Kinematics of retreating subduction along the Carpathian Arc, Romania

Kinematic axes and resultant vectors of displacement along the Carpathian arc and the Apuseni Mountains aid in the reconstruction of retreating subduction along the Carpathians. The recent vertical position of the subducted slab below the Vrancea area of the eastern Carpathians represents the final rollback stage of a small fragment of oceanic lithosphere, formerly situated between the Moesian and East European plates. The ages and locations of the eruption centers of the andesitic volcanic chain along the Carpathian arc in the overriding plate as well as the thrust directions are used as markers to reconstruct the rollback area of the subducted slab between the Moesian and East European plates.