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

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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.

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Acknowledgements

This project has been carried out with the financial support of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (VE 244/1). We are greatly indebted to the Geologisches Landesamt Sachsen and K. Stanek for providing the samples. S. Schmitz is particularly acknowledged for samples preparation. M. Olesch kindly provided the use of the facilities. The manuscript benefited from comments of S.N. Thomson. Journal reviewers K. Hammerschmidt and E. Sobel provided the final suggestions. We are grateful for their constructive criticism.

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  1. Fachbereich Geowissenschaften, Universität Bremen, Postfach 330 440, 28334 , Bremen, Germany

    B. Ventura & F. Lisker

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Correspondence to B. Ventura.

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Ventura, B., Lisker, F. Long-term landscape evolution of the northeastern margin of the Bohemian Massif: apatite fission-track data from the Erzgebirge (Germany). Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 92, 691–700 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-003-0344-9

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