Variscan structures and their control on latest to post-Variscan basin architecture; insights from the westernmost Bohemian Massif and SE Germany

Abstract. The Bohemian Massif exposes structures and metamorphic rocks remnant from the Variscan Orogeny in Central Europe and is bordered by the Franconian Fault System (FFS) to the west. Across the FFS, possible presence of Variscan units and structures are buried by Permo-Mesozoic sedimentary rocks. We integrate existing DEKORP 2D seismic reflection, well and surface geological data with the newly acquired FRANKEN 2D seismic survey to investigate the possible westward continuation of Variscan tectonostratigraphic units and structures, and their influence on latest to post-Variscan basin development. Subsurface Permo-Mesozoic stratigraphy is obtained from available wells and are tied to seismic reflection profiles using a synthetic seismogram calculated from density and velocity logs. Below the sedimentary cover, three main basement units are identified using seismic facies descriptions that are compared with seismic reflection characteristics of exposed Variscan units east of the FFS. Our results show that Upper Paleozoic low-grade metasedimentary rocks and possible Variscan nappes are bounded and transported by Variscan shear zones to ca. 65 km west of the FFS. Basement seismic facies in the footwall of the Variscan shear zones are interpreted as Saxothuringian basement. We show that the location of normal fault-bounded latest to post-Variscan Upper Carboniferous-Permian basins are controlled by the geometry of underlying Variscan shear zones. Some of these Upper Carboniferous-Permian normal faults reactivated as steep reverse faults during the regional Upper Cretaceous inversion. Our results also highlight that reverse reactivation of normal faults gradually decreases west of the FFS.