Alternative Non-Portland Binders

A background on non-Portland cementitious binders is presented, f ollowed by a review of the key alternative binders that are currently of interest. The mineralogy of these cements is described, along with
phases present in the reacted/hardened materials. The similarities and differ-ences between the setting processes, as controlled by reactions at the solid–liquid interface, provide insight into the ways in which different classes of binders develop their performance and thus offer value to society.

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December 2025 --The Variscan Orogeny in Europe – Understanding Supercontinent Formation

The Variscan orogen formed between 380 and 300 million years ago through several accretionary and collisional cycles, culminating with the construction of the Pangea supercontinent. This process occurred via sequential opening and closure of oceanic basins, synchronous detachment of Gondwana derived continental ribbons, and their outboard amalgamation onto the Laurussia margin. The Variscan orogen is rather unique compared with other orogenic belts on Earth: its overthickened and dominantly magmatic crust in the central belt, surprisingly minor mantle involvement in the magmatic and geodynamic processes, coherent and pulsed magmatism along the collision suture, and its complex accretionary history. Because its final product, Pangea, is the youngest and best-understood supercontinent on Earth, the Variscan orogeny offers clues for understanding the mechanisms of supercontinent formation.