The topic of the field trip is the Mesozoic geodynamic
evolution in the Western Tethys realm well recorded in
deep-water settings, especially in the radiolarian-bearing
sedimentary rocks and radiolarites in the Eastern Alps
(Northern Calcareous Alps). The well preserved Mesozoic
sedimentary successions deposited in the Northern Calcareous
Alps reflect two different Wilson cycles with its mountain
building processes:
Evolution of the Neo-Tethys Ocean to the south/southeast:
The Middle Triassic oceanic break-up (Late Anisian)
was followed by the Middle Triassic to Middle Jurassic passive
margin evolution and later by Middle to early Late Jurassic
thrusting related to ophiolite obduction and subsequent
latest Jurassic to Early Cretaceous mountain uplift of
the Neo-Tethys orogen to the south of the todays Northern
Calcareous Alps.
Evolution of the Alpine Atlantic Ocean (named Penninic
Ocean in the Eastern Alps) to the north/northwest:
The Late Early to Middle Jurassic oceanic break-up was followed
by the Middle Jurassic to Late Cretaceous passive
margin evolution and Late Cretaceous to Palaeogene subduction
of the Penninic realm, Palaeogene collision and subsequent
Neogene mountain uplift with its gravitational collapse
(Lateral Tectonic Extrusion) of the Alpine orogen s.str.
For another orogenesis in the “Mid-Cretaceous” (Aptian-
Cenomanian), i.e. between these two well recognizable