Abstract In Europe, North Africa and Asia Minor, the remains of Pennsylvanian sedimentary basins bearing continental deposits either intimately mixed with shallow-marine strata or deposited in exclusively continental settings are preserved. Long-lasting research on these basins allowed the definition of regional stages and substages based on marine fauna and terrestrial flora, later extended by terrestrial and freshwater faunal biostratigraphies. Glacioeustatically driven marine bands provide laterally widespread correlation markers; however, where such bands are missing only biostratigraphic control exists. Resolution of biostratigraphic zonations combined with gaps in sedimentary successions and variable quality of the fossil record throughout the basin fills do not allow in all cases a precise correlation between the Pennsylvanian basins in Europe and, in turn, the timing of tectonic, climatic and biotic events, and thus an absolute complete understanding of the response of terrestrial and freshwater biota to climate changes across eastern tropical Pangaea. A helpful tool is new radioisotopic ages of intercalated volcaniclastics that reveal the partial diachroneity of some widely used biostratigraphies. We attempt to present the current state of the art to stimulate further research to mitigate gaps in our knowledge.

Abstract The West Sudetes, NE Bohemian Massif, comprises several suspect terranes accreted to the margins of Laurussia during Variscan orogenesis. Whole rock REE and Sm-Nd isotope data for seven separate provinces (Izera, Kaczawa, Rudawy Janowickie and Kłodzko complexes; Fore-Sudetic and Góry Sowie Blocks; Slęża Ophiolite) suggest involvement of a variety of crustal and mantle sources. Felsic metasedimentary rocks (εNd(t) = −8.3 to −5.0) have two stage T DM ages of 1.9 to 1.5 Ga, whereas acidic metavolcanic rocks and granite gneisses (εNd(t) = −5.4 to +0.8) have two stage T DM ages of 1.5 to 1.0 Ga. A range of sources is implicated: predominantly Archaean and Palaeoproterozoic sources for the metasedimentary rocks, and Archaean. Palaeoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic to early Palaeozoic sources for the meta-igneous felsic lithologies. LREE depleted tholeiitic metabasites ((Ce/Yb) N = 0.8 to 3.4) generally have εNd(t) = +4.0 to +9.1, indicating derivation from depleted mantle asthenosphere. LREE enriched meta-alkali basalts ((Ce/Yb) N = 4.6 to 10.1) with εNd(t) between +3.1 and +7.0 implicate utilization of enriched mantle asthenosphere. Analogous lithologies from elsewhere in the Sudetes, North Bohemian Massif and the Armorican Terrane Assemblage have similar REE abundances, εNd values and T DM ages. Complexes previously considered to have had disparate Neoproterozoic to early Palaeozoic histories may be integrated into a unifying geodynamic model of derivation from the North Gondwanan (North African) margin during a widespread episode of continental margin break-up.