Deep vs. shallow – two contrasting theories? A tectonically activated Late Cretaceous deltaic system in the axial part of the Mid-Polish Trough: a case study from southeast Poland

Abstract. The Polish Basin is a part of trans-European sedimentary basin comprising the Central European System and stretching from Denmark through Germany to southeastern Poland, even further south into Ukraine. It experienced uplift during Late Cretaceous, which consequently resulted in inversion its axial (i.e., Mid-Polish Trough) development Anticlinorium. In many existing paleotectonic interpretations, southeast Poland – i.e., subsurface San Anticlinorium present-day Roztocze Hills was included Trough representing axial, most subsiding part. This model basis for facies bathymetric interpretations that assumed Upper Cretaceous sediments, deposited close (e.g., Hills), constituted deepest facies. recent years, several studies have contradicted this notion. A growing body data suggests area (southeast Poland) already landmass by Coniacian Santonian certainly Campanian Maastrichtian rather than forming Basin. shallow marginal marine, cyclic middle Campanian, marly sandy deposits, recently discovered Hills, were interpreted be deltaic origin. has led adoption new models, notably are stark opposition previous interpretations. Notably, interpretation implies presence place where, prior frameworks, located Cretaceous. Here, we document depositional system Szozdy delta developed Trough. These deposits crop out extensively region, village Szozdy, exhibit coarsening-upward tripartite cyclothems. Three associations been distinguished: (1) dark grey calcareous mudstones, (2) yellow sandstone, (3) gaize lithofacies. sequence, as whole, accumulated via repeated progradation abandonment complexes on front platform setting, with primary transport direction originating axis inverting (thus Anticlinorium) toward northeast. supported suite sedimentological, palynofacies, heavy mineral data. framed context dynamic tectonic processes operating contemporaneously Poland: is, (uplift) one hand, generation accommodation space enhanced subsidence other. discovery sheds light our understanding distribution, bathymetry, paleogeography might potentially suggest different burial history so far.