Melange, Flysch and Cliffs in the Pieniny Klippen Belt (Poland): An Overview

The Pieniny Klippen Belt (PKB) is located in the suture zone between the Central and Outer (Flysch) Carpathians. Its structure is an effect of prolonged processes of the Cretaceous-Miocene folding, thrusting and uplifting. In this zone, tectonic components of different ages and features, including strike-slip-bounded tectonic blocks, thrust units, as well as toe-thrusts and olistostromes, result in the present-day melange characteristics of the PKB, where individual tectonic units are difficult to distinguish. In the PKB, both tectonic and sedimentary events triggered the melange creation. The name Klippen Belt is derived from cliffs (German Klippen). These cliffs form harder, more erosion-resistant elements of the melange, residing within less competent clastic deposits, sandstones, shales and marls that form flysch complexes. The cliffs often represent olistoliths, which glided down from elevated areas to the deeper basinal zones. Two olistostrome belts were distinguished. The older one resulted from subduction of the southern part of the Alpine Tethys, and the younger originated in response to the northward shift of the accretionary wedge. The other cliffs were placed within the surrounding clastic by tectonic deformational processes. The flower structure of the PKB was formed during the collision and strike-slip movement of the lithospheric plates. This structure is limited on both sides by deep-rooted faults. Several evolutionary stages could be distinguished in these areas. The rift-related stage is expressed by the opening of the Alpine Tethys that contains two major basins-Magura and Pieniny (Zlatne) basins, separated by Czorsztyn Ridge. The reorganization of the Alpine Tethys basins and the development of the accretionary prism happened during the synorogenic stage. This process was initiated by the movement of the Central Carpathians. Thick flysch sequences with olistostromes were deposited in these basins. The Czorsztyn Ridge was destroyed during the late orogenic stages.

Automated summary

The Pieniny Klippen Belt (PKB) is a fold belt between the Central and Outer Carpathians, formed by prolonged folding, thrusting, and uplifting processes. It exhibits a melange structure with different tectonic units difficult to distinguish. Cliffs, known as Klippen, within the PKB are harder elements compared to the surrounding clastic deposits, and they often represent olistoliths that slid from elevated areas to the basins. The flower structure of PKB was formed during lithospheric plate collision and strike-slip movement.