Descriptive text to 1:100 000 sheets Sydlige Stauning Alper 71 Ø.2 N. and Frederiksdal 71 Ø.3 N.

The crystalline rocks in the Caledonian fold belt have a composite origin and include Archaean, Proterozoic and Caledonian elements. Two structural zones can be distinguished: (1) a western gneiss and schist zone with a gneissic Archaean basement and a Proterozoic metasedimentary schist cover; (2) a migmatite and granite zone in the central part of the area with extensive migmatisation of rocks of presumed Proterozoic origin and formation of Proterozoic and Caledonian plutonites mainly in the form of granitic intrusions.

Successive orogenic episodes have led to superimposition of structural, plutonic and metamorphic features of different ages. Archaean rocks are preserved only in the west where the Caledonian impact is restricted; in the east where the Caledonian influence is stronger Proterozoic rocks have suffered metamorphism and migmatisation of Caledonian age, but Caledonian deformation is considered to be of only moderate intensity.

After formation of the Caledonian fold belt a sedimentary basin developed to the east of the fold belt . The west side of the basin, bordered by a prominent fault line, consists of an older molasse sequence of Devonian to Lower Permian age and a younger Upper Permian - Mesozoic succession of mainly marine sediments.

A Tertiary intrusive complex with three centres of alkaline rocks, and a series of hypabyssal rocks are found in the north-eastern corner of the map sheet area. Basic sills and dykes of presumed Tertiary age are widespread in the post-Caledonian sediments.

Quaternary deposits occur abundantly over the whole region reflecting the former extensive ice cover while marine deposits indicate that the sea at various stages reached more than 100 m above the present sea level.

A molybdenum deposit at Malmbjerg has an estimated tonnage of 120 x 106 tons ore. It is associated with a Tertiary intrusive complex in the north-east corner of the map sheet area.