Federal Republic of Germany.

Abstract

A major event in the geological history of Central Europe was the Variscan folding during the late Palaeozoic. The following zones can be distinguished in the Variscan orogenic belt: 1) the Moldanubian zone (massive sulphide layers, graphite schists, Sn-W, Co-Ni-Bi-Au-U veins, Pb-Zn veins); 2) Saxothuringian zone (late Cambrian massive sulphide layers, iron ores, Sn-W, gold-quartz, talc, quartz-hematite, Cu-Co-Hg-Ag-U, Fe-Mn-baryte and fluorite, Cu); 3) Rhenohercynian zone (Ag-Pb-Zn, baryte, Fe, siderite, Pb-Zn, Cu), 4) Sub-Variscan foredeep (coal). The Post-Variscan cover includes the Kupferschiefer deposit, Triassic lead deposits, Pn-Zn, potash, marine iron ores, Upper Cretaceous iron ores, and in situ kaolinized arkosic sandstone. The Alps and Foreland contain volcano-sedimentary Pb-Zn deposits, Mn deposits in the Liassic, oolitic iron and bentonite. The Mesozoic to Tertiary rift system includes siderite-fluorite-baryte mineralization, baryte and/or fluorite veins, Co-Ni-Bi paragenesis, Pb-Zn impregnations. Weathering deposits include sulphide ore deposits, superficial concentration of Fe and Mn, phosphorite, kaolin and bentonite.-J.M.H.