Sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) U-Pb ages have been obtained from zircons separated from Upper Carboniferous to Lower Permian SiO₂-rich volcanic and subvolcanic rocks of eleven drill sites. The volcanic rocks belong to a large volcanic province that formed during the initial stage of the Central European Basin System. Two drill sites are located in Denmark (North Sea and Lolland), five in northern Germany, and four in western Poland.

Apart from establishing the emplacement age of the volcanic units, the focus of the present study was the dating of inherited zircons. They give information about the chronostratigraphic structure...