Geothermics of the Pannonian basin and its bearing on the neotectonics

Different aspects of the geothermics of the Pannonian basin are investigated from the viewpoint of neotectonics. A heat flow map of the basin and the surrounding region is presented. It is shown that the high heat flow of the Pannonian basin, the subsidence and maturation history of the Neogene sediments can be explained in general by Middle Miocene extension and thinning of the lithosphere. To obtain fit to the observed vitrinite reflectance data in the peripheral areas uplift and erosion had to be assumed, which started in the Late Pliocene. For the same time period a thermo-mechanical extensional model would predict thermal subsidence, therefore, the observation of this late stage uplift suggests that the thermal subsidence has been overprinted by tectonic forces, like an increase of intraplate stress.