In August 1990, Project 233 of the International Geological Correlation Program hosted an international conference in G6ttingen/Giessen, Germany. Discussions were focused on the Tectonothermal and Stratigraphic Evolution of the Central European Orogens. The meeting marked the first opportunity for completely open scientific exchange following the recent political reformations in central Europe. This exciting new atmosphere of international cooperation resulted in presentation of a wealth of information which was new to scientists from both sides of former political boundaries. It was apparent that a unique opportunity was available to prepare a systematic overview in a volume dealing with the geology of Central Europe. The present book represents an outgrowth of this conference, but is not merely a compilation of the papers presented in G6ttingen/Giessen. Instead, it represents a coordinated volume designed to present a balanced, comprehensive view of our present understanding of the tectonothermal and stratigraphic evolution of the Central European orogens. We gratefully acknowledge the help of the national funding agencies, who have financed much of the research work summarized in this book, and of the Interna tional Geological Correlation Programme (IGCP, project no. 233) which provided and helped to finance the organisational framework. We are indebted to Springer-Verlag for thorough copy-editing and production of this book, and we sincerely appreciate the efforts of all the reviewers whose com ments have greatly helped to improve the quality of this volume. We also thank the various contributors for their diligence and perseverance in manuscript preparation.

I Introduction

II Geophysical Characteristics
II. A Main Features of Geophysical Structures in Central Europe
III Rhenohercynian Foldbelt
III. A Introduction
III.B.1 Stratigraphy
III.B.2 Structure
III.B.3 Igneous Activity
III.B.4 Metamorphic Evolution
III.B.5 Metallogenesis
III.C.1 Stratigraphy
III.C.2 Structure
III.C.3 Igneous Activity
III.C.4 Metamorphic Evolution
III.C.5 Metallogenesis
IV Mid-German Crystalline High
IV.A Introduction
IV.B Lithological Characteristics
IV.C.1 The Spessart Crystalline Complex
IV.C.2 The Odenwald Crystalline Complex
IV.C.3 The Saar-Nahe Basin
IV.C.4 Structural Relationship Between Saar-Nahe Basin, Odenwald, and Spessart Mts.
IV.D Igneous Activity (Pre- to Early Variscan Magmatism)
IV.E Metamorphic Evolution
V Saxothuringian Basin
V.A Introduction
V.B.1 Stratigraphy
V.B.2 Structure
V.B.3 Igneous Activity
V.B.4 Metamorphic Evolution
V.B.5 Metallogenesis
V.C.1 Stratigraphy, Structure, and Igneous Activity
V.C.2 Metamorphic Evolution
VI Western Sudetes (Lugicum)
VI.A Introduction
VI.B Stratigraphy
VI.C Structure
VI.D Igneous Activity
VI.E Metamorphic Evolution
VI.F Metallogenesis
VII Moldanubian Region
VII.A Introduction
VII.B.1 Stratigraphy
VII.B.2 Structure
VII.B.3 Igneous Activity
VII.B.4 Metamorphic Evolution
VII.B.5 Metallogenesis
VII.C.1 Stratigraphy
VII.C.2 Structure
VII.C.3 Igneous Activity
VII.C.4 Metamorphic Evolution
VIII Moravo-Silesian Zone
VIII.A Introduction
VIII.B.1 Stratigraphy
VIII.B.2 Structure
VIII.B.3 Igneous Activity (Cadomian Plutonism in the Moravo-Silesian Basement)
VIII.B.4 Metamorphic Evolution
VIII.B.5 Metallogenesis
VIII.C.1 Stratigraphy
VIII.C.2 Structure
VIII.C.3 Metamorphic Evolution
IX TheNorth Variscan Foreland
X Paleomagnetic Constraints on the Paleogeographic Evolution of Europe During the Paleozoic
XI Geodynamic Evolution.