Pennsylvanian–Permian deposits in northern Bohemia: a correlation with neighbouring basins and discussion of their formation and demise within the “Elbe Zone System”

Abstract

The crustal-scale shear-zones of the Bohemian Massif were recurrently active during the Late Paleozoic, as inferred from the depositional record of numerous penecontemporaneous basins distributed along NW–SE faults. This paper focuses on the correlation of sedimentary basins associated with Late Paleozoic reactivation of the NW–SE-trending Elbe Zone System, based on subsurface data from Permian outliers preserved along the Lusatian Fault in northern Bohemia. Comparison of the lithofacies development together with recently published geochronological data facilitates possible correlation to the Weißig and Döhlen basins, and Bohemian basins, respectively. Stratigraphic dating and mutual correlation of the Late Paleozoic basins within the Elbe Zone allow comparison of their development and subsequent demise as a result of polyphase tectonic evolution of the northern Bohemian Massif. The Late Mississippian–Middle Pennsylvanian (~330–310/305 Ma) late orogenic strike-slip tectonic movements were followed by extension related to orogenic collapse. This process was overtaken by intraplate extension by ~306/305 Ma at the latest. It has been suggested that the NW–SE faults (incl. Elbe Zone System) were reactivated in a strike-slipe regime during the Middle Pennsylvanian–early Permian (Moscovian–early Asselian; ~310–300/298 Ma), i.e., concurrently with the intra-plate extension. Further strike-slip reactivation of the NW–SE faults occurred during the early Permian (late Asselian–early Kungurian; ~297–283 Ma).