The Caledonian orogenic belt is a fascinating natural laboratory being the target for research regarding many fundamental tectonic questions. Recent advances include (1) the role of hyper-extended margin inheritance on orogenic structures, (2) the conditions and tectonic processes causing ultra-high-pressure metamorphism, (3) mechanisms of large, crustal-scale shear zone formation and deformation mechanisms at various crustal levels, (4) plate tectonic reconstruction of opening and closing oceanic basins involved in the collision, (5) the identification and reconstruction of accreted terranes during ocean basin closure, (6) the role of Caledonian inheritance on the younger tectonic evolution, (7) tracing of remnants of the belt into younger mobile belts, particularly in the Arctic and (8) paleogeography.

This session aims at bringing together researchers investigating various aspects of Caledonian geology, including results from sedimentological, petrological, geochemical, geochronological, geophysical and modelling studies. Where do we stand regarding the understanding of the tectonic evolution of this complex orogenic belt, and which lessons can we learn from it regarding fundamental tectonic processes in collisional belts in general?