Open AccessSeismic experiment searches for active magmatic source in deep lithosphere, central Europe
Author(s) -
Babska Vladišlav,
Plomerová Jaroslava
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/2003eo400002
Subject(s) - massif , geology , gondwana , baltica , laurentia , terrane , lithosphere , subduction , basement , rift , devonian , laurasia , seismology , earth science , paleontology , paleozoic , tectonics , ordovician , archaeology , geography
The Bohemian Massif (BM) is the largest coherent surface exposure of basement rocks in central Europe. It is a geodynamically active part of the Hercynian orogenic belt representing a collage of magmatic arcs and micro‐continents caused by the collision of Laurasia (Laurentia‐Baltica) and Africa (Gondwana). The general northwest direction of accretion is typical of the northern part of the Hercynian belt. Irregularly‐shaped colliding blocks resulted in a very complicated structure of convergence, lithospheric subduction, and crustal shortening, followed by extensional processes and rifting. The western part of the Bohemian Massif is the well‐known health and resort landscape of Bohemia, Saxonia, and Bavaria, with Karlovy Vary (Karlsbad) as the flagship of the famous spa towns of the region (Figure 1). Allegedly, the Emperor Charles IV founded the spa in the years 1347–1349 at the site, which was already well known for its hot springs. For centuries, 12 springs in Karlovy Vary ranging in temperatures between 42°C and 72°C have been exploited, especially for the treatment of digestive system disorders and metabolic diseases.