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CAUCASUS
Geodynamics of Collision-Related Basins
by Riccardo Polino (Torino), Randell Stephenson (Amsterdam)
and CAUCASUS colleagues
T he Caucasus forms a linear collisional mountain
belt, along the southern border of the East-Euro-
pean Platform, separating the latter from the Ara-
bian/Turkish plates. In contrast to the mostly ar-
cuate Alpine belts, this Cenozoic orogen allows the
study of a simple relationship between collisional
kinematics and the geodynamic processes leading
to the formation of a foreland basin. Since this
relationship is relatively well controlled, observed
lateral variations in the style of the North Cauca-
sus Foredeep Basin (NCFB) can be mainly related
to pre-existing (Mesozoic) crustal inhomogenei-
ties, which determined the development of the
basins in different crustal configurations. As such,
this example of simple kinematics offers a unique
opportunity to understand the birth and early evo-
lutionary stages of foredeep basins and forms the
basis for comparison with different, more evolved
collisional belts and their forelands.
The NCFB represents one of the best natural labo-
ratories for studying sedimentary evolution in re-
sponse to crustal and upper mantle deformation.
The EUROPROBE CAUCASUS Project focuses mainly
on comparative studies of the evolution of the ba-
sins developing on the northern slope of the Great
Caucasus, the analysis of basin fill, the relation-
ships between deep and superficial structures, the
distribution of palaeo- and present-day stress fields
and geodynamic modelling. The application of
space geodetic techniques will give rates of hori-
zontal and vertical deformation in order to pro-
vide boundary conditions for geodynamic models.
The main goals of the CAUCASUS Project include:
1) Deciphering the tectonic history of the north-
ern Caucasus by multidisciplinary analysis of
the geological record of Cenozoic sedimentary
basins and their underlying (and partly over-
thrust) crust.
2) Reconstruction of the palaeostress and strain
regimes (kinematics and dynamics).
3) Linking the present-day stress regime to ob-
served (geodetic) and palaeotectonic vertical
and horizontal movements through geodynam-
ic modelling.
4) Exploiting existing geological and geophysical
data sets for quantitative modelling of tectonic
and tectono-sedimentary processes.
CAUCASUS
5) Construction of palaeogeographic maps for the
period of development of the foredeep.
6) Redefinition of the crustal structure and base-
ment controls on sedimentary basin develop-
ment and deformation from existing geophysi-
cal data and definition of targets for new deep
seismic near-vertical and wide-angle reflection
surveys across the western foredeep (Indola-
Kuban).
7) Comparative studies of the evolution of the NCFB
and other foredeeps of the peri-Mediterranean
region.
Introduction
The CAUCASUS Project focuses on the Cenozoic
collision-related foredeep sedimentary basins along
the northern slopes of the Great Caucasus, seeking to
decipher their evolution and the relationships in time
and space between the basin structures and basement
deformation. Of particular interest is the distribution
of on-going deformation in terms of stress and recent
movements between the Scythian platform in the
north and the Arabian/Turkish plate in the south.
One of the key elements of the project is to link the
geological record to geodynamic models of orogenic
and basin-forming processes using the present day
neotectonic, in-situ stress, seismicity and geodetic
measurements as dynamic and kinematic boundary
conditions.
The EUROPROBE CAUCASUS Project was initiated at
EUROPROBE'S Amsterdam workshop in 1993 and now
involves collaboration among geoscientists from
France, Georgia, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands,
Russia, Sweden and Canada. It is supported by the
INTAS agency and the Peri-Tethys programme.
Geological Background
The northern Caucasus foredeep sedimentary ba-
sins are located on the southern margin of the East-
European Craton (Fig. 10.1). They developed since
the Triassic between the evolving Great Caucasus and
the Scythian Platform. Their basement, both to the
north and to the south, belongs to the Karpinsky
Kryazh Palaeozoic fold belt and to the Precambrian
and Hercynian terranes of the Scythian Platform.
111
CAUCASUS

During the Mesozoic, the evolution of sedimentary The present crustal configuration of the whole Cauca-
basins along the northern slope of the Caucasus was sus belt suggests that the southern (Lesser) Caucasus
homogeneous, while a strong differentiation in devel- can be considered as the frontal (synthetic) thrust
opmental style became evident after collision between belt, while the northern (Greater) Caucasus appears
the Eurasian and the Arabian/Turkish plates that to be the back thrust belt of the subduction/collision
began in the Eocene. system (Fig. 10.3).
The entire belt shows strong lateral variations along The EUROPROBE CAUCASUS Project is promoting a
strike (Fig. 10.2). Two foredeep basins developed in multidisciplinary international cooperation to study
the western and eastern part of the Caucasus northern the transition from the orogenic belt to the stable
slope, the Indola-Kuban to the west and the Terek- Scythian Platform and the evolution of the Indola-
Caspian to the east. They have a maximum thickness Kuban and Terek-Caspian foredeep basins. A number
of sediments of 10 km in the Indola-Kuban and of 12- of research activities have already begun; others ar
14 km in the Terek-Caspian. The two basins are sepa- are being planned. They fall broadly into the catego-
rated in the central part of the belt by the Stavropol ries of large-scale controls on deformational processes
Uplift, where basement is at a depth of 1-2 km. The and process-oriented numerical modelling. The re-
width of the orogenic belt as well as the average search includes studies of the geological evolution
height of topography also vary strongly along strike. (including kinematic indicators of processes in the
The fragmentation of the orogenic belt into segments collisional zones), the geophysical structure of the
having so strong differences in structural styles sug- crust and lithospheric mantle, present-day state of
gests that convergence rate and degree of shortening stress (including seismicity) and present-day meas-
vary along strike and that the evolution of the fore- urements of strains. A list of specific activities -ongo-
deep basins should be directly related to crustal deform- ing or planned- and the institutions/organisations
ation. involved at this time follows.

Scythian basement
S EA
OV 2
AZ
Stavropol high

2
4 Sta
4 vro
po 2
l 4
Kuba Fig. 10.2b CASPIAN SEA
n 8
2
4 44°
44° Fig. 10.2a 66

Terek
G Fig. 10.2c
R El Grozny
E br
A us
T Dage
stan
BLACK SEA C th
Rioni ru
A st
U
C el
b

A t
Tbilisi S
L U
E S
S
S a
E K ur
R
C Kura Baku 42°
42° Fig. 10.3 A
U
C
A
4 S
a) c) U
S
100 km
b) d)

38° 42° 46° 50°

Figure 10.1: Tectonic sketch map of the Great Caucasus and northern Caucasus foredeep. a) Northern extension of little
deformed flexural foreland basin, with depth (in km) to the top of the basement, reflecting mainly the pre-Cenozoic deformation;
b) Cenozoic foredeep (Kuban and Terek) and intramontane (Kura and Rioni) sedimentary basins; c) southern margin of the
East-European basement (Scythian Platform) and Mesozoic to early Tertiary successions involved in the orogenic processes,
outcropping in the northern Great Caucasus; d) autochthonous Scythian basement.

112
 CAUCASUS

CAUCASUS RESEARCH
1. Platform subsidence of the southern part of the
East-European Craton (Halifax [U], Moscow [IPE, SU],
Essentuky [CGS], Toronto [U]).
Concepts of subduction-related flow and tilting of the
lithosphere as a mechanism of long wavelength plat-
form subsidence will be tested, as proposed for inter-
nal Mesozoic basins in North American and New Zea-
land.
3. Relationship between deep and superficial
structures: kinematics of crustal deformation (Torino
[CNR], Essentuky [CGS], Moscow [IPE]).
The aim of this project is to constrain differential
rates of deformation between basement and cover
units by mapping the structure of the junction zone
between the Scythian Platform and Alpine deforma-
tion in the Greater Caucasus.

2. Palaeostress evolution of the North Caucasus region
from Mesozoic until present (Moscow [SU], Essentuky
[CGS], Paris [UPS]).
Palaeostress distributions resulting from pre-Alpine
and Alpine deformation will be mapped in order to
constrain whether along-strike variations in structur-
al style in the Caucasus collisional zone are related to
contrasting initial stress fields.
4. Present-day stress regime of the North Caucasus
from inversion of fault-plane solutions and geomor-
phological studies (Paris [UPS], Essentuky [NCRGC,
CGS], Moscow [SU).
The "long-term" (104-105 years timescale) deforma-
tion signals will be documented and interpreted in
conjunction with the instantaneous of "short-term"
signals given by seismology and geodesy.

SW NE
0 0

5 5

10 10

a) 15 10 km

0 0

5 5

10 10

b) 15 10 km

0 0

5 5

10 10

c)
15 10 km

Figure 10.2: Integrated interpretations of geological and seismic data on the northern Caucasus foreland (see Fig. 10.1 for
location of the profiles). Dark purple: basement; Light purple: Mesozoic sequences; Orange: Palaeogene, early Neogene; Yellow:
Late Neogene; Red area in b): Palaeozoic intrusives. Note the strong differences in structural style along strike. In the eastern
part (c), the structure is dominated by a north verging thrust belt, whereas in the west (a), the structural style is that of a steep belt.
The north Caucasus monocline is well preserved only in the central part of the belt (b).

113
CAUCASUS
5. The application of space geodetic techniques to
provide boundary conditions for the modelling of
the Greater Caucasus and its foredeeps (Essentuky
[CGS], St. Petersburg [IAA], Frankfurt [U], Potsdam
[GFZ], Moscow [IPE]).
A network of geodetic stations in the northern Cau-
casus and the EEC foreland will be expanded to
establish rates of horizontal and vertical deformation
in the region, especially by using periodic GPS cam-
paigns. These data will provide boundary conditions
for geodynamic models in terms of of present-day
displacement and strain.
6. Preparation and interpretation of a digital
photomap showing surface and subsurface heat flow
distribution across the Greater Caucasus (Essentuky
[CGS], Potsdam [GFZ]).
Localisation of tectonically active structures (active
subsidence, uplift, volcanism, seismicity) will be
achieved using remote sensing imagery in the infra-
red spectrum to highlight surface temperature and
the underlying geological structure.
7. Cenozoic magmatism in the North Caucasus related
to the kinematics of the collisional/post-collisional
evolution (Moscow [SU], Catania [CNR]).
The relationship between subduction/collision pro-
cesses and the development of magmatism will be
investigated, including better constraints on timing
and geochemical signatures.
8. Fission-track study along transects in the North
Caucasus (Essentuky [CGS], Amsterdam [VU]).
Determination of temperature histories of sediment-
ary and basement strata in the North Caucasus fore-
deep and monocline will constrain Neogene uplift
and erosion.
LESSER
CAUCASUS
SW Intramontane basin
(Kura)
volc oph
TURKISH PLATE
Mantle
100 km
Figure 10.3: Schematic crustal cross-section (see Fig. 10.1) from the Turkish plate to the East-European Craton. Note the position
of the frontal thrust of the collision belt south of the Lesser Caucasus, in contrast to the back-thrust leading to the Greater
Caucasus and the North Caucasus Foredeep. (oph: ophiolites; volc: volcanites)
114
9. Compilation of DSS and other seismic and
geophysical data in the North Caucasus region (Mos-
cow [GEON, IPE, SG], Essentuky [CGS], Amsterdam
[VU], Milano [U]).
Large existing datasets have to be analysed in terms
of quantity, quality and manner of collection and
analytical treatment for display and dissemination to
participants in other activities: deep seismic sound-
ing (refraction and reflection, including marine data),
potential field (gravity and magnetic), neotectonic
observations and present-day kinematics derived from
field geodetic observations.
10. Reinterpretation of DSS data using modern
modelling techniques (Milano [U], Essentuky [CGS],
Moscow [SG, GEON]).
Reappraisal and display of crustal and upper mantle
velocity models in the North Caucasus region and
across the Caucasus will be achieved using modern
forward (ray-tracing) and inverse modelling tech-
niques of DSS data.
11. BHTV and caliper logging of boreholes (Karl-
sruhe [U], Essentuky [CGS]).
Variations of stress field trajectories, as the conver-
gent plate margin is approached, will be investigated
in the context of an expansion of a regional (East-
European Platform) programme of in-situ stress
measurements to selected deep boreholes in the North
Caucasus foredeep and the Scythian platform.
12. Comparative study of gravity signatures along
the Alpine belt (Milano [U], Moscow [IPE], Amster-
dam [VU], Essentuky [CGS], Torino [CNR]).
The style of large-scale gravity anomalies across the
Caucasus and North Caucasus foredeep will be com-
pared with those of the Central Alps along the Euro-
GREAT
CAUCASUS
Northern Caucasus
foredeep
NE
n dja rek
Su Te
volc 0
SCYTHIAN PLATE
60
km
Cenozoic Mesozoic in the Great
Basins Caucasus and to the north

pean Geotraverse, where independent constraints from
lithospheric (surface wave) and deep seismic reflec-
tion and refraction studies have been intimately built-
in.
13. Planning and pilot studies for new CDP/DSS
profiles in the North Caucasus (Torino [CNR], Moscow
[RosGeolCom], Amsterdam [VU]).
In view of the results of other subprojects, priorities
and proposals for new deep seismic reflection and
refraction studies will be defined, including possible
completion of DSS profiles now underway.
14. Dynamic modelling of the Caucasian collisional
zone (Halifax [U], Moscow [IPE, SU], Torino [CNR],
Essentuky [CGS]).
The validity and generality of models of geodynamic
processes in collisional belts will be tested using nu-
merical techniques. Issues such as the degree of "dou-
ble vergence" in the collisional zone and the level of
detachment of subduction in the lithosphere (intrac-
rust?) will be constrained.
15. 1D, 2D and 3D modelling of subsidence and
burial history of the North Caucasus foredeep (Mos-
cow [SU], Rueil-Malmaison [IFP], Amsterdam [VU],
Essentuky [CGS]).
Geodynamic processes leading to Triassic and young-
Mount Elbrus (Europe's highest mountain) in the Greater Caucasus, a mountain range still rising at a rate of about 1 cm/year.
CAUCASUS
er sedimentary basin development on the southern
Scythian Platform will be modelled and the relation-
ship of these processes with those responsible for ba-
sin development immediately prior to and during the
Alpine collisional phase will be established.
16. Mesozoic-Cenozoic palaeogeographic/palaeotec-
tonic maps of the North Caucasus region (Scythian
Platform) (Moscow [SU], Paris [UPMC], Milano [U]).
The regional geological constraints on the tectonic
history of the North Caucasus region will be docu-
mented in map form to give a base for reconstruction
and modelling of the compressional tectonic activity
in the area.
17. Structure of the pre-Mesozoic basement in the
North Caucasus (Essentuky [NCRGC], Cherkessk [RAS],
Torino [U], Torino [U]).
The relationships between basement, structural ele-
ments and Alpine deformation in the North Caucasus
foreland including controls on "inversion" structures
will be investigated.
115