The independent post-Attican evolution of the Pannonian Basin inside

the Paratethys area

Ţicleanu M., Nicolescu R., Ion A.

Geological Institute of Romania, 1 Caransebes street, Bucharest, Romania, mircea.ticleanu@yahoo.com

Abstract

The independent evolution of the Pannonian Basin inside the Paratethys area began during the
Attican phase and it is distinguished by the individualisation of two endorheic stages separated by a
non-endorheic one, corresponding to the Portaferrian (Middle Pontian) of the regional stratigraphic
chart of the Dacian Basin. The first endorheic stage corresponds to the Pannonian (narrow sense)
and the second to the Pliocene, but it starts before it and ends during the Pleistocene (in Pasadenian
phase). The non-endorheic stage was preceded by intermittent paleogeographic links, which do not
descent below to the lower limit of the Pontian, and this was followed by ties of the same type until
the middle of the Upper Pontian (Bosphorian). The links with the Dacian Basin during the Pontian
justifies the use of a local stratigraphic chart for the Pannonian Basin, based on the regional chart of
this neighbouring basin. The independent evolution of the Pannonian Basin was also marked by the
eustatic effects of the Valach (Wallachian) climatic cycle (Ţicleanu et al., 1998). The non-
endorheic stage coincided with a warm phase of this cycle and ended during a new cold phase of
the Valach cycle by the end of Pontian. During the second endorheic stage, i.e. during the Pliocene
warm phase of this cycle, the links with the eastern basins have not been resumed and a new cold
phase (Quaternary glaciations) favoured also this isolation. But, finally, he was reinstated in the
hydrographic basin of the Black Sea through successive captures of rivers from the direction of the
Dacian Basin. However, a relict Pannonian Lake maintained in the SE part of this basin until the
end of the Pleistocene, with a severe limitation at the beginning of the Holocene. So, the
hydrographic network of the Middle Danube Depression was completed only in Upper Holocene.
Keywords: isolation, endorheic basin, Pannonian (Malvensian), paleogeographic links, Pontian
Introduction
The reassessment of the geological data regarding the Mio-Pliocene deposits from the eastern part
of the Pannonian Depression allows us to reconsider the period of independent evolution of the
Pannonian Basin in relation to the Paratethys area, subsequent to the Attican phase (11,48 ma).
This approach takes into account a new temporal perspective on the Neogene tectonic phases
(Ţicleanu, 2013), but also on the climatic phases (with eustatic implications) of a cycle (4.1 ma
period) that marked the Neogene from all points of view (Valach climatic cycle, Ţicleanu et al.,
1998, 2005). The independent evolution of this basin, marked by the succession of two endorheic
stages, justifies the acceptance of an own stratigraphic local chart proposed by several authors
(among them Papaianopol et al., 1995), scheme based on the connections with Dacian Basin. In
this context the last moments of this basin whose endorheic character seems to have remained until
the Pasadenian phase (1,23 ma), seem very interesting. These last moments (Upper Pleistocene and
Lower Holocene) may also interfere with old mythical information (as Plato’s Atlantis).
Stratigraphic considerations
Thanks to the secure links with the Dacian Basin in Upper Miocene (in Pontian) it is useful to use a
specific stratigraphic local chart for the Pannonian Basin, conceived in relation to the regional
stratigraphic chart of the eastern Mio-Pliocene basins of the Paratethys. In relation to the latter
chart is important to note that the isolation of the Pannonian Basin, as a consequence of the Attican
phase, occurred during the Middle Sarmatian (in Bassarabian). In relation to this reality the post-
Badenien deposits of this basin, accumulated before Attican phase, may be reported to the
stratigraphic interval Volhynian–Lower Bassarabian, corresponding to the Suess’s Sarmatian. More
deposits are separated, which are reported to the Pannonian (narrow sense) corresponding to the
interval Upper Bassarabian-Kersonian-Meotian. This interval is designated also with a stratigraphic
equivalent term, Malvensian, proposed by Motaş and Marinescu (1972). The Pannonian
(Malvensian) includes the bio-zones A-E (Papp), defined in Vienna Basin, respectively the
Slavonian ones, corresponding to the bio-zones A-D, and the Serbian one (bio-zone E). The
resumption of the links with the Dacian Basin at the end of Pannonian let us separate the Pontian
stage (pro parte), in Pannonian facies. This is not entirely equivalent to the Pontian of the Dacian
Basin because it lacks the final part, namely the upper part of the Bosphorian. The Pontian of the
Pannonian Basin would include the sub-stages Novorossian (equivalent to the Odessian),
Portaferrian and Viminacian (equivalent to the lower part of the Bosphorian). Over the Pontian
deposits there are disposed, often concordant, the Paludines Beds corresponding basically to the
Pliocene in Pannonian facies. However it includes the terminal Pontian of the eastern basins and
this corresponds to the interval Upper Bosphorian-Dacian and Romanian of the Dacian Basin. Over
the Pliocene deposits it could be separated Quaternary ones, accumulated in a proper endorheic
basin at least till the Pasadenian phase (1.23 ma) when practically started the gradually draining of
the Pannonian Lake from the former Dacian Basin.
The first endorheic stage of the Pannonian Basin (Upper Miocene)
This stage begins with the Attican phase (Middle Sarmatian) and was caused by tectonic factors.
This moment is confirmed by Borgh et al. (2012), proposing the isolation in two steps (at 11.6 and
11.3 ma). In relation to the Valach cycle this moment of isolation occurs in the middle of a warm
phase, favourable for positive links among the basins of the Paratethys. The most visible result of
this isolation was the changing of the faunas because of the lowered salinity waters. From the
Sarmatian fauna with Mactra (persisting in the eastern basins) they switched to a fauna with
Congeria, accompanied by other species of sweetened waters. The next cold phase of the Valach
cycle (corresponding to the Meotian, namely to the final part of the Pannonian) favoured, by
eustatic way, this isolation. The Late Attican phase had not as effect the resumption of ties with the
eastern basins. These links resumed, intermittently, at the beginning of the Pontian and during the
Middle Pontian (Portaferrian) these links were maintained permanently. This first endorheic stage
corresponds to the Pannonian and, by reference to the Dacian Basin, to the Upper Bassarabian-
Kersonian-Meotian interval. It may be admitted a continuity of sedimentation after this isolation,
being very unlikely the imposition of a long post-Volhynian continental period on the western edge
of the Apuseni Mountains, as supposed by some authors (Paucă, 1954 and Istocescu, 1971).
Non-endorheic Pontian stage
Permanent secure links between the Pannonian Basin and the Dacian Basin based on species
frequency (molluscs) may be accepted without reserves for the duration of the Portaferrian sub-
stage. These connections culminate with the presence of the characteristic species Congeria
rhomboidea over large areas in both basins (Istocescu et al., 1971). It seems that during the warm
phases of the short cycle of orbital eccentricity (100,000 years period) it were allowed intermittent
connections among these basins starting from the temporal level of the Meotian-Pontian limit
(Pannonian–Pontian in Pannonian Basin). In all this time the waters loaded with salts of the eastern
basins were compensated, in part, the freshwater intake dominant in the Pannonian areas. During
the Middle Pontian the salinity of the Pannonian waters was much closer to the salinity of the
waters of the eastern basins. But after this period of common evolution of the Paratethys it took
place, in Bosphorian, a new isolation of the Pannonian Basin. It has mainly climatic causes: the
retreat of the shores because of a new cold phase of the Valach cycle. However, it is assumed that
the warm phases of the short cycles of orbital eccentricity caused temporary connections with the
waters of the Dacian Basin, but to the end of the Miocene the Pannonian Basin was isolated again.
Second endorheic (Pliocene) stage of the Pannonian Basin
This new stage is somehow longer than the first one and corresponds to the interval Upper
Bosphorian-Pliocene and Lower Quaternary. The imposition of this new phase may be related to
climatic causes: the scrolling of a new cold phase of the Valach cycle, phase which will culminate
at the temporal level of the Mio-Pliocene limit (which corresponds to the Rhodanian phase). It is
important to note here that neither a new warm phase of this cycle (Pliocene phase), nor a new
phase of diastrophism (intra-Pliocene, 3,28 ma) could not lead to a resumption of ties with the
Dacian Basin. More than this, the Wallachian phase (2,58 ma), although far stronger, had not effect
in this sense. It should be noted, however, that the coaly facies placed at the median level of the
Pliocene by the last warm phase of the Valach cycle can be identified in the Dacian Basin, but also
in the area of the Pannonian Basin. In relation to the Dacian Basin the interval covered by this
facies is clear: Upper Dacian-Lower and Middle Romanian. Furthermore, the containment of the
Pannonian Basin was seriously favoured by a last cold phase of the Valach cycle, cold phase which
has imposed the Quaternary glaciations. However, before the coldest moments of this phase
(dictated by the cold phases of the short cycle of orbital eccentricity) it took place the reintegration
of the Pannonian Basin in the area of the eastern basins, most likely from the time of the
Pasadenian phase. This reintegration was achieved gradually after the capture, tectonically
facilitated, which took place along the present Gorge of the Danube in the section called Greben.
The Relict Pannonian Lake
The detailed analysis of Quaternary deposits in the eastern part of the Pannonian Depression
suggested the idea of the survival of a lacustrine area until the end of the Upper Pleistocene
(Ţicleanu et al., 2006, 2010 a). At that moment, a lake with the shoreline at about + 100 m (called
by us “Relict Pannonian Lake”) can be identified in south-eastern part of the Pannonian Basin. It is
assumed that during the glacial phases it were registered severe regressions of the shorelines of the
Pannonian Lake, with transgressions during interglacial phases. The Pasadenian phase could mark
the beginning of the reintegration of the Pannonian Basin alongside the areas of the Paratethys,
reality dashed by the penetration of the Greben saddle, followed by successive captures of rivers
tributaries of the Pannonian Basin. A final obstacle along the future Gorge of the Danube seems to
have been connected to the karstic area Cazane (Ţicleanu et al., 2010 b). But finally the surface of
the Relict Pannonian Lake declined sharply at the moment of the Pleistocene-Holocene limit.
The Pannonian Depression during Holocene
The beginning of the Holocene can be marked by the existence of a successor of the Relict
Pannonian Lake with an initial elevation of the shoreline at about + 85 m. Its surface was much
reduced than the surface of the Relict Pannonian Lake, while the outline of the shorelines was more
tortuous. Through successive transformations in swamps this successor was severely limited so that
at the end of Holocene it was completed the present hydrographic network of the Pannonian
Depression, marked particularly by the way of the Danube river. The last relict lake areas, with few
exceptions, became swamps in historical times and the way of the Danube through the Gorge has
become easier continuous, being affected also in the last centuries by human interventions.
Conclusions
The independent evolution of the Pannonian Basin inside the Paratethys area started during the
Attican phase, the isolation of this basin being by orogenic nature. This period of time includes two
endorheic stages, separated by a non-endorheic stage temporally centred on the Middle Pontian,
defined as a stage of resumption of the ties with the Dacian Basin. The first endorheic stage
corresponds to the Pannonian and the second one corresponds mainly to the Pliocene. This reality
allows us to use a local own stratigraphic chart of the Pannonian Basin, having common intervals
with that of the Dacian Basin, but allows also the treating of its evolution in close connection with
the life of the Dacian Basin. The non-endorheic stage appears to be preceded by intermittent links
with the eastern basins (ties which does not descent under the lower limit of the Pontian), but it can
be imagined moments of the same type subsequent to the non-endorheic stage, which do not
surpass the middle of the upper sub-stage of the Pontian (= Bosphorian). The second endorheic
stage was determined by the climatic causes and most likely ended during the Pasadenian phase, at
the beginning of the Quaternary glaciations. The loss, in Pleistocene, of the endorheic character of
the Pannonian Basin (successive captures of rivers from the direction of the Dacian Basin), did not
lead to the disappearance of the Pannonian Lake. For this reason until the end of the Upper
Pleistocene in the south-eastern part of the Pannonian Basin it was possible the maintaining of a
lacustrine area (Relict Pannonian Lake) that separates the present course of the Danube in two
distinct segments. This relict lake was then severely limited at the beginning of the Holocene and
the hydrographic network of the Middle Danube Depression was completed in Upper Holocene.
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