Marine and Petroleum Geology 18 (2001) 149159

www.elsevier.com/locate/marpetgeo

Neogene kinematic development of the East Carpathian bend area,

central Romania
R.G. Gibson
BP-Amoco, 501 Westlake Park Blvd., Houston, TX, 77079, USA
Received 4 October 1997; received in revised form 17 November 1999; accepted 14 January 2000

Abstract
Kinematic analysis of fault slip data from the junction of the eastern and southern Carpathian fold-thrust belt documents distinct movement
patterns associated with successive phases of Neogene deformation. Early to Middle Miocene deformation achieved ESE to SE shortening
accommodated by nearly orthogonal to oblique (sinistral) thrusting in the eastern Carpathians and oblique (dextral) thrusting in the southern
Carpathians. Following Late Miocene burial of the thrust front beneath foreland sediments, the kinematic framework changed to one of
sinistral escape of material from the eastern Carpathians, which drove minor NNESSW shortening in the southern Carpathians. The
kinematic data indicate progressive clockwise rotation of the shortening direction until ,11 Ma, which is consistent with clockwise rotation
of the TiszaDacia block as it converged with the European/Moesian platform. q 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Carpathians; Romania; Wallachian phase; Fault-kinematics

1. Introduction
The Carpathian orogen is an arcuate, 1800 1 km-long
belt of contractionally deformed rocks extending from
northeastern Austria, through Eastern Europe into central
and southern Romania. It denes a broad, asymmetric arc
that partially encloses the Pannonian and associated sedimentary basins (Fig. 1a). Shortening in the Carpathians was
driven by the advance of crustal blocks escaping laterally
from the eastern Alps into an oceanic basin bounded on the
north and east by the European plate and south by the
Moesian plate (Csontos, Nagymarosy, Horvath, & Kovac,
1992; Linzer et al., 1998; Ratschbacher, Frisch, Linzer, &
Merle, 1991; Royden & Baldi, 1988). The eastern and
southern Carpathians formed adjacent to the eastward
moving TiszaDacia block. Paleomagnetic data (Patrascu,
Panaiotu, Seclaman, & Paniotu, 1994) shows large clockwise rotation of the TiszaDacia block between late Cretaceous and UpperMiddle Miocene (915 Ma), probably in
response to its interaction with the northwest corner of the
Moesian plate (Ratschbacher et al., 1993). The southeastward retreat of a subducting oceanic slab is also thought to
be an important driving force for the Carpathian deformation since the Middle Miocene (Linzer, 1996; Linzer et al.,
1998; Royden, Horvath, & Burchel, 1982).
E-mail address: gibsonrg@bp.com (R.G. Gibson).

The area of interest for this study is the east Carpathian

bend, where the orogen changes orientation by 808 from the
nearly NS striking eastern Carpathians into the EW striking southern Carpathians (Fig. 1a). Previous kinematic
studies in this area have documented the existence of superimposed CretaceousPaleogene, Miocene, and postMiocene deformation events with contrasting displacement
patterns (Hippolyte & Sandulescu, 1996; Linzer et al., 1998;
Matenco, Bertotti, Dinu, & Cloetingh, 1997; Ratschbacher,
Horvath, & Rumpler, 1993; Zwiegel, Ratschbacher, &
Frisch, 1998). The main phases of thrust translation
occurred during the Miocene and older deformations,
which can be correlated for long distances around the
Carpathian arc (Sandulescu, 1975, 1988). In contrast, postMiocene deformation is localized to the bend area and is the
youngest deformation observed in the Carpathian orogen
(Burchel, 1980; Sandulescu, 1975, 1988). This young deformation has been interpreted as the nal stage of Carpathian
shortening (Burchel, 1980; Hippolyte & Sandulescu, 1996;
Ratschbacher et al., 1993), a product of subduction roll-back
(Linzer et al., 1998), or due to movement of a foreland block
toward the thrust belt (Sandulescu, 1988).
The purpose of this paper is to utilize fault-kinematic data
to dene regional movement patterns within the east
Carpathian bend area during the Miocene and younger
deformation periods. The data presented here were
collected in support of a petroleum exploration effort

0264-8172/01/$ - see front matter q 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S 0264-817 2(00)00042-8

150

R.G. Gibson / Marine and Petroleum Geology 18 (2001) 149159

Fig. 1. Geology of the Carpathian bend area. (a) Regional map of CarpathianPannonian region showing the Outer Carpathian ysch zone (gray), Pieniny
klippen belt (black), Inner Carpathians and other mountain belts (ruled), Tertiary volcanics (inverted vs), Mio-Pliocene sedimentary basins (white),
Intramoesian fault (IMF), and PeceneagaCamena fault (PCF). The study area is outlined. (b) Geologic map of the study area modied and simplied
from Geological Institute of Romania (1968); contacts between units shown are either faults (thick lines) or unconformities (thin lines) discussed in text.
WNW-trending dashed line is boundary between NE and SW domains used in kinematic analysis. Observation stations are indicated by black dots. Locations
referred to in the text and other gures are indicated: L Lopatari village; BA Berca-Arbanasi anticline. (c) Simplied geologic cross section of the area
along dashed line indicated in (b) Black unit in cross section is lower Burdigalian evaporite.

in order to understand better the spatial and temporal

relationships between structures of the eastern and
southern Carpathians. In this paper, the kinematic
results are integrated with stratigraphic constraints on
deformation timing to reconstruct the Neogene kinematic history of this region.

2. Geologic setting
The study area is situated at the southern limit of the
Outer Carpathian Flysch zone (Fig. 1a), a 50100 kmwide belt of CretaceousMiocene ysch deposits that are
deformed into a series of east-verging thrust and fold nappes

R.G. Gibson / Marine and Petroleum Geology 18 (2001) 149159

Fig. 2. Stratigraphic and tectonic summary of the study area. Correlation

between the central Paratethys and global time scales from Steininger,
Muller, & Rogi (1988). Local age names used on old Romanian geologic
maps are indicated in italics.

(Burchel, 1976; Sandulescu, 1975; Sandulescu, Stefanescu, Butac, Patrut, & Zaharescu, 1981). In the east
Carpathian bend area, lower Miocene evaporites cap the
ysch sequence and are overlain by middle MiocenePliocene siliciclastic rocks that extend out into the foreland
basin and are deformed along the eastern and southern
margins of the fold-thrust belt (Paraschiv & Olteanu,
1968; Sandulescu et al., 1981). Existing geologic maps
(Geological Institute of Romania, 1968) illustrate unconformable relationships between various stratigraphic units
and tectonic contacts that record a general foreland younging of the deformation from late Cretaceous through
Pleistocene (Burchel, 1976 and references therein).
A stratigraphic and structural overview of the study area
can be found in Paraschiv and Olteanu (1968) and is
summarized in Fig. 2. The rocks cropping out in this area
comprise three tectonic domains: the Tarcau nappe, Subcar-

151

pathian nappe, and foreland zone (Fig. 1b,c). Structural and

stratigraphic interrelationships between these domains
record a complex temporal overlap between sedimentation
and deformation. The Tarcau nappe consists predominantly
of Cretaceous through lower Burdigalian ysch deformed
into an imbricate thrust system overlying the folded, lowangle Tarcau thrust. At the present erosional level, portions
of the Tarcau nappe, including its SE edge, are onlapped by
upper Burdigalian siliciclastic rocks along the intra-Burdigalian unconformity (1820 Ma). Where they overlie the
Tarcau nappe, upper BurdigalianBadenian strata are
folded and imbricated with their substrate. In front (SE) of
the Tarcau nappe, the upper Burdigalian and younger rocks
occupy the hangingwall of the deeper Subcarpathian thrust
and comprise the Subcarpathian nappe. Along its buried
frontal edge, the Subcarpathian thrust and rocks of the
Subcarpathian nappe are overlain along the late-Miocene
unconformity (,11 Ma) by folded, upper Sarmatian through
Pliocene sediments that constitute the foreland zone (Stefanescu, 19851988). Where exposed at outcrop, this unconformity is typically overlain by Meotian sands and shales,
sometimes with an intervening unit of upper Sarmatian
limestones and calcareous sandstones.
The intra-Burdigalian and late-Miocene unconformities
help delineate successive deformation phases in the region,
as outlined by Sandulescu (1988) and Sandulescu, Krautner,
Balintoni, Russo-Sandulescu, and Micu (1981). Since lower
Miocene rocks are involved in the Tarcau nappe and the
front of the nappe is partially pinned by the intra-Burdigalian unconformity (south of Lopatari village, Fig. 1b),
emplacement of this thrust sheet began in the Burdigalian
(Old Styrian deformation phase). Emplacement of the
Subcarpathian nappe, along with macroscopic folding and
internal imbrication of the Tarcau nappe, occurred synchronous with deposition of BadenianSarmation strata
during the New Styrian and Moldavian deformation
phases (Sandulescu et al., 1981). The late-Miocene
unconformity marks the termination of the Moldavian
event. Subsequent folding in the foreland zone is a
manifestation of the Wallachian phase (Sandulescu,
1975), the only deformation to effect post-Sarmatian
strata. Although originally considered a Pleistocene
event (Sandulescu, 1975), the Wallachian phase deformation is now thought to have been a protracted event
that lasted from late Miocene (Meotian) into the Pleistocene (Hippolyte & Sandulescu, 1996).
Structural trends in the study area change from 020040
to 0800908 in the vicinity of the Teleajen River (Fig.
1b). Several NNE-striking, steeply dipping faults cut
rocks of the Subcarpathian nappe and foreland zone
on the NE side of the bend and terminate southward
in the vicinity of NE-trending anticlines (Fig. 1b). On
the southwest side of the bend, the most prominent
faults strike either NE to ENE, slightly oblique to the
macroscopic fold axes, or NS, approximately orthogonal to fold axes.

Station

Longitude
00

45829 56
45830 0 50 00
45829 0 19 00
45824 0 12 00
45829 0 19 00
45829 0 19 00
45829 0 05 00
45829 0 09 00
45811 0 23 00
45811 0 23 00
45819 0 06 00
45805 0 53 00
45817 0 59 00
45812 0 04 00
45811 0 47 00
45809 0 00 00
45823 0 24 00
45825 0 19 00
45820 0 23 00
45821 0 00 00
45817 0 18 00
45822 0 15 00
45823 0 41 00
45823 0 41 00
45822 0 49 00
45824 0 05 00
45824 0 05 00
45827 0 00 00
45827 0 00 00
45815 0 03 00
45817 0 10 00
45817 0 53 00
45824 0 17 00
45823 0 11 00
45812 0 03 00
45811 0 03 00
45829 0 01 00
45830 0 17 00
45827 0 51 00
45806 0 07 00
45805 0 33 00
45806 0 24 00
45807 0 54 00
45833 0 05 00
45832 0 41 00

00

26815 15
26813 0 11 00
26815 0 35 00
26828 0 07 00
26838 0 52 00
26838 0 52 00
26835 0 20 00
26831 0 43 00
26818 0 59 00
26818 0 59 00
26831 0 29 00
26818 0 31 00
26829 0 27 00
26803 0 10 00
26803 0 17 00
26802 0 29 00
26838 0 33 00
26838 0 01 00
26821 0 22 00
26820 0 06 00
26810 0 06 00
26837 0 13 00
26836 0 46 00
26836 0 46 00
26823 0 49 00
26825 0 07 00
26825 0 07 00
26818 0 07 00
26817 0 44 00
25854 0 36 00
26823 0 57 00
26827 0 49 00
26829 0 31 00
26820 0 29 00
26819 0 34 00
26818 0 51 00
26834 0 35 00
26835 0 55 00
26832 0 19 00
26830 0 05 00
26827 0 40 00
26826 0 19 00
26816 0 52 00
26816 0 43 00
26817 0 37 00

Rock types

Rock age

No. of faults

P axis

T axis

Population (Fig. 5)

ss, mds
ss, mds
mds, ss
mds, ss
mds, ss
mds, ss
mds, ss, cgl
mds
mds
mds
ls
mds, ls
mds, ss
mds, ss
mds, ss
mds, ss
mds, ss
mds, ss, tuff
mds
mds, ss
mds, ss
mds, ss
mds, ss
mds, ss, ls
ss, mds
ss, mds
ss, mds
mds
mds, ss
mds, ss
mds, ss
mds, ss
mds, ss
ss, mds
ss, mds
mds, ss
ss, mds
ss, mds, cgl
mds, ss
mds, ss, ls
ss, mds
ss, mds, ls
mds, gyp
ss, mds
ss, mds

L. Eoc.
L. Eoc.
L. Eoc.-Olig.
U. Burd.
M. Sarm.
M. Sarm.
L.-U. Burd.
U. Eoc.-L. Burd.
Badn.
Badn.
U. Sarm.
Badn. 1 U. Sarm.
U. Burd.-Badn.
U. Eoc.-Olig.
U. Eoc.-Olig.
L. Burd. 1 Pontian
U. Burd.-Badn.
U. Burd.-Badn.
L. Burd.
Olig.-L. Burd.
Badn.
Pontian 1 Meotian
U. Burd.-Badn.
Badn.-U. Sarn.
Olig.-L. Burd.
U. Eoc., Olig.
U. Eoc., Olig.
Olig.-L. Burd.
U. Eoc.
Cret. 1 L.U. Burd.
U. Burd.-Badn. 1 Meotian
U. Burd.-Badn. 1 Meotian
U. Burd.-Badn.
L. Eoc.-Olig.
U. Burd.-Badn. 1 Meotian
M. Sarm. 1 Meotian
L. Burd.
L. Burd.
U. Eoc.
U. Burd., Badn., U. Sarm.
U. Burd.-Badn. 1 Meotian
Badn., Sarm., Meotian
U. Burd.-Badn.
Eoc., Olig.-L. Burd.
Eoc.

22
5
5
15
11
8
16
7
7
4
8
29
6
1
2
18
25
11
2
1
3
3
12
18
6
6
2
3
3
3
7
5
2
1
4
5
5
7
7
6
5
2
1
9
2

75,
27,
2,
13,
47,
12,
3,
60,
2,
35,
10,
2,
24,
27,
50,
10,
51,
24,
37,
19,
39,
5,
3,
22,
56,
79,
4,
37,
58,
3,
31,
14,
19,
11,
15,
63,
18,
13,
33,
69,
17,
27,
14,
37,
46,

0, 052
44, 192
86, 227
51, 195
43, 289
56, 159
69, 245
29, 336
84, 348
36, 205
38, 049
78, 148
24, 026
30, 108
33, 147
78, 159
10, 257
63, 144
53, 184
62, 024
43, 154
64, 120
66, 175
11, 044
14, 314
9, 319
50, 016
48, 287
16, 131
29, 107
58, 151
36, 080
35, 179
77, 281
70, 292
27, 302
12, 244
24, 077
42, 119
16, 116
59, 316
62, 325
48, 280
43, 305
42, 164

a
a
b
b
b
d
b
a
b
d
d
e
d
c
c
e
d
d
b
b
b
d
b
d
a
b
a
a
a
a
d
d
b
b
d
d
b
b
a
e
e
e
c
a
a

144
072
105
302
095
287
148
136
084
326
146
246
128
001
337
013
154
196
542
153
292
019
273
138
066
172
111
146
014
015
315
340
282
137
158
133
338
341
345
255
195
162
174
080
325

near intra-Burd unconformity

pre-folding?
post folding?
Tarcau thrust zone, pre-folding
early, near Salcia fault
late, near Salcia fault
Punga Saratel fault

Colti fault
Plopeasa fault
early generation
late generation
Sibiciu fault (rotated)

Maca fault
Tega fault

Salcia fault

Near Cricov fault

Monteoru fault

R.G. Gibson / Marine and Petroleum Geology 18 (2001) 149159

921010-2
921010-3
921010-4
921012-1
921013-1
921013-1
921013-2
921013-4
921014-5
921014-5
921015-4
921016-2
921017-1
921018-1
921018-2
921018-3
930424-2
930425-1
930426-1
930426-2
930427-6
930428-1
930428-2
930428-2
930429-1
930429-3
930429-3
930429-5a
930429-5b
930501-4
930503-2
930503-3
930504-2
930505-1
930506-1
930506-2
930508-2
930508-4
930509-3
930510-2
930510-3
930510-4
930511-6
930512-1
930512-2

Latitude

152

Table 1
Summary of sample stations including location, rock type (ss-sandstone, mds-mudstone, cgl-conglomerate, Is-limestone, gyp-gypsum), stratigraphic age, number of observations, and calculated kinematic axes

Table 1 (continued)
Latitude

Longitude

Rock types

Rock age

930512-3
930513-2
930514-4
930515-1
930515-3
930516-3
930517-1

45832 0 17 00
45823 0 26 00
45809 0 15 00
45822 0 10 00
45818 0 02 00
45808 0 41 00
45811 0 42 00

26817 0 55 00
26824 0 51 00
26818 0 26 00
26815 0 39 00
26812 0 08 00
26814 0 03 00
26808 0 33 00

ss, mds
ss, mds
ss, mds, cgl, ls
mds, ss, gyp
mds, ss
mds, cgl, ss
ss, sh

930518-2
930518-4

45823 0 50 00
45827 0 08 00

26834 0 41 00
26838 0 10 00

mds, ss
mds, ss

930518-5
931004-2
931004-4
931005-3
931005-4
931006-1
931006-4
931006-5
931007-2
931007-4
931008-1
931008-2a
9310082bc
931008-2d
9310082efg
931008-3
931009-2

45826 0 47 00
45804 0 49 00
45802 0 09 00
45808 0 43 00
45808 0 01 00
45809 0 29 00
45810 0 00 00
45809 0 24 00
45811 0 25 00
45814 0 06 00
45809 0 50 00
45812 0 54 00
45812 0 47 00

26836 0 47 00
25824 0 53 00
25828 0 54 00
25833 0 38 00
25843 0 08 00
25839 0 24 00
25841 0 24 00
25841 0 48 00
26800 0 21 00
25851 0 27 00
25846 0 07 00
25845 0 37 00
25845 0 34 00

mds, ss
mds, gyp
cgl, mds, ss
mds
mds, ss
cgl, mds
mds, ss
mds, ss
mds, ss
mds
mds, ss
mds
mds

Eoc.
Olig.-L. Burd.
Badn., Sarm., Meotian
U. Eoc. 1 U. Burd.-Badn.
Olig.-L. Burd
Badn.(?) 1 Meotian
Olig.-L. Burd. 1 U. Burd.Badn.
U. Burd.-Badn.
U. Burd.-Badn. 1 U.
Sarm.
U. Burd.-Badn.
U. Burd.-Badn.
U. Burd. 1 Meotian
Eoc.
U. Burd.-Badn.
L. Burd.
Olig.-L. Burd.
Eoc.-Olig.
Eoc.
Cret. 1 Olig.
Olig.-L. Burd. 1 U. Burd.
Cret.
Olig.

45812 0 40 00
45812 0 29 00

25845 0 32 00
25845 0 30 00

ss, mds
cgl, mds, ss

L. Burd.
U. Burd.

45808 0 28 00
45809 0 05 00

25851 0 10 00
25841 0 40 00

ss, mds
mds, ss

931010-3
931010-4
931011-1
931012-1
931012-2

45809 0 53 00
45806 0 19 00
45829 0 03 00
45834 0 57 00
45835 0 16 00

26802 0 11 00
26832 0 25 00
26836 0 33 00
26845 0 53 00
26844 0 53 00

ss, mds
ls
ss
mds, ss
mds, ss, gyp

Olig.-L. Burd. 1 Meotian

Olig.-L. Burd. 1 U. Burd.Badn.
Olig.-L. Burd.
U. Sarm.
U. Burd.
Badn., Sarm., Meotian
U. Burd.-Badn.

No. of faults

P axis

T axis

Population (Fig. 5)

3
2
5
5
6
7
7

17,
49,
53,
3,
32,
26,
72,

165
286
135
357
343
046
093

33, 267
41, 105
1, 044
87, 214
48, 117
55, 180
15, 238

a
b
d
b
b
e
e

Rudari fault
Drajna fault
Creminis fault
Cricov fault
Vitioara fault

7
3

31, 171
52, 266

33, 285
38, 078

d
d

ToporasuGlodu fault
CasinBisoca fault

28,
2,
0,
5,
32,
16,
39,
20,
6,
10,
2,
21,
22,

147
000
029
157
173
215
139
334
346
347
113
149
001

53, 282
82, 256
57, 120
42, 251
25, 066
17, 120
45, 282
69, 172
27, 079
44, 187
5, 204
67, 302
62, 220

d
c
e
c
c
c
c
c
c
c
c
c
c

ToporasuGlodu fault

8
6

11, 122
42, 033

60, 231
2, 125

c
c

2
9

7, 181
2, 153

6, 091
63, 247

c
c

Bustenari fault
Cornu fault

37, 074
26, 127
85, 050
35, 233
19, 270

c
e

Pietreii fault

26
3
5
5
7
1
18
3
4
5
11
8
12

7
12
6
4
5

4,
5,
0,
13,
10,

341
035
316
134
176

Bontu fault

Lagulete fault
Breaza fault

Drajna fault
AudiaMacla fault zone
Cornu fault

R.G. Gibson / Marine and Petroleum Geology 18 (2001) 149159

Station

Near CasinBisoca fault

Baltagari fault

153

154

R.G. Gibson / Marine and Petroleum Geology 18 (2001) 149159

Fig. 3. Stereoplots of fault-kinematic data for selected stations discussed in

text (locations shown in Fig. 1b): solid great circles fault planes; dashed
great circle bedding; dots with arrows lineations with hangingwall
movement directions; black squares calculated maximum shortening (P)
axes; black circles calculated intermediate strain axes; bold crosses
calculated extension (T) axes.

3. Kinematic analysis of fault data

3.1. Methodology
Geologic maps (1:25 000 and 1:10 000), supplied by
Prospectiuni S.A., were used as the basis for the eld investigations conducted in this study. Outcrops at approximately
200 localities along most of the mapped fault and stratigraphic contacts were examined, and fault-slip data were
collected at 76 of these stations for kinematic analysis.
Key data for each of the measurement stations are summarized in Table 1. Where possible, observations were made
within the deformation zone associated with the mapped
faults. With the exception of a few slickensided fault
surfaces measured in the upper Sarmatian limestones, nearly
all of the fault zones examined are zones of tectonized
shales and marls with or without disrupted sandstone
beds. The style of deformation in these fault zones is similar
to that described by Rutter, Maddock, Hall, and White
(1986), consisting of well-lineated, anastomosing slip
surfaces that cut across bedding and dissect the rock into
lenticular phacoids. The phacoids contain a well-developed
internal foliation (P-foliation of Rutter et al., 1986) that is
oblique to and merges asymptotically with the slip surfaces.
The resulting S-C fabric geometry can be used as a reliable
sense of movement indicator (see Rutter et al., 1986), even
in the absence of offset stratigraphic markers. Measurements taken within these fault zones included: (1) strike
and dip of slip surfaces; (2) trend and plunge of lineations

(movement directions) on these surfaces; and (3) the sense

of movement along each surface as indicated by offset stratigraphic markers and/or internal fabrics. Measurements
were taken on as many slip surfaces as possible within a
given outcrop as dictated by the quality of exposure, resulting in data sets of 1 to .25 slip surfaces per outcrop (see
Table 1). Sense-of-movement determinations were generally made in the eld and veried in thin-section where
necessary to eliminate uncertainty.
Fault-slip data were analyzed with the approach of
Marrett and Allmendinger (1990). Axes of principal incremental shortening and extension accommodated by each
fault were calculated from eld measurements. These axes
are distinguished on the basis of movement sense and are
located 458 on either side of the slip direction in the plane
containing both the slip vector and the normal to the slip
surface. Average shortening (P) and extension (T) axes for
each fault data set were calculated using Bingham statistical
analysis (Marrett & Allmendinger, 1990) and are listed in
Table 1. In only a few instances (see Table 1) was it possible
to distinguish multiple fault populations at a single station
using either fault morphology or subpopulations with
distinct kinematic axes.
3.2. Field examples
In this section, several examples of specic fault data sets
are discussed in order to illustrate some of the important
relationships and logic used in the kinematic interpretation.
Fig. 3a,b shows fault data from two stations located just
north of the Buzau River within EoceneOligocene rocks of
the internal Tarcau nappe (see Fig. 1b for station locations).
In this area, the Tarcau nappe consists of a series of backthrusts and associated macroscopic folds that involve strata
as young as Badenian and, therefore, formed during Badenian or younger deformation. Station 921010-2 is located in
SE-dipping Eocene rocks and contains a population of
strike-slip faults that intersect along a line normal to
bedding and typically have slip directions that lie near the
bedding plane (Fig. 3a). This geometric relationship is interpreted to indicate that faulting pre-dated large-scale folding
at this location. Analysis of the raw fault data yields a
steeply dipping P axis and NESW T axis, but rotation of
the data to a pre-folding orientation implies subhorizontal
NWSE shortening and NESW extension (Fig. 3a). The
layer-parallel shortening observed at this location probably
occurred during initial Tarcau nappe emplacement (Middle
Burdigalian, Old Styrian phase), but could also have been
produced early in the Badenian (New Styrian) deformation
phase. At nearby station 921010-4 (see Fig. 1b for location),
overturned NW-dipping Upper Eocene strata are juxtaposed
against subvertical Oligocene shales along a NW-dipping
fault. Slip surfaces measured in the vicinity of this fault
yield ESE shortening and subvertical extension (Fig. 3b).
The geometric relationships at this outcrop imply that the

R.G. Gibson / Marine and Petroleum Geology 18 (2001) 149159

155

Fig. 4. Map and fault kinematic data from small area near village of Canesti in the eastern Carpathians (location shown in Fig. 1b). Map is based on
unpublished 1:10 000 map provided by Prospectiuni S.A. Symbols for stereoplots are the same as in Fig. 3.

fault population formed after bedding was rotated to its

steeply dipping orientation during or after the Badenian.
The second outcrop example (station 921018-3, Fig. 3c)
occurs on the southwest side of the Carpathian bend along a
faulted contact (Copaceni fault) between OligoceneLower
Burdigalian black shales with thin sands and green, fossiliferous, Pontian marls exposed on the west bank of the
Teleajen River (see Fig. 1b for location). Both stratigraphic
units deep steeply and young toward the south. A population
of small faults offsetting the contact consists dominantly of
EW striking thrusts with slip directions toward either the
north or south. Kinematic analyses of these data indicate
NNE shortening and near-vertical extension. Since these
faults cut Pontian as well as older strata, these kinematic
axes can be condently attributed to Wallachian phase
deformation.
Fig. 4 contains a detailed map of an area near the eastern
edge of the deformed belt on the northeast side of the bend.
Rocks in this area include folded Upper BurdigalianBadenian rocks bounded on the east side by an E-dipping homocline comprised of Upper Sarmation through Pontian strata.
A system of NS striking faults occurs within and along the
eastern margin of the Upper BurdigalianBadenian outcrop
belt. Fault populations from several locations in this area are
shown in Fig. 4. Station 930428-2d, situated in the Upper
BurdigalianBadenian section between the NS faults,
contains a dominantly dip-slip fault population that yields
a nearly EW shortening direction, consistent with the
occurrence of NS trending folds in this outcrop belt. In
contrast, faults measured in Upper Burdigalian, Badenian
and Upper Sarmation strata at stations situated along the
NS faults (930428-2ab, e) contain fault populations dominated by N to NNE striking faults with gently plunging,
sinistral slip; these fault systems yield NWSE shortening
and NESW extension axes. Farther south, a small number
of faults measured in Meotian rocks at station 930428-1

indicate NNESSW shortening. The data from this small

area can be interpreted to record two superimposed deformation events. The later event is post Upper Sarmation
Meotian (Wallachian) and produced both the NNESSW
shortening (station 930428-1) and sinistral strike-slip
along the NS faults (stations 930428-2ab,e). The kinematic record of an earlier event involving EW shortening
is preserved in pre-Upper Sarmatian strata between the
mapped strike-slip faults (station 930428-2d).
3.3. Regional kinematic summaries
Due to the large number of stations with a small number
of measured faults (see Table 1), it was decided to group the
kinematic data according to geographic distribution and
probable fault age in order to derive the most robust regional
shortening and extension directions. Two geographic
domains are dened (Fig. 1b), one NE of the bend where
the regional structural trend is 0200408 and a second
toward the SE where the structural trend is nearly east
west. Age distinction is based on the age of the strata in
which the faults were measured, as illustrated in the examples discussed in the previous section. Using this approach,
fault populations attributed to Wallachian-phase deformation
were measured either (1) in Upper Sarmatian or younger
rocks or (2) in pre-Upper Sarmatian strata along faults
that, based on map relationships, underwent Wallachian
displacement (cut Upper Sarmatian or younger rocks
along trend). Other fault populations measured in preUpper Sarmatian rocks represent the combined effects of
Miocene (Old Styrian through Moldavian) deformation,
along with some overprint of the Wallachian event. It is
hoped that the amount of Wallachian contamination in
this older fault population is kept to a minimum by rst
screening out those fault populations that are geographically
associated with Wallachian faults (see above). The Miocene

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R.G. Gibson / Marine and Petroleum Geology 18 (2001) 149159

Fig. 5. Contour plots of shortening and extension axes for faults of specied age (see text for criteria) in NE (top row) and SW (bottom row) domains (contour
interval 2). Fault-plane solutions (extension quadrants black) constructed from best-t shortening and extension directions are also shown.

fault population from the NE domain is further subdivided

on the basis of the timing of faulting relative to macroscopic
folding.
Fig. 5 shows the data for each geographic domain and
deformation phase presented as contour plots of shortening
and extension axes and fault-plane solutions constructed
from the mean shortening and extension axes. Kinematic
data for pre-folding, Miocene faults in the NE domain
(Fig. 5a) are shown after rotation to their pre-folding orientations (bedding restored to horizontal). These data dene a
shortening direction of 3, 1188 and a mean extension direction of 85, 2468. Post-folding, Miocene faults in the same
area, record a shortening direction of 13, 3148 and a steeply
south-plunging extension direction (Fig. 5b). These data
indicate that Miocene deformation in the NE domain was
thrust-dominated with a slight clockwise rotation of short-

ening direction from the early to later stages. In contrast,

Miocene fault data from the SW domain dene a signicantly different pattern indicating NNWSSE (6, 1658)
shortening and WSW (42, 2618) extension (Fig. 5c). As
illustrated by the calculated fault-plane solution (Fig. 5c),
this result implies dextral strike-slip motion along the EW
trending southern Carpathians during the Miocene deformational phases.
Data for Wallachian faults record a different kinematic
pattern from the older faults. In the NE domain, shortening
axes cluster quite well, dening a mean NNWSSE (16,
1478) orientation (Fig. 5d). Extension axes dene an
ENEWSW girdle distribution with both gently and steeply
plunging submaxima. The fault-plane solution calculated
from the mean axes is of a strike-slip type with its sinistral
nodal plane parallel to the NNE-trending macroscopic faults

Fig. 6. Model for nappe emplacement based on fault kinematic data: (a) Old Styrian (Miocene pre-folding) phase: ESE translation of Tarcau nappe
accommodated by dextral strike-slip along southern termination; (b) New StyrianMoldavian (Miocene post-folding) phases: SE translation of Subcarpathian
nappe following burial of Tarcau thrust front; (c) Wallachian (late MiocenePleistocene) phase: SSE convergence causes sinistral escape of material from
eastern Carpathians toward SW that, in turn, drives NNESSW shortening and minor sinistral strike slip in southern Carpathians. Major thrusts are shown
solid where emergent and dashed where buried by younger strata.

R.G. Gibson / Marine and Petroleum Geology 18 (2001) 149159

observed in the NE domain. In the SW domain, Wallachian

fault data imply NNESSW (8, 0348) shortening and
moderately to steeply plunging ESE extension (Fig. 5e).
This pattern implies southward thrusting accompanied by
some sinistral strike-slip along the EW trending southern
Carpathians.
4. Kinematic model
The model shown in map view Fig. 6 is an attempt to
explain the kinematic data and observed macroscopic fault
pattern. For the purpose of this model, the pre- and postfolding, Miocene fault populations are assumed to record
the strain state during the early and later part of the Miocene
deformation episode, respectively. Since the macroscopic
folds in the Tarcau nappe area involve strata at least as
young as Badenian, the older features are likely to be
partially of Early Miocene age (Old Styrian phase). Therefore, post-folding Miocene faults are interpreted to be the
products of Middle Miocene (New Styrian and Moldavian)
deformation.
During the Old Styrian deformation phase (Fig. 6a), the
Tarcau nappe was emplaced toward the ESE, assuming that
the transport direction was parallel to the shortening directions derived from the fault data. New StyrianMoldavian
emplacement of the Subcarpathian nappe and internal deformation of the Tarcau nappe was driven by NWSE shortening (Fig. 6b). The kinematic data (Fig. 5a,b) imply a slight
(15208) clockwise rotation of shortening direction from
Early to Middle Miocene. Because of the obliquity between
the shortening direction and the deformation front on the
northeast side of the bend during the Middle Miocene, there
was likely some sinistral obliquity to the thrusting in this
area. Throughout the Miocene deformation, the southwestern termination of the TarcauSubcarpathian thrust
complex is interpreted to have been a locus of oblique
(dextral) thrusting along the southern Carpathians. North
south striking cross faults were probably active at this time
as normal faults accommodating extension parallel to
the axes of developing folds, a feature typical of folds in
obliquely convergent settings (Jamison, 1991).
Between the New StyrianMoldavian and Wallachian
deformation phases, the overall shortening direction continued to rotate clockwise such that deformation in the NE
domain underwent a transition from high-angle convergence to sinistral strike-slip along faults subparallel to the
older structural trends (Fig. 6c). Lateral, southward escape
of material along these faults drove NNESSW shortening
in the bend area and adjacent parts of the southern
Carpathians. The girdle pattern of extension axes in the
NE domain (Fig. 5d) may imply that the change from thrusting to strike-slip occurred gradually during the Wallachian
phase. Wallachian shortening in the southern Carpathians
appears to have been resolved into the formation of EW
trending folds and sinistral slip on ENE-striking faults.

157

Although most of the shortening within the orogen occurred

along the southern Carpathians at this time, some shortening
on the NE side of the bend is indicated by (1) development
of a steeply dipping homocline comprised of upper SarmationRomanian strata dipping into the foreland (Roure,
Roca, & Sassi, 1993) and (2) local development of NS
trending folds involving strata as young as Romanian (e.g.
BercaArbanasi anticline, Fig. 1b).
Because the Wallachian faults in the NE domain with
documented strike-slip motion terminate into anticlines of
the Subcarpathian zone before reaching the deformation
front (i.e. they do not continue into the foreland), the
strike-slip motion is inferred to have been rooted into a
low-angle detachment within or at the base of the thrust
complex (cf. Royden et al., 1983). A similar thin-skinned
interrelationship between eastern and southern Carpathian
Wallachian structures is implied by Hippolyte and Sandulescu (1996). Although there are no piercing points along
these faults from which to deduce the amount of strike-slip
during the Wallachian phase, conservation of displacement
within the thrust complex should limit the maximum value
to the amount of concurrent orthogonal shortening on the
southwest side of the bend. Cross sections published by
Paraschiv and Olteanu (1968) and Stefanescu (1985
1988) show 26 km of shortening within the Pliocene
section on the southwest side of the bend, which is probably
comparable to the total sinistral strike-slip farther to the
northeast.
5. Discussion and conclusions
The kinematic interpretation of the Miocene deformation
in the east Carpathian bend area is entirely consistent with
several other studies in the region. Ratschbacher et al.
(1993) documented Miocene dextral strike-slip s 1
1438 in the southern Carpathians, 100300 km west of
the present study area. In essentially the same area, Matenco
et al. (1997) concluded that dextral transpression with a
NWSE to NS shortening direction dominated the Middle
Miocene deformation episode. In the immediate area of the
east Carpathian bend, Hippolyte and Sandulescu (1996)
presented kinematic data indicating that Sarmation and
older deformation involved NWSE shortening. Zwiegel
et al. (1998) showed that the pattern of fold axis orientations, regional fanning of fault-derived contraction axes, and
small magnitude of along-strike extension implied that the
curved shape of the orogen in the bend area formed due to
oblique indentation by the eastward-moving TiszaDacia
block during the Miocene. The apparent clockwise rotation
of shortening direction recorded in the Miocene kinematic
data presented here (Fig. 5a,b) is consistent with clockwise
rotation of the indenting TiszaDacia block during collision
(Patrascu et al., 1994; Zwiegel et al., 1998).
The Wallachian deformation is most apparent near the
east Carpathian bend (Hippolyte & Sandulescu, 1996;

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R.G. Gibson / Marine and Petroleum Geology 18 (2001) 149159

Sandulescu, 1988) and also as a weak overprint farther west

in the southern Carpathians (Matenco et al., 1997; Ratschbacher et al., 1993). Burchel (1980) and Ratschbacher et al.
(1993) considered this deformation to be the nal stage of
Carpathian shortening prior to the transfer of convergence
into deformation zones located farther south in the Mediterranean. Sandulescu (1988) noted that the geographic distribution of Wallachian deformation corresponds to an area
between two NW-trending basement lineaments in the adjacent foreland, the Intramoesian and PeceneagaCamena
faults (Fig. 1a). He suggested that deformation was caused
by movement of a foreland block toward the bend area
during the Plio-Pleistocene. Hippolyte and Sandulescu
(1996) concluded that the NS shortening was due to southward translation of the Carpathian nappes relative to the
foreland area since the late Miocene.
In the model presented here (Fig. 6c), Wallachian north
south shortening in the southern Carpathians was driven by
lateral escape of material from the Eastern Carpathians
along NNESSW oriented, sinistral strike-slip faults.
These displacements probably served to ll any of the
space remaining between the TiszaDacia block and the
European/Moesian platform in this tightly conned corner
of the orogen. Based on the data in Fig. 5d, the large-scale
plate convergence that drove this deformation is interpreted
to be NWSE (see also Linzer et al., 1998), oriented slightly
clockwise from the New StyrianMoldavian shortening
direction. As indicated by Patrascu et al. (1994), rotation
of the colliding TiszaDacia plate seems to have been
completed by the start of the late Miocene. Geodedic
measurements of recent deformation in the Vrancea area
(just north of the current study area) also indicate this
NWSE shortening direction (Schmitt, Moldoveanu, Nica,
& Jager, 1990).
The transition from NWSE convergence accommodated
by SE-directed thrusting (Fig. 6a,b) to convergence accommodated by lateral escape (Fig. 6c) corresponds to the lateMiocene unconformity. It is possible that this kinematic
change was induced by burial of the thrust front beneath
foreland sediments at this time, similar to the mechanism
proposed for inducing late-stage backthrusting and out-ofsequence thrusting (Linzer et al., 1998). Rapid burial during
the late Miocene probably arrested the foreland advance of
thrust sheet(s) and required alternative displacement
patterns to accommodate the waning stages of plate
convergence.
Acknowledgements
Access to unpublished geologic maps and logistical
support for the eld work were kindly provided through
O. Dicea of Prospectiuni S.A., Bucharest, Romania. The
author appreciates the efforts of I. Olteanu, C. Dutu, and
I. Morosanu in introducing him to Carpathian geology and
participating in many stimulating discussions. R. Wessels,

C. Anderson, G. Tari and G. Weir made signicant contributions to both the eld observations and subsequent data
interpretation. Fault-kinematic data analysis was done with
the computer program FAULTKIN, provided by R.W.
Allmendinger. Reviews by M. Stefanescu, R.A. Marrett,
J.P. Platt, C. Teyssier, G. Bada, R.S. Huismans, and
L. Csontos lead to signicant improvements in the nal
manuscript. Amoco Production Company and Amoco
Romania Petroleum Company funded the work and are
thanked for permission to publish this paper.
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