Crustal evolution of Western and Central Europe

Abstract

A new Moho depth map has been assembled for Western and Central Europe and the Western Mediterranean area that is exclusively based on published regional Moho depth maps. Tectonic overlays summarize Caledonian and Variscan tectonic units, Permo-Carboniferous fault systems and magmatic provinces, Mesozoic and Cenozoic rift-wrench systems, areas of intraplate compression, the outlines of Alpine orogens and the distribution of oceanic crust. Based on a comparison of these overlays with the Moho depth map we assess processes that controlled the evolution of the crust in the various parts of Europe through time. The present-day crustal configuration of Western and Central Europe results from polyphase Late Palaeozoic to recent lithospheric deformation that overprinted the margin of the Proterozoic East European Craton and particularly the Caledonian and Variscan crustal domains. Following consolidation of the Caledonides, their crustal roots were destroyed in conjunction with Devonian wrench tectonics and back-arc rifting. During the Permo-Carboniferous tectonomagmatic cycle, wrench faulting disrupted the crust of the Variscan Orogen and its foreland and the lithosphere of these regions was thermally destabilized. Late Permian and Mesozoic re-equilibration of the lithosphere-asthenosphere system was interrupted by the development of the Arctic-North Atlantic, Tethyan and associated rift systems. During the Alpine orogenic cycle, intraplate compressional stresses controlled basin inversion-related crustal thickening and lithospheric folding, as well as the evolution of the Rhine-Rhone rift system. Variably deep crustal roots characterize the Alpine orogenic chains. Neogene back-arc extension disrupted the eastern Pyrenees, Betic-Balearic, Apennine and Dinarides orogens.

The probabilistic seismic hazard assessment of Germany—version 2016, considering the range of epistemic uncertainties and aleatory variability

“…3 Tectonic sketch map of Germany sensu lato with the recent tectonic regime in principal structural units. Modified after Cloetingh et al (2005), Decker et al (2005), Gautier (2003), Geluk et al (1994, Thybo (1997), Franzke (2001, 2003), Ziegler and Dèzes (2006). Data concerning the tectonic regime derived from the World Stress Map Database (Heidbach et al 2016).…”

The petrogenesis of the Early Permian Variscan granites of the Cornubian Batholith: Lower plate post-collisional peraluminous magmatism in the Rhenohercynian Zone of SW England

“…Variscan convergence ceased during the late Carboniferous and was replaced across NW Europe by a dextral transtensional regime (Ziegler and Dèzes, 2006). In SW England, this was manifested by the latest Carboniferous to Early Permian reactivation of Variscan thrusts, and development of new fault systems, during NNW-SSE lithospheric extension (Shail and Alexander, 1997).…”

Mnin restraining stepover – evidence of significant Cretaceous–Cenozoic dextral strike-slip faulting along the Teisseyre-Tornquist Zone?

“…The Holy Cross Mountains area is situated in the transition zone between the Polish and North German basins (e.g., Kutek and Głazek 1972;Ziegler 1982Ziegler , 1990bDadlez et al 1995Dadlez et al , 1997Krzywiec 2000Krzywiec , 2002Kutek 2001;Dadlez 2003) and the northern Tethys shelf, from probably the Middle/Late Jurassic transition (Matyja 2009). …”