Geologia Croatica (Dec 2002)
The Karst Dinarides are Composed of Relics of a Single Mesozoic Platform: Facts and Consequences
Abstract
Croatian geological literature during the mid nineteen-eighties andnineties was marked by the appearance of a new geotectonic conceptof the Dinarides proposing that the recent, very complex structuralsetting is a direct consequence of a specific palaeogeographic relationshipduring the Mesozoic, i.e. the proposed existence of twocarbonate platforms separated by a long-lasting deep marine area(interplatform trough).Although the idea was very interesting and provoked discussion,resulting in the questioning of formerly established concepts, detailedanalysis of available data indicate that the Karst Dinarides (ExternalDinarides) were formed by the destruction of a single, althoughmorphologically considerably variable shallow water carbonate platform.This platform was in some periods very dynamic because ofits palaeogeographic position during the Mesozoic, resulting in manyperiods of large-scale facies differentiation, especially during the LateCretaceous. The final disintegration of the platform area culminatedin the formation of flysch trough(s) in the latest Cretaceous and Palaeogene and the subsequent uplift of the Dinarides. Recently therehave been some misunderstandings resulting from the imprecise useof newly established terms, which are, by circular logic, used to connectrecent geotectonic relationships with Mesozoic palaeogeographywithout adequate material proof. Therefore, the terms Dinaricum andAdriaticum should be redefined and used only for description of therecent tectonic pattern, without implying a palaeogeographic component,since during the Mesozoic they represented a single entity.Additional confusion is added by different names used for thesame shallow water carbonate platform. Probably the best, althoughnot the ideal name is the most frequently used one: the Adriatic Carbonate Platform. Its duration may be estimated from the Late Lias tothe Late Cretaceous, representing the most important part of a thickcarbonate succession in the Karst Dinarides (ranging from Carboniferousto Eocene).
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