The onset of Pliocene–Early Pleistocene fluvial aggradation in the Southeastern Alpine Foreland (Velenje Basin, Slovenia) and its paleoenvironmental implications

ABSTRACT In this study, we focused on the Pliocene–Early Pleistocene fluvial terraces in the Velenje Basin and reconstructed the morphostratigraphy, sedimentary depositional environment, provenance and age of the gravel deposits using geomorphological, sedimentological, petrographic and chronologica...

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Published in:Journal of quaternary science 2024-07, Vol.39 (5), p.691-709
Main Authors: Mencin Gale, Eva, Rupnik, Petra Jamšek, Akçar, Naki, Christl, Marcus, Vockenhuber, Christof, Anselmetti, Flavio S., Šmuc, Andrej
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aggradation
Beryllium 10
Carbonates
Catchments
Deposition
Geomorphological mapping
Geomorphology
Gravel
isochron‐burial dating
morphostratigraphy
Pleistocene
Pliocene
provenance analysis
River catchments
river terraces
Rivers
Sediment deposits
Stratigraphy
Tectonics
Terraces
Velenje Basin
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Summary:ABSTRACT In this study, we focused on the Pliocene–Early Pleistocene fluvial terraces in the Velenje Basin and reconstructed the morphostratigraphy, sedimentary depositional environment, provenance and age of the gravel deposits using geomorphological, sedimentological, petrographic and chronological analyses. Geomorphological mapping revealed the presence of two main river‐terrace groups. The terraces in the older terrace group are severely degraded and preserved only as remnants capping high ground, while in contrast the younger group is better preserved. Detailed lithofacies analyses of four selected stratigraphic sections of the older terrace group show that the gravel was deposited in a meandering and wandering environment. The gravel consists of metamorphic, igneous, volcaniclastic, clastic and carbonate lithologies derived from the north, east and west from the Paka River catchments. To determine the timing of deposition, we performed isochron‐burial dating using cosmogenic 26Al and 10Be. Our new age constraints date the deposition of the older terrace group to 2.7 ± 0.3 Ma. Establishing the aggradation and incision model of the Velenje Basin documents pronounced regional tectonic uplift during the Pliocene–Early Pleistocene, which led to incision and the subsequent formation of a terrace staircase.
ISSN:0267-8179
1099-1417
DOI:10.1002/jqs.3623