Precambrian and Palaeozoic basement of the Carpathian Foredeep and the adjacent Outer Carpathians (SE Poland and western Ukraine)

In south-eastern Poland and western Ukraine, the Outer Carpathian orogen and the Carpathian Foredeep developed in the foreland of the East-European Platform (Baltica). The area consists of a number of tectonic units included in the Trans-European Suture Zone (TESZ): the Łysogóry–Radom and Małopolska blocks in the territory of Poland, and the Rava Rus’ka Zone, Kokhanivka Zone and Leżajsk Massif in the Ukraine. The development of the TESZ began in the (?Middle) Late Neoproterozoic and was associated with rifting processes taking place along the western edge of the East-European Craton (Baltica) during the break-up of the Rodinia/ Pannotia supercontinent. The passive margin of Baltica evolved into the TESZ during collisional and/or strike-slip movements. In the TESZ (Małopolska Block and Leżajsk Massif), Ediacaran flysch-type siliciclastics were affected by weak metamorphism and folding during the Cadomian orogeny. The development of Cambrian deposits in the East-European Craton, Łysogóry–Radom Block, northeastern part of the Małopolska Block (Kielce Fold Belt) and in the Rava Rus’ka and Kokhanivka zones was associated with the post-rift thermal subsidence. Tectonic movements (so-called Sandomierz phase), which occurred probably due to an oblique collision of the Małopolska Block (included into the passive margin of Baltica) and the East-European Craton during late Middle Cambrian to Late Cambrian (possibly also Early Ordovician) times, resulted in the following: (1) development of stratigraphical (?erosional) gaps in the Middle and Upper Cambrian sections of the Lublin–Podlasie slope of the East-European Craton and the Kielce Fold Belt in the Małopolska Block; (2) intense tectonic subsidence of the Łysogóry–Radom Block during the deposition of Middle and Upper Cambrian sediments; (3) development of compressional folds in the Lower Cambrian to lower Middle Cambrian deposits of the Kielce Fold Belt on the Małopolska Block. Ordovician–Silurian series were deposited in a typical flexural foredeep basin, in which subsidence and deposition rates accelerated during Late Silurian (Ludlow–Pridoli) and Early Devonian (Lochkovian) times. It is postulated that the present position of the Małopolska Block relative to the Łysogóry–Radom Block and East-European Craton resulted from post-Silurian dextral movements between the Małopolska Block and the East-European Craton. Devonian–Carboniferous deposits occur only in the Małopolska Block located in the Variscan foreland. The Middle-Late Devonian and Early Carboniferous shallow-marine carbonate platforms developed under an extensional regime. The siliciclastic Upper Visean–Lower Namurian A Culm series were deposited in the flexural Variscan foreland basin. During the Late Namurian A, the Małopolska Block was uplifted in response to the build-up of compressional foreland stresses. During post-Carboniferous times, the Precambrian and Palaeozoic deposits were subject to erosion and restructuring during the Alpine orogeny

Structure of the Precambrian basement of the eastern part of the Upper Silesian block (Brunovistulicum)

Two large, regional tectonic units, represented by Małopolska and Brunovistulicum blocks (terrains) can be distinguished in the southern Poland. The Cracow–Lubliniec fault zone forms their border. They vary both in the structures of the Precambrian basement and the Paleozoic rock cover, which shows different paleogeographic-facies and paleotectonic development. They are separated from the neighboring tectonic units by immense deep fault zones. Archean and Early Proterozoic metamorphic rocks within the Rzeszotary horst (2.6–2.8 and 2.0 Ga) are the oldest formations building the Brunovistulicum basement. Farther to the west, Precambrian and Ediacaran anchimetamorphic siliclastics can be observed. Cadomian-Precambrian rocks (640–545 Ma), which outcrop only near Brno, occur south and west of them. In the western part of the Brunovisitulicum (theWestern Sudetes) Variscan orthogneiss occurs. The age of its protholite varies vastly; from approximately 1020 Ma through 680–570 Ma to approximately 520–500 Ma. Precambrian basement of the Brunovistulicum is heterogenic. Within the area of Poland, it is formed by two fragments of the crust, represented by Karelian and Early Karelian rocks of the Rzeszotary horst and Cadomian crystalline and anchimetamorphic rocks occurring west of Rzeszotary. Between them, two vast, connected together, magnetic maxima in the vicinity of Tychy and Jordanów can be observed in a magnetic field image delta Z. The origin of those anomalies is related to the occurrence of gabbro, diabase and/or ultrabasite (ophiolite) rocks. Referring to the earlier concepts, it may be currently assumed that the anomaly axis Tychy–Jordanów determines the course of the contact zone (ophiolite suture zone) between the two fragments of the crust of different ages, building the basement of Brunovistulicum: the Archean - Lower Proterozoic (Karelian) and the Upper Proterozoic (Cadomian) formations

Tectonic subdivision of Poland: southern Poland (Upper Silesian Block and Małopolska Block)

The attempt to divide the Upper Silesian Block and the Małopolska Block into tectonic units has been based on a general map at scale of 1:1000000, without Permian-Mesozoic and Cenozoic strata. Cartographic, general and monographic works regarding formation of Precambrian basement of both of the blocks have been discussed and presented, and data concerning development of sedimentation, tectonics, and structure of the Paleozoic cover of the blocks were the background for the suggested division. The Upper Silesian Block is a part of a larger unit determined as the Brunovistulicum, which together with the Brno Block are entirely located within the borders of the Czech Republic. The Brunovistulicum and the Małopolska Block vary in formation of Precambrian basement and covering Paleozoic formations, what proves different paleogeographical-facial and paleotectonic development. Current data do not allow determining their southern range, where both units are within the range of the orogeny of the Outer Carpathians and quite possibly in the range of the Inner Carpathians. The boundary of the Brunovistulicum and the Małopolska Block along the part between Lubliniec and Cracow and farther to the vicinity of Bochnia and Nowy Sącz is relatively well defined and documented. It is a narrow Cracow-Lubliniec fault zone, approximately 500 m wide, cutting and moving all rock series of the Precambrian and the Paleozoic. The fault zone of the Odra River probably forms its NW continuation. The following tectonic units have been distinguished in the Upper Silesian Block: 1) Moravian-Silesian Fold-and-Thrust Belt, 2) Upper Silesian Fold Zone, 3) Upper Silesian Trough, 4) Bielsko-Biała Dome, 5) Rzeszotary Horst, 6) Liplas Graben. There is only one tectonic unit distinguished in the Małopolska Block-Kielce Fold Belt, dipping towards NW-SE, along the NE boundary of the block. Paleozoic formations building the unit represent thrust fault structure. In this case, the Kielce Fold Belt significantly varies from the other parts of the Małopolska Block, where Paleozoic formations build numerous small block structures

The Kraków sector of the Kraków–Lubliniec tectonic zone in the light of data obtained from new boreholes of Trojanowice 2 and Cianowice 2

W artykule przedstawiono wyniki badań dwóch pełnordzeniowanych otworów badawczych – Trojanowice 2 i Cianowice 2 o docelowych głębokościach 600 m, wykonanych w 2007 roku na północ od Krakowa w miejscowościach Zielonki i Grębynice. Głównym celem tych wierceń było sprawdzenie koncepcji dotyczących rodzaju kontaktu bloku górnośląskiego i małopolskiego na północnych peryferiach Krakowa oraz wykartowanie na tym obszarze przebiegu strefy uskokowej Kraków–Lubliniec, stanowiącej granicę między wymienionymi regionalnymi jednostkami tektonicznymi. Otworem Trojanowice 2 osiągnięto pod dewonem dolnym fragment profilu osadów dolnokambryjskich (formacja z Borzęty (fm)), których zasięg występowania ogranicza się wyłącznie do południowo-wschodniej części bloku górnośląskiego; natomiast w otworze Cianowice 2 nawiercono pod utworami jury silikoklastyki ediakaru o charakterze fliszowym oraz podobnych cechach litologicznych i tektonicznych do równowiekowych skał rozpoznanych w zachodniej i południowej części bloku małopolskiego. W związku z powyższym przyjęto, że strefa uskokowa Kraków–Lubliniec oddzielająca blok górnośląski od małopolskiego jest usytuowana między wymienionymi otworami. Na podstawie danych z wiercenia Trojanowice 2 i innych, wykonanych w jego sąsiedztwie, wykazano, że Rów Krzeszowicki uwidaczniający się w strukturze utworów kenozoicznych (mioceńskich) i mezozoicznych w rejonie Krakowa ma waryscyjskie założenia tektoniczne, a ograniczające go uskoki zostały reaktywowane w trakcie ruchów alpejskich. Rozpoznanie otworem Cianowice 2 i udokumentowanie stratygraficznie skał ediakarskich pozwoliły przyporządkować ten sam wiek podobnym litologicznie utworom nawierconym w sąsiednich otworach: Jerzmanowice, Bębło i DB-4, zaliczanym dotychczas do sylurskiej formacji z Mrzygłodu (fm). W pracy omówiono także wyniki innych badań, które przeprowadzono w trakcie dokumentowania tych wierceń.The paper presents the results of two fully cored exploratory boreholes of Trojanowice 2 and Cianowice 2 that targeted a depth of 600 m. They were drilled north of Kraków in 2007, in the villages of Grębynice and Zielonki. The main objective of the boreholes was to test the concepts on the nature of the contact zone between the Upper Silesian Block and the Małopolska Block in the northern outskirts of Kraków, and to map the trend of the Kraków–Lubliniec fault zone in this area. The zone is a boundary between the above-mentioned regional tectonic units. The Trojanowice 2 borehole reached the Lower Devonian deposits and the underlying Lower Cambrian rocks (Borzęta Formation (Fm.)) whose range is limited to the south-eastern part of the Upper Silesian Block. The Cianowice 2 borehole drilled (under the Jurassic) Ediacaran flysch-like siliciclastics, lithologically and tectonically similar to the coeval rocks identified in the western and southern part of the Małopolska Block. Therefore, it has been assumed that the Kraków–Lubliniec fault zone, separating the Upper Silesian Block from the Małopolska Block, is located between these boreholes. Based on data from the Trojanowice 2 borehole and other wells drilled in this area, it has been proved that the Krzeszowice Graben, accentuated in the structure of the Cenozoic (Miocene) and Mesozoic succession in the Kraków region, is of Variscan age and the bounding faults were reactivated during the Alpine movements. The Cianowice 2 borehole has enabled the examination and stratigraphic documentation of the Ediacaran rocks and allowed assigning the same age to the lithologically similar deposits in the adjacent Jerzmanowice, Bębło and DB-4 boreholes. Previously, these deposits were included in the Silurian Mrzygłód Formation (Fm.). The paper also discusses the results of other studies that have been carried out during documenting of the boreholes

The reserve base of hard coal in Poland: a review of changes in the process of restructuring of the coal mining sector

On the turn of the 1980s and 1990s several unfavourable events affected the Polish hard coal mining. Critical for the mining sector were breakdown of the country's request for energy and drop of coal prices on the world market. In the period of 1989-1998, Poland's economic reserves (balance sheet resources) of hard coal decreased by 17%, and the industrial reserves dropped by 41%. Simultaneously, there was and there is still in progress a programme of technical and economic restructuring of the hard coal mining. According to the restructuring programme of coal mining, the total yearly output of Polish hard coalmines will drop from 101 million t in 2003 to 80 million t in 2020. However, there should be taken into consideration that in consequence of 2003-2020 liquidation of consecutive coalmines, ceasing of mining of the coal balance sheet reserves contained in seams below 1.50 m thick as well as other factors may limit the recoverable reserves of coal. In this context, it is highly possible that in the period 2010-2020 the availability of coal resources will be one of the critical problems of hard coal mining in Poland

Precambrian and Lower Paleozoic of the Brunovistulicum (eastern part of the Upper Silesian Block, southern Poland) : the state of the art

The Precambrian basement and Lower Paleozoic (Cambrian–Ordovician) sedimentary cover in the eastern part of the Upper Silesian Block (Brunovistulicum), known only in boreholes, is presented, and their palaeogeographic, facies and palaeotectonic development is discussed. The former is characterized by a heterogeneous structure that consists of Archean-Lower Proterozoic and Neoproterozoic rocks of different lithologies and origins, and the latter is almost exclusively represented by marine, transitional and terrestrial siliciclastic rocks. In contrast to the neighbouring region of the western part of the Małopolska Block, the siliciclastic sedimentation took place during the Early and Middle Cambrian in this area, however, the Ordovician deposits were encountered in several boreholes and no Silurian rocks have been reported in the northern part of this region. The authors present the most probable model of sedimentation, tectonics and origin of the geological structure of the Lower Paleozoic sedimentary cover in the Upper Silesian Block, define research problems, and justify the need for new drillings. Based on the geological and structural analysis of the depth to the top surface of the Lower Paleozoic, they define the optimal location for three 1500 m deep boreholes to solve the basic research problems

Porphyry Mo–Cu–W mineralization within Precambrian–Paleozoic rocks–prospectivity analysis of the border zone of the Upper Silesia and Małopolska blocks

W strefie kontaktu bloków górnośląskiego i małopolskiego mineralizacja porfirowa Mo–Cu–W występuje w obrębie granitoidów i dajek porfirowych oraz w utworach osłony intruzji magmowych, reprezentowanych głównie przez metaiłowce i metamułowce ediakaru, w mniejszym stopniu syluru, a także skały węglanowe i klastyczne ordowiku, syluru i dewonu. Mineralizacja porfirowa jest reprezentowana głównie przez chalkopiryt, molibdenit i scheelit, występujące w formie żyłkowej, impregnacyjnej i rozproszonej. W strefie krawędziowej bloku małopolskiego wydzielono pięć rejonów prognostycznych mineralizacji porfirowej Mo–Cu–W (z wyłączeniem udokumentowanego złoża Myszków): Nowa Wieś Żarecka–Myszków–Mrzygłód, Żarki–Kotowice, Zawiercie, Pilica i Dolina Będkowska, a w strefie brzeżnej bloku górnośląskiego – rejon Mysłowa. Formowanie mineralizacji kruszcowej poprzedziły procesy metamorfizmu kontaktowo-metasomatycznego, głównie biotytyzacja skał klastycznych osłony granitoidów w odległości do ok. 1500 m od intruzji. Okruszcowanie jest związane przestrzennie i genetycznie ze strefami przeobrażeń hydrotermalnych (feldspatyzacja, sylifikacja, epidotyzacja, karbonatyzacja, chlorytyzacja, serycytyzacja), występującymi w obrębie i wokół granitowo-porfirowych intruzji. Relacje między okruszcowaniem, waryscyjskim magmatyzmem, intensywnością i charakterem przeobrażeń oraz wiek molibdenitu (303–295 Ma) oznaczony metodą Re–Os jednoznacznie wskazują na pomagmowe hydrotermalne pochodzenie omawianej mineralizacji. Szanse na odkrycie następnego po Myszkowie złoża można wiązać przede wszystkim z brzeżną częścią bloku małopolskiego oraz fragmentem krawędziowej części bloku górnośląskiego w rejonie Mysłowa.Porphyry Mo–Cu–W mineralization is associated with the boundary zone of the Upper Silesia and Małopolska blocks. It is encountered within Ediacarian and Silurian metasediments, as well as in Ordovician, Silurian and Devonian carbonates and siliciclastics, intruded by granitoids and porphyry dikes. Ore mineralization is represented by chalkopyrite, molibdenite and scheelite forming veinlets, impregnations and disseminations. Investigation of 66kmof cores from 284 prospective drill holes (done till 1992) provided new data representing the distribution of mineralization on a regional scale. Based on the contours of metal average contents, fve prospective areas (Nowa Wieś Żarecka–Myszków–Mrzygłód, excluding Myszków deposit, Żarki–Kotowice, Zawiercie, Pilica and Dolina Będkowska) with porphyry Mo–Cu–W mineralization have been delineated on the Małopolska Block and Mysłów area on the Upper Silesia Block. Formation of ore mineralization was preceded by contact-metasomatic metamorphism (predominantly by biotitisation of granitoids cover extending to 1500 m away from intrusion). Ores are spatially and genetically associated with zones of hydrothermal alteration (feldspathization, silification, epidotization, carbonatization, chloritization, sericitization) developing in and around granitoid and porphyry intrusions. Close spatial and genetic association between mineralization (supported by Re–Os 303–295 Ma ages of molibdenite), Variscan magmatism, alteration, and active Cracow–Lubliniec disslocation system clearly indicates postmagmatic, hydrothermal origin of mineralization. New exploration targets can be found at the border zone of Małopolska and Upper Silesia Block

The prospective complexes for CO2 storage in the basement of the Carpathian Foredeep between Cracow and Rzeszów

W artykule przedstawiono analizę możliwości składowania dwutlenku węgla na obszarze obejmującym strefę Karpat zewnętrznych i zapadlisko przedkarpackie na obszarze między Krakowem a Rzeszowem. W wyniku przeprowadzonej analizy budowy geologicznej za potencjalne skały zbiornikowe do składowania CO2 uznano występujące na tym obszarze: gruboklastyczne utwory kambru dolnego, węglanowe osady dewonu środkowego i górnego oraz karbonu dolnego, a także permsko-triasowe i środkowojurajskie piaskowce i zlepieńce. Uwzględniając ogólnie przyjęte kryteria przy typowaniu struktur i formacji do geologicznego składowania CO2, wyróżniono cztery rejony występowania skał zbiornikowych. Podobszar A — zbiornik Wadowice–Myślenice o powierzchni około 850 km2, w którym jako potencjalny zbiornik do składowania CO2 wytypowano kompleks dolnokambryjskich skał piaskowcowo-zlepieńcowych. Podobszar B — zbiornik Gdów o powierzchni 765,5 km2, skałę zbiornikową stanowią tu piaskowce i zlepieńce permo-triasu i jury środkowej. Podobszar C — zbiornik Niepołomice o powierzchni 268,9 km2, skałę zbiornikową stanowią dewońskie wapienie i dolomity. Podobszar D — zbiornik Grobla. Obszar proponowanego zbiornika obejmuje 422,4 km2, skałę zbiornikową stanowią dewońsko-dolnokarbońskie wapienie i dolomity. Poziom uszczelniający dla skał zbiornikowych w wymienionych rejonach stanowią utwory mioceńskie zapadliska przedkarpackiego, tworzące na analizowanym obszarze zwartą pokrywę, o zróżnicowanej miąższości przekraczającej 100 m. W części południowej obszaru na te utwory są nasunięte jednostki fliszowe Karpat.The paper deals with the possibility of carbon dioxide storage in the Outer Carpathians and the Carpathian Foredeep between Kraków and Rzeszów. The analysis of the geological structure has revealed the following potential reservoir rocks for CO2 storage: coarse-clastic Cambrian rocks, Middle and Upper Devonian and Lower Carboniferous carbonates, and Permian-Triassic and Middle Jurassic sandstones and conglomerates. Four sub-areas of reservoir rocks have been indicated for the geological storage of CO2: (1) Sub-area A – the Wadowice–Myślenice reservoir with a surface area of about 850 km2 as a potential reservoir for CO2 represented by a Lower Cambrian sandstone-conglomerate rock complex; (2) Sub-area B – the Gdów reservoir with a surface area of 765.5 km2, where the reservoir rocks are Permian-Triassic and Middle Jurassic sandstones and conglomerates; (3) Sub-area C – the Niepołomice reservoir with a surface area of 268.9 km2, with the reservoir rocks composed by Devonian carbonates and dolomites; (4) Sub-area D – the Grobla reservoir with a surface area of 422.4 km2, represented by Devonian–Lower Carboniferous carbonates and dolomites. The cap rocks for the reservoir rocks in these areas are the Miocene formations of the Carpathian Foredeep, forming a compact cover with a variable thickness exceeding 100 m. In the southern part of the area, these formations are overthrust by the Flysch formations of the Outer Carpathians

More evidence on Neoproterozoic terranes in Southern Poland and southeastern Romania

New geological, geochemical and U-Pb SHRIMP zircon age data brought more information about basement units in subsurface of Southern Poland and SE Romania, which allows to revise and refine some earlier models in the framework of the break-up of the Rodinia/Pannotia supercontinent. In the Brno Block, Moravia, and in the Upper Silesia Block, three different terranes formed the composite Brunovistulia Terrane. The Thaya Terrane (low eNd(T)) of Gondwana (Amazonia) descent collided obliquely at 640–620 Ma with the Slavkov Terrane (moderate eNd(T)) composed of amphibolite facies metasediments and arc-related, mostly unfoliated granitoids which intruded at 580–560 Ma. At that time, back-arc rifting separated the couple Thaya–Slavkov (inherited zircons: 1.01–1.2, 1.4–1.5, 1.65–1.8 Ga) that drifted away from Gondwana until collision around 560–550 Ma with the Rzeszotary Terrane, the Palaeoproterozoic (2.7–2.0 Ga) crustal sliver derived from Amazonia or West Africa. At least these three units composed Brunovistulia, which occurred at low latitudes in proximity to Baltica as shown by palaeomagnetic and palaeobiogeographic data. Then Brunovistulia was accreted to the thinned passive margin of Baltica around its Małopolska promontory/proximal terrane. A complex foreland flysch basin developed in front of the Slavkov–Rzeszotary suture and across the Rzeszotary–Baltica/Małopolska border. The further from the suture the less amount of the 640–550 Ma detrital zircons extracted from the Thaya–Slavkov hinterland and the smaller eNd(T) values. In West Małopolska, the flysch contains mainly Neoproterozoic zircons (720–550 Ma), whereas in East Małopolska 1.8–2.1 Ga and 2.5 Ga zircons dominate, which resembles nearby Baltica. The basin infill was multiphase folded and sheared; in Up per Silesia prior to deposition of the pre-Holmia Cambrian over step. In Małopolska, the folded flysch series formed a large-scale antiformal stack with thermal anticline in its core marked by low-grade metamorphic overprint. In Central Dobrogea, Moesia, Ediacaran flysch also contains mainly 700–575 Ma detrital zircons which link the source area, likely in South Dobrogea with ca. 560 Ma granitoids, rather close with Gondwana. However, fauna in Lower Cambrian overstep strata shows Baltican affinity. Such features resemble Upper Silesia, thus Brunovistulia might have extended beneath the Carpathians down to Moesia. The other part of South Dobrogea with Palaeoproterozoic ironstones resembles Ukrainian banded iron formation. If true, the Baltican sliver would be incorporated in Moesia. Such a possibility concurs with the provenance data from Ediacaran flysch of Central Dobrogea, which points to uplifted continental block as a source of derital material. Our study supports an earlier proposition that at the end of the Neoproterozoic a group of small terranes that included Brunovistulia, Moesia and Małopolska formed the Teisseyre-Tornquist Terrane As semblage (TTA). In our model, a characterisistic feature of the TTA was a mixture of crustal elements that were derived from both Gondwana and Baltica, which gave rise to mutual collisions of the elements prior to and concurrent with the docking to Baltica in latest Ediacaran times. The presence of extensive younger covers and complex Phanerozoic evolution of individual members of the TTA impede the recognition of their Neoproterozoic history