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From biologically to hydrodynamically controlled carbonate production by tectonically induced paleogeographic rearrangement (Middle Miocene, Pannonian Basin)

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Abstract

The Leitha Mountains in Austria are a chain of hills separating the southern Vienna Basin and the Danube Basin. The Lower East Alpine basement of the Leitha Mts. is covered by Middle Miocene sediments of the Badenian and Sarmatian regional stages. Close to the northeastern margin of these hills, upper Badenian successions are exposed, which are part of a coralline algal-dominated carbonate platform with hydrodynamically influenced sediments. Six sections have been logged and subjected to detailed investigation and sampling. They are characterized by inclined beds (foresets), which have been formed by unidirectional transport of sediments. Large-scale asymmetrical ripples indicate strong currents affecting shallow topset deposits. Generally, this hydrodynamically controlled sedimentation, documented by seven facies types, is reflected in a strongly reduced diversity of facies and biota, contrary to the older facies-rich middle Badenian sediments. This change from biologically to hydrodynamically controlled sedimentation led to a reduction in diversity of facies and biota. Sediment transport, however, caused secondary mass occurrences of echinoids or foraminifers derived from seagrass meadows. This study unravels the distribution and differences of middle and upper Badenian deposits of the Leitha Mountains and the influence of tectonic activity. Changes in hydrodynamics on the Leitha Platform are linked to the formation of the Danube Basin starting in the middle Badenian when a new seaway to the southeast has started to form.

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Acknowledgments

Special thanks go to Gerhard Wanzenböck (Bad Vöslau) for insights into, and photographs of, his amazing collection of fossils and his precise information on their provenience. Many thanks go to Oleg Mandic (Natural History Museum Vienna) for determination of pectinids, Martin Groß (Universalmuseum Joanneum Graz) for determination of ostracods, Patrick Grunert (University of Graz) for determination of foraminifers, and to Markus Reuter (University of Graz) and Ulrike Exner (University of Vienna) for constructive discussions. The manuscript benefited from the constructive comments of the reviewers Wolf-Christian Dullo (GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel) and James Nebelsick (University of Tübingen), and from the editorial advice of Franz Theodor Fürsich (University of Erlangen-Nürnberg).

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  1. Institute of Earth Sciences, Palaeontology and Geology, University of Graz, NAWI Graz, Heinrichstrasse 26, 8010, Graz, Austria

    Thomas Wiedl & Werner E. Piller

  2. Natural History Museum Vienna, Burgring 7, 1010, Vienna, Austria

    Mathias Harzhauser & Andreas Kroh

  3. Geological Survey of Austria, Neulinggasse 38, 1030, Vienna, Austria

    Stjepan Ćorić

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  1. Thomas Wiedl
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Wiedl, T., Harzhauser, M., Kroh, A. et al. From biologically to hydrodynamically controlled carbonate production by tectonically induced paleogeographic rearrangement (Middle Miocene, Pannonian Basin). Facies 60, 865–881 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10347-014-0408-2

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