Foreland provenance of thick conglomerates in the early stage of the Carpathian Foredeep development: the case of the Sloboda Conglomerate (Lower Miocene), western Ukraine

Abstract

The upper part of the Lower Miocene Sloboda Conglomerate, a 250–1400 m thick unit, was deposited mainly on an alluvial fan and fan delta during the early stages of Carpathian Foredeep development. During of the Old Styrian overthrust movements of the Carpathian orogen, a forebulge was formed, which supplied clasts to the conglomerate. The clasts are dominated by Late Proterozoic–Early Cambrian phyllites, while Paleozoic carbonates are common, and Mesozoic and other rocks are rare. The source area formed mainly by a prolongation of the Małopolska Massif that was involved in the forebulge; this was located close to a palaeovalley cut into Mesozoic and Paleozoic rocks, buried under younger strata. Additional material was derived from the advancing front of the Carpathian Flysch nappes.