Neogene tectonic evolution of the southern and eastern Carpathians constrained by paleomagnetism

The Neogene geodynamic evolution of the southeastern Carpatho-Pannonian system is constrained by the timing and magnitude of vertical-axis tectonic rotations derived from paleomagnetic analysis. We report results from 13 paleomagnetic localities (139 sites, 993 samples) of Middle Miocene to Pliocene sediments of the eastern Carpathians region, the southern Carpathians region and the actively deforming “Bend Area” between these two regions. Absolute age control of the sampled sediments is provided by previous magnetostratigraphic analysis. Our results indicate: (1) systematic ∼30° clockwise rotations occurred in the southern Carpathians after ∼13 Ma; (2) tectonic rotation had ceased in the investigated eastern and southern Carpathians regions after ∼9 Ma except in the Bend Area where recent clockwise rotations took place after ∼5 Ma. This pattern of rotations implies a concentration of tectonic activity during the Middle to Late Miocene collision of the Carpathian arc with the European platform, followed by relative tectonic quiescence through the Pliocene except in the Bend Area subject to late-stage slab pull.