EGU21-4979, updated on 14 Jun 2023
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu21-4979
EGU General Assembly 2021
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Pliocene-Quaternary river-terrace sequences in intramontane basins in the south-eastern Alpine foreland (Slovenia): characterization of morphostratigraphy and provenance

Eva Mencin Gale1,2, Petra Jamšek Rupnik1, Miloš Bavec1, Mirka Trajanova1, Luka Gale2, Flavio S. Anselmetti3, and Andrej Šmuc2
Eva Mencin Gale et al.
  • 1Geological Survey of Slovenia, Department for Regional Geology, Slovenia (eva.mencin-gale@geo-zs.si)
  • 2University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, Department of Geology
  • 3University of Bern, Institute of Geological Sciences and Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research

This study focuses on the Pliocene-Quaternary sedimentary evolution of the fluvial systems in the Slovenj Gradec, Nazarje, Velenje, Celje, Drava-Ptuj and Krško Basins in the south-eastern Alpine foreland, Slovenia. The main aim was to determine the composition, morphostratigraphy, provenance, sedimentary environment and age of the deposits using geomorphological, sedimentological, geochemical, mineralogical and biostratigraphical methods. Pliocene-Quaternary sediments were deposited in fluvial (braided and wandering river systems) and alluvial/colluvial fan environments. The sediments are preserved in the terrace staircase sequences, formation of which is strongly controlled by tectonic activity. Based on geomorphological analyses, low-, middle- and high-level terrace groups were constrained and tentatively attributed to Late Pleistocene, Middle Pleistocene, and Plio-Early Pleistocene, respectively. The provenance analyses focused on the Plio-Early Pleistocene sediments and included lithological and microfacies analyses of the clasts. Based on the provenance analyses and published data, the long-term development of the drainage network was interpreted. Major changes occurred during the transition from Miocene-Pliocene and at the latest at Plio-Early Pleistocene the drainage network reached conformity with the present one. Overall, the spatial distribution of the Pliocene-Quaternary landforms revealed tectonic activity in intramontane basins during their development, from which the landscape evolution was deduced. 

How to cite: Mencin Gale, E., Jamšek Rupnik, P., Bavec, M., Trajanova, M., Gale, L., Anselmetti, F. S., and Šmuc, A.: Pliocene-Quaternary river-terrace sequences in intramontane basins in the south-eastern Alpine foreland (Slovenia): characterization of morphostratigraphy and provenance, EGU General Assembly 2021, online, 19–30 Apr 2021, EGU21-4979, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu21-4979, 2021.

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