Brittle deformation analysis of the Tertiary depression fill and surrounding area of the Hornonitrianska Kotlina Depression permited the reconstruction of the paleostress-field orientation. Compression axis rotated clockwise from NW-SE (Early Miocene) to NE-SW (Middle Miocene). After Middle Miocene (Middle Sarmatian) compression axis rotated counterclockwise to the NNW-SSE position in Quaternary. During the Early Miocene the marine sedimentation predominated. The marine conditions appeared again during Early Badenian, but later continental conditions prevailed.