f Seqeunce stratigraphy and depositional history in the Southeastern German Molasse Basin

A study of seismic lines and well data trom the region between the Isar and the Inn rivers (SE Germany, Fig. 1) indicates the presence of three main depositional cycles in the Molasse Basin. In contrast to the western and central part of the basin, marine conditions prevailed here also during the deposition of the "Lower freshwater Molasse". The stratigraphic development of the Molasse was mainly controlled by eustatic sea-level changes which caused the shorefine to shift in the W E direction and by the evolution of the Alpine thrust lood (Fig .2). The shifts af the shorefine determine the distrihution af the depositional systems and their lateral relationship. The displacement of the depositional axis in a N-S direction is caused by the changes af the thrust load. During times of increased loading, ihe axis shifted to the S, whereas times of predeminant erosion and isastatic compensation of the thrust load favour a northward shift of the depositional axis of the basin.