age (fig.1)

Correlation between the geomagnetic field of Macedonia and Slovenia

The goal of this scientific project is to continue the activities related to the measurements of the geomagnetic field on the territory of the Republic of Macedonia and to correlate them with the results from the geomagnetic measurements in Slovenia. Investigators from Macedonia will measure in Slovenia, and their investigators will measure in our country. In that regard, the instruments that are used in both countries will be tested, which means measurements will be make on the repeat stations in Macedonia and in Slovenia. In that way, exchange of experiences and knowledge will be make, and also that will be contribution to the establishing of the geomagnetic observatories in Macedonia and Slovenia. This project is important from scientific and applicative aspect. The scientific part will make possible observations and analyses of the geomagnetic field. The applicative aspect will be useful for the survey of the changes in the geomagnetic field and also correlation with the tectonic processes

Evolution and dynamics of the Cenozoic tectonics of the South Balkan extensional system

The South Balkan extensional system consists of normal faults and associated sedimentary basins within southern Bulgaria, Macedonia, eastern Albania, northern Greece, and northwestern Turkey. Extensional tectonism began during the final convergence across the Vardar, Intra-Pontide, and Izmir-Ankara suture zones, where oceanic regions closed between continental Europe and continental fragments that make up the Pelagonian, Sakar, and western Anatolian tectonic units. Earliest extension of latest Cretaceous-middle Eocene age appears to have occurred within a regional convergent tectonic setting and may be related to an increase in gravitation potential energy within a thickening continental lithosphere. Following diachron-ous closure across the suture zone, from the middle Eocene to late Oligocene, the transition from a regionally convergent to a regionally extensional tectonic setting occurred and was associated with abundant magmatism and formation of sedimentary basins. Extension was associated with lithospheric thinning probably related to changes in geometry of the subducted slab, dynamics of the mantle wedge, and beginning of slab rollback along the Hellenic subduction zone. A short period of local and diachronous (?) shortening (during latest Oligocene-early Miocene time) occurred in the Thrace basin of northwestern Turkey and in some basins in western Bulgaria and eastern Macedonia. Regional extension began in middle Miocene time and was related to the regional extensional tectonic setting that has dominated the Aegean extensional region to the present. Trench rollback was the dominant dynamic process, but during late Miocene time it was modi-fled by the formation of the western part of the North Anatolian fault zone that partially decoupled the South Balkan extensional system from the Aegean extensional region. During late Cenozoic time, east-west-striking normal faults and associated sedimentary basins in the eastern part of the South Balkan extensional system propagated westward in tandem with westward migration of north-south-striking normal faults and sedimentary basins from western Bulgaria into eastern Albania. This migration was caused by evolution of the Hellenic subduction zone as it increased its curvature during trench rollback and clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of crustal fragments in the west and east, respectively. After formation of the western part of the North Anatolian fault zone, extension within the eastern part of the South Balkan extensional system was related to southward movement of its lithosphere at a slower rate than the extension within the Aegean extensional region. Active extension and basin formation show two provinces of extension that are nearly at right angles to one another and their overlap in the central South Balkan extensional system: east-west extension in central Albania to eastern Macedonia and north-south extension from northwestern Greece and eastern Macedonia to eastern Bulgaria and northwestern Turkey

Curriculum for Development Trends of the Faculty of Mining & Geology-Stip, RM (Transformed and Revised Courses and Programs), TEMPUS-PHARE PROGRAMMES “AC-JEP-13574/98”

Curriculum for Development Trends of the Faculty of Mining & Geology-Stip, RM (Transformed and Revised Courses and Programs), TEMPUS-PHARE PROGRAMMES “AC-JEP-13574/98

Evolution and dynamics of the Cenozoic tectonics of the South Balkan extensional system

The South Balkan extensional system consists of normal faults and associated sedimentary basins within southern Bulgaria, Macedonia, eastern Albania, northern Greece, and northwestern Turkey. Extensional tectonism began during the final convergence across the Vardar, Intra-Pontide, and Izmir-Ankara suture zones, where oceanic regions closed between continental Europe and continental fragments that make up the Pelagonian, Sakar, and western Anatolian tectonic units. Earliest extension of latest Cretaceous-middle Eocene age appears to have occurred within a regional convergent tectonic setting and may be related to an increase in gravitation potential energy within a thickening continental lithosphere. Following diachronous closure across the suture zone, from the middle Eocene to late Oligocene, the transition from a regionally convergent to a regionally extensional tectonic setting occurred and was associated with abundant magmatism and formation of sedimentary basins. Extension was associated with lithospheric thinning probably related to changes in geometry of the subducted slab, dynamics of the mantle wedge, and beginning of slab rollback along the Hellenic subduction zone. A short period of local and diachronous (?) shortening (during latest Oligocene-early Miocene time) occurred in the Thrace basin of northwestern Turkey and in some basins in western Bulgaria and eastern Macedonia. Regional extension began in middle Miocene time and was related to the regional extensional tectonic setting that has dominated the Aegean extensional region to the present. Trench rollback was the dominant dynamic process, but during late Miocene time it was modified by the formation of the western part of the North Anatolian fault zone that partially decoupled the South Balkan extensional system from the Aegean extensional region. During late Cenozoic time, east-west-striking normal faults and associated sedimentary basins in the eastern part of the South Balkan extensional system propagated westward in tandem with westward migration of north-south-striking normal faults and sedimentary basins from western Bulgaria into eastern Albania. This migration was caused by evolution of the Hellenic subduction zone as it increased its curvature during trench rollback and clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of crustal fragments in the west and east, respectively. After formation of the western part of the North Anatolian fault zone, extension within the eastern part of the South Balkan extensional system was related to southward movement of its lithosphere at a slower rate than the extension within the Aegean extensional region. Active extension and basin formation show two provinces of extension that are nearly at right angles to one another and their overlap in the central South Balkan extensional system: east-west extension in central Albania to eastern Macedonia and north-south extension from northwestern Greece and eastern Macedonia to eastern Bulgaria and northwestern Turkey. © 2008 Geological Society of America