Volcanism and reef development in the Devonian: A case study from the Lahn syncline, Rheinisches Schiefergebirge (Germany)

New data from the Rheinisches Schiefergebirge in Germany offer insights into a complex marine basinal facies setting on the southern shelf area of the Old Red Continent. This interdisciplinary approach has the aim of providing a reconstruction of depositional and palaeoecological conditions of volcanic island induced reef growth during the Middle Devonian time. Devonian volcanic activity culminated in a Givetian–Frasnian phase producing mainly alkali-basaltic to basanitic melts. Some volcanic buildups reached sea level and gave rise to the development of reefs during times of reduced volcanic activity. Reef communities in the Lahn syncline were dominated by corals and stromatoporoids. In terms of conodont stratigraphy they began to flourish during the Middle varcus-subzone in the Givetian and lasted until the Late falsiovalis-subzone in the Frasnian. A facies model is presented for the entire area that clarifies the association of volcanism and reef development.