Published: 2026-03-15
Extension-driven evolution of magmatic systems in slab-top basins: Insights from the Timok Magmatic Complex, Serbian Carpathians
Authors: Stojadinovic, U., Randjelovic, N., Kostić, B., Maleš, M., Grujovski Stanislavljević, M. & Srećković Batoćanin, D.
Abstract
Slab-top basins represent key archives of the interaction between subduction dynamics, lithospheric extension, and magmatism. This study presents the first basin-scale tectono-magmatic model for the Late Cretaceous evolution of the Timok Magmatic Complex (TMC) basin, a segment of the Apuseni–Banat–Timok–Srednogorie (ABTS) magmatic belt in SE Europe. Integration of detailed structural and kinematic analyses with zircon U–Pb geochronology of syn-tectonic intrusions reveals that the TMC basin formed as a strongly asymmetric slab-top basin under E–W to NE–SW extension driven by retreat of the Neotethys slab. Early basin development was dominated by border-fault–controlled subsidence and sedimentation, followed at ~88–87 Ma by migration of deformation into the basin interior and localization along a major intra-basin normal fault corridor in the eastern part of the basin, which focused syn-tectonic calc-alkaline magmatism and hydrothermal activity. Between ~88 and 81 Ma, deformation and magmatism propagated laterally along strike, tracking progressive growth of the fault system, whereas after ~81 Ma extensional deformation waned and magmatism migrated westward and became increasingly decoupled from faulting. By ~76 Ma, the basin entered a post-rift stage marked by shallow-marine carbonate deposition and regressive molasse sedimentation. These results demonstrate that slab rollback exerts a first-order control on the spatiotemporal coupling between deformation, basin evolution, and magmatism in slab-top extensional systems. Keywords: Fault kinematics, Neotethys subduction, slab-top basin, Tectono-magmatic evolution, Timok Magmatic Complex, Zircon U–Pb geochronology.
Slab-top basins represent key archives of the interaction between subduction dynamics, lithospheric extension, and magmatism. This study presents the first basin-scale tectono-magmatic model for the Late Cretaceous evolution of the Timok Magmatic Complex (TMC) basin, a segment of the Apuseni–Banat–Timok–Srednogorie (ABTS) magmatic belt in SE Europe. Integration of detailed structural and kinematic analyses with zircon U–Pb geochronology of syn-tectonic intrusions reveals that the TMC basin formed as a strongly asymmetric slab-top basin under E–W to NE–SW extension driven by retreat of the Neotethys slab. Early basin development was dominated by border-fault–controlled subsidence and sedimentation, followed at ~88–87 Ma by migration of deformation into the basin interior and localization along a major intra-basin normal fault corridor in the eastern part of the basin, which focused syn-tectonic calc-alkaline magmatism and hydrothermal activity. Between ~88 and 81 Ma, deformation and magmatism propagated laterally along strike, tracking progressive growth of the fault system, whereas after ~81 Ma extensional deformation waned and magmatism migrated westward and became increasingly decoupled from faulting. By ~76 Ma, the basin entered a post-rift stage marked by shallow-marine carbonate deposition and regressive molasse sedimentation. These results demonstrate that slab rollback exerts a first-order control on the spatiotemporal coupling between deformation, basin evolution, and magmatism in slab-top extensional systems. Keywords: Fault kinematics, Neotethys subduction, slab-top basin, Tectono-magmatic evolution, Timok Magmatic Complex, Zircon U–Pb geochronology.
Read Publication: Here