Tectonic-sedimentary evolution of the frontal part of the Ukrainian Carpathian nappe structure

For the first time in the Ukrainian Carpathians, the depths and tectono-sedimentation processes in the north-eastern part of the Outer Carpathian Basin (Skyba and Boryslav-Pokuttya units) have been restored on the base of sedimentological and microfaunistic studies. It was established that in the Cretaceous-Eocene time, the deep-water (near Calcite Compensation Depth) turbidite and similar sedimentation (turbidites with Bouma textures, grainites, debris-flow deposits), which periodically alternated with (hemi)pelagic sedimentation (red, green and black shales) was dominant here. Sedimentation took place on the continental margin of the the Carpathian branch of the Tethys, where deep-water fans were formed. Cretaceous-Eocene background red and green shales are enriched in buried in situ benthic foraminifera which are similar in taxonomic composition and morphological features to the microfauna of the Carpathian-Alpine and Atlantic regions (deep-water agglutinated foraminifera), which indicate lower bathyal – abyssal depths of flysch sedimentation. Latest Eocene Globigerina Marl horizon contains the foraminiferal assemblage with plankton dominance, which indicates a general shallowing of the Outer Carpathian Basin (middle-upper bathyal conditions above a calcite compensation depth). Oligocene – lowermost Miocene Menilite-Krosno and Polyanytsia formations were accumulated in the Skyba and Boryslav-Pokuttya sub-basins. In the Miocene, shallow-water molasses were accumulated here. Probably, the tectonic uproot of flysch deposits from its substrate and their synsedymentary thrusting towards the platform caused a significant shallowing of the Skyba and Boryslav-Pokuttya sub-basins starting from the latest Eocene. These processes reflected the growth of the Carpathian frontal nappes at the final orogen formation stage.