Properties and development of the middle European Lithospere: Reality and Ideas

Abstract

The structure of the middle European lithosphere is extra-ordinary complicated by a combination of the shield type (Baltica) the organic type (European Cadomiles, Hercyniles and Alpides) and the basin types (Po and Pannonian basins) lithosphere. The geological and geophysical data on its structure, age distribution of temperature and pressures and on the plate movements in its geological development inspire some loubts about the correctness of the theories exploining the relations of the parts by subduction processes only. For example, the long distance autonomous movements deduced from paleomagnetic data can be explained by an expansion of the continental crust and the anomalous properties or tne basins are explainable by the beginning of the origin of a new intracontinental rift zone.

Keywords

• middle European lithosphere
• shield type
• organic type
• subduction processes