A Cordilleran type evolution is proposed for the Variscan orogen of
middle Europe. This orogenesis is regarded as mainly evolving through
terrain accretion and subsequent collapse of the overthickened crust. A
major terrain accretion took place between late Devonian and early
Carboniferous when the Intra-Alpine terrain collided with the
Ligerian-Moldanubian active margin.
This terrain is regarded as being a segment of the northern margin of
Paleotethys. Oblique subduction of Paleotethys under the newly accreted
terrain is responsible for the voluminous calc-alkaline magmatism in
late Carboniferous.
The Paleotethys subduction has generated a lateral displacement of the
eastern part of the Intra-Alpine terrain inducing a duplication of its
western end. The late Carboniferous closure of Paleotethys in middle
Europe is not found eastward where this closure happened only in
early-Triassic times, following the simultaneous opening of the
Neotethys ocean and the Meliata back-arc.
Palinspastic models of the western Tethyan realm are proposed from the
Carboniferous to early Jurassic.