Search

Kamnolom v naselju Podpeč pri Ljubljani velja za glavni kamnolom rimske kolonije Emone (Ljubljana). Obstoj antič-nega kamnoloma v Podpeči je bil do sedaj utemeljen le na podlagi makroskopske podobnosti med Členom litiotidnega apnenca, ki izdanja v Podpeči, in z njim povezanimi rimskimi spomeniki, odkritimi v Ljubljani. V okviru pričujočega dela smo skušali poiskati oprijemljive arheološke in geoarheološke dokaze za njegov obstoj. V skrajno severnem delu kamnoloma smo izvedli arheološko sondiranje, hkrati pa natančno določili sestavo apnenca na tem območju in v 288 izdelkih iz antične Emone. Sondiranje severno od modernega kamnoloma je odkrilo dobro ohranjene sledove rimsko-dobne kamnoseške dejavnosti. Hkrati je litološka analiza spomenikov iz Emone razkrila, da je kar 182 (ali 64 odstotkov) analiziranih spomenikov izdelanih iz apnenca, litološko identičnega različkom, ki izdanjajo v Podpeči. Ti različki se prostorsko grupirajo severno od modernega kamnoloma. Pri tem sicer ostaja odprto vprašanje pripadnosti nekaterih različkov apnenca v izdelkih, ki so brez diagnostičnih komponent in bi lahko pripadali tudi nekoliko starejšemu Členu krkinega apnenca. Rekonstrukcijo obsega starega kamnoloma omogoča primerjava faciesov izvornih litostratigrafskih enot in izdelkov, pa tudi historična analiza zgodnjih kartografskih in katastrskih dokumentov. Analiza najzgodnejših izdelkov je omogočila hipotezo o prihodu kamnosekov iz kamnoloma v Nabrežini. The quarry in Podpeč near Ljubljana is considered the main quarry of the Roman colony Iulia Emona (Ljubljana, Slovenia). The existence of an ancient quarry in Podpeč has been substantiated based solely on the macroscopic similarity between the Lithiotid Limestone Member outcropping in Podpeč and the associated Roman monuments discovered in Ljubljana. In the present work, we have attempted to find tangible archaeological and geoarchaeological evidence for its existence. Archaeological excavations in the form of three trenches were carried out in the northernmost part of the quarry. We determined the lithological composition of limestone discovered in the trenches and the limestone used for the 288 objects found in Ljubljana. The lithological analysis of the monuments from Emona revealed that as many as 182 (or 64%) of the analysed monuments were made of limestone, which is lithologically identical to the types of limestone outcropping in Podpeč. Lithologies represented in monuments also spatially group north of the modern quarry. However, the question of the affiliation of some of the varieties of limestone represented remains open. These limestone types lack diagnostic components and could also belong to the slightly older Krka Limestone Member. Reconstruction of the extent of the ancient quarry was enabled using microfacies comparison of lithostratigraphic source units and objects/products, as well as with the historical analysis of early cartographic and cadastral documents. Studying the forms of the earliest objects (stelae) also suggests that the earliest monuments were produced by stonemasons who came to the area from the quarry in Aurisina (Italy).

Solid earth : SE 12(10), 2211-2234 (2021). doi:10.5194/se-12-2211-2021, Published by Copernicus Publ., Göttingen

The Periadriatic Fault System (PAF) is among the most important post-collisional structures of the Alps; it accommodated between 150-300 km of right-lateral strike-slip motion between the European and Adriatic plates from about 35 until 15 Ma. The scarcity of instrumental and historical seismicity on the easternmost segment of the fault is intriguing, especially when compared to nearby structures in the adjacent Southern Alps. Through this project, we aim to show which segments accommodated seismotectonic deformation during the Quaternary by applying Electron spin resonance (ESR) dating to fault gouges produced by the fault system. The method is especially useful for dating shear heating during earthquake activity at near-surface conditions due to its dating range (~104 ~106 years) ) and low closing temperature (< 100°C). During our field campaigns, we acquired structural data and collected 19 fault gouge samples from 15 localities along the PAF, the Labot/Lavanttal Fault, and the Šoštanj Fault. We measured the ESR signals from the Ti and Al centers following the additive and regenerative protocols on 60 mg aliquots of quartz, and compared the measurements between different grain size fractions. Here, we present our preliminary results from select localities, suggesting Quaternary earthquake activity along the fault system.

The Pannonian Basin is a continental extensional basin system with various depocentres within the Alpine–Carpathian–Dinaridic orogenic belt. Along the western basin margin, exhumation along the Rechnitz, Pohorje, Kozjak, and Baján detachments resulted in the cooling of variable units of the Alpine nappe stack. This process is constrained by thermochronological data between ~25–23 to ~15 Ma (Fodor et al., 2021). Rapid subsidence in supradetachment sub-basins indicates the onset of sedimentation in the late Early Miocene from ~19 or 17.2 Ma. In addition to extensional structures, strike-slip faults mostly accommodated differential extension; branches of the Mid-Hungarian Shear Zone (MHZ) could also play the role of transfer faults. During this period, the hanging wall margin of the detachment system, i.e., the pre-Miocene rocks of the Transdanubian Range (TR) experienced surface exposure, karstification, and terrestrial sedimentation. After ~14.5 Ma faulting, subsidence, and basin formation shifted north-eastward and reached the TR where fault-controlled basin subsidence lasted until ~8 Ma. 3D thermo-mechanical forward models analyze this depocenter migration and predict the subsidence and heat flow evolution that fits observational data. These models consider fast lithospheric thinning, mantle melting, lower crustal viscous flow, and upper crustal brittle deformation. Models suggest ~150–200 km of shift in depocenters during ~12 Myr. Simultaneously with depocenter migration, the southern part of the former rift system, near or within the MHZ, underwent ~N–S shortening; the early syn-rift basin fill was folded and their boundary faults were inverted. Deformation was dated to ~15–14 Ma („middle” Badenian) and continued locally to ~9.7 Ma while north of the MHZ the TR was still affected by modest extensional faulting. The particularity of this shortening is that it happened during the post-rift thermal cooling stage. The low-rate contraction and related uplift rarely exceeded this regional thermal subsidence. MOL Ltd. largely supported the research. The research is supported by the scientific grant NKFI OTKA 134873 and the Slovenian Research Agency (No. P1-0195). Fodor, L., Balázs, A., Csillag, G., Dunkl, I., Héja, G., Jelen, B., Kelemen, P., Kövér, Sz., Németh, A., Nyíri, D., Selmeczi, I., Trajanova, M., Vrabec, M., Vrabec, M. (2021): Crustal exhumation and depocenter migration from the Alpine orogenic margin towards the Pannonian extensional back-arc basin controlled by inheritence. Global and Planetary Change 201, 103475. 31p. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2021.103475

Sieve-lobe deposits are morphological features typical for gravel-rich and matrix-poor alluvial fans. Each sieve-lobe deposit is composed of open-framework, clast-supported, moderately-sorted gravels. Lobes form during sieve-deposition process where gravel is transported as bedload during short and intense rainfall events and abruptly deposited after the water quickly infiltrates into permeable underlying ground. Despite being a common morphological feature qualitatively described in several alluvial fan studies it lacks a detailed sedimentological description based on quantified data. The formative conditions and depositional activity of sieve lobes as well as subsurface architecture of a sieve-lobe built alluvial fan is largely unknown. In this study we present (i) a detailed sedimentary facies analysis based on sedimentary structure and texture of recent sieve lobes, (ii) a three-year aerial survey of sieve-lobe depositional activity, (iii) a direct linkage of depositional activity to specific rainfall triggers, and (iv) a depiction of subsurface architecture of intertwined sieve lobes.The study was done in the Planica Valley (NW Slovenia), a typical post-glacial alpine valley, where several gravel-rich Holocene alluvial fans are located. The study was performed on one of the more active alluvial fan, which is predominantly built of sieve-lobe deposits. The sedimentological analysis is based on granulometry, grain morphology, and grain fabric of 11 sieve lobes that differ in size and age. Sieve lobe generation was detected by aerial surveying using Small Unmanned Aircraft (SAM) and photogrammetric modelling of the surface of the deposits. Detected surface changes were temporally correlated with precipitation records from the nearby meteorological station. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) technique was used to depict architecture and geometry of sieve-lobe built alluvial fan.Sedimentary analysis reveals that majority of sieve lobes belong to textural group of gravel and some to sandy gravel, containing almost negligible percentage of mud fraction, which rarely exceeds 2.0%. Almost uniformly and regardless of age and size, all sampled sieve lobes exhibit downward coarsening, with distal parts of lobe being significantly coarser than proximal. Clasts are angular to subangular, predominantly moderately to highly spherical and not orientated.Temporal surface changes are clearly visible on SAM-derived digital orthophoto and digital elevation models. Correlating surface changes to meteorological records shows that sieve lobes form with a subannual frequency, usually after rainfall events exceeding 50 mm of rainfall in 24-hours. During such events more than 1000 m3 of sediment was deposited.GPR data from a radargram parallel to the direction of sediment transport displays stratified and progradational reflectors with sigmoid shapes that are continuous for 10s of metres and have 10° dip. Radargrams orientated perpendicular to the direction of sediment transport exhibit stratified hummocky and discontinuous reflections of up to 10 metres long. The reflection patterns are interpreted as series of stacked sieve-lobe deposits confirming formation of the studied alluvial fan predominantly by sieve-deposition process.This study provides the first detailed quantified facies analysis of sieve deposits observed in nature. Monitoring of their deposition shows that they represent major building blocks of gravel-rich alluvial fans, and their deposition is directly linked to intense precipitation triggering events.

The Miocene deformation history of magmatic and host metamorphic rocks and surrounding sediments was reconstructed by measuring meso- and microscale structures and anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) data in order to constrain the structural evolution of the Pohorje pluton during the onset of lithospheric extension at the Eastern Alps–Pannonian Basin transition. Principal AMS axes, lineation and foliation are very similar to mesoscopic lineation and foliation data from the main intrusive body and from some dykes. Although contribution from syn-magmatic texture is possible, these structures were formed during the cooling of the pluton and associated subvolcanic dykes just shortly after the 18.64 Ma pluton intrusion. Dykes emplaced during progressively younger episodes reflect decreasing amount of ductile strain, while firstly mesoscopic foliation and lineation, and then the tectonic AMS signal gradually disappears. In the structurally highest N–S trending dacite dykes, the AMS fabric only reflects the magmatic flow. The Miocene sediments underwent the same, NE–SW to E–W extension as the magmatic and host metamorphic rocks as indicated by both AMS and fault-slip data. All these events occurred prior to ~ 15 Ma, i.e., during the main syn-rift extension of the Pannonian Basin and during the fastest exhumation of the Tauern and Rechnitz windows, both demonstrating considerable extension of diverse crustal segments of the Alpine nappe pile. After a counterclockwise rotation around ~ 15 Ma, the maximum stress axis changed to a SE–NW orientation, but it was only registered by brittle faulting. During this time, the overprinting of a syn-rift extensional AMS texture was not possible in the cooled or cemented magmatic, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks.

The Periadriatic Fault System (PAF) is one of the most important tectonic and geomorphological features in the Alps. It has accommodated between 150-300 km of right-lateral strike-slip motion between the European and Adriatic plates from about 35 Ma until 15 Ma. However, for such a large-scale feature, the eastern PAF reveals relatively little instrumental and historical seismic activity, especially when compared to nearby structures in the adjacent Southern Alps. With this project, we aim to show which fault segments of the eastern PAF system accommodated seismotectonic deformation in the Quaternary by applying trapped charge dating methods to fault gouges produced by its activity. We use optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and electron spin resonance (ESR). The principle for both is the accumulation of unpaired electrons in lattice defects of quartz and feldspar, due to natural radiation product of the decay of radiogenic nuclides, which are then released during an earthquake due to shear heating allowing the system to reset (Fukuchi 1992, Aitken 1998, Tsukamoto et al., in Tanner 2019). Due to their dating range (a few decades to ~1Ma) and low closing temperature, trapped charge methods provide a unique opportunity to date earthquake activity during the Quaternary at near-surface conditions. During our field campaigns, we collected 19 fault gouge samples from 15 localities along the PAF, the Labot/Lavanttal fault, and the Šoštanj fault. From each locality, we controlled the structures found in the field, which allowed us to relate the observed deformation features in outcrop scale to the activity along each fault. Aside from the fault gouge in the cores of the large-scale structures at the sampled localities, we additionally found gouge and cataclasites formed within the host rocks in small-scale faults presenting the orientation of the respective regional fault, providing supplementary evidence of activity.

Coal is one of the main fossil fuel resources and remains the most important contributor to global power generation but coal utilization has severe negative impacts, mostly due to the release of CO2 and toxic elements into the environment. This means that determining the quality of coal is important to address the environmental and health problems related to coal combustion. Coal samples from the Velenje coalmine, one of the largest actively mined coal basins in Central Europe, were divided into organic rich and inorganic rich fractions according to the percentage of carbon. Oxides of the major elements (SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3 MgO, CaO, Na2O, K2O, TiO2, P2O5, MnO, Cr2O3), toxicologically and environmentally relevant elements (As, Ba, Co, Cu, Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb, Th, U, V, Zn, Se) and other trace elements (Ce, Cs, Dy, Er, Eu, Gd, La, Nb, Nd, Pr, Rb, Sm, Sr, Tb, Y, Zr) were measured in sample digests using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The concentrations of the majority of analyzed elements were either equal to or below the global average for coal. Exceptions were Sr (1090 ± 510 μg g−1, 9 times higher), Ba (301 ± 184 μg g−1, 2 times higher) and Pb (9.12 ± 17.0 μg g−1, 1.4 times higher) in inorganic rich coal and Mo (7.76 ± 4.76 μg g−1, 3.5 times higher) and U (5.24 ± 3.23 μg g−1, 1.8 times higher) in organic rich samples. Eighteen elements (Ag, Au, Be, Bi, Cd, Ga, Hf, Ho, Lu, Sb, Sc, Se, Sn, Ta, Ti, Tm, Yb, W) were below the limit of detection in >70% of the samples. Speciation analysis revealed the presence of several organoarsenic compounds in the organic rich samples, with the tetramethylarsonium ion (TETRA, 0.01–1.10 μg g−1) and trimethylarsine oxide (TMAO, 0.01–0.29 μg g−1) as the most abundant. A comparison with coal samples from the Senovo, Kanižarica, and Trbovlje coal mines in Slovenia and from the Sokolov Basin, (Czech Republic) revealed that Velenje contains much higher amount of organoarsenic compounds (34.8 ± 16.9%) in comparison to the others (4.45 ± 4.19%).

The Pannonian Basin is a continental extensional basin system with various depocentres within the Alpine–Carpathian–Dinaridic orogenic belt. Along the western basin margin, exhumation along the Rechnitz, Pohorje, Kozjak, and Baján detachments resulted in cooling of diverse crustal segments of the Alpine nappe stack (Koralpe-Wölz and Penninic nappes); the process is constrained by variable thermochronological data between ~25–23 to ~15 Ma. Rapid subsidence in supradetachment sub-basins indicates the onset of sedimentation in the late Early Miocene (Ottnangian? or Karpatian, from ~19 or 17.2 Ma). In addition to extensional structures, strike-slip faults mostly accommodated differential extension between domains marked by large low-angle normal faults. Branches of the Mid-Hungarian Shear Zone (MHZ) also played the role of transfer faults, although shear-zones perpendicular to extension also occurred locally.During this period, the distal margin of the large tilted block in the hanging wall of the detachment system, the pre-Miocene rocks of the Transdanubian Range (TR) experienced surface exposure, karstification, and terrestrial sedimentation. The situation changed after ~15–14.5 Ma when faulting, subsidence, and basin formation shifted north-eastward. Migration of normal faulting resulted in fault-controlled basin subsidence within the TR which lasted until ~8 Ma.3D thermo-mechanical lithospheric and basin-scale numerical models predict similar spatial migration of the depocenters from the orogenic margin towards the basin center. The reason for this migration is found in the interaction of deep Earth and surface processes. A lithospheric and smaller crustal-scale weak zones inherited from a preceding orogenic structure localize initial deformation, while their redistribution controls asymmetric extension accompanied by the upraising of the asthenopshere and flexure of the lithosphere. Models suggest ~4–5 Myr delay of the onset of sedimentation after the onset of crustal extension and ~150–200 km of shift in depocenters during ~12 Myr. These modeling results agree well with our robust structural and chronological data on basin migration.Simultaneously with or shortly after depocenter migration, the southern part of the former rift system, mostly near the MHZ, underwent ~N–S shortening; the basin fill was folded and the boundary normal faults were inverted. The style of deformation changed from pure contraction to transpression. The Baján detachment could be slightly folded, although its synformal shape could also be considered a detachment corrugation. Deformation was dated to ~15–14 Ma (middle Badenian) in certain sub-basins while in other sub-basins deformation seems to be continuous throughout the late Middle Miocene from ~15 Ma to ~11.6 Ma.Another contractional pulse occurred in the earliest Late Miocene, between ~11.6 and ~9.7 Ma while the western part of the TR was still affected by extensional faulting and subsidence. All these contractional deformations can be linked to the much larger fold-and-thrust belt that extends from the Southern and Julian Alps through the Sava folds region in Slovenia. Contraction is still active, as indicated by recent earthquakes in Croatia.Mol Ltd. largely supported the research. The research is supported by the scientific grant NKFI OTKA 134873 and the Slovenian Research Agency (research core funding No. P1-0195).

Bathymetric data is commonly visualized as a simple shaded relief, where features oriented parallel to the light source are prone to false topographic perception or are even obscured to the viewer. On the other hand, many relief visualisation techniques developed in past decades are extensively used in visualisation and analysis of high-resolution digital elevation models, especially in geomorphological and archaeological studies. We tested and assessed the suitability of relief visualisation techniques provided by the Relief Visualisation Toolbox (RVT) software for representation of bathymetric data. We used a multibeam-sonar derived bathymetric model with a 10 x 10 m cell size from the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic) characterised by a shallow low-relief seabed. Our results clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of relief visualisation techniques for exposing subtle relief variation in bathymetric data. We find that small-scale features (outcrops, wrecks, pockmarks, reefs, etc.) and negative linear features are best highlighted by “visualization for archaeological topography” (VAT) and “openness” techniques. High-relief features and topographic infection points are pronounced by “hillshade from multiple directions” and “sky-view factor” (SVF). Finally, “principal components analysis” (PCA), “prismatic openness”, “simple local relief model”, “anisotropic SVF” and “local dominance” algorithms show best results when we want to highlight both high- and low-relief features in one image. The tested techniques are far superior to a simple hillshade visualisation especially when imaging low-gradient relief (common on continental shelves and abyssal plains) where topographic details are often not adequately pronounced by hillshading. To our knowledge, this study represents the first attempt to test and compare several relief visualisation techniques for bathymetric data.

The Dinaric Fault System in western Slovenia, consisting of NW-SE trending, right-lateral strike-slip faults, accommodates the northward motion of Adria with respect to Eurasia. These active faults show a clear imprint in the morphology and some of them hosted moderate instrumental earthquakes. However, it is largely unknown if the faults also had strong earthquakes in the Late Quaternary. This hampers our understanding of the regional tectonics and the seismic hazard. Geological evidence of co-seismic surface ruptures only exists for one historical event, the 1511 Idrija Earthquake with a magnitude of ~M6.8, but the causative fault is still disputed. Here we use geomorphological data, near-surface geophysical surveys, and paleoseismological trenching to show that two of these faults, the Predjama Fault and the Idrija Fault ruptured in strong earthquakes in the Holocene. In a paleoseismological trench across the Predjama Fault we found at least one earthquake with a minimum magnitude of MW6.1 that occurred between 13–0.7 ka, very likely not earlier than 8.4 ka. At the Idrija Fault, a surface-rupturing earthquake with a magnitude of at least MW6.1 happened in the last ~2.1 ka. This event could correspond to the 1511 Idrija earthquake. Our results show that the faults rupture in rare, but strong earthquakes, which dominate the seismic moment release. We show that instrumental and historical seismicity data do not capture the strongest events in this area. The fact that many of the NW-SE trending, parallel faults are active implies that the deformation in western Slovenia is distributed, rather than focussed on one major structure.

We use multibeam sonar scanning of the seafloor and high-resolution sub-bottom sonar profiling to investigate pre-Holocene geomorphic features in the Gulf of Trieste that are visible in seafloor topography. We focus on two channel-like features, the Paleorižana and Paleoreka. Sub-bottom profiles and published core log data reveal that these features represent the transgressive surface at the boundary between Pleistocene continental and Holocene marine sedimentation. The geometry of the paleosurface, the architecture, and the acoustic facies of underlying sediment bodies clearly show that this surface represents an alluvial plain containing a moderate- to low-energy floodplain. The Paleorižana feature represents a meander belt with multiple meander scars and oxbow lakes, while the Paleoreka is a single, slightly sinuous channel river with well-developed levees. Geomorphic characteristics of the two rivers are replicated in the seafloor topography in astonishing detail, despite being draped by up to 10 m of Holocene marine sediments. We extract Paleoreka thalweg depths from sub-bottom profiles to construct a longitudinal channel profile, which runs approximately perpendicular to the main tectonic structures of the Gulf. We find no evidence of long-term mm-scale localized relative vertical tectonic movements which were previously inferred from repeated geodetic levelling surveys along the SW-NE oriented Slovenian coastline. We speculate that the geodetic data may instead indicate short-term interseismic deformation along the Slovenian coast, which would necessitate further investigation of tectonic activity and seismic hazard in the Gulf area.

The present study aims to clarify the confused taxonomy of Z. schaufussi von Frauenfeld, 1862 and Zospeum suarezi Gittenberger, 1980. Revision of Iberian Zospeum micro snails is severely hindered by uncertainties regarding the identity of the oldest Iberian Zospeum species, Z. schaufussi von Frauenfeld, 1862. In this paper, we clarify its taxonomic status by designating a lectotype from the original syntype series and by describing its internal and external shell morphology. Using SEM-EDX, we attempt to identify the area of the type locality cave more precisely than "a cave in Spain". The shell described and illustrated by Gittenberger (1980) as Z. schaufussi appears not to be conspecific with the lectotype shell, and is considered a separate species, Z. gittenbergeri Jochum, Prieto & De Winter, sp. n. Zospeum suarezi was described from various caves in NW Spain. Study of the type material reveals that these shells are not homogenous in shell morphology. The holotype shell of Z. suarezi is imaged here for the first time. The paratype shell, illustrated by Gittenberger (1980) from a distant, second cave, is described as Zospeum praetermissum Jochum, Prieto & De Winter, sp. n. The shell selected here as lectotype of Z. schaufussi, was also considered a paratype of Z. suarezi by Gittenberger (1980). Since this specimen is morphologically very similar to topotypic shells of Z. suarezi, the latter species is considered a junior synonym of Z. schaufussi (syn. n.). The internal shell morphology of all these taxa is described and illustrated using X-ray Micro Computer Tomography (Micro-CT). Special gratitude goes to Anita Eschner (NHMW) for helping AJ access the von Frauenfeld collection and for providing valuable insights and primary literature. We are grateful to Markus Heneka and Andreas Heneka (RJL Micro & Analytic GmbH, Karlsdorf-Neuthard) for their help and technical prowess with the CT and SEM-EDX scans. We thank Katharina Jaksch-Mason (NHMW) for LM imaging the Z. schaufussi syntype material. We also gratefully acknowledge Emmanuel Tardy's (MHNG) image contributions and notes of the Gittenberger (1980) material formerly housed in the MHNG collection. Appreciation also goes to Gerald Favre for sharing his excellent forty-year-old speleological field notes with us. We acknowledge Thomas Neubauer and Michael Duda for their kind help in transporting the lectotype back and forth from Vienna. We thank the editor, Thierry Backeljau, the ZooKeys editorial team and our reviewers, Benjamin Gomez, Edmund Gittenberger and Barna Pall-Gergely for their helpful suggestions towards improving the manuscript. Lastly, we are indebted to SYNTHESYS for providing generous support in the form of three grants to AJ from the SYNTHESYS Project http://www.synthesys.info/, which is financed by the European Community Research Infrastructure Action under the FP7 "Capacities" Program.

The formation and deformation history of back-arc basins play a critical role in understanding the tectonics of plate interactions. Furthermore, opening of extensional back-arc basins during the overall convergence between Africa and Europe is a fundamental process in the overall tectonic evolution of the Mediterranean and adjacent areas. In this frame, Miocene tectonic evolution of the western Pannonian Basin of Central Europe and its connection to inherited Cretaceous structures of the Eastern Alpine nappes are presented. Revision of published and addition of new structural and thermochronological data, as well as seismic profiles from the western Pannonian Basin is complemented by high-resolution thermo-mechanical numerical modeling in order to propose a new physically consistent tectono-sedimentary model for the basin evolution. The onset of extension is dated as ~25–23 Ma, and higher rates are inferred between 19 and 15 Ma at the south-western part of the area (Pohorje, Kozjak Domes, Murska Sobota Ridge, and Mura-Zala Basin). Rift initiation involved the exhumation of the middle part of the Austroalpine nappe pile along low-angle detachment faults and mylonite zones. The Miocene low-angle shear zones could reactivate major Cretaceous thrust boundaries, the exhumation channel of ultra-high-pressure rocks of the Pohorje Dome, or Late Cretaceous extensional structures. Miocene extension was associated with granodiorite and dacite intrusions between 18.64 and 15 Ma. The Pohorje pluton intruded at variable depth from ~4 to 16–18 km and experienced ductile stretching, westward tilting, and asymmetric exhumation of its eastern side. Terrestrial early Miocene (Ottnangian to Karpatian, 19–17.25 Ma) syn-rift depositional environment in supradetachment basins evolved to near-shore and bathyal one by the middle Miocene (Badenian, 15.97–12.8 Ma). Deformation subsequently migrated eastwards to the western part of the Transdanubian Range (Keszthely Hills) and to newly formed grabens. In this formerly emerged terrestrial area active faulting started at 15–14.5 Ma and continued through the late Miocene almost continuously up to ~8 Ma but basically terminated in the Mura-Zala Basin by ~15 Ma (early Badenian). These observations suggest a ~200 km shift of active faulting, basin formation, and related syn-tectonic sedimentation from the SW (Pohorje and Mura-Zala Basin) toward the Pannonian Basin center. Building on the above described observational and modeling data makes the Pannonian Basin an ideal natural laboratory for understanding the coupling between deep Earth and surface processes.

Estimating sound velocity in seabed sediment of shallow near-shore areas submerged after the Last Glacial Maximum is often difficult due to the heterogeneous sedimentary composition resulting from sea-level changes affecting the sedimentary environments. The complex sedimentary architecture and heterogeneity greatly impact lateral and horizontal velocity variations. Existing sound velocity studies are mainly focused on the surficial parts of the seabed sediments, whereas the deeper and often more heterogeneous sections are usually neglected. We present an example of a submerged alluvial plain in the northern Adriatic where we were able to investigate the entire Quaternary sedimentary succession from the seafloor down to the sediment base on the bedrock. We used an extensive dataset of vintage borehole litho-sedimentological descriptions covering the entire thickness of the Quaternary sedimentary succession. We correlated the dataset with sub-bottom sonar profiles in order to determine the average sound velocities through various sediment types. The sound velocities of clay-dominated successions average around 1530 m/s, while the values of silt-dominated successions extend between 1550 and 1590 m/s. The maximum sound velocity of approximately 1730 m/s was determined at a location containing sandy sediment, while the minimum sound velocity of approximately 1250 m/s was calculated for gas-charged sediments. We show that, in shallow areas with thin Quaternary successions, the main factor influencing average sound velocity is the predominant sediment type (i.e. grain size), whereas the overburden influence is negligible. Where present in the sedimentary column, gas substantially reduces sound velocity. Our work provides a reference for sound velocities in submerged, thin (less than 20 m thick), terrestrial-marine Quaternary successions located in shallow (a few tens of meters deep) near-shore settings, which represent a large part of the present-day coastal environments.

We use geophysical and sedimentological data to study the high-resolution acoustic stratigraphy and sedimentology of a Late Quaternary alluvial plain (located in the Gulf of Trieste, northern Adriatic) which was transgressed during the post-LGM sea-level rise. With sub-bottom sonar profiling we determined six acoustic facies, of which the top five acoustic facies (A-E) were sampled with a gravity corer. We performed core descriptions, radiocarbon dating and granulometric analysis with a laser particle analyser. The acoustic facies and their corresponding sediments are associated with three general sedimentary environments: Last Glacial to Younger Dryas alluvial (E-B), Early Holocene transgressive (Ab) and Holocene shallow marine (Aa). Acoustic facies E with low-amplitude chaotic reflection geometries is represented by cross-stratified sandy mud deposited by braided or wandering rivers. Acoustic facies D with high-amplitude and high- frequency sub-horizontal reflection geometries is represented by graded deposits (sandy mud and sandy clay grading into clay) of braided or wandering rivers. Acoustic facies C and B with individual low to middle amplitude reflections in an otherwise transparent facies are represented by overbank fine-grained sediments deposited by a meandering river systems. The top surface of AF B presents the Younger Dryas paleosurface in the geophysical record. Acoustic facies Ab with onlapping and concordant middle to low amplitude reflection geometries is represented by bioclastic transgressive sandy mud containing brackish mollusc assemblages. Acoustic facies Aa is acoustically transparent and contains bioclastic sandy mud with shallow marine mollusc assemblages. Our work provides a reference for future studies of the Late Pleistocene-Holocene transition on well-preserved low-gradient mid-to-low latitude continental shelves.

We studied the motion of the Adriatic microplate using Eurasian-referenced GPS-derived velocities from Istria Peninsula (Slovenia, Croatia) and Po Plain (Italy) sites and earthquake slip vectors around its edges from a Regional Centroid Moment Tensor catalogue. We explored kinematic parameters by inverting GPS velocities using a variety of site combinations and comparing results. Our best-fitting GPS Adria–Eurasia angular velocity vector (Euler pole) comes from 7 Istria Peninsula (Slovenia, Croatia) and 10 Po Plain (Italy) sites; it locates at 45.03°N, 6.52°E, with a 0.297 ± 0.116°/Myr counterclockwise rotation rate. This new GPS-derived pole locates and overlaps with our earthquake slip-vector-derived pole. An Adriatic microplate interpretation is at odds with Neogene geologic features that indicate recent convergence across the Apennines and Alps. The neotectonics–geology mismatch probably signals the recent birth of the Adria microplate upon termination of the Nubia–Eurasia Alpine collison and Adria slab break-off beneath the Apennines.

In the theory of Cosserat continuum, the faulting-related deformation of rocks is described using translational and rotational degrees of freedom, producing definitions for a symmetric macrostrain tensor and a skew-symmetric relative microrotation tensor. The macrostrain tensor describes the large-scale deformation of the region, whilst the relative microrotation tensor describes the difference between the large-scale regional rotation and local systematic microrotations of blocks between faults. Faults are activated when the resolved shear stress in the direction of movement exceeds frictional resistance for sliding, according to Amontons's Law of Friction. The direction of slip along the faults depends on the Cosserat strain tensor, which is defined as the sum of the macrostrain tensor and the relative microrotation tensor. We develop a constitutive relation for the faulting-related strain of rocks (cataclastic flow) based on the J-2 plasticity model for the Cosserat continuum, from which we derive the generally asymmetric stress tensor. We also develop the Cosserat stress–strain inverse method for fault-slip data analysis. We show that the geometry of fault systems is controlled by both the Cosserat strain tensor and the stress tensor, and present a field example of a fault system that conforms to the predictions of the Cosserat theory.

We describe the Multiple-slip method for the construction of the displacement gradient tensor, which describes the faulting-related deformation of the region. Three elements must be known for each fault: (1) the fault plane orientation, (2) the slip direction, and (3) the number of parallel faults in the same size range. The data on the orientation of faults and the direction of slip along them define the geometric moment tensor for each fault, while the data on the number of parallel faults belonging to a particular fault-set constrain the weighting factor for each fault. In the Multiple-slip method, the weighting factors also depend on the stress state that produced the displacement along the faults. The stress state on the observed faults at the time of faulting can be estimated from the paleostress analysis, which finds the stress tensor capable of explaining the slip direction along the faults. Therefore, the Multiple-slip method is a combination of kinematic and paleostress techniques, in which the paleostress analysis must be performed prior to the kinematic analysis. The Multiple-slip method allows for calculating (1) the direction of kinematic axes (directions of maximum shortening and extension), (2) the direction and relative magnitude of rotation, and (3) the ratio between the principal strains.

New laser ablation-inductive coupled plasma-mass spectrometry U-Pb analyses on oscillatory-zoned zircon imply Early Miocene crystallization (18.64±0.11 Ma) of the Pohorje pluton at the southeastern margin of the Eastern Alps (northern Slovenia). Inherited zircon cores indicate two crustal sources: a late Variscan magmatic population (∼270–290 Ma), and an early Neoproterozoic one (850–900 Ma) with juvenile Hf isotope composition close to that of depleted mantle. Initial ∈Hf of Miocene zircon points to an additional, more juvenile source component of the Miocene magma, which could be either a juvenile Phanerozoic crust or the Miocene mantle. The new U-Pb isotope age of the Pohorje pluton seriously questions its attribution to the Oligocene age ‘Periadriatic” intrusions. The new data imply a temporal coincidence with 19–15 Ma magmatism in the Pannonian Basin system, more specifically in the Styrian Basin. K-Ar mineral- and whole rock ages from the pluton itself and cogenetic shallow intrusive dacitic rocks (∼18–16 Ma), as well as zircon fission track data (17.7–15.6 Ma) gave late Early to early Middle Miocene ages, indicating rapid cooling of the pluton within about 3 Million years. Medium-grade Austroalpine metamorphics north and south of the pluton were reheated and subsequently cooled together. Outcrop-and micro scale structures record deformation of the Pohorje pluton and few related mafic and dacitic dykes under greenschist facies conditions. Part of the solidstate fabrics indicate E-W oriented stretching and vertical thinning, while steeply dipping foliation and NW-SE trending lineation are also present. The E-W oriented lineation is parallel to the direction of subsequent brittle extension, which resulted in normal faulting and tilting of the earlier ductile fabric at around the Early/Middle Miocene boundary; normal faulting was combined with strike-slip faulting. Renewed N-S compression may be related to late Miocene to Quaternary dextral faulting in the area. The documented syn-cooling extensional structures and part of the strike-slip faults can be interpreted as being related to lateral extrusion of the Eastern Alps and/or to back-arc rifting in the Pannonian Basin.

The Ravne Fault is an actively propagating NW–SE trending dextral strike-slip fault in the Julian Alps of NW Slovenia, which has been responsible for two moderate sized earthquakes in the last decade. Strike-slip displacements on moderate-steep fault planes are responsible for the recent seismic activity that is confined to shallow crustal levels. The fault is growing by interaction of individual right stepping fault segments and breaching of local transtensional step-over zones. The fault geometry is controlled by the original geometry of the NW–SE trending thrust zone, modified by successive faulting within the fault zone. In the modern N directed maximum horizontal stress regime, the segmented fault is lengthening by active growth at the fault's NW end. The spatial distribution of earthquake clusters shows that activity on strike-slip segments and thrust faults is contemporaneous. Detailed analysis of the spatial pattern of earthquake events and surface fault geometries suggests that for earthquakes of similar magnitudes and similar fault kinematics, the deciding factor for whether an earthquake rupture will breach a step-over zone is the relationship between the lengths of individual neighbouring fault segments and fault separation distances in the step-over-zones. The Ravne Fault represents an example of a tectonic structure that lies in an area subjected to multiple tectonic events under different regional stress conditions. At epicentral depths, the fault system is accommodating recent strain along newly formed fault planes, whereas in upper parts of the crust the activity is distributed over a wider deformation zone that includes reactivated brittle thrust faults.

We describe the Gauss method for reconstructing paleostress tensors from heterogeneous fault-slip data. We define compatibility measure and compatibility function, which verify the compatibility of a given stress tensor with observed fault-slip data. In order to constrain inversion results to mechanically acceptable solutions, we additionally consider the ratio between the normal and shear stress on the fault plane, since it is assumed that the results of paleostress inversion should be in agreement with the Amonton's Law. The optimal solution for stress tensors that activated the observed faults is found by searching for the global and highest local maxima of the object function F defined as a sum of compatibility functions for all fault-slip data. We verify the reliability of the method both by mathematical means and by numerical tests, and analyse its effectiveness in the case of large dispersion of angular misfit between the direction of slip and shear stress along the faults.

The minute troglobitic species, Zospeum isselianum Pollonera, 1887 (Eupulmonata: Ellobioidea, Carychiidae) is widely distributed within its Southern Alpine-Dinaric range. Its broad distribution and highly variable shell has caused this species to be historically lumped into its current taxonomic state of ambiguity. In an integrative taxonomic approach, phenotypic and genotypic data are synthesized to assess the intraspecific variability recently inferred for this taxon. We collected 16 Zospeum specimens in the Slovenian Alpine Arc encompassing the type locality for Z. isselianum. The material comprises five morphologically recognized (sub)species. The species are re-evaluated using SEM, X-ray nanotomography (nano-CT), conchological, histological and molecular data. Four well-defined lineages are present, which can be attributed to i) Z. isselianum s.str. from its new type locality (Turjeva jama), ii) a highly morphologically variable lineage that so far cannot be attributed to a single morphospecies, iii) Z. kupitzense A. Stummer, 1984 (raised to species rank) and iv) a lineage comprising the two subspecies Z. alpestre alpestre (Freyer, 1855) and Z. alpestre bolei Slapnik, 1991 plus Z. isselianum individuals. The latter is treated as a single taxon Z. alpestre. After considering the severely degraded syntype material of Zospeum isselianum, we provide a taxonomic re-description and propose aneotype for this species. Furthermore, new diagnostic information is revealed regarding the columella of Zospeum isselianum and allied species. Detailed anatomical study reveals new structural aspects of Zospeum morphology and provides groundwork for future investigations.

Clay mineral diagenesis of Carboniferous to Paleogene rocks within the Alpine-Dinaric junction was studied and compared to vitrinite reflectance. Generally, there is a good fit between clay mineral diagenesis and VR. However, clay mineral alterations lag behind maturation in some Ladinian and Carnian rocks (e.g. northern margin of the Dinaric Platform). Most probably, the lag in clay mineral diagenesis reflects an highly varying geochemical background in these stratigraphic horizons. Carboniferous deposits are late diagenetic to anchimetamorphic. Mesozoic deposits cover the range from middle diagenesis to the anchizone. Triassic to Cretaceous rocks in the SB and the Sava Folds reach the anchizone. Differences in diagenesis/metamorphism are mainly due to different maximum burial in Paleogene time.

The Periadriatic Line (PAL) is a remarkable, several hundred kilometer long fault system of the Alpine orogen. Its dextral character was documented by several authors using diverse criteria, but detailed kinematics and timing of movements had not been investigated along its whole length. Structural and paleomagnetic measurements, mapping, and stratigraphic and sedimentological studies have helped to unravel the Miocene-Pliocene evolution of the Slovenian segment of the PAL. Brittle deformation was characterized by NW-SE to N-S compression and perpendicular tension. Deformation has resulted in dextral strike-slip faulting, folding, and tilting of beds. The first transpressional event corresponds to the first phase of lateral extrusion of the East Alpine-Western Carpathian-Northern Pannonian block in the early Miocene (24–17.5 Ma). After a short period of transtension during the Karpatian (17.5–16.5 Ma), dextral transpression reoccurred during the middle Miocene to Pliocene and lasted up to the Quaternary. Middle Miocene dextral slip can be connected to the second phase of extrusion. The highly deformed rocks within the dextral shear zones show variable clockwise, sometimes counterclockwise, rotations. The mechanism of rotation seems to be complex, ranging from regional rotation to local folding due to pure or simple shear (domino-type rotation).

We investigated two prominent, ~E-W trending scarps in Quaternary sediments, located close to the town of Vodice in the Ljubljana Basin (central Slovenia). By using detailed geomorphological analysis of the scarps, field surveying, and structural observations of deformed Quaternary sediments, we conclude that the scarps are the surface expression of a N-dipping thrust fault that has been active during the Quaternary. From Optically Stimulated Luminescence and Infrared Stimulated Luminescence dating of deformed Quaternary sediments we estimate a slip rate of 0.1 to 0.3 mm a-1 in the last 133 ka. Using the published empirical fault-scaling relationships, we estimate that an earthquake of magnitude 5.9 to 6.5 may be expected on the Vodice thrust fault. The fault may, therefore, present a major seismic hazard for the densely populated and urbanised region of central Slovenia.