Scientific objectives

Evaluation of the relationship between J3-K1 sedimentary rocks of CSS (Black Flysch, Sinaia Formation, and Severin Unit) and associated magmatic bodies. The nature of these bodies (concordant lava flows, intrusions, or olistoliths) and their contacts with the surrounding sediments (tectonic versus stratigraphic) will be established using structural and textural elements in combination with detailed biostratigraphical studies;

Evaluation of the origin and age of mafic and ultramafic rocks. We will put constraints on the tectonic framework of their formation (e.g., ocean floor, volcanic arc), determine their origin (Jurassic juvenile oceanic crust or older, tectonically transported and reworked fragments), and assess the magnitude of the Jurassic extension in case of confirmation of the sin-extensional juvenile crust using petrographic and geochemical analysis of basalts (major, trace elements, Sm-Nd and U-Pb isotopes);

Reconstruction of the paleogeographical settings by tracing the sedimentary routes in the CS Basin and surrounding areas. This objective will be achieved by reconstructing deep-sea architectural elements (e.g., channels, splays, basin floor sheets), evaluating paleocurrent directions, and constraining the provenance of siliciclastic J3-K1 sedimentary rocks using various discriminators (heavy mineral associations, tectofacies diagrams and U-Pb geochronology of detrital zircons).