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In the wake of a counterclockwise rotating Adriatic microplate: Neogene paleomagnetic

In northern Croatia, the Neogene sediments cover complicated basement rocks which consist of Alpine and Dinaridic elements in the Zagorje area, and Variscan - Alpine formations of the Tisia (Tisza) megatectonic unit in the Slavonian Mountains (Mts.). The Neogene sediments were deposited in two separate basins before the Karpatian, but sedimentation became uniform from the Karpatian onwards (~17.5 Ma). Of the 24 localities that we have studied so far paleomagnetically from northern Croatia, 16 localities are of Karpatian or younger age, while the rest are pre-Karpatian. As a result of laboratory analysis, 16 localities yielded tectonically interpretable results. Our data suggests that northern Croatia shifted northwards, while rotating moderately counterclockwise, probably before the Karpatian. A second counterclockwise rotation occurred at the present latitude in post-Pontian times. There is no significant difference between localities situated above different basements, though Tisia is pictured as rotating clockwise in the Neogene. The paleomagnetic pattern of northern Croatia resembles that of areas situated north of the Periadriatic-Balaton line. Therefore, we conclude that northern Croatia is part of a larger block, dissected by several important tectonic lines, driven by the counterclockwise rotated Adriatic microplate.

Paleomagnetism; Tectonic implications; Neogene; Adriatic microplate; Pannonian Basin; Croatia

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