The geology of Central Europe. Volume 1: Precambrian and palaeozoic / Геология Центральной Европы. Том 1: Докембрий и палеозой

Central Europe is a complex mosaic of crustal elements, including Cadomian fragments, Caledonian and Variscan microcontinents and suture zones, as well as Mesozoic and Alpine tectonostratigraphic successions (Fig. 1.1). These disparate elements were assembled during the various Precambrian and Phanerozoic (Caledonian, Variscan and Alpine) orogenies, the end result being a geological history of over 3500 million years. Over this long and complex period of crustal evolution, older consolidated crustal elements were repeatedly remobilized and overprinted by later events. 

Rather than a physical entity, the term ‘Central Europe’ is more a concept of shared history, and in some ways refers to a similar area to that which is defined by the German term ‘Mitteleuropa’ (or Middle Europe), referring to territories under German cultural hegemony until World War I. In terms of the current volume, the definition of Central Europe is a broad one and includes Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, eastern France, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland. However, this core area was expanded according to the needs of the particular geological event or period under review. For example, the chapter on Caledonian tectonics (Krawezyk et al. 2008) includes a discussion of the situation in Britain and Ireland, while the Silurian chapter (Verniers et al. 2008) includes information from the Baltic countries. These additions to the core area vary from chapter to chapter, and have been included, as noted, in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the geological situation at a particular time. The majority of the chapters, however, are restricted to the core region which in itself is of significant complexity and interest.  <...>