Late Cretaceous-Early Tertiary tectonic evolution of the Central European Basin System (CEBS): Constraints from numerical modelling

The results obtained from a suite of spherical, thin sheet, finite element model calculations on the Late Cretaceous-Early Tertiary tectonic evolution of the area of the Central European Basin System (CEBS) are presented and discussed. The calculations incorporate the effects of variations in lithospheric structures and compositions and changes in the imposed boundary conditions. The impact of lateral contrasts such as pre-existing weak domains is quantified through a thermo-mechanical model for the entire CEBS. The obtained predictions have been constrained by comparisons with more recent observed field data and resemble the present-day dynamics and kinematics. A trial and error reconstruction of the development through time of the dynamic of the Alpine orogeny as well as of the Early Atlantic extension have been considered in order to investigate the role of boundary forces in the Late Cretaceous-Early Tertiary tectonic evolution of the CEBS. The observed evolution of subsidence depocentres and areas of uplift for the CEBS during this time-span has been reconstructed. The results are in agreement with previous studies which have related the large-scale Late Cretaceous-Early Tertiary inversion within the CEBS to long-wavelength intra-plate compressive stresses exerted mainly by the Alpine thrust. The models show that lateral heterogeneities have to be considered in order to model more local features such as the observed differential response of adjacent areas to the large-scale stress regime. This indicates that both intra-plate-tectonic forces and rheological structural contrasts must be taken into account to reconcile the style of intra-plate deformation and to model the evolution through time of complex basin systems.