KINEMATICS OF RETREATING SUBDUCTION ALONG THE CARPATHIAN ARC, ROMANIA

Kinematic axes and resultant vectors of displacement along the Carpath ian are and the Apuseni Mountains aid in the reconstruction of retreat ing subduction along the Carpathians. The recent vertical position of the subducted slab below the Vrancea area of the eastern Carpathians r epresents the final rollback stage of a small fragment of oceanic lith osphere, formerly situated between the Moesian and East European plate s, The ages and locations of the eruption centers of the andesitic vol canic chain along the Carpathian are in the overriding plate as well a s the thrust directions are used as markers to reconstruct the rollbac k area of the subducted slab between the Moesian and East European pla tes.