Pre-mesozoic geology of Saxo-Thuringia

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The Saxo-Thuringian Zone is crucial for understanding the Variscan evolution of Central Europe, as it was one of the first regions of Gondwana to collide with Laurussia. This zone includes domains with varying degrees of Variscan metamorphism, from medium grade to UHT/UHP, while some areas remained largely unaffected. These variations reflect pre-Variscan crustal heterogeneity and thickness, with thinner segments subducted and thicker blocks remaining intact. The differences in crustal thickness stem from Ordovician rifting of the Cadomian crust at the Gondwana margin. Currently, magmatic and sedimentary rocks on these rifted thin crusts form the metamorphic complexes of the Saxon Granulite Massif and the Erzgebirge Mountains. The diverse responses of crustal thickness to Variscan deformation are typical throughout Variscan Europe. The 18 chapters include review and synthesis papers that cover the Cadomian evolution, post-Cadomian passive margin development, and a comprehensive assessment of the biostratigraphic record of Saxo-Thuringian sediments. They also explore aspects of Variscan reworking and erosion processes. The book features extensive references, including hard-to-find literature, PhD theses, and original descriptions. It provides previously unavailable maps and borehole data, particularly from GDR-era exploration for resources. A geological sheet map of Eastern Germany's Pre-Permian geology is included, along with