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Late-Variscan fluid migration at the Variscan thrust front of Eastern Belgium: numerical modelling of the palaeothermal and fluid flow field

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Abstract

Modelling of the palaeothermal field at the Variscan thrust front in eastern Belgium indicates significant temperature modifications by late-Variscan palaeofluids migrating from internal to peripheral parts of the orogen. A detailed set of calibration data (chlorite geothermometry, microthermometry, organic rank) gives evidence of temporary palaeotemperature variations at the Variscan thrust front obviously connected to the migration of hot, low saline palaeofluids. These thermal events likely enhanced organic maturation (vitrinite reflectance, conodont alteration) of Devonian and Carboniferous sediments, which accumulated long before the Variscan orogeny occurred. Numerical simulation (2D Finite Element method) of the palaeothermal field includes coupled heat transport by thermal conduction and fluid flow. Palaeothermal scenarios yield successive palaeotemperatures (200–300°C), which are indicated by the control data, due to relatively short-term fluid ascent along the detachment and the imbricate thrust front. The simulated flow velocities are up to tens of metre per year lasting several thousand years (non-steady-state solution). In the scenarios modelled, these thermal events occur in a realm of enhanced bulk temperatures due to elevated basal heat flow densities (90 mW m−2) and an additional burial depth of some kilometres. The simulated temperature enhancement due to fluids ascending at the Variscan thrust front is several tens degrees. The scenarios demonstrate long-distance fluid migration during or after deformation of the Palaeozoic basin and its effect on the palaeothermal field.

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Acknowledgments

We thank H. J. Neugebauer and an anonymous reviewer for constructive comments and criticisms which helped to improve the paper. Furthermore, we thank especially J. Springer, GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, who developed the FEM software. Research presented in this paper was supported by the Research Fund of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven by a research grant, which is gratefully acknowledged. It is also gratefully acknowledged that the GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam provided the facilities for the realization of this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, Lehrstuhl für Ingenieurgeologie und Hydrogeologie, Lochnerstraße 4-20, 52064, Aachen, Germany

    B. Lünenschloss

  2. Geologie, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200E, 3001, Leuven, Belgium

    P. Muchez

  3. Organische Geochemie, GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Telegrafenberg, 14473, Potsdam, Germany

    U. Bayer

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  1. B. Lünenschloss
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Correspondence to B. Lünenschloss.

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Lünenschloss, B., Muchez, P. & Bayer, U. Late-Variscan fluid migration at the Variscan thrust front of Eastern Belgium: numerical modelling of the palaeothermal and fluid flow field. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 97, 1201–1212 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-007-0223-x

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