Login
Facebook-f Twitter Linkedin

Melted Rocks under the Microscope: Microstructures and Their Interpretation

By , ,

Recognising the former presence of melt in rocks which have undergone cooling and exhumation over millions of years following regional metamorphism commonly relies on the correct interpretation of grain-scale structures visible only under the microscope. The evolution of these structures during prograde melting and, later, retrograde cooling can be understood using concepts derived from experimental simulation and materials science.

This content is for Registered members only. To subscribe, please
join one of our participating societies or contact the Editorial Team.

Login
Already a member? Log in here
Scroll to Top
Forgot Your Password?
Request Access

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.