Pre-Mesozoic Geology of Saxo-Thuringia
From the Cadomian Active Margin to the Variscan Orogen
Ed.: Ulf Linnemann; Rolf L. Romer
2010. X , 488 pages, 190 figures, 6 tables, 1 Sheet Map, 1 DVD, 1 foldout , 25x17cm, 1400 g
Language: English
ISBN 978-3-510-65259-4, bound, price: 84.90 €
in stock and ready to ship
Announcement
The Saxo-Thuringian Zone is pivotal for understanding the Variscan evolution of Central Europe, as this part of Gondwana was one of the first to collide with Laurussia. The Saxo-Thuringian Zone comprises domains that have experienced variable degrees of Variscan metamorphism ranging from medium grade to UHT/UHP in some domains, while other parts were largely unaffected by deformation or metamorphism.
These differences in overprint reflect pre-Variscan crustal heterogeneity and thickness variation, where thinner segments were wedged into the subduction zone and rigid, thicker blocks escaped subduction. The heterogeneity of crustal thickness is considered to be caused by Ordovician rifting (470–480 Ma) of the Cadomian crust (570–540 Ma) at the Gondwana margin. Today, magmatic and sedimentary rocks deposited on the thin crust of these rifts form the metamorphic complexes of the Saxon Granulite Massif and the Erzgebirge Mtns. Variable response of crust of different thickness to Variscan deformation and metamorphism is not particular to the Saxo-Thuringian Zone, but rather a typical feature of the crust all over Variscan Europe.
The 18 chapters of this book are review and synthesis papers and present overviews of the Cadomian evolution, the post-Cadomian development of the passive margin, a state of the art assessment of the biostratigraphic record of Saxo-Thuringian sediments, various aspects (metamorphism, structure, magmatism) of the Variscan reworking of the Saxo-Thuringian Zone and processes related to the erosion of the Variscan Orogen. Extensive references include also older, generally difficult to find literature references, PhD theses and original descriptions published in very local journals.
This book makes use of, and in part provides, previously unavailable maps and borehole data, largely acquired in GDR time in the course of exploration for uranium, fossil fuels, and ore minerals.
The geological sheet map of the Pre-Permian geology of Eastern Germany, based on this material and compiled by SDAG Wismut (now WISMUT GmbH), is included and made available for the first time to a wider audience. Numerous figures and additional materials are provided on the enclosed DVD.
U. Kroner, R.L. Romer, U. Linnemann: The Saxo-Thuringian
Zone of the Variscan Orogen as part of Pangea 3
U. Linnemann, M. Schauer, M. Hofmann, A. Sagawe:
Geological mapping of the Saxo-Thuringian Zone: The
historical perspective 17
R.L. Romer, U. Linnemann, B. Plessen: Geochemical
character of the Saxo-Thuringian crust 29
Part II: The Autochthonous Domain and the Wrench-and-Thrust Zone
U. Linnemann, R.L. Romer, A. Gerdes, T.E. Jeffries, K. Drost,
J. Ulrich: The Cadomian Orogeny in the Saxo-Thuringian
Zone 37
U. Linnemann, M. Hofmann, R.L. Romer, A. Gerdes:
Transitional stages between the Cadomian and Variscan
orogenies: Basin development and tectono-magmatic
evolution of the southern margin of the Rheic Ocean at the
Saxo-Thuringian Zone (North Gondwana shelf) 59
T. Heuse, H. Blumenstengel, O. Elicki, G. Geyer, W. Hansch,
J. Maletz, G.N. Sarmiento, D. Weyer: Biostratigraphy – The
faunal province of the southern margin of the Rheic Ocean 99
Hahn, T., Kroner, U., Melzer, P.: Early Carboniferous
synorogenic sedimentation in the Saxo-Thuringian Basin
and the adjacent Allochthonous Domain 171
Part III: The Allochthonous Domain
A. Zeh & T.M. Will: The Mid-German Crystalline Zone 195
R. Klemd: Early Variscan allochthonous domains: the
Münchberg Complex, Frankenberg, Wildenfels,
and Góry Sowie 221
J. Rötzler & R.L. Romer: The Saxon Granulite Massif:
a key area for the geodynamic evolution of Variscan
central Europe 233
K. Rötzler & B. Plessen: The Erzgebirge: a pile of ultrahigh-
to low-pressure nappes of early Palaeozoic rocks and
their Cadomian basement 253
U. Kroner & I. Görz: Variscan assembling of the Allochthonous
Domain of the Saxo-Thuringian Zone – a tectonic model 271
H.-J. Förster & R.L. Romer: Carboniferous magmatism 287
Part IV: Late and post-Variscan reactivation
B. Gaitzsch, S. Egenhoff, S. Hesse, B.-C. Ehling: Variscan early
molasses in the Saxo-Thuringian 311
J.W. Schneider & R.L. Romer: The Late Variscan molasses (Late
Carboniferous to Late Permian) of the Saxo-Thuringian Zone 323
R.L. Romer, J.C. Schneider, U. Linnemann: Post-Variscan deformation
and hydrothermal mineralization in Saxo-Thuringia and beyond:
a geochronological review 347
Part V: Synthesis
R.L. Romer & K. Hahne: Baltica meets Gondwana –
the isotope geochemical record 363
U. Kroner & R.L. Romer: The Saxo-Thuringian Zone – tip of the
Armorican Spur and part of the Gondwana plate 371
References 395
Index 469
On the enclosed DVD:
• Geological map in 11 map sheets (Naumann and von Cotta, 1835–1845)
• Complementary material to chapters 12, 13 and 17
• PPT files of selected figures from the various chapters