The Caledonian Orogen has been the subject of intensive geological investigation for over two centuries, with these studies contributing to the development of fundamental geoscientific concepts such as regional metamorphism, the origin and emplacement of granitic magmas, nappe and thrust tectonics.
Based upon the outcomes from the European Geoscience Union General Assembly session entitled ‘Rifting, assembly and collisional processes in the Caledonides: the first step on the way to Pangea’ (held in Vienna in April 2012), this Geological Society Special Publication documents the advances made in the analytical techniques of structural geology, petrology, geochemistry and geochronology that have been applied to understanding the various aspects of the evolution of the Caledonides over the past three decades.
The volume is divided into seven thematic sections (comprising a total of 29 papers) covering a diverse range of topics that summarise the current understanding (and the remaining contentious areas) and interpretation of the orogen. As the volume title suggests, the majority of the papers cover themes within the Scandanavian Caledonides, but also includes contributions on key topics within the geology of the British Caledonides, Greenland, Svalbard and the East European foreland, presented as overview papers. The main thematic sections are: Introduction and Geological Overview (4 papers), Provenance of Sedimentary Units along the Baltoscandian Margin (3 papers), Architecture of Allochthons of Baltic Affinity (4 papers), Development of the Seve Nappe Complex and it’s position within the Orogeny (4 papers), New results on other Caledonian high-pressure rocks (4 papers), Evolution of Terranes from the Iapetus Realm (9 papers), and Exhumation, Extension and Mesozoic Reactivation (1 paper).
In the opinion of this reviewer, the volume provides an excellent synthesis of the current research efforts within the Caledonides, successfully combining both contributions from field studies and modern analytical techniques. All sections are well-written and edited, concisely laid-out with clear and appropriate figures, photographs and datatables. The inclusion of numerous colour figures and photographs are a welcome addition and to be applauded. The volume is a recommended read for all Caledonide researchers and is anticipated to be an essential reference source for many years to come.
Reviewed by Mark Griffin
NEW PERSPECTIVES ON THE CALEDONIDES OF SCANDINAVIA AND RELATED AREAS.
F. Corfu, D.Gasser and D.M. Chew (eds). Geological Society Special Publication No 390. 2014. Geological Society of London. ISBN 978-1-86239-377-6. Hbk. 718pp. ISSN 0305-8719.List Price: £100.00,
www.geolsoc.org.uk.