Neogene to Quaternary volcanic/magmatic activity in the Carpathian-Pannonian Region
(CPR) occurred between 21 and 0.1 Ma with a distinct migration in time from west to
east. It shows a diverse compositional variation in response to a complex interplay
of subduction with roll-back, back-arc extension, collision, slab break-off, delamination,
strike-slip tectonics and microplate rotations, as well as in response to further
evolution of magmas in the crustal environment by processes of differentiation, crustal
contamination, anatexis and magma mixing. Since most of the primary volcanic forms
have been affected by erosion, especially in areas of post-volcanic uplift, based
on the level of erosion we distinguish: (1) areas eroded to the basement level, where
paleovolcanic reconstruction is not possible; (2) deeply eroded volcanic forms with
secondary morphology and possible paleovolcanic reconstruction; (3) eroded volcanic
forms with remnants of original morphology preserved; and (4) the least eroded volcanic
forms with original morphology quite well preserved. The large variety of volcanic
forms present in the area can be grouped in a) monogenetic volcanoes and b) polygenetic
volcanoes and their subsurface/intrusive counterparts that belong to various rock
series found in the CPR such as calc-alkaline magmatic rock-types (felsic, intermediate
and mafic varieties) and alkalic types including K-alkalic, shoshonitic, ultrapotassic
and Na-alkalic. The following volcanic/subvolcanic forms have been identified: (i)
domes, shield volcanoes, effusive cones, pyroclastic cones, stratovolcanoes and calderas
with associated intrusive bodies for intermediate and basic calc-alkaline volcanism;
(ii) domes, calderas and ignimbrite/ash-flow fields for felsic calc-alkaline volcanism
and (iii) dome flows, shield volcanoes, maars, tuffcone/tuff-rings, scoria-cones with
or without related lava flow/field and their erosional or subsurface forms (necks/
plugs, dykes, shallow intrusions, diatreme, lava lake) for various types of K- and
Na-alkalic and ultrapotassic magmatism. Finally, we provide a summary of the eruptive
history and distribution of volcanic forms in the CPR using several sub-region schemes.
