Implication of the global and regional tectonics and eustasy on the Central Paratethys paleogeography: Reflection in the regional and standard time scale correlation

Paleogeography of the Central Paratethys (CP) realm was strongly influenced by the global and regio nal tectonics and eustasy. Over the past decades these attributes were not sufficiently taken into account what led to misconceptions in CP regional time-scale evaluation. The CP stage boundaries need to be dated by biostratigraphic approaches validated by point-based geochronological data. It would be beneficial to revise the CP time-scale in respect to geodynamics of the orogenic systems. The role of gateways between the Central Paratethys, the Mediterranean, and the Eastern Paratethys should be considered both as a function of local tectonics and the global sea-level changes. To understand original layout of sedimentary basins during distinct time spans an improved paleogeographic–palinspastic model based on an interdisciplinary study is needed in the future. The Central Paratethys The Cenozoic convergence between the African and European plate led to geodynamic processes causing extreme changes in paleogeography, such as uplift of the Alpine type mountain chains and subsidence of the Paratethys basin systems. The Paratethys sea spread from the foreland of the Alps, towards the Carpathians, Dinarides, Balkan, Pannonian domains, and regions of present Black and Caspian Seas on the east. Connections between the Western, Central and Eastern segments of the Paratethys, as well as between its individual depocentres were very unstable. The marine straits/gateways developed and were destroyed depending on tectonics and climate. Geochronological data Depositional sequences originating in semi-enclosed basins, partly or completely isolated from the open ocean, and frequently with endemic biota, do not allow accurate biostratigraphic correlations with the standard geological time-scale (GTS). Exact definition of correlation levels between the Mediterranean, Central Paratethys, and Eastern Paratethys should be based both on biostratigraphy and geochronological dating. The increase in spatial and temporal coverage of geochronological data is therefore an essential task. In broad-scale paleogeographic analyses requiring correlation of the CP with the Mediterranean, the standard GTS should be used as a reference to avoid problems with the definition of regional stages. Eustasy and regional sea-level curve The Central Paratethys regional time scales often comprise correlation with the global sea-level curve, and the stage boundaries are correlated with boundaries of the 3rd order sequence stratigraphy cycles of GTS (Haq et al. 1988; Hardenbol et al. 1998; Piller et al. 2007). However, the research carried out in semi-enclosed basins has shown that the global sea-level change is captured by the sedimentary record only to some degree (Kováč et al. 2018 and references therein). The active tectonics and/or a huge amount of sediment input can intensify, reduce, or completely hide the signal of the global sea-level changes (forced vs. normal regression). In addition, the 3rd order sequence stratigraphy cycles