Sedimentary evolution of an inner foreland basin margin: Paleogene Promina Beds of the type area, Mt. Promina (Dinarides, Croatia)

Main Article Content

Jožica Zupanič
Ljubomir Babić

Abstract

            Mt. Promina became famous for its coal mines, vertebrate remains and fossil flora, and for the use of its name in denoting sediments covering a wide area of the Dinaric coastal range. Up to 1 km thick Promina Beds of the type area, Mt. Promina, evolved in the context of propagating Dinaric deformation towards the foreland. They consist of eight sedimentary units differing in facies, i.e. depositional environments and systems, which include alluvial, lacustrine, deltaic, lagoonal and shelf deposits. The sedimentary units constitute three depositional cycles. Cycle I is represented by a late lowstand alluvium, while Cycle II and III consist of transgressive and highstand (regressive) systems tracts. Cycle III also includes a coastal onlap of limestones and an alluvial onlap. Transgressive tracts are specific in being represented by lacustrine deposits and having non-erosive bases. Falling-stage sediments have not been identified.

            The Promina Beds of Mt. Promina represent an example of sedimentary and sequence evolution at a foreland basin margin. The evolution of this margin is characterised by structural and stratigraphic complexities including syndepositional folding, growth strata, angular unconformities, intraformational faulting, alluvial and marine onlaps onto deformed basement, and tectonically induced, proximal-distal variations in facies and sediment thickness. The origin of lacustrine transgressive tracts may have been related to backtilting in the proximal part of the basin.

            High sediment supply and subsidence pulses are proposed to have been the two main factors which shaped depositional styles, sequence development and distribution of sediments. The dominant role of tectonism in the sedimentary evolution was related to the position of the area within deforming, marginal parts of the foreland basin, situated in the close vicinity to the main, active Dinaric thrust units.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Article Details

Section
Original Scientific Papers

References

ALLEN, P.A., CRAMPTON, S.L. & SINCLAIR , H.D. (1991): The inception and early evolution of the North Alpine Foreland Basin, Switzerland.- Basin Research, 3, 143-163.

ANADÓN, P. & ZAMARREŇO, I. (1981): Paleogene nonmarine algal deposits of the Ebro Basin, Northeastern Spain.- In: MONTY, C. (ed.): Phanerozoic Stromatolites. Springer, Berlin, 140-154.

BABIĆ, LJ. & ZUPANIČ, J. (1985): Promina-naslage sjeverne Dalmacije: raznolikost sedimentacijskih okoliša i litostratigrafska nomenklatura.- Geološki Glasnik, 28, Sarajevo, 139-141. (in Croatian, English Abstr.).

BABIĆ, LJ. & ZUPANIČ, J. (1990): Progradacijski slijedovi u paleogenskom klastičnom bazenu vanjskih Dinarida, od sjeverne Dalmacije do zapadne Hercegovine.- Rad Jugoslavenske akademije, 449, 319-343. (in Croatian, English summary).

BABIĆ, LJ. & ZUPANIČ, J. (2007): Major events and stages in the sedimentary evolution of the Paleogene Promina basin (Dinarides, Croatia).- Natura Croatica, 16/4, 215-232.

BABIĆ, LJ. & ZUPANIČ, J. (2008): Evolution of a river-fed foreland basin fill: the North Dalmatian flysch revisited (Eocene, Outer Dinarides).- Natura Croatica, 17/4, 357-374.

BABIĆ, LJ., ZUPANIČ, J. & KURTANJEK, D. (1995): Sharply-topped alluvial gravel sheets in the Palaeogene Promina Basin (Dinarides, Croatia).- Geologia Croatica, 48/1, 33-48.

BURNS, B.A., HELLER, P.L., MARZO, M. & PAOLA, C. (1997): Fluvial response in a sequence stratigraphic framework: example from the Montserrat fan delta, Spain.- Journal of Sedimentary Research, 67/2, 311-321.

CATUNEANU, O. (2006): Principles of Sequence Stratigraphy.- Elsevier, Amsterdam, 375 p.

CHOROWICZ, J. (1977): Étude géologique des Dinarides le long de la transversale Split-Karlovac (Yougoslavie).- Soc. Géol. Nord, Publ. 1, Villeneuve D'Asq, 331 p.

CHOUGH, S.K., HWANG, I.G. & CHOE, M.Y. (1990): The Miocene Doumsan fan-delta, Southeast Korea: a composite fan-delta system in back-arc margin.- Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 60/3, 445-455.

COLELLA, A. (1988): Pliocene-Holocene fan deltas in the Crati Basin, southern Italy: a consequence of varying tectonic conditions.- In: NEMEC, W. & STEEL, R.J. (eds.): Fan Deltas: Sedimentology and Tectonic Settings. Blackie, Glasgow, 50-74.

COLLINSON, J.D. (1996): Alluvial sediments.- In: READING, H.G. (ed.): Sedimentary Environments. 3. Ed. Blackwell, Oxford, 37-82.

CRAMPTON, S.L. & ALLEN, P.A. (1995): Recognition of forebulge unconformities associated with early stage foreland basin development: example from the North Alpine foreland basin.- American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 79/10, 1495-1514.

DORSEY, R.J., UMHOEFER, P.J. & RENNE, P.R. (1995): Rapid subsidence and stacked Gilbert-type fan deltas, Pliocene Loreto basin, Baja California Sur, Mexico.- Sedimentary Geology, 98, 181-204.

DORSEY, R.J., UMHOEFER, P.J. & FALK, P.D. (1997): Earthquake clustering inferred from Pliocene Gilbert-type fan deltas in the Loreto basin, Baja California Sur, Mexico.- Geology, 25/8, 679-682.

EMBRY, A.F. & JOHANNESSEN, E.P. (1992): T-R sequence stratigraphy, facies analysis and reservoir distribution in the uppermost Triassic-Lower Jurassic succession, western Sverdrup Basin, Arctic Canada.- In: VORREN, T.O.,
BERGSAGER, E., DAHL-STAMNES, O.A., HOLTER, E.,

JOHANSEN, B., LIE, E. & LUND, T.B. (eds.): Arctic Geology and Petroleum Potential. Norw. Petroleum Soc. Spec. Publ., 2, 121-146.

EMBRY, A.F. (2002): Transgressive-regressive (T-R) sequence stratigraphy.- In: ARMENTROUT, J.M. & ROSEN, N.C., (eds.): Sequence Stratigraphic Models for Exploration and Production: Evolving Methodology, Emerging Models and Application Histories. 22. Ann. Gulf Coast Sect. SEPM Foundation Bob F. Perkins Res. Conf., Conf. Proc., 151-172.

ETHRIDGE, F.G. & WESCOTT, W.A. (1984): Tectonic setting, recognition and hydrocarbon reservoir potential of fan delta deposits.- In: KOSTER, E.H. & STEEL, R.J., (eds.): Sedimentology of Gravels and Conglomerates. Can. Soc. Petroleum Geol. Mem., 10, Calgary, 217-235.

FLEMINGS, P.B. & JORDAN, T.E. (1989): A synthetic stratigraphic model of foreland basin development.- Journal of Geophysical Research, 94 (B4), 3851-3866.

FORD, M., WILLIAMS, E.A., ARTONI, A., VERGES, J. & HARDY, S. (1997): Progressive evolution of fault-related fold pair from growth strata geomteries, Sant Llorenc de Morunys, SE Pyrenees.- Journal of Structural Geology, 19/3-4, 413-441.

GAWTHORPE, R.L. & COLELLA, A. (1990): Tectonic controls on coarse-grained delta depositional system in rift basins.- In: COLELLA, A. & PRIOR, D.B. (eds.): Coarse-grained Deltas. Int. Assoc. Sediment. Spec. Publ., 10, Blackwell, Oxford, 113-127.

GALLOWAY, W.E. (1989): Genetic stratigraphic sequences in basin analysis I: architecture and genesis of flooding-surface bounded depositional units.- The American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 73/2, 125-142.

GILBERT, G.K. (1885): The topographic features of lake shores.- Ann. Rep. U.S. geol. Surv., 5, 75-123.

HEDBERG, H.D. (1976): International Stratigraphic Guide.- Willey, New York, 200 p.

HELLAND-HANSEN, W. & MARTINSEN, O.J. (1996): Shoreline trajectories and sequences: description of variable depositional-dip scenarios.- Journal of Sedimentary Research, 66/4, 670-688.

HELLER, P.L., ANGEVINE, C.L. & WINSLOW, N.S. (1988): Two-phase stratigraphic model of foreland basin sequences.- Geology, 16/6, 501-504.

HERAK, M. & BAHUN, S. (1979): The role of calcareous breccia (Jelar Formation) in the tectonic interpretation of the High Karst zone of the Dinarides.- Geološki vjesnik, 31, 49-59.

HUNT, D. & TUCKER, M.E. (1992): Stranded parasequences and the forced regressive wedge systems tract: deposition during base-level fall.- Sedimentary Geology, 81/1, 1-9.

IVANOVIĆ, A., SIKIRICA, V., MARKOVIĆ, S. & SAKAČ, K. (1977): Osnovna geološka karta Jugoslavije 1:100000, list Drniš (Basic Geological Map of Yugoslavie 1:100000, Drniš sheet).- Geološki zavod, Zagreb, Savezni geološki zavod, Beograd.

IVANOVIĆ, A., SIKIRICA, V. & SAKAČ, K. (1978): Osnovna geološka karta Jugoslavije 1:100000, Tumač za list Drniš (Basic Geological Map of Yugoslavie 1:100000, Geology of the Drniš sheet -in Croatian, English Abstr.).- Geološki zavod, Zagreb, Savezni geološki zavod, Beograd, 59 p.

KERNER, F. v. (1894): Ueber die geologischen Verhältnisse der Gegend von Dernis in Dalmatien.- Verhandlungen der geologischen Reichsanstalt, 1894/2, 75-81.

KERNER, F.v. (1896): Geologische Specialkarte der Oesterr.-ungar. Monarchie, 1:75.000. Kistanje und Drniš.- Geol. Reichsanst., Wien.

KERNER, F. v. (1901): Erläuterungen zur Geologischen Karte der Oesterr.-ungar. Monarchie. Kistanje-Dernis, 1:75.000.- Geol. Reichsanst., Wien, 40 p.

KORBAR, T. (2009): Orogenic evolution of the External Dinarides in the NE Adriatic region: a model constrained by tectonostratigraphy of Upper Cretaceous to Paleogene carbonates.- Earth-Science Reviews (2009) doi:10.1016/.earscirev.2009.07.004, 1-17.

KÜHN, O. (1946): Das Alter der Prominaschichten und der innereozänen Gebirgsbildung.- Jahrbuch der Geologischen Bundesanstalt, 91/1-2, 49-94.

LOPEZ-BLANCO, M., MARZO, M. & PIŇA, J. (2000): Transgressive-regressive sequence hierarchy of foreland, fan-delta clastic wedges (Montserrat and Sant Llorenç del Munt, Middle Eocene, Ebro Basin, NE Spain).- Sedimentary Geology, 138, 41-69.

MAMUŽIĆ, P. (1975): Osnovna geološka karta Jugoslavije 1:100000, Tumač za list Šibenik (Basic Geological Map of Yugoslavie 1:100000, Geology of the Šibenik sheet - in Croatian, English Abstr.).- Geološki zavod, Zagreb, Savezni geološki zavod, Beograd, 37 p.

MARINČIĆ, S. (1981): Eocenski fliš jadranskog pojasa.- Geološki vjesnik, 34, 27-38. (in Croatian, English Abstr.).

MARKOVIĆ, S. (2002): Hrvatske mineralne sirovine.- Institut za geološka istraživanja, Zagreb, 544 p.

MARZO, M. & STEEL, R. (2000): Unusual features of sediment supply-dominated, transgressive-regressive sequences: Paleogene clasic wedges, SE Pyrenean foreland basin, Spain.- Sedimentary Geology, 138, 3-15.

MASSARI, F. & COLELLA, A. (1988): Evolution and types of fan-delta systems in some major tectonic settings.- In:

NEMEC, W. & STEEL, R.J., (eds.): Fan Deltas: Sedimentology and Tectonic Settings. Blackie, Glasgow, 103-122.

MIALL, A.D. (1978): Tectonic setting and syndepositional deformation of molasse and other nonmarine-paralic sedimentary basins.- Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 15, 1613-1632.

MIALL, A.D. (1996): The Geology of Fluvial Deposits.- Springer, Berlin, 582 p.

MIKES, T., BÁLDI-BEKE, M., KÁZMÉR, M., DUNKL, I. & VON EYNATTEN, H., 2008. Calcareous nannofossil age constraints on Miocene flysch sedimentation in the Outer Dinarides (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro).- In: SIEGESMUND, S., FÜGENSCHUH, B. & FROITZHEIM, N. (eds.): Tectonic Aspects of the Alpine-Dinaride-Carpathian System. Geol. Soc. Spec. Publ., 298, London, 335-363.

MRINJEK, E. (2008): Excursion 3A, Split-Rab, Promina Beds in Canyon of Krka River and Bribirske Mostine.- In: MARJANAC, M., (ed.): 5. Int. ProGEO Symp. Conserv. Geol. Heritage. Rab, Guideb. ProGEO Croatia, Zagreb, 37-77.

MRINJEK, E. & PENCINGER, V. (2008): Excursion 3B, Rab-Split, The Benkovac Stone - a building stone from the Promina Beds: A Late Eocene succession of storm-dominated shelf deposits with highly diverse trace fossils.- In: MARJANAC, M., (ed.): 5. Int. ProGEO Symp. Conserv. Geol. Heritage. Rab, Guideb. ProGEO Croatia, Zagreb, 105-125.

NEMEC, W. (1990): Aspects of sediment movement on steep delta slopes.- In: COLELLA, A. & PRIOR, D.B. (eds.): Coarse-grained Deltas. Int. Assoc. Sediment. Spec. Publ. 10, Blackwell, Oxford, 29-73.

NIKLER, L. (1982): Značaj i karakteristike smeđih ugljena Dalmacije.- Geološki vjesnik, 35, 181-194. (in Croatian, English Abstr.).

NORTH AMERICAN COMMISSION ON STRATIGRAPHIC NOMENCLATURE (NACSN) (1983): North American Stratigraphic Code.- Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Bull., 67, 841-875.

POSAMENTIER, H.W. & VAIL, P.R. (1988): Eustatic controls on clastic deposition II - Sequence and systems tract models.- In: WILGUS, C.K., HASTINGS, B.S., KENDALL, C. G. ST. C., POSAMENTIER, H.W., ROSS, C.A. & VAN WAGONER, J.C. (eds.): Sea-Level Changes: an Integrated Approach. SEPM, Spec. Publ. 42, Tulsa, 125-154.

POSAMENTIER, H.W. & ALLEN, G.P. (1993): Sliciclastic sequence stratigraphic patterns in foreland ramp-type basins.- Geology, 21/5, 455-458.

POSAMENTIER, H.W. & ALLEN, G.P. (1999): Siliciclastic Sequence Stratigraphy-Concepts and Applications.- SEPM Concepts in Sedimentology and Palaeontology, 7/5, Tulsa, 204 p.

POSTMA, G. (1990): Depositional architecture and facies of river and fan deltas: a synthesis.- In: COLELLA, A. & PRIOR, D.B. (eds.): Coarse-grained Deltas. Int. Assoc. Sediment. Spec. Publ. 10, Blackwell, Oxford, 13-27.

POSTMA, G. (1995): Sea-level-related architectural trends in coarse-grained delta complexes.- Sedimentary Geology, 98/1, 3-12.

POSTMA, G. & ROEP, T.B. (1985): Resedimented conglomerates in the bottomsets of Gilbert-type gravel deltas.- Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 55/6, 874 -885.

POSTMA, G. & CRUICKSHANK, C. (1988): Sedimentology of the late Weichselian to Holocene, terraced fan delta, Varangerfjord, northern Norway.- In: NEMEC, W. & STEEL, R.J. (eds.): Fan Deltas: Sedimentology and Tectonic Settings. Blackie, Glasgow, 144-157.

POSTMA, G., BABIĆ, LJ., ZUPANIČ, J. & ROE, S-L. (1988): Delta-front failure and associated bottomset deformation in a marine, gravelly Gilbert-type fan delta.- In: NEMEC, W. & STEEL, R.J. (eds.): Fan Deltas: Sedimentology and Tectonic Settings. Blackie, Glasgow, 91-102.

PRELOGOVIĆ, E., PRIBIČEVIĆ, B., IVKOVIĆ, Ž., DRAGIČEVIĆ, I., BULJAN, R. & TOMLJENOVIĆ, B. (2003): Recent structural fabric of the Dinarides and tectonically active zones important for petroleum-geological exploration in Croatia.- Nafta, 55/4, 155-161.

PRIOR, D.B. & BORNHOLD, B.D. (1990): The underwater development of Holocene fan deltas.- In: Colella, A., Prior, D.B., (Eds.), Coarse-grained Deltas. Int. Assoc. Sediment. Spec. Publ. 10, Blackwell, Oxford, 75-90.

QUITZOW, H.W. (1941): Stratigraphisch-tektonische Untersuchungen im norddalmatinischen Alttertiär.- Jahrbuch der Reichsstelle für Bodenforschung 62, 422-437.
RIBA, O. (1976): Syntectonic unconformities of the Alto Cardener, Spanish Pyrenees: a genetic interpretation. Sedimentary Geology, 15/3, 213-233.

SAKAČ, K., BENIĆ, J., BAHUN, S. & PENCINGER, V. (1993): Stratigraphic and tectonic position of Paleogene Jelar Beds in the Outer Dinarides.- Natura Croatica, 2/1, 55-72.

SHANLEY, K.W. & MCCABE, P.M. (1994): Perspectives on sequence stratigraphy of continental strata. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 78/4, 544-568.

TUCKER, M.E. (2001): Sedimentary Petrology. An introduction to the Origin of Sedimentary Rocks. 3. ed. Blackwell, Oxford, 262 p.

TUCKER, M.E. & WRIGHT, V.P. (1990): Carbonate Sedimentology.- Blackwell, Oxford, 496 p.

VLAHOVIĆ, I., TIŠLJAR, J., VELIĆ, I. & MATIČEC, D. (2005): Evolution of the Adriatic Carbonate Platform: Palaeogeography, main events and depositional dynamics.- Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 220/3-4, 333-360.

ZUPANIČ, J. (1969): Promina naslage planine Promine.- Geološki vjesnik, 22, 477-498 (in Croatian, English summary).

ZUPANIČ, J., BABIČ, L., ROE, S.L. & POSTMA, G. (1987): Wave-cut platform and wave-built terrace succeeding a Gilbert delta.- Abstracts, Int. Symp. Fan-deltas, Sedimentology and Tectonic Settings. Univ. Bergen, Bergen, Norway, 1987, 48.

ZUPANIC, J., BABIC, L., ROE, S.L. & POSTMA, G. (1988): Construction and destruction of Gilbert-type deltas during transgression. An example from the Eocene Promina Formation, Yugoslavia.- Abstracts Int. Workshop Fan Deltas, Univ. Calabria, Calabria, 1988, 58-59.