Badenian evaporite basin of the northern Carpathian Foredeep as a drawdown salina basin

Abstract

The Middle Miocene (Badenian) Ca sulphate-dominated evaporites of the northern Carpathian Foredeep (in Ukraine, Poland, the Czech Republic and Moldova) are interpreted as deposits of a giant and shallow salina basin developed in norhern Central Paratethys during the Badenian salinity crisis. The predicted features of salina basin model are discussed and compared with the actual geological record of the Badenian evaporites. The main depositional features of salina basin, are: (i) evaporite drawdown; (ii) rapid and large fluctuations in basinal water level; (iii) presence of both shallowing-upward and deepening-upward depositional sequences; (iv) aggradational deposition; (v) variable marine, non-marine, and/or mixed characteristic of brine; all which are recognised in this Badenian basin. Aggradational evaporite deposition was controlled by water or brine level fluctuations within the basin or subbasins.Because the basin was separated from the sea by some emerged barriers these fluctuations were only weakly dependent on world-wide sea-level changes but were rather controlled by regional climate.