Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Eo-alpine metamorphism in the uppermost unit of the Cretan nappe system — Petrology and geochronology

Part 2. Synopsis of high-temperature metamorphics and associated ophiolites

  • Published:
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The uppermost unit of the Cretan nappe system consists of ophiolites on the top, and an ophiolitic mélange at the base.

Among the various constituents of the mélange, there are slices of low-P/high-T metamorphics. They form a variegated series consisting of tholeiitic ortho-amphibolites, para-amphibolites, andalusite and sillimanite-cordierite-garnet bearing mica schists, calcsilicate rocks, and marbles. The metamorphic sequence is locally intruded by early tectonic magmatites of gabbroic, dioritic and granitic composition. Critical mineral assemblages lead to a maximum temperature of about 700° C reached during metamorphism, at a total pressure of 4–5 kilobars. K — Ar dating on 6 hornblendes, 7 biotites and 1 muscovite yielded cooling ages of 75–66 m.y. and confirmed earlier results according to which the metamorphism and related magmatism took place in Late Cretaceous times.

In order to evaluate the age relationships between the hightemperature metamorphics within the ophiolitic mélange and the ophiolites, hornblendes from ultramafic and mafic rocks of the ophiolite complex were dated by the K — Ar method. Hornblende from one schistose hornblendite forming a constituent of the ophiolites proper yielded 156 m.y. and thus provides a middle Jurassic minimum age for the formation of this piece of oceanic lithosphere. Four hornblendes of calc-alkaline gabbrodiorite dikes within the ophiolite complex gave distinctly lower K — Ar dates of about 140 m.y.. The dikes probably intruded after the detachment of the ophiolites in an island-arc or continental-margin environment.

As a consequence, the high-temperature metamorphics and related intrusives in the ophiolitic mélange of Crete are genetically unrelated to the overlying ophiolites. The paleogeographic position of the crystalline terrane, slices of which are now incorporated into the ophiolitic mélange is still open to discussion.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Altherr R, Seidel E, Okrusch M, Schliestedt M, Reinecke T, Kreuzer H, Harre W, fnKlein H, Dürr S (1979) Metamorphic rocks associated with ophiolites in Greece: Petrology and geochronology. International Ophiolite Symposium Nicosia — Cyprus, 1–8 April, 1979. Abstracts of papers submitted: 9–10. Geol Surv Dep Nicosia

  • Baranyi I, Lippolt HJ, Todt W (1975) Kalium-Argon-Datierungen an zwei Magmatiten von Kalo Chorio, Nord-Ost-Kreta. Neues Jahrb Geol Palaeontol, Monatsh 1975:257–262

    Google Scholar 

  • Blümel P, Schreyer W (1976) Progressive regional low-pressure metamorphism in the Moldanubian metapelites of the northern Bavarian Forest, Germany. Krystalinikum 12:7–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonneau M (1972) Existence d'un lambeau de cristallin chevauchant sur la série du Pinde en Crète moyenne (Grèce). CR 274:2133–2136

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonneau M (1976) Esquisse structurale de la Crète alpine. Bull Soc Geol Fr (7), 18:351–353

    Google Scholar 

  • Chatterjee ND, Johannes W (1974) Thermal stability and standard thermodynamic properties of synthetic 2M1-muscovite, KAl2 (AlSi3O10(OH)2). Contrib Mineral Petrol 48:89–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Creutzburg N (1977) General geological map of Greece, Crete island, 1:200.000. Inst Geol Min Res Athens

    Google Scholar 

  • Creutzburg N, Seidel E (1975) Zum Stand der Geologie des Präneogens auf Kreta. Neues Jahrb Geol Palaeontol Abhandl 149:363–383

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis EN (1967) Über das Vorkommen granitischer Gesteine innerhalb des metamorphen Systems des Asteroussia-Gebietes der Insel Kreta. Praktika Akad Athen 42:253–270 (in Greek with German Summary)

    Google Scholar 

  • Delaloye M, Economou C, Skounakis S (1977) Ages radiométriques de quelques roches ophiolitiques de l'île de Crète. Proc VIth Coll Geol Aegean Region Athens 1:129–135

    Google Scholar 

  • Delaloye M, Desmet A, Desmons J, Lapierre H, Rocci G, Gagny Gl, Parrot JF (1979) More geochronological data about the Troodos ophiolite, Cyprus. International Ophiolite Symposium Nicosia — Cyprus, 1–8 April, 1979. Abstr pap subm, p 24. Geol Surv Dep Nicosia

  • Desmet A, Lapierre H, Rocci G, Gagny Gl, Parrot JF, Delaloye M (1978) Constitution and significance of the Trodoos sheeted complex. Nature 273:527–530

    Google Scholar 

  • Dürr S, Seidel E, Kreuzer H, Harre W (1978) Témoins d'un métamorphisme d'âge crétacé supérieur dans l'Égéide: datations radiométriques de minéraux provenant de l'île de Nikouriá (Cyclades, Grèce). Bull Soc Geol France (7), 20:209–213

    Google Scholar 

  • Duparc L, Pamphil G (1910) Sur l'issite, une nouvelle roche filonienne dans la dunite. CR 151:1136–1138

    Google Scholar 

  • Economou C (1973) Study on the rocks of the ophiolite complex of Crete island. Ph D Thesis University of Athens: 112 pp (in Greek with English Summary)

  • Hoffer E (1976) The reaction sillimanite+biotite+quartz⇄cordierite+K-feldspar+H2O and partial melting in the system K2O-FeO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO-H2O. Contrib Mineral Petrol 55:127–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Holdaway MJ (1971) Stability of andalusite and the aluminium silicate phase diagram. Am J Sci 271:97–131

    Google Scholar 

  • Holdaway MJ, Lee SM (1977) Fe-Mg cordierite stability in highgrade pelitic rocks based on experimental, theoretical, and natural observations. Contrib Mineral Petrol 63:175–198

    Google Scholar 

  • Hynes AJ, Nisbet EG, Smith AG, Welland MJP, Rex DC (1972) Spreading and emplacement ages of some ophiolites in the Othris region (eastern central Greece). Z Dtsch Geol Ges 123:455–468

    Google Scholar 

  • Karamata S (1974) Dynamo-thermal metamorphism related to emplacement of ultramafics on examples from the Dinarides. Ann Soc Geol Belg 97:541–545

    Google Scholar 

  • Karamata S, Lovrić A (1978) The age of metamorphic rocks of Brezovica and its importance for the explanation of ophiolite emplacement. Bull Acad serbe des Sci et de Arts, Cl des Sci natur et mathém 61, Sci natur 17:1–9 (Bulletin de l'Académie serbe des Sciences et des Arts. Classe des Sciences mathématiques et naturelles (61) 17:1–9)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerrick DM (1972) Experimental determination of muscovite+quartz stability with \(P_{H_2 O}\)<-Ptotal. Am J Sci 272:946–958

    Google Scholar 

  • Lacroix A (1901) Les roches basiques accompagnant les Iherzolites et les ophiolites des Pyrénées. CR Congr Géol Int Paris, 1900, VIII:826–829

    Google Scholar 

  • Lanphere MA, Coleman RG, Karamata S, Pamić J (1975) Age of amphibolites associated with Alpine peridotites in the Dinaride ophiolite zone, Yugoslavia. Earth Planet Sci Lett 26:271–276

    Google Scholar 

  • Leake BE (1978) Nomenclature of amphiboles. Canad Mineral 16:501–520

    Google Scholar 

  • Lippolt HJ, Baranyi I (1976) Oberkretazische Biotit- und Gesteinsalter aus Kreta. Neues Jahrb Geol Palaentol, Monatsh 1976:405–414

    Google Scholar 

  • Luth WC, Jahns RH, Tuttle OF (1964) The granite system at pressures of 4 to 10 kilobars. J Geophys Res 69:759–773

    Google Scholar 

  • Macdonald GA, Katsura T (1964) Chemical composition of Hawaian lavas. J Petrol 5:82–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Majer V, Kreuzer H, Harre W, Seidel E, Altherr R, Okrusch M (1979) Petrology and geochronology of metamorphic rocks from the Banija area, Yougoslavian ophiolite belt. International Ophiolite Symposium Nicosia — Cyprus, 1–8 April, 1979. Abstracts of papers submitted: pp 46–47. Geol Surv Dep Nicosia

  • Merrill RB, Robertson JK, Wyllie PJ (1970) Melting relations in the system NaAlSi3O8-KAlSi3O8-SiO2-H2O to 20 kilobars compared with results for other feldspar-quartz-H2O and rock-H2O systems. J Geol 78:558–569

    Google Scholar 

  • Newton RC, Wood BJ (1979) Thermodynamics of water in cordierite and some petrologic consequences of cordierite as a hydrous phase. Contrib Mineral Petrol 68:391–405

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicolas A, Jackson ED (1972) Répartition en deux provinces des peridotites des chaîne alpines logeant la Méditerranée: implications géotectoniques. Schweiz Mineral Petrogr Mitt 52:479–495

    Google Scholar 

  • Okrusch M, Seidel E, Kreuzer H, Harre W (1978) Jurassic age of metamorphism at the base of the Brezovica peridotite (Yugoslavia). Earth Planet Sci Lett 39:291–297

    Google Scholar 

  • Papastamatiou JN, Papakis N, Christodoulou G (1955) Sur un affleurement de granite a Kalo Chorio de Crète. Bull Geol Soc Greece 2:123–131 (in Greek with French Summary)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearce JA (1980) Geochemical evidence for the genesis and eruptive setting of lavas from Tethyan ophiolites. In: A Panayiotou (ed) Ophiolites. Proc Int Ophiolite Symposium, Cyprus 1979. Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Geological Survey Department, Nicosia, Cyprus, pp 261–272

    Google Scholar 

  • Pichler H, Stengelin R (1979) Lighter differentiates of tholeiite basaltic and alkali basaltic magmas. Neues Jahrb Mineral Abhandl 135:18–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Roddick JC, Cameron WE, Smith AG (1979) Permo-Triassic and Jurassic 40Ar-39Ar ages from Greek ophiolites and associated rocks. Nature 279:788–790

    Google Scholar 

  • Schuhknecht W, Schinkel H (1963) Beitrag zur Beseitigung der Anregungsbeeinflussung bei flammenspektralanalytischen Untersuchungen. Z Anal Chem 194:161–183

    Google Scholar 

  • Seidel E, Okrusch M, Kreuzer H, Raschka H, Harre W (1976) Eo-Alpine metamorphism in the uppermost unit of the Cretan nappe system — petrology and geochronology. Part 1, The Léndas area (Asteroúsia mountains). Contrib Mineral Petrol 57:259–275

    Google Scholar 

  • Seidel E, Schliestedt M, Kreuzer H, Harre W (1977) Metamorphic rocks of Late Jurassic age as components of the ophiolitic mélange on Gavdos and Crete (Greece). Geol Jahrb B28:3–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Seifert F (1976) Stability of the assemblage cordierite+K-feldspar+quartz. Contrib Mineral Petrol 57:179–185

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith AG, Hynes AJ, Menzies M, Nisbet EG, Price I, Welland MJ, Ferrière J (1975) The stratigraphy of the Othris mountains, eastern central Greece, a deformed Mesozoic continental margin sequence. Eclogae Geol Helv 68:463–481

    Google Scholar 

  • Spray JG, Roddick JC (1980) Petrology and 40Ar/39Ar geochronology of some Hellenic sub-ophiolite metamorphic rocks. Contrib Mineral Petrol 72:43–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Steiger RH, Jäger E (1977) Subcommission on geochronology: convention and the use of decay constants in geo- and cosmochronology. Earth Planet Sci Lett 36:359–362

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson AB, Algor JR (1977) Model systems for anatexis of pelitic rocks. I. Theory of melting reactions in the system KAlO2-NaAlO2-Al2O3-SiO2-H2O. Contrib Mineral Petrol 63:247–269

    Google Scholar 

  • Thorbecke G (1972) Petrographie der Ophiolithe und Parametamorphite der Klippe von Anoja (Mittelkreta). Dr rer nat Dissertation Universität Freiburg im Breisgau: 139 pp

  • Thorbecke G (1973) Die Gesteine der Ophiolith-Decke von Anoja/Mittelkreta. Berichte Naturforsch Gesellsch Freiburg im Breisgau 63:81–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Thuizat R, Montigny R (1979) K-Ar geochronology of three Turkish ophiolites. International Ophiolite Symposium Nicosia — Cyprus, 1–8 April, 1979. Abstr pap subm, pp 80–81. Geol Surv Dep Nicosia

  • Thuizat R, Whitechurch H, Montigny R, Juteau T (1981) K-Ar dating of some infra-ophiolitic metamorphic soles from the eastern Mediterranean: New evidence for oceanic thrusting before obduction. Earth Planet Sci Lett 52:302–310

    Google Scholar 

  • Tracy RJ, Robinson P, Field MT (1976) Garnet composition and zoning in the determination of temperature and pressure of metamorphism, central Massachusetts. Am Mineral 61:762–775

    Google Scholar 

  • Vine FJ, Poster CK, Gass IG (1973) Aeromagnetic survey of the Troodos igneous massif, Cyprus. Nature Phys Sci 244:34–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Wachendorf H, Gralla P, Koll J, Schulze I (1980) Geodynamik des mittelkretischen Deckenstapels (nördliches Dikti-Gebirge). Geotektonische Forsch 59:1–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Winchester JA, Floyd PA (1976) Geochemical magma type discrimination: application to altered and metamorphosed basic igneous rocks. Earth Planet Sci Lett 28:459–469

    Google Scholar 

  • Winkler HGF, von Platen H (1961) Experimentelle Gesteinsmetamorphose V. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 24:250–259

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mineralogisch-Petrographisches Institut, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Gauss-Straße 29, D-3300, Braunschweig, Federal Republic of Germany

    Eberhard Seidel & Martin Okrusch

  2. Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, Alfred-Bentz-Haus, D-3000, Hannover 51, Federal Republic of Germany

    Hans Kreuzer, Helmut Raschka & Wilhelm Harre

Authors
  1. Eberhard Seidel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Martin Okrusch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hans Kreuzer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Helmut Raschka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Wilhelm Harre
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Seidel, E., Okrusch, M., Kreuzer, H. et al. Eo-alpine metamorphism in the uppermost unit of the Cretan nappe system — Petrology and geochronology. Contr. Mineral. and Petrol. 76, 351–361 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00375462

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00375462

Keywords

Search

Navigation