Geodynamics.ro

The unusual intermediate depth seismicity, volcanism, and surface deformation at and around the most tightly curved portion of the Carpathian arc, the Vrancea bend zone (45.50N, 25.50E), has been the subject of many studies recently, culminating in a debate about the nature of the processes involved: one possible tectonic scenario to explain the Vrancea seismicity and surrounding structures invokes subduction of Tethys oceanic lithosphere, a remnant of which is presumed to be just detaching from unsubductible continental lithosphere of the East European and Moesian platforms. A second model holds that oceanic lithosphere subduction ended some time in the late Miocene, and that since then a portion of East European or Moesian platform continental mantle lithosphere has been delaminating along a horizontal mid-lithospheric interface and dripping down into the upper mantle.