Second Symposium of the International Geosciences IGCP 710 Project Western Tethys meets Eastern Tethys

We are glad that we can meet personally during the 2nd Symposium of the IGCP 710 Project, after the pandemic time, which disrupted our idea of regular, annual meetings. After the 1st virtual meeting during the autumn of 2021, we have now the chance to discuss face to face and go to the field together to touch „Tethyan” rocks for a better understanding of what happened hundreds/decades of millions years ago in our lovely ancient ocean. As you know, through your knowledge and experience, the Tethyan Ocean history, both in its western and eastern parts, is fascinating, but enigmatic from time to time, to say the least.Generally, the geological history of the Tethys Ocean is broadly established. Yet many details are still unknown and many major questions remain, related to geotectonics, palaeogeography, palaeoceanography and palaeobiogeography. Improved understanding of the Mesozoic-Cenozoic ocean/climate history is based on accurate reconstruction of the distribution of continents and ocean basins and on opening and closing of seaways along the Tethys. There is little or no agreement about the number or size of separate basins, nor on their space-time relationships. Moreover, there is no consensus on the number and location of former micro-continents and on their incorporation into the present-day Eurasian-Mountain Belt. Geologists studying individual parts of these belts have been educated within different geological systems and adhere to different geological paradigms. Correlation between Western and Eastern Tethys is difficult, not only because of the large distances involved, but also because they are separated by the area of the huge Himalayan collision within which much of the pre-Paleogene tectonostratigraphic information has been lost. The aim of this IGCP project is to bring together geologists from the western and eastern parts of the former Tethys (Morocco/Iberia–SE Asia) to establish a common framework and a common tectonostratigraphic concept (latest Paleozoic–Mesozoic with emphasis on Permian–Jurassic).On the one hand, UNESCO forms a special umbrella for the IGCP Projects, and on the other hand, it has been very active in supporting the ideas of “geoparks” and “geotourism” for years. For this reason, we decided to use an international magazine – Geotourism – to print our materials, both abstracts and a field trip guidebook. We hope it will be useful for both Tethyan friends and geotourism enthusiasts.Enjoy Krakow during the stationary part of the Symposium and the Polish-Slovak-Czech Carpathians during a 5-day field trip!

Trace fossil curvolithus from the middle Jurassic crinoidal limestones of the Pieniny Klippen Belt (Carpathians, Poland)

The trace fossil Curvolithus simplex has been described for the first time in carbonate facies: the Bajocian crinoidal limestones of the Pieniny Klippen Belt. Curvolithus is typical of the Cruziana ichnofacies. This suggests deposition of the crinoidal limestones at shelf depths, below the fair-weather wave base. Curvolithus occurs exclusively in the lowermost part of the limestones, which are interpreted as having been deposited in the toes of migrating bars or banks of crinoidal sand. Such settings display increased preservational potential of trace fossils, and are preferred by the most probable Curvolithus tracemakers, that is, carnivorous or scavenging gastropods

Field trip – Outer Flysch Carpathians and Pieniny Klippen Belt (PKB)

We are glad that we can meet personally during the 2nd Symposium of the IGCP 710 Project, after the pandemic time, which disrupted our idea of regular, annual meetings. After the 1st virtual meeting during the autumn of 2021, we have now the chance to discuss face to face and go to the field together to touch „Tethyan” rocks for a better understanding of what happened hundreds/decades of millions years ago in our lovely ancient ocean. As you know, through your knowledge and experience, the Tethyan Ocean history, both in its western and eastern parts, is fascinating, but enigmatic from time to time, to say the least.Generally, the geological history of the Tethys Ocean is broadly established. Yet many details are still unknown and many major questions remain, related to geotectonics, palaeogeography, palaeoceanography and palaeobiogeography. Improved understanding of the Mesozoic-Cenozoic ocean/climate history is based on accurate reconstruction of the distribution of continents and ocean basins and on opening and closing of seaways along the Tethys. There is little or no agreement about the number or size of separate basins, nor on their space-time relationships. Moreover, there is no consensus on the number and location of former micro-continents and on their incorporation into the present-day Eurasian-Mountain Belt. Geologists studying individual parts of these belts have been educated within different geological systems and adhere to different geological paradigms. Correlation between Western and Eastern Tethys is difficult, not only because of the large distances involved, but also because they are separated by the area of the huge Himalayan collision within which much of the pre-Paleogene tectonostratigraphic information has been lost. The aim of this IGCP project is to bring together geologists from the western and eastern parts of the former Tethys (Morocco/Iberia–SE Asia) to establish a common framework and a common tectonostratigraphic concept (latest Paleozoic–Mesozoic with emphasis on Permian–Jurassic).On the one hand, UNESCO forms a special umbrella for the IGCP Projects, and on the other hand, it has been very active in supporting the ideas of “geoparks” and “geotourism” for years. For this reason, we decided to use an international magazine – Geotourism – to print our materials, both abstracts and a field trip guidebook. We hope it will be useful for both Tethyan friends and geotourism enthusiasts.Enjoy Krakow during the stationary part of the Symposium and the Polish-Slovak-Czech Carpathians during a 5-day field trip!

Jurassic paleogeography of the Pieniny and Outer Carpathian basins

The Jurassic history of the Pieniny/Outer Carpathian basins reflects the evolution of the Circum-Tethyan area, especially its Alpine Tethys part. The Alpine Tethys that is Ligurian, Penninic Oceans and Pieniny/Magura Basin constitute the extension of the Central Atlantic system. The synrift stage lasted in the Pieniny/Magura Basin from late Early Jurassic to Tithonian (the Magura Unit constitutes the southernmost part of the Outer Flysch Carpathians). The Pieniny rift opened during Pliensbachian - Aalenian. The central Atlantic and Alpine Tethys went into a drifting stage during the Middle Jurassic. The Late Jurassic (Oxfordian-Kimmeridgian) history of the Pieniny/Magura Basin reflects strongest facial differentiation within sedimentary basin where mixed siliceous-carbonate sedimentation took place. Greatest deepening effect is indicated by widespread Oxfordian radiolarites, which occur in the all basinal successions, whereas the shallowest zone is completely devoid of siliceous intercalations at that time (sedimentation from Ammonitico Rosso facies up to coral reef limestone). The southern part of the North European Platform, north from the Pieniny/Magura realm, started to be rifted during Late Jurassic time and Silesian Basin in the Outer Western Carpathians and Sinaia Basin in the Eastern Carpathians, with black, mainly redeposited marls have been created. The outer sub-basins were differentiated during the latest (Hauterivian-Barremian) phase of basinal development. The connection of Silesian Basin with Sinaia and Southern Carpathian Severin areas suggests the NW-SE direction of the basinal axis while the orientation of the Pieniny Klippen Belt/Magura Basin was SW-NE so, two Outer Carpathian perpendicular directions are possible within the basins. Major reorganization happened during the Tithonian-Berriasian time. It was reflected by both paleoceanographical and paleoclimatical changes. The Neo-Cimmerian tectonic events as well as main phase of the Outer Carpathian basins opening is connected with this reorganization

Upwelling regime in the Carpathian Tethys : a Jurassic-Cretaceous palaeogeographic and paleoclimatic perspective

Jurassic and Cretaceous global palaeogeographic reconstructions show a changing configuration of mountains, land, shallow seas and deep ocean basins, and these are used as input for paleoclimatic modelling. We have generated Oxfordian-Kimmeridgian, Tithonian-Berriasian and Barremian-Hauterivian paleoclimatic maps, showing air pressure, wind directions, humidity zones and areas favourable to upwelling conditions, modelled by the PALEOCLIMATE program and plotted on the palaeogeographic background. Paleoclimate modelling suggests that prevailing Jurassic-Cretaceous winds in the northern Tethys area came from south-south-west, and may have been parallel to the Czorsztyn Ridge, uplifted as a result of extension during the Jurassic supercontinental breakup. Upwelling may have been induced at the southeastern margin of the ridge. The model is consistent with the rock records within the earliest Cretaceous deposits. The presence of phosphates and a palaeoenvironmental analysis of benthic fauna support the upwelling model

Early Cretaceous intra-plate volcanism in the Pieniny Klippen Belt : a case study of the Velykyi Kamenets'/Vilkhivchyk (Ukraine) and Biała Woda (Poland) sections

The geological position and geochemistry of the basaltic sill and tuffs occurring within the Berriasian-?Albian pelagic limestones of the Czorsztyn Succession are described. The volcanic rock succession of the Velykyi (= Veliky) Kamenets’/Vilkhivchyk (= Vulkhovchik, Vulhovchik, Olkhivchyk) sites is related to intra-plate submarine volcanism, which took place at the southeastern termination of the Pieniny Klippen Belt. This volcanism was probably associated with the Early Cretaceous opening of the Magura/Fore-Magura basinal system, bounded by the Silesian/Marmarosh and Czorsztyn palaeoridges to the north and south respectively. The alkaline volcanic rocks from the Velykyi Kamenets'/Vilkhivchyk sites are geochemically similary to the basaltic block from Biała Woda (Małe Pieniny Mts., Poland), which is an olistolith a few metres across within the Jarmuta conglomerates (Maastrichtian/Paleocene). This basaltic block was eroded from the frontal part of the Czorsztyn Nappe and was deposited in the uppermost part of the Grajcarek Succession at the southeastern margin of the Magura Basin

Podhale Palaeogene Flysch as geotouristic attractive region – first look to its unique geological values

The primary aim of this paper is note the attention to geological phenomena in the Podhale Flysch region, and especially lithological differentiation of flysch rocks, their sedimentological features, tectonic structures, stratigraphical and palaeontological aspects, and all of these according to recent regional position of Podhale and its palaeogeographical history in wider geodynamic context. Authors summarized the newest knowledge about geological history of the Podhale Flysch region and presented its geotouristic potential in one of the beautiful place in southern Poland. Short reviews of several aspects of geological works have been made according to: sedimentology, biostratigraphy, petrography and mineralogy, structural geology, organic geochemistry, palaoentology and palaeoecology, palaeogeography and basin analysis, geophysics, geothermy, Quaternary geology and geomorphology, inanimate nature protection and geotourism. In fact, the Podhale Flysch region is good place for geological education and promotion of Earth sciences.//Podstawowym celem niniejszej pracy jest zwrócenie uwagi na geologiczne fenomeny f liszu podhalańskiego, a szczególnie zróżnicowanie utworów fliszowych regionu, ich sedymentologicznych cech, struktur tektonicznych, aspektów stratygrafii i paleontologii, a one wszystkie w nawiązaniu do dzisiejszej, regionalnej pozycji Podhala i jego paleogeograficznej historii w szerszym geodynamicznym kontekście. Autorzy podsumowali najnowszą wiedzę na temat geologicznej historii fliszu podhalańskiego i zaprezentowali jego geoturystyczny potencjał w jednym z najpiękniejszych miejsc Polski południowej. Przedstawiono krótki przegląd wielu aspektów prowadzonych tutaj prac geologicznych z: sedymentologii, biostratygrafii, petrografii i mineralogii, geologii strukturalnej, geochemii organicznej, paleontologii i paleoekologii, paleogeografii i analizy basenów, geofizyki, geotermii, geologii czwartorzędu i geomorfologii, ochrony przyrody nieożywionej i geoturystyki. Zdecydowanie, rejon fliszu podhalańskiego jest dobrym miejscem dla edukacji geologicznej i promocji nauk o Ziemi

Geological history of the Pieniny Klippen Belt and Middle Jurassic black shales as one of the oldest deposits of this region – stratigraphical position and palaeoenvironmental significance

The main aim of this paper is presentation both general history of the Pieniny Klippen Belt and two famous sites in this region: Dunajec River Gorge and Homole Gorge. According to such general introduction the authors explain also palaeogeographical position of the Pieniny Klippen Belt Basin within Mesozoic Tethyan Ocean, and especially stratigraphical position and palaeoenvironmental conditions of Middle Jurassic black shales and their significance in geodynamic reconstruction of this basin. Both the Dunajec River Gorge, one of the most popular geotouristic object within Pieniny Mts, and Homole Gorge, one of the best place to geological study of the Pieniny Klippen Belt, are most attractive natural phenomena of this geological region.//Głównym celem niniejszej pracy jest prezentacja zarówno generalnej historii pienińskiego pasa skałkowego jak i dwóch słynnych miejsc tego regionu: przełomu Dunajca i wąwozu Homole. W nawiązaniu do takiego generalnego wprowadzenia autorzy przedstawiają również paleogeograficzną pozycję basenu pienińskiego pasa skałkowego w obrębie mezozoicznego oceanu Tetydy, a szczególnie stratygraficzną pozycję i paleośrodowiskowe warunki powstawania środkowojurajskich czarnych łupków oraz ich znaczenie w geodynamicznych rekonstrukcjach tego basenu. Zarówno spływ Dunajcem, jeden z najbardziej popularnych obiektów geoturystycznych w Pieninach, jak i wąwóz Homole, jedno z najlepszych miejsc do studiowania geologii pienińskiej, są najbardziej atrakcyjnymi obiektami przyrodniczymi w tym regionie geologicznym

The Pieniny Klippen Belt in Poland

The Pieniny Klippen Belt in Poland marks the Central Carpathian-North European plate suture zone. The strictly tectonic present-day confines of the Pieniny Klippen Belt are characterized as (sub)vertical faults and shear zones. A strong reduction in the space of the original sedimentary basins took place. The strike-slip-bounded tectonic blocks, thrust units, toe-thrusts and olistostromes are mixed together, resulting in the present-day mélange character where individual tectonic units are difficult to distinguish. The sedimentary rocks of the Pieniny Klippen Belt were deposited in the paleogeographic realm known as the Alpine Tethys that was divided into two basins separated by the Czorsztyn Ridge. The accretionary prism formed in front of the advancing Alcapa (Central Carpathians) terrane had overridden the Czorsztyn Ridge during the Late Cretaceous-Paleocene. The destruction of the Czorsztyn Ridge supplied huge amounts of coarse-clastic material, including olistoliths, into the Magura Basin during the Late Cretaceous-Paleocene. The rotation of the Alcapa caused the strike-slip motions which led to the deformation of the previously created nappes and development of the flower structure. Two parallel faults delineate the southern and northern limits of the Pieniny Klippen Belt. The stops in Sromowce (Macelowa and Sobczański Gorge area) allow the observation of the southern marginal zone of the Pieniny Klippen Belt, the overturned position of the rotated counterclockwise deformed rock as well as the diapiric uplift of the Pieniny rocks in a transpressional strike-slip regime. The Zawiasy (Krościenko area) stop is located in the northern marginal zone (Hulina Unit) of the Pieniny Klippen Belt along the major dextral strike-slip Dunajec Fault