--> ABSTRACT: Gas Migration along North-South Lineaments: Possible New Exploration Strategy for Variscan Belt of East-Central Europe, by A. Zeman, M. Stejskal, V. Suchy, and J. Kroufek; #90906(2001)

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A. Zeman1, M. Stejskal2, V. Suchy3, and J. Kroufek2

1Prague, Czech Republic
2Institute of Chemical Technology, Prague
3Institute of Geology CAS, Prague

ABSTRACT: Gas Migration along North-South Lineaments: Possible New Exploration Strategy for Variscan Belt of East-Central Europe

An extensive system of equidistant, N-S-trending linear zones has been recognised in Variscan crust on the territory of Czech Republic and peripheral parts of the Alpine- Carpathian chain of Austria and Slovakia that cut across crystalline and sedimentary units. The zones that are typically 25-40 km wide and regularly spaced at about 40-60 km have been identified by comparing the known geological, hydrogeologic and geomorphologic phenomena with the features observed at Landsat images. Although these structures are probably of Pre-Cambrian age, a line of geological evidence shows that they were periodically reactivated during subsequent geological history till the most recent time. Long-lived activity of the linear zones is particularly indicated by a number of lineament-associated magmatic bodies and various mineral deposits whose ages vary from the Paleozoic till the Tertiary to Quaternary. Folding of Tertiary and even Quaternary sedimentary cover, numerous thermal and mineral springs and periodically active degassing that still occur within the linear zones evidence the most recent stage of tectonic and fluid activity.

Equidistant N-S-trending linear zones comparable to those of the Bohemian Massif have already been recognised in Africa, Saudi Arabia and Russia (Onyedim and Norman, 1986; Arkhandelskaya, 1998). It has been found that many major ore and hydrocarbon deposits tend to be concentrated within these linear zones but wide areas in between them often lack any deposits. This pattern can be of fundamental importance for future exploration strategies.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90906©2001 AAPG Annual Convention, Denver, Colorado