The fascinating geology and earth history of the Ore Mountains. The Ore Mountains are one of the most intriguing geological regions in Europe. Three-quarters of its area is composed of metamorphic rocks. For centuries, these have been overshadowed scientifically by the economically significant ore deposits. However, they reveal the complex and exciting formation history of the mountain range. Where at first glance one sees nothing but monotonous gneisses and schists, a closer look uncovers evidence of the collision and subduction of lithospheric plates, remnants of the lower crust and upper mantle, and... diamonds! This book narrates the geological history of the Ore Mountains and the unraveling of its mysteries. The narrative spans from processes at the continental margin of the Gondwana continent in the early history of the Earth to the Variscan mountain formation.