Differentiating glacio-eustacy and tectonics; a case study involving dinoflagellate cysts from the Eocene-Oligocene transition of the Pindos ForelandBasin (NW Greece)

In an attempt to discriminate between tectonically induced sealevel changes and glacio-eustacy, the Ekklissia and Arakthos sections (Epirus, NW Greece ) are examined, applying (dinocyst) palynology, sedimentology and magnetost ratigraphy. The sections, located in the Pindos Foreland Basin, both compri se the transition from pelagic limestones to hemipelagic silty clays and tu rbidite sandstones, reflecting the onset of flysch sedimentation as a resul t of the Pindos thrust activity. Despite an overall tectonic overprint, rel ative changes of sea level can be reconstructed, using (i) continental/mari ne palynomorph ratios, (ii) relative abundance of inshore and offshore dino flagellate cysts, and (iii) taxa indicative of relatively cold and warm sea -surface temperature, that can be calibrated against the Global Polarity Ti me Scale (GPTS). Increased fluxes of marginal marine and continental palyno morphs coincide with colder periods on a 'third-order' scale, which thus ap pear to be related to glacioeustatic trends in sea-level. The larger scale is attributed to the increasing effect of tectonics and acts on a 'second-o rder scale'.