X. CONGRESS OF CARPATHIAN-BALKAN GEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION Guide to Eitcursion D Triassic of the West Carpathians Mts. BY JAN BYSTRICKY GEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF DIONtz STOR BRATISLAVA 1973 Excurslon D: August 29 - September 2, 1973 Leader of excursion: Jan B y strick y Excursion-guide prepared by: Jan B y s t r i c k y in co-operation with V. An d r u so v o v a, K. B o r z a, A. B u j n o vs k y, J. Ja b l o n s k y, M. Koch an o v ä, R. Marschalko, J. Mello, J. Michalik, M. Mi- s 1 k, M. V e d e j 0 V ä Translated by E. J a s s i n g e r o v a © Geologicky iistav Dio~yza Stüra, 1973 Contents Introduction fT. Bystricky j 5 The Geological Structure of the West Carpathians f j. Bys- trieky} 8 The Klippen Belt 8 The Inner Carpathians 10 Facial areas of the Triassic in the West Carpathians { j. Bystricky) 15 The Slovak Karst [ j. Bystrick{j) 20 Description of localities 31 1. Meliata [ K. Borza} 31 2. Skalica-Gemerskä Hörka { f. Bystricky) 34 3. Kefovo { j. Bystricky) 36 4. The Gombasek winding paths { j. Mello-f. Bys- tricky) 38 5. Zakazane fl. Bystricky, j. Mello) 42 6. Silicka Brezova { j. Bystrlcky) 44 7. Drnava [j. Mello, j. Bystricky) 52 The Stratenskä hornatina mountains 59 8. Geravy { j. Bystricky) 67 The Muranska plosina (plateau) ff. Bystricky} 68 9. Ve1ka Lüka f K. Borza} 76 The Nizke Tatry Mts. and Choc { T. Bystric~y) . 78 10. Hybe [j. Michallk) 88 11. Svarin [V. Andrusovov(I J • 92 12. Liptovsky Hrädok { R. Marschalko) 97 13. Turik { K. Borza) . 101 14. Liptovskä Osada [ A, Bu;novsky-M. Kochanova) . 103 15. Liptovska Osada [ f. jablonsky J 107· 16. Donovaly [O. Fe;dtov(I) 109 17. Donovaly {M. MiSlk) . 111 The Ve1kä Fatra Mts. (/. Bystricky) . 113 18. Banska Bystrica f M. Vede;ov(Ij 117 19. Maly Sturec ff. Bystricky) 122 20. Cremosne f M. Miszk) 124 Strafovske pohorie Mts. 128 21. Valaskä Belä-Hireska f1. Michallk) 128 22. Valaskä Beld - Carpathian Keuper {V. 15urovic) 132 References 133 lntroduction In the West Carpathians, the Triassic is one of the thickest and most frequent mesozoic formations. lt is in all the principal tectonic units of the Inner Carpathians, and in the Klippen Belt. lt is only missing in the Guter Carpathians, in the basement cf the flysch; due to the continental ridge, the so-called "Vindelice­ Beskydy wall" ( D. A n d r u s o v 1965), or due to the transport of the Lower and Middle Triassic during the Upper Triassic. Then the submarine ridge emerged and formed a source of detrltal material of the Lunz beds and of the Carpathian Keuper (A. Bi e- 1 'Y - J. B y s t r i c k y 1964 ) . Since the beginning pf the geological investigations in Slo­ vakia, the stratigraphy of the Triassic sediments is based on the correlation of lithostratigraphical units of the West Car­ pathians with those of the Triassic in the East Alps. Lithostrati­ graphic units equivalents of which are in the East Alps, are denominated by terms of the Alpine stratigraphical nomenclature (for example: Gutenstein limestones, Wetterstein limestones, and others). For lithostratigraphic units formerly regarded as Creta­ ceous, without their equivalents in the Cretaceous of the East Alps, new terms were introduced (for example: the Choc dolo­ mite, the Veternik limestone, the Rachsthurn limestone, and others). 'rhe terms became unnecessary after the lithostratl­ graphic units mentioned proved to be Triassic sediments; the terms were, howev.er, used for quite a long time in literature. At present these lithostratigraphic units are distinguished in the Triassic: The Lower Triassic 1. beds of the Seissian; 2. beds of the Campilian (Lower and Upper); 3. basal quartzites (the equivalents of the Alpine Sem­ mering quartzite, D. A n d r u s o v 1968). The Middle Triassic: 4. the Gutenstein limestones and dolomites; 5. the Annaberg limestones and dolomites; 7. the Steinalm limestones and do­ lomites; 8. the Schreyeralm limestones; 9. the Wetterstein limestones; 10. the Wetterstein dolomites; 11. the Reifling lime­ stones. 5 The Upper Triassic: 12. the "Aon beds"; 13. the Lunz beds; 14. the Reingraben shales; 15. the Raming limestones; 16. the Oponitz limestones (the Cardita beds); 17. the Hauptdolomite; 18. the Carpathian Keuper; 19. the Tisovec limestones; 20. the Furmanec limestones; 21. the Dachstein limestones; 22. the Hallstatt limestones; 23. the Aflenz limestones; 24. the Zlambach beds; 25. the Rhaetic lime­ stones (non divided); 26. the Kössen beds. For some Uthostratigraphic units no terms exist because of difficulties with their correlation (for example limestones and dolomites of the Middle Triassic in the High-Tatra zone). The Triassic in the West Carpathian5 has been studied for more than hundred years, its biostratigraphy has only 15 years' tra·­ dition. Its stratigraphy is based on paleontological studies of Cephalopoda (V. An d r u so V o v a), Lamellibranchiata (M. K O­ e h an 0 V a), Gastropoda (M. K 0 c h an 0 V a), Brachiopoda (M. Slblik, J. Michalik), Foraminifera (0. Jendrejakovä), calcareous sponges ( E. J a b I o n s k y), conodonts ( R. M o c k), Dasycladaceae (J. B y strick y) and other problematica (M. Mi­ s i k, K. Bor z a), and on data from earlier literature ( only par­ tially revlsed so far). This guide to excursion cannot comprise a detailed treating of all the stratigraphical problems; we can only concentrate to problems concerning individual profiles and facial areas de­ monstrated by the excursion route. To enlighten the problems concerning the Triassic of the West Carpathians, first. the survey of its geologic structure (in fact, in literature the Triassic is mostly treated according to in­ dividual tectonic units) and of its facial are<:ts is presented. In the excursion route we shall find the Triassic of: 1. Th e Ge m er i c: a) Slovak Karst (Iocalities: Meliata - "the Mellata series"=the? "Upper Permlan"; Skalica - Gemer­ ska Hörka = Middle Triassic; Kecovo = Middle Triassic; Gombasek - Middle Triassic; Zakäzane - Middle Triassic; Silickä Brezovä = Middle - Upper Triassic; Drnava - Upper Triassic - Liassic). b) The Stratenskä hornatina mountains ( locality of Geravy - Upper Triassic). c) The Muränska plosina plateau ( the locality of Vefkä Lüka - Lopusnä = Middle and Upper Triassic; Rhaetic; Liassic). 2. Th e H r o n i c: a) The Nizke Tatry mountains: the Choc­ nappe ( Iocalites: Hybe = the Kössen beds, Svarin = Middle and Upper Triassic; Liptovsky Hrädok = the Lunz beds; Turik = Mid­ dle and Upper Triassic; Liptovskä Osada = Upper Triassic (Hauptdolomite); Liptovskä Osada = Middle and Upper Triassic 8 - ( the Raming limestones). b) The Vefkä Fatra mountains: the Sturec nappe ( localities: Maly Sturec = Middle TriassiC). 3. Th e Fa tri c: a) The Velkä Fatra mountains: the Krizna nappe ( the locality Cremosn~ - Upper Triassic). b) Sträfovska hornatina mountains: Krizna nappe (localities: Valaskä Belä - Upper Triassic, Spanla Dolina = Upper Triassic - Carpathian Keuper; Donovaly - Middle - Upper Triassic). 4. Th e Tat r i c: a) Nizke Tatry mountains: basal quartzites of the Lower Triassic ( the locality of Donovaly). The divlsion and terminology The Triassic ls divided in accordance with the international stratigraphical scale, regarding the new results of biostrati­ graphical dlvision - as far as permitted by correlation. So far in the Lower Triassic the Scythian stage wilh the sub­ stages of the Seissian and the Campilian are distinguished. The new division (into three stages: the Gandarian, Owenitan, Spathian) is still impossible because of insufficient knowledge of fauna (particularly ammonites) of the Lower Triassic. In the Middle Triassic the Anisian stage is divided into: a) the Lower Anisian (formerly "Hydaspian"); b) the Pelsonian; c) Illyrian (sensu J. Pi a 1930). According to R. Asse r et t o (1969), the bottom border of the Illyrian is indicated by the appearance of the genus Paraceratites and so includes into the Illyrian also the zone with P. binodosus formerly regarded as the Ammonite zone of the Pelsonian, and the zone with Aplococeras avisianus. At present there is a ten­ dency to regard the zone with Aplococeras avisianus as the most lower zone of the Ladinian ( Fassanian) ( H. K o z u r 1972). The Ladinian is divided into: a) Fassanian; b) Langobardian. The Carnian in the Upper Triassic is divided into: a) Corde­ volian (the first appearances of g. Trachyceras); b) Julian, c) Tuvalian; and the Norian into: a), Lower Norian (formerly called "Lac.", now non-designated); b) Middle Norian (Alaunian); c) Upper Norian ( Sevatian). The Rhaetic is non-divided. Naturally, by refferring the Cprdevolian to the Carnian, termi­ nological problems concerning lithostratigraphic units were evoked. When the Cordevolian ~vas regarded as the most upper substage of the Ladinian, the Ladlnian/Carnian boundary was approximately identic with the contact of two facially different lithostratigraphical units ( the Upper Triassic commenced with the "Aon beds" or the Lunz beds). When the Cordevolian is referred 7 to the Lower Carnian, then the boundary of the Middle and Upper Triassic is in a lithologically indivisible sequence, in the so-called Wetterstein limestones (Fassanian to Cordevolian) or in the Reifling limestones ( III yrian to Cordevolian) and in the Ramsau dolomites. Consequently, the stratigraphical definition of these lithostratigraphic units must be revised. THE GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF THE WEST CARPATHIANS The West Carpathians consist of two fold systems: of the Outer Carpathians (the flysch zone) in the North, and the Inner Car­ pathians (The Central Carpathians) in the South. Both systems differ in their lithostratigraphic rontents and in the age of their origin.