The Variscan Black Forest

Abstract

In the Black Forest three large gneiss regions, consisting of paragneiss with several intercalations of other rocks, are present. Low-grade metamorphics have probably an Early Palaeozoic sedimentary age. Dated Upper Devonian and Carboniferous up to Westphalian is strongly folded. Stephanian and Permian occur as an unconformable cover. Two different structural regions can be distinguished, a northern one with NE trending folds, and a southern one with basin structures and more variable fold trends. Four major faults occur: the northern two underthrust towards the south; the other two in the south have a reverse movement direction. In the two structural regions there are indications for a different metamorphic evolution.