The Neogene–Quaternary volcanism of the Carpathian–Pannonian region: from initial plate tectonic models to quantitative petrogenetic explanations

A wide range of volcanic rocks formed in the Carpathian–Pannonian region during the last 20 Myr, closely associated with the tectonic evolution of the area: (1) high-SiO 2 rhyolites and rhyodacites; (2) calc-alkaline-type volcanic suites (basalt–andesite–dacite–rhyolite and adakitic rocks); (3) potassic–ultrapotassic volcanic rocks (shoshonites, latites, leucitites and lamproites); and (4) alkali sodic volcanic rocks (basalts, trachyandesites and trachytes). During the 18.1–14.4 Ma silicic ignimbrite flare-up volcanism, explosive eruptions produced large volume of tephras, which covered extended areas of Europe. Calc-alkaline-type volcanism took place in syn-extensional and post-collisional settings. There is no classic volcanic arc in the Carpathian–Pannonian Region, and so the term ‘back-arc basin’ should be used for the Pannonian Basin only in a structural geology sense. Alkali basalt volcanism occurred mostly in the peripheral areas of the Pannonian Basin primarily owing to edge-driven convective upwelling of heterogeneous asthenospheric mantle. The youngest eruptions took place 100–30 ka ago, mostly in the geodynamically still active southeast Carpathians. After 50 years of intense research, there are still many open questions to be solved. Interdisciplinary understanding of the results of different disciplines is crucial to better constrain the evolution of this tectonically complex area, to reveal its geoenergy and to assess potential natural hazards.