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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database
Houston Geological Society Bulletin
Abstract
Abstract: Structural Profiles of the Western
Balkan-Forebalkan Region, Bulgaria
By
Maxus Energy Corporation, 717 N.
Harwood St., Dallas, TX 75201
The Balkan Mountains and Fore-Balkan foothills of
Bulgaria bisect the country laterally, separating the Moesian
Platform in the north from the Srednagorian Plain and
Rhodope Mountains in southern Bulgaria. The Balkan-
Fore-Balkan thrust and fold belt evolved from a basin which
begin with early Triassic intracratonic rifting. The basin was
contracted by multiphase compression that propagated the
Balkan-Fore-Balkan fold and thrust belt northward onto the
southern edge of the Moesian Platform during the early
Cretaceous (Aptian-Austrian phase
), Paleocene (Laramian
phase
), and middle Eocene (Illyrian
phase
).
Two balanced cross sections of the western part of the
Balkan-Fore-Balkan province of Bulgaria presented here
illustrate the regional thrust-fold belt style of deformation.
Well, seismic, and surface mapping data were used in
construction of the cross sections. The Balkan-Fore-Balkan
belt displays a narrow and thin foredeep. The foredeep
sediments are involved in the external structuring of the
belt. The northern limit of foreland deformation approximates
the southern edge of shelf sediments of the stable
Moesian Platform. North vergence of asymmetric anticlines
and thrusts predominates but local backthrusts are inferred
at Teteven Anticlinorium. Folded thrusts are indicated by
the data. Illyrian phase
compression often includes out-of-sequence
thrusting and reactivation of pre-existing faults.
Angular unconformities between stratigraphic units locally
constrain the timing of deformation and can be projected
along strike.
Palinspastic reconstruction of the cross sections provide a perception of the precursor basin. Previous investigations have implied that inversion of basin-forming normal faults was the predominate structural mechanism in the Balkan-Fore-Balkan region. However, the available data suggest low-angle thrust faulting is the prevalent style of deformation. Total shortening is estimated to be 25.40%.
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