NEOGENE FAULT ACTIVITY AND MORPHOGENESIS IN THE BASEMENT AREA NORTH OF THE KTB DRILL SITE (FICHTELGEBIRGE AND STEINWALD)

The Fichtelgebirge and Steinwald areas are situated at the western end of the Cenozoic Eger graben. Repeated Neogene fault activity and poly phase morphogenesis created a complex morphotectonic structure. Based on morphotectonic criteria three stages of tectonic activity can be de termined: (a) late Oligocene to early Miocene; (b) middle-late Miocene ; and (c) late Pliocene to early Pleistocene. Due to the Neogene tecto nic movements, the pre-basaltic (pre-Oligocene to Miocene) landscape h as been differentially uplifted/downthrown and intensely modified by p ost-basaltic surface planation (HF). Broad paleo-valleys (AT) of late Miocene to early Pliocene age and a system of Pliocene and Quaternary fluvial terraces and pediments (BT and ET) have been incised into the widespread HF relief elements. Due to repeated faulting and erosion, t he stratigraphic record of Neogene sediments within the studied area i s fragmentary.