Identifying time constraints and mechanisms of crust-mantle coupling in Central European continental lithosphere

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The buoyant continental mantle root plays an important role in stabilizing of the lithosphere but its composition and age as well as its relationship to the crust are poorly understood. The crust is believed to be largely generated in subduction zones while several other geodynamic settings have been proposed to facilitate lithospheric mantle generation. In this project we suggest to study the lower crust and subcontinental lithospheric mantle along the Eger Rift with highly precise and accurate trace element and isotope methodologies. The Eger region is particularly interesting because it transverses the boundary of two major lithospheric blocks (the Saxothuringian and the Moldanubian) and has been amalgamated during the Variscan orogeny. We propose to study the geochemical and isotopic composition of crustal and mantle xenoliths in order to compare the petrogenesis of the different parts of the lithosphere and define possible relationships. The lithosphere beneath the Eger Rift is also believed to contribute to the alkaline magmatism and thus another part of the project is concerned with the better definition of magma sources and their regional variation.