Hercynian orogeny
Quick Summary
The Hercynian orogeny, also known as the Variscan orogeny, was a mountain-building event that occurred in Europe during the Devonian, Carboniferous, and early Permian periods, roughly 419 to 252 million years ago. This orogeny resulted from the collision of continental plates, specifically Africa with a North American-North European continent.12
The Hercynian belt stretches across parts of Portugal, Spain, Ireland, England, France, Germany, and the Czech Republic. Evidence of this event includes folded and faulted rock strata, metamorphism, and the formation of mountain ranges. The collision led to crustal thickening, uplift, and erosion, creating basins where coal deposits formed. This orogeny also contributed to significant mineral deposits exploited today.1234
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Carboniferous PeriodPaleogeography…Gondwana became fused by the Appalachian-Hercynian orogeny (mountain-building event), which continued into the Permian Period. The position of the landmass that would become the eastern United States and northern Europe remained equatorial, while the China and Siberia cratons continued to reside at high latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere.
Read More…Gondwana became fused by the Appalachian-Hercynian orogeny (mountain-building event), which continued into the Permian Period. The position of the landmass that would become the eastern United States and northern Europe remained equatorial, while the China and Siberia cratons continued to reside at high latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere.
Read More- Carboniferous PeriodPaleogeography
by the Appalachian-Hercynian orogeny (mountain-building event), which continued into the Permian Period. The position of the landmass that would become the eastern United States and northern Europe remained equatorial, while the China and Siberia cratons continued to reside at high latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere.
Read Moreby the Appalachian-Hercynian orogeny (mountain-building event), which continued into the Permian Period. The position of the landmass that would become the eastern United States and northern Europe remained equatorial, while the China and Siberia cratons continued to reside at high latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere.
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AfricaThe Paleozoic Era…parts of the Carboniferous, the Hercynian mountain-building episodes occurred as a result of collision between the North American and African plates. The Mauritanide mountain chain was compressed and folded at that time along the western margin of the West African craton from Morocco to Senegal. Elsewhere, major uplift or subsidence…
Read More…parts of the Carboniferous, the Hercynian mountain-building episodes occurred as a result of collision between the North American and African plates. The Mauritanide mountain chain was compressed and folded at that time along the western margin of the West African craton from Morocco to Senegal. Elsewhere, major uplift or subsidence…
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ArcticGeology…that includes both Caledonian and Hercynian elements. It extends from the Queen Elizabeth Islands through Peary Land and along the east coast of Greenland. Mountain building occurred during the same period in Svalbard, Novaya Zemlya, the northern Urals, the Taymyr Peninsula, and Severnaya Zemlya. There is considerable speculation as to…
Read More…that includes both Caledonian and Hercynian elements. It extends from the Queen Elizabeth Islands through Peary Land and along the east coast of Greenland. Mountain building occurred during the same period in Svalbard, Novaya Zemlya, the northern Urals, the Taymyr Peninsula, and Severnaya Zemlya. There is considerable speculation as to…
Read More- Armorican Massif
Mountains formed during the Hercynian orogeny (mountain-building episode) of the Carboniferous Period (between about 360 and 300 million years ago) have been largely worn down by erosion, and elevations rarely exceed 1,300 feet (400 metres). The mountain of Avaloirs in Mayenne reaches an elevation of 1,368 feet (417 metres)…
Read MoreMountains formed during the Hercynian orogeny (mountain-building episode) of the Carboniferous Period (between about 360 and 300 million years ago) have been largely worn down by erosion, and elevations rarely exceed 1,300 feet (400 metres). The mountain of Avaloirs in Mayenne reaches an elevation of 1,368 feet (417 metres)…
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CaucasusGeology of Caucasus…folded structures dating from the Hercynian orogeny early in the Carboniferous Period (i.e., about 345 million years ago). Southwestern and southeastern Ciscaucasia lie on the margins of a vast downfold in the Earth’s surface that arose later in the Alpine orogeny, producing, concurrently, broad subsidence on the lower courses of…
Read More…folded structures dating from the Hercynian orogeny early in the Carboniferous Period (i.e., about 345 million years ago). Southwestern and southeastern Ciscaucasia lie on the margins of a vast downfold in the Earth’s surface that arose later in the Alpine orogeny, producing, concurrently, broad subsidence on the lower courses of…
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Ural MountainsGeology…the structural upheavals of the Hercynian orogeny (about 250 million years ago). About 280 million years ago there arose a high mountainous region, which was eroded to a peneplain. Alpine folding resulted in new mountains, the most marked upheaval being that of the Nether-Polar Urals. In the watershed region lies…
Read More…the structural upheavals of the Hercynian orogeny (about 250 million years ago). About 280 million years ago there arose a high mountainous region, which was eroded to a peneplain. Alpine folding resulted in new mountains, the most marked upheaval being that of the Nether-Polar Urals. In the watershed region lies…
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