German Democratic Republic.

Abstract

Six major geotectonic-minerogenetic stages or cycles can be deduced from the geological-minerogenetic development of the territory of East Germany and from the chronological succession of the mineralization processes: 1) the Moldanubian-Dalslandian, 2) Assyntic-Cadomian (Brioverian), 3) the Caledonian (Cambro-Ordovician), 4) the Variscan geosynclinal orogen, 5) the Variscan molasse, and 6) the post-Variscan platform stage. Twelve minerogenetic (metallogenetic) units can be defined: sub-zone I, the Fichtelgebirge-Erzgebirge anticline (W, Sn, F-Ba, Pb-Zn, Bi-Co-Ni-Ag); II, Central Saxony lineament (fluorite, baryte); III, Granulitgebirge (Ni); IV, East Thuringian - North Saxony synclinorium (silicate iron ores, kaolin, brown coal); V, Central European rise (Cu, brown coal), VI, Elbtal zone; VII, Lausitz block (brown coal); VIII, Harz and Flechtingen - RoSS lau block (iron ore, pyrite, fluorite-baryte); IX, Trough in the northern GDR (gravels, sands, clays, chalk, iron ore); X, XI, XII, Sub-Hercynian basin, Thuringian basin, South Thuringian-Franconian basin (fluorite and baryte).-J.M.H.