Paleogene geology and exhumation history of the Dinarides as reflected by provenance signatures of synorogenic siliciclastic sediments

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This project aims at a multi-method characterization of the provenance of the Paleogene Dinaridic Flysch (DF), leading to a detailed understanding of the geodynamic setting and evolution of the DF basins and its adjacent source areas. The methods to be applied involve sandstone petrography, advanced heavy mineral analysis, whole-rock geochemistry, single-grain mineral and melt inclusion chemistry, as well as single-grain fission track and 40Ar/39Ar geochronology. The Dinarides form a central part of the entire European Alpine mountain chain between the Alps and the Hellenides and exhibit a rather complicated structure. The level of knowledge on its evolution is much lower compared to the adjacent orogenic belts. Within the Alpine chain, syntectonic sedimentation occurred mainly between late Early Cretaceous and Neogene time. A significant part of DF deposited in the time span between the two major periods of orogenic activities of Eastern Alps-Hellenides (a) Late Cretaceous (Eoalpine orogeny) and (b) the building of the present Alpine chain since Late Oligocene. This Paleogene time interval of flysch deposition coincides with the less known period of Alpine evolution. As an unusual feature, the Dinarides comprise three major flysch belts. The external belt represents the base of a foreland basin fill but the geotectonic osition of the internal flysch units during the Late Mesozoic-Teritary is still speculative. Also, the existence of one or two oceanic realms in this sector of the Alpine chain is a matter of debate. Most of the magmatic and metamorphic source rock units exhumed and eroded in the Paleogene are no more exposed today. Therefore, the application of the advanced methods of provenance analysis to the siliciclastic rocks of the DF are most promising in establishing a modern geodynamic understandig of the Dinarides.