Content

The continuous convergence of the Adriatic and Eurasian plates was and is the driving force behind many important geodynamic events and the formation of mountain ranges in the wider Adriatic region. In the Cenozoic, the convergence led to a compression phase, from which the Dinaric thrust-and-fold belt emerged. At the end of the Miocene, the Outer Dinarides underwent another phase of contraction, which continues to this day. Although much research in the past has focused on Cenozoic compression in the Dinarides, the distinction between the two compression phases and the assessment of contraction in this mountain range is still debated in the scientific community. This postdoctoral project aims to provide new insights into the Cenozoic structural evolution of the Dinarides. The project will focus on the area of Slovenian Istria, which lies at an important transition point from the Adriatic Plate to the Outer Dinarides. More specifically, we will study the Kraško rob area, a distinct geomorphological stage that has formed between the two units. This area is of interest not only because of its complex multiphase tectonic history, but also because it contains important groundwater reserves located at the often structurally determined boundary between permeable and impermeable lithological units. As part of the post-doc project, a large database of surface and subsurface geological data will be used to create a 3D geological model of the study area. The model will serve as input data for further analyses that will allow us to better understand the Cenozoic deformation processes and the structural evolution of the area. In addition, the model will also be used to determine the spatial distribution of groundwater and to better understand the structural influence on groundwater occurrence and transport pathways.

 

Project phases:

• Project coordination and management
• Compilation, verification and processing of input data
• Data import
• Verification of the model
• Dissemination of the project results

 

Karst3Dge - 3D Geological Modelling for Unveiling the Cenozoic Evolution of the Contact between Adriatic Microplate and Dinarides and the Structural Influence on Groundwater Occurrence at the Kraški rob area