Olistostromes of the Pieniny Klippen Belt, Northern Carpathians

The existence and transformation of the accretionary wedge in the Carpathians are documented by occurrence of olistostromes. The size of olistoliths varies, from centimeters to kilometers. Very large blocks could slide independently into the Carpathian basins, unaccompained by easily distinguishable matrix. The matrix in presented case is the flysch sequence or even entire sedimentary-tectonic unit. Olistostrome bodies form two belts within the Pieniny Klippen Belt in Poland and Slovakia and mark an early stage of development of the accretionary prism. The first belt was formed during the Late Cretaceous as a result of subduction of the southern part of the Alpine Tethys. A fore-arc basin originated along the subduction zone with synorogenic flysch deposits known under different names: Złatne, Klape, Drietoma, Myjava or Manin Succession. Huge olistoliths deposited within the Cretaceous-Paleogene flysch of the Złatne Successions in the vicinity of Haligovce village (eastern Slovakia). They contain the Middle Triassic-Lower Cretaceous sequence of carbonates and siliceous rocks. In Slovakia, the fore-arc olistostromes belong to the so-called peri-Klippen zone. Huge olistoliths of Triassic – Lower Cretaceous carbonates were deposited within Klape and Manin Cretaceous-Paleogene flysch (“wildflysch”) sequences in the Považie area. The largest olistolith occur in Butkov and Manin. Narrow carbonate platforms originated along the margin of the fore-arc basin during the Paleocene times. Within these platforms complex reef systems developed (so-called Kambühel limestones). Large fragments of these reefs occur in Haligovce, Vélký Lipník and in Považie area in the Pieniny Klippen Belt in Slovakia forming olistoliths within flysch deposits of the Žilina Formation.
   The second belt is related to a movement of the accretionary prism, which overrode the Czorsztyn Ridge during the Late Cretaceous-Paleocene. Destruction of this ridge led to formation of submarine slumps and olistoliths along the southern margin of the Magura Basin (Outer Flysch Carpathian basin). This olistostrome belt is well developed in the Polish sector of the Pieniny Klippen Belt at its border zone with the Magura Nappe. The olistoliths and large clasts are represented by igneous rocks (including basalts) as well as a variety of carbonate rocks of the Triassic - Cretaceous age representing the Alpine Tethys basinal and ridge sequences as well as the Inner Carpathian terrane sequences. The large Homole block in Jaworki Village is an olistolith. The famous tectonic fold and thrust structures, that originated due to slumping, can be observed in the Czajakowa Skała Klippe in the upper part of the Homole Gorge where the Niedzica Nappe is thrust over the thick Czorsztyn Unit. Carbonates and radiolarites of the Niedzica Succession, which were originally deposited on the southeastern slope of the Czorsztyn Ridge form a submarine slump emplaced on the Czorsztyn Succession, originally deposited in the central part of the ridge. The Biała Woda basalt klippe near Jaworki also represents an olistolith probably derived from the Czorsztyn Ridge. Between Krościenko and Polish-Slovak border the Magura olistostromes contain a variety of various successions representing ridge and slope facies of the Czorsztyn Ridge. Famous Sobótka Klippe below the Czorsztyn Castle and Rogoża Klippe (near Rogoźnik) represent the Czorsztyn Succession deposited on the axial zone of the ridge. Large Zawiasy and Łupisko olistoliths belong to the so-called Branisko Succession deposited on the northern slope of the Czorsztyn Ridge. Numerous small olistoliths like Tylka or Stare Bystre represent different transitional successions deposited between the ridge and a slightly deeper transitional zone. It is thought that at many localities (e.g. between Szaflary and Stare Bystre in Poland or in Eastern Slovakia the Pieniny Klippen Belt is represented entirely by the Złatne and Magura parts of the accretionary wedge with olistoliths embedded in the flysch sequences. Some klippen surrounded by the Magura flysch in Orava and Považie region in western Slovakia may represent olistoliths as well. There is also a possibility of olistolithic origin of some klippen in the Magura flysch in eastern Slovakia sector of the Pieniny Klippen Belt. It is also considered that numerous klippen surrounded by the Magura flysch in Orava and Považie region in Slovakia may represent olistoliths. Also possibility of occurrence of olistoliths in the Ukrainian and Austrian sectors of the Pieniny Klippen requires further research.
   Acknowledgements: This research has been partly financially supported by Ministry of Science and Higher Education, grant no N N307 249733, Poland and AGH University of Science Technology grant AGH DS 11.11.140.447.