Thermo-mechanical modelling of Black Sea Basin (de)formation

S Cloetingh*, G Spadini, JD Van Wees, F Beekman

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

We present the results of a thermo-mechanical modelling study carried out to investigate the effect of pre-rift rheology on subsequent basin (de)formation in the Black Sea area. Important differences are inferred for the bulk lithosphere structure and mechanical properties, expressed in terms of different estimates for levels of necking in the western and eastern Black Sea, respectively. Gravity data provide constraints on the mode of flexure in the Black Sea, pointing to significant lateral variations in pre-rift lithospheric strength. These features strongly affect predictions for Mesozoic-Cenozoic Basin stratigraphy and have implications for the presence and development of fift shoulder topography on the margins of the Black Sea Basins. Differences in lithosphere strength affect the mode of stress propagation from the basin margins into the central parts of the Black Sea Basins during the post-rift phase. These post-rift compressional stresses could be of key importance for long-wavelength Late Neogene differential motions within the basins, superimposed on vertical motions induced by rifting and subsequent sediment loading. Thermo-mechanical modelling of integrated lithospheric strength points to a rapid increase of strength during the later stages of post-rift evolution and the presence of relatively strong lithosphere in the centre of the basin. These features predict preferential shortening induced by compressional activity of surrounding orogens to be primarily accommodated at the basins' margins. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberPII S0037-0738(02)00287-7
Pages (from-to)169-184
Number of pages16
JournalSedimentary Geology
Volume156
Issue number1-4
Publication statusPublished - 10 Feb 2003

Keywords

  • thermo-mechanical modelling
  • lithosphere memory
  • Black Sea
  • intraplate stress
  • neotectonics
  • FISSION-TRACK THERMOCHRONOLOGY
  • BACK-ARC BASINS
  • CONTINENTAL LITHOSPHERE
  • RIFTED BASINS
  • CENTRAL-ASIA
  • TECTONIC SUBSIDENCE
  • SEDIMENTARY BASINS
  • PANNONIAN BASIN
  • EVOLUTION
  • CONSTRAINTS

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Thermo-mechanical modelling of Black Sea Basin (de)formation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this