Sedimentation of Middle Miocene marine complex from the area near Tarnobrzeg (north-central part of the Carpathian Foredeep)

Abstract

The complex of Upper Badenian-Sarmatian deposits, overlying the sulphur-bearing evaporites in the area southwestward from Tamobrzeg (north-central part of the Carpathian Foredeep) was deposited within an open marine deep basin, with dominant deposition of pelitic material from suspension and some activity of traction/turbidity currents. Two transgressive-regressive cycles (lower cycle dated as Upper Badenian and upper cycle as Sarmatian) were distinguished, reflecting the general pattern of evolution of the Carpathian Foredeep at that time. The transition between both cycles occurred in the same basin conditions (basin depth and deposition style were unchanged) except that the transgression or the upper cycle was registered as an increase in water salinity and the occurrence of new faunal elements but decline of older ones.