Late Cretaceous to early Miocene deposits of the Carpathian foreland basinin southern Moravia

The Late Cretaceous to Early Miocene strata of the Carpathian foreland basi n in southern Moravia (Czech Republic) are represented by a variety of faci es which reflects the evolution of the foreland depositional system. Howeve r, because of the intensive deformation and tectonic displacement and the l ack of diagnostic fossils the stratigraphic correlation and paleogeographic interpretation of these strata are difficult and often controversial. In o rder to better correlate and to integrate them into a broader Alpine-Carpat hian foreland depositional system, these discontinuous and fragmentary stra ta have been related to four major tectonic and depositional events: (a) fo rmation of the Carpathian foreland basin in Late Cretaceous which followed the subduction of Tethys and subsequent deformation of the Inner Alps-Carpa thians; (b) Middle to Late Eocene transgression over the European foreland and the Carpathian fold belt accompanied by deepening of the foreland basin and deposition of organic-rich Menilitic Formation: (c) Late Oligocene to Early Miocene (Egerian) uplifting and deformation of inner zones of the Car pathian flysch belt and deposition of Krosno-type flysch in the foreland ba sin; and (d) Early Miocene (Eggenburgian) marine transgression and formatio n of late orogenic and postorogenic molasse-type foreland basin in the fore land. These four principal events and corresponding depositional sequences are recognized throughout the region and can be used as a framework for reg ional correlation within the Alpine-Carpathian foreland basin.