Comment on: “Palaeogeography and tectonic structure of allochthonous units in the German part of the Rheno–Hercynian Belt (Central European Variscides)” by Huckriede et al., International Journal of Earth Sciences 93:414–431 (2004)

Reply to Oczlon’s (2006) comment

“…The great number of analysed samples allows to eliminate 40 K/ 40 Ar cooling ages falsified by mixing of detritus from different sources: all 14 samples from quartz sandstones of the Hö rre-Gommern Zone, Blankenburg Zone and Hessische Schieferserie exclusively revealed Caledonian muscovite-cooling ages (Huckriede et al 2004). In contrast, the proposed mixing of detritus from Cadomian and Early Variscan orogenic areas (Oczlon 2006) should result in a random distribution of cooling ages between approximately 560 and 370 Ma. There is no reason to assume that detrital muscovites revealing Silurian to Early Devonian muscovite cooling ages are not derived from the Caledonian orogen.…”

“…The comment of Oczlon (2006) contains several references, which demonstrate that the 40 K/ 40 Ar ages of detrital muscovites from flysch sediments (Huckriede et al 2004) properly fit into the tectonic development of the Variscan orogen in Europe. As a central point of criticism, Oczlon claims that he has first described the allochthonous units of the Harz-Mountains.…”