Long-term landscape evolution of the northeastern margin of the Bohemian Massif: apatite fission-track data from the Erzgebirge (Germany)

Abstract

To study the relative and absolute timing of post-Variscan cooling and denudation processes in the Erzgebirge of the Mid-European Variscides, eight samples for apatite fission-track (AFT) analysis were collected from a~1,300 m drill-core. The fission-track data reveal two stages of accelerated cooling through the apatite partial annealing zone (APAZ; i.e., 110€10-60 C) in the Late Jurassic-Late Cretaceous and in the late Cenozoic, respectively. Late Jurassic-Late Cretaceous cooling corresponding to denudation of 1.5-5.9 km has been related to wrench tectonics along the Elbe Zone during Triassic-Jurassic Pangea breakup. Late Cenozoic exhumation of 2.1-5.6 km, and the increase of the geothermal gradient from 17€5 C km 1 (Oligocene/ Miocene) to 25-27 C km 1 (recent) is likely connected to the formation of the Eger Graben starting from the Oligocene, as a result of the late Alpine orogenic phases.

Thermochronological constraints on the long-term erosional history of the Karkonosze Mts., Central Europe

“…Lange et al (2008) reported 96 AFT ages from a relatively small area of Saxonian basement with 4 age populations of ∼65, ∼95, ∼135, ∼180 Ma, but no geodynamic interpretation of the data is presented. Ventura and Lisker (2003) reported 8 AFT ages from a borehole in Erzgebirge and argued for two-stage cooling in the Late Jurassic-Late Cretaceous and Late Tertiary, and Aramowicz et al (2006) reported 6 apparent AFT ages of 43-57 Ma from the Sowie Mountains, in the vicinity of the major neotectonic structure (Sudetic Marginal Fault).…”

“…Although a number of Bohemian Massif studies reported apatite fission track (AFT) ages (e.g., Wagner et al, 1989;Coyle et al, 1997;Hejl et al, 1997;Glasmacher et al, 2002;Ventura and Lisker, 2003;Aramowicz et al, 2006;Lange et al, 2008), thermochronology tools were seldom used to decipher geomorphic histories or validate conceptual models (such as that of Bischoff, 1993). In particular, combined AFT and (U-Th-[Sm])/He dating has not yet been applied in the Bohemian Massif in a geomorphic context.…”

Elevator tectonics and orogenic collapse of a Tibetan-style plateau in the European Variscides: the role of the Bohemian shear zone

“…342 Ma (Gebauer 1991). Fission-track data from the Erzgebirge revealed two stages of accelerated cooling through the apatite partial annealing zone in the Late Jurassic-Late Cretaceous and in the late Cenozoic, respectively Ventura and Lisker (2003).…”

Post-Variscan cooling history of the central Western Sudetes (NE Bohemian Massif, Poland) constrained by apatite fission-track and zircon (U-Th)/He thermochronology

“…Since low-temperature thermochronology proved successful in addressing many of the research questions related to the post-Variscan evolution (e.g. Cederbom et al, 2000;Danišík et al, 2010Danišík et al, , 2012Glasmacher et al, 2002;Hejl et al, 1997;Hejl et al, 2003;Thomson and Zeh, 2000;Vamvaka et al, 2014;Ventura and Lisker, 2003;Ventura et al, 2009;Wagner et al, 1997), in this study we apply this approach to investigate the post-orogenic evolution of the Sudetes, a mountainous area at the NE margin of the Bohemian Massif.…”