Annals of the University of Bucharest: Geography Series (Oct 2014)
Landforms of Romania – The system of geochronologic evolution
Abstract
The corroborationof geomorphological, tectonic and paleoclimatic data led to a geomorphological system with two stages and subdivis ions. The pre-Carpathian stage (Proterozoic-Lower Mesozoic, belonging to Vorland) is characterized by: completing the platform units (E, S) and the Paleozoic rigid geotectonic system of Northen Dobruja; levelling stages resulting in pe diplains which were subsequently fragmented and fossilized almost entirely (Central and Northen Dobruja sectors). The Carpathian stage is defined by: completing the Carpathian orogenic system (between Jurassic and Quaternary) in labile edge sectors of the Eastern European plate in which the evolution of some regional rifts (in Jurassic – Cret aceous) and the moving of some rigid blocks (Moessic, Pannonian and Transylvanian) created sequ entially tectonic basins where the accumulated materials were folded, faulted and overt hrusted, or mountain systems resulted by lifting (the upper Cretaceous and Miocene); creating tectonic depressions filled with sedimentary formations; reactivating some deep fractures accomp anied by volcanic eruption phases and creating a specific relief; the tectonic movements in the upper Pliocene – Quaternary raised differently all geographic units representing the c urrent orostructural system by Carpathians’s emersion and join to the adjacent regions; the clim ate change from savanna (Paleogene) to subtropical (Mio – Pliocene), then temperate and gl acial (late Pleistocene) and so on, led to a succession of morphogenetic systems that have gener ated landforms among which the most representative were preserved mainly as steps, erosi on surfaces areas and levels, or terraces from many morphogenetic phases.
