Deep reflection seismic data along the central part of the European Geotraverse in Germany: a review

Abstract Deep reflection seismic data collected in Germany during the last three decades allow an insight into the structure of the Variscan crust in Germany. Although the crustal thickness is relatively constant, reflection data revealed important internal structures. Most profiles show a poorly reflective upper crust (disregarding fault zones) while its lower part is characterized by many flat-lying reflections. But also dipping reflections in the upper and lower crust have been observed on DEKORP reflection lines. Beneath the geothermal anomaly of Urach an updoming of the reflective lower crust coinciding with a pronounced low-velocity body can be observed. Near the suture zones between Moldanubian, Saxothuringian and Rhenohercynian abundant diffractions appear in the middle and lower crust. One exception is found in the west where post-Variscan developments created the deep Saar-Nahe-trough. The North Variscan Deformation Front exhibits thin-skinned tectonics west of the Rhine while farther east more steeply dipping fault zones are observed. In the North German Basin, just north of the Variscides, an industrial north-south profile shows strong bands of reflections from both midcrustal and Moho levels. The distance between these bands becomes smaller to the north. An industrial west-east line of 90 km length in Schleswig-Holstein, south of Kiel, shows a thinning of the crust of about 6 km towards the North Sea, although the Moho is not faulted. The sediments reach down to at least 15 km.