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The Evolution of the Alps

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Book cover The Geology of Germany

Part of the book series: Regional Geology Reviews ((RGR))

Abstract

Although only a small part of the European Alps lies in Germany, the geological history of Central Europe following the Variscan Orogeny is integrally linked with the evolution of the Alpine Orogeny. This chapter presents a concise overview of the key plate tectonic movements related to this orogenic development. It is a history that ranges from the rifting phase of the Neotethys, the first collisional phase in the Jurassic, the origin of the Penninic Ocean, to the final collision between the Adriatic-Apulian Plate and Eurasia continent.

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Correspondence to Martin Meschede .

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Meschede, M., Warr, L.N. (2019). The Evolution of the Alps. In: The Geology of Germany. Regional Geology Reviews. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76102-2_12

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