The only way is up – on Mesozoic uplifts and basin inversion events in SE Poland

Abstract

The inversion of a sedimentary basin could be associated with compressional reactivation of basin-forming normal faults, upwards movement of the basement blocks and partial or complete erosion of its sedimentary infill. Basin inversion might be also related to whole-basin uplift that is not linked to the reactivation of basement faults, and results in the development of regional stratigraphic gaps and unconformities. Both types of basin inversion have been documented in SE Poland using seismic data. Regional NW–SE seismic profiles illustrate earliest Late Jurassic (earliest Oxfordian) and earliest Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) regional unconformities related to regional basin-scale uplifts in the SE segment of the Polish Basin. Late Cretaceous (Turonian?–Maastrichtian) progressive uplift of the Mid-Polish Swell has been documented along the NE border zone of this regional anticlinal structure. The Upper Cretaceous inversion-related sedimentary succession is characterized by an overall progradational character directed from the SW towards the NE. Buried contourite drifts that were detected within the Upper Cretaceous succession using seismic data indicate the existence of contour currents encircling inversion-related intrabasinal morphological barriers. A new tectonic scenario of the Mesozoic evolution of SE Poland would have a significant impact on the modelling of tectonic subsidence and the history of petroleum systems.

Burial and thermal history of the Intra-Sudetic Basin (SW Poland) constrained by 1-D maturity modelling - implications for coalification and natural gas generation

“…3b, c;Łuszczak et al 2020). The seismic investigation results along the Mid-Polish Trough also suggest similar timing for the onset of tectonic inversion (Krzywiec et al 2018). This timing of inversion is identical (within the limits of resolution) to inversion of Variscan massifs and Mesozoic basins (e.g.…”

Seismic Characteristics and Development of the Upper Jurassic Carbonate Buildups from the Miechów Trough (Southern Poland)

“…Since the Jurassic, the thickness and depositional pattern in this part of the basin has been influenced by increased regional subsidence in the Tethyan domain, and also by tectonic processes acting within the Polish Basin [78][79][80][81][82][83][84][85]. The Polish Basin was inverted during the Late Cretaceous-Paleogene (e.g., [85][86][87][88]). This inversion was related to substantial uplift and erosion of its axial part, which was transformed into a regional anticlinal structure-the Mid-Polish Swell (Mid-Polish Anticlinorium; cf., [73,89]).…”

Upper Jurassic carbonate buildups in the Miechów Trough, Southern Poland – insights from seismic data interpretation

“…The Polish Basin was inverted in the Late Cretaceous-Paleogene (e.g. Dadlez et al, 1995;Krzywiec, 2002Resak et al, 2008;Krzywiec et al, 2009Krzywiec et al, , 2018. This basin inversion was associated with major uplift and erosion of the axial part of the basin (i.e.…”