The Paratethys Sea, a remnant of the Tethys Ocean, once stretched from S-Germany to Kazachstan. Due to a complex interplay of tectonics and climate the sea became stepwise isolated from the open oceans (Oligocene onwards). Geological time scales for the Paratethys region encompass mainly regional stages (Ottnangian-Karpatian-Badenian), which are all defined on the basis of characteristic faunal assemblages (mainly mollusks and ostracods) endemic to the Paratethys Sea. Correlations to the standard GTS are highly debated because radiometric age determinations are scarce and magnetostratigraphic studies are general controversial. As a consequence, the ages of the Paratethyan Stage boundaries can differ more than a million years in the various geological time scales, even for the Miocene.

This PhD project aims to construct an integrated magnetostratigraphic framework for Early-Middle Miocene western and central Paratethys basins (S-Germany to W-Romania) to provide robust age constraints on the various tectonic phases of basin evolution and the main paleoenvironmental changes that are related to variations in basin connectivity and water circulation patterns. Whenever available, focus will also be given to sample volcanic ash layers intercalated in the sedimentary successions to allow radiometric dating. Integration of biostratigraphic analyses will be obtained through comprehensive and existing collaboration with international specialists.

The Early Middle Miocene of the West and Central Paratethys encompasses several poorly understood tectonic and paleoenvironmental changes (e.g. the Ottnangian-Karpatian transition, Styrian tectonic phase, Early Badenian transgression) and special focus will be directed to understand the temporal and spatial causes and consequences of these changes and their relation to global climate and regional tectonics.

• Oleg Mandic
• Davor Pavelic
• Ljupko Rundic
• Bettina Reichenbacher
• Uwe Kirscher

Geological time scales for the Paratethys region encompass mainly regional stages (Ottnangian-Karpatian-Badenian), which are all defined on the basis of characteristic faunal assemblages (mainly mollusks and ostracods) endemic to the Paratethys Sea. Correlations to the standard GTS are highly debated because radiometric age determinations are scarce and magnetostratigraphic studies are general controversial. As a consequence, the ages of the Paratethyan Stage boundaries can differ more than a million years in the various geological time scales, even for the Miocene. This PhD project aims to construct an integrated magnetostratigraphic framework for Early-Middle Miocene Paratethys basins to provide robust age constraints on the various tectonic phases of basin evolution and the main paleoenvironmental changes that are related to variations in basin connectivity and water circulation patterns. Whenever available, focus will also be given to sample volcanic ash layers intercalated in the sedimentary successions to allow radiometric dating. Integration of biostratigraphic analyses will be obtained through comprehensive and existing collaboration with international specialists. The Early Middle Miocene of the West and Central Paratethys encompasses several poorly understood tectonic and paleoenvironmental changes (e.g. the Ottnangian-Karpatian transition, Styrian tectonic phase, Early Badenian transgression) and special focus will be directed to understand the temporal and spatial causes and consequences of these changes and their relation to global climate and regional tectonics.

• dr. ir. D.V. (Dan) Palcu

• Oleg Mandic
• Davor Pavelic
• Ljupko Rundic
• Bettina Reichenbacher
• Uwe Kirscher