The igneous rocks
of Greece
© 2008 AGI-Information Management Consultants
May be used for personal purporses only or by
libraries associated to dandelon.com network.
The anatomy of an orogen
by
Georgia Pe-Piper
David J.W. Piper
With 288 figures and 11 tables
2002
GEBRUDER BORNTRAEGER • BERLIN • STUTTGART
Contents
Preface
Abbreviations and acronyms
V
XVI
1
1.1
1.2
1.2.1
1.2.2
1.3
1.3.1
1.3.2
1.3.3
1.3.4
1.3.5
1.3.6
1.3.7
1.3.8
1.3.9
1.3.10
1.4
1.5
Introduction
Igneous rocks within the Hellenide orogen
Organization of the book
Introduction
Rock and mineral nomenclature
Outline of the geology of Greece
Introduction
A brief history of geological studies in Greece
Terranes of the Hellenides
Pre-Mesozoic continental basement
Tectono-stratigraphy of the Hellenides
Mesozoic rifting and sedimentation
The ophiolites
Alpine orogenesis
Neogene extension and block rotation
Cenozoic igneous activity
The present geophysical fields
Plate tectonic evolution of Greece
1
1
3
3
3
6
6
6
8
10
11
11
14
14
15
16
19
21
2
2.1
2.2
Late Paleozoic plutonism and volcanism
Introduction: the Hercynian basement of Greece
Plutons in the Pelagonian zone of Thessaly and western Macedonia:
type example
Regional structural setting
Geology of the Verdikoussa pluton
Geology of other plutons of the Pelagonian zone
Probable Hercynian plutonism in northeastern Greece
Vardar zone
Serbo-Macedonian and Rhodope zones
Basement rocks of western Anatolia
Hercynian basement rocks in southern Greece
Cyclades islands
25
25
2.2.1
2.2.2
2.2.3
2.3
2.3.1
2.3.2
2.3.3
2.4
2.4.1
26
26
28
28
31
31
32
32
33
33
VIII
2.4.2
2.4.3
2.5
2.5.1
2.5.2
2.5.3
2.5.4
2.6
2.6.1
2.6.2
2.6.3
2.6.4
2.6.5
2.7
3
3.1
3.1.1
3.1.2
3.1.3
3.2
3.2.1
3.2.2
3.2.3
3.2.4
3.2.5
3.2.6
3.2.7
3.2.8
3.3
3.3.1
3.3.2
3.3.3
3.3.4
3.3.5
3.3.6
3.4
3.4.1
3.4.2
3.4.3
3.4.4
Contents
Crete, Dodecanese and the Peloponnese
34
Attiki, Othris, Evia and Chios
35
Geology of volcanic rocks of Karakaya suture zone
35
Introduction
35
Geological setting of Chios
36
Geological setting of Lesbos
37
The possible extension of the Karakaya suture to Greece
38
Petrography and geochemistry
38
Petrography of the granitoid rocks
38
Petrography of the mafic plutonic rocks
42
Geochemistry of the granitoid rocks and associated mafic rocks
42
Geochemistry of the Hercynian amphibolites
49
Geochemistry of the Paleozoic volcanic rocks of Chios
49
Synthesis of the regional setting of Carboniferous plutons
51
Triassicriftingand volcanism
57
General geologic history of the early Mesozoic of Greece
57
Introduction: the creation ofNeotethys
57
Plate-tectonic interpretation ofTriassic rifting
58
Permian-Triassic rifting in Greece
60
Othris and north Evia: a type example
61
Introduction
61
Geologic setting of the early to mid-Triassic early-rifting volcanic rocks.... 63
Geologic setting of the Carnian volcanic rocks of Othris
64
Geologic setting of Plate Triassic - PJurassic ocean-floor of Othris
and Evia
65
Petrography and geochemistry of the early to mid-Triassic alkaline
volcanic rocks
::
65
Petrography and geochemistry of mid-to late Triassic subalkaline volcanic
rocks
67
Petrography and geochemistry of the late Triassic — early Jurassic ocean
floor rocks
;
71
Regional implications of the Othris-Evia transect
71
Geology ofTriassic volcanic rocks of Apulia on the margin of the Pindos
ocean
73
Phyllite-Quartzite Unit
73
Western margin of the Pindos zone
76
Pindos zone of Crete and the south Aegean islands
77
Triassic volcanic rocks within melanges
77
Kerassies — Milea ophiolite zone
78
Parnassos zone
78
?Triassic meta-igneous rocks of the Cyclades, south Evia and Thessaly
79
Introduction
79
Basal Unit of the Cyclades: volcanic rocks
79
Basal Unit of the Cyclades: granites
80
Intermediate Unit of the Cyclades
80
Contents
3.4.5
3.4.6
3.5
3.5.1
3.5.2
3.6
3.6.1
3.6.2
3.6.3
3.7
3.7.1
3.7.2
3.7.3
3.7.4
3.7.5
3.7.6
3.7.7
3.8
3.8.1
3.8.2
3.8.3
4
4.1
4.2
4.2.1
4.2.2
4.2.3
4.2.4
4.2.5
4.3
4.3.1
4.3.2
4.3.3
4.3.4
4.3.5
4.3.6
4.3.7
4.3.8
4.3.9
The Styra-Ochi unit of southern Evia
The blueschist units ofThessaly
Geology of Triassic volcanic rocks of Pelagonia
The Pelagonian nappes of mainland Greece
Upper Unit of the Cyclades and Pelagonian nappes of the eastern
Aegean islands
Geology ofTriassic volcanic rocks of the Vardar and Serbo-Macedonian
zones
Introduction
Circum-Rhodope belt
Summary
Petrography and geochemistry
Introduction
Subalkaline basaltic andesite and related rocks
Basalt and andesite of shoshonitic or calc-alkaline affinity
Alkaline basalt
MORB-related rocks
Subalkaline rocks with boninitic affinities
Rhyolite
Regional synthesis
Stratigraphic and paleogeographic distribution of volcanic rocks
The relationship ofTriassic volcanism to rifting and mantle plumes
The role of subduction and back-arc spreading in the genesis of
Triassic volcanic rocks
Jurassic Pindos ocean basin: ophiolites and melanges
Introduction: the western ophiolite belt of Greece
Type example: the Vourinds and Pindos ophiolites
Geology of the Vburinos ophiolite
Geology of the Pindos ophiolite
Petrography and geochemistry of the Vourinos and Pindos ophiolites
The significance of sub-ophiolitic melange
Emplacement of the Vourinos and Pindos ophiolites
The western Jurassic ophiolite sequences and related rocks of the
Pelagonian zone
Introduction
Ophiolites of northwestern Thessaly and western Macedonia
Ophiolites of Othris
Ophiolites of Evia and Pelion
Ophiolites of Beotia and Attiki
Ophiolites of Argolis
Melanges beneath the western ophiolite belt
The record of volcanism in the foreland basin created by the
obducting ophiolites
Evidence for ophiolites in detrital conglomerates of the external
Hellenides
IX
81
82
82
82
83
84
84
85
88
88
88
88
93
94
95
96
97
99
99
100
101
104
104
106
106
109
112
117
119
123
123
123
124
126
126
128
129
130
131
X
4.3.10
4.3.11
4.3.12
4.4
4.4.1
4.4.2
4.4.3
4.5
4.5.1
4.5.2
4.5.3
4.5.4
4.6
4.6.1
4.6.2
4.6.3
4.6.4
4.6.5
4.7
4.7.1
4.7.2
5
5.1
5.2
5-2.1
5.2.2
5.2.3
5-2.4
5.2.5
5.2.6
5.2.7
5.2.8
5-2.9
5.2.10
5.2.11
5.2.12
5.2.13
5.2.14
5.2.15
5.2.16
5.2.17
5.2.18
Contents
Tectonic slices in die Pindos basin of the Peloponnese
Clay-mineral and manganese evidence for volcanic activity
Ultramafic and mafic rocks of the lower nappe of the Phyllite-Quartzite
unit
Meta-ophiolites in the Intermediate Unit of the Attico-Cycladic
complex and possible correlatives inThessaly
Introduction
Cyclades
Blueschist unit ofThessaly
The "Ophiolite nappe" of Crete, the south Aegean islands, and the
upper unit of the Cyclades
Introduction
Crete and Gavdos
Karpathos and Rhodos
Ophiolites of the Upper Unit of the Cyclades
Petrography and geochemistry of die western ophiolite belt
Volcanic and dyke rocks
Plutonic rocks
Ultramafic rocks
Chromite
Hydrothermal mineralization
Synthesis: distribution and origin of Jurassic oceanic igneous rocks
Oceanic environments revealed by geochemical studies
What oceans did the ophiolites come from?
Mesozoic ocean crust of northeast Greece
Tectonic and stratigraphic setting of northeast Greece
Mesozoic igneous rocks of the Vardar zone
....
Almopias subzone: geological summary
Ophiolites of the eastern Almopias subzone
Dismembered ophiolites of the central Almopias subzone
Ophiolites of the western Almopias subzone
Eastern Thessaly and Pelion
Eohellenic unit of the islands of the northwest Aegean Sea
Palkon subzone
Peonias subzone: overview
Guevgueli ophiolites
Granites of the Peonias subzone
Stip-Axios massif
Thessaloniki ophiolites
Oreokastro ophiolite
Aspro Vrissi Formation
Chortiatis magmatic suite of nordiern Chalkidiki
Chortiatis magmatic suite of Sithonia
Sithonia ophiolitic rift complex
The circum-Rhodope belt in Samothraki
131
132
132
133
133
133
135
135
135
135
136
136
138
138
141
143
144
145
146
146
147
151
151
154
154
158
159
160
160
163
165
167
169
171
171
171
172
173
173
174
175
178
Contents
5.2.19
5.2.20
5.3
5.3.1
5.3.2
5.3.3
5.3.4
5.4
5.4.1
5.4.2
5.4.3
5.4.4
5.4.5
5.4.6
5.4.7
5.4.8
5.4.9
5.4.10
5.4.11
5.5
5.5.1
5.5.2
5.5.3
5.5.4
6
6.1
6.1.1
6.1.2
6.1.3
6.1.4
6.1.5
6.1.6
6.2
6.2.1
6.2.2
6.2.3
6.2.4
6.3
XI
The circum-Rhodope belt of southeastern Thrace
180
Ophiolites of the northeast Aegean
183
Mesozoic igneous rocks of the Rhodope and Serbo-Macedonian zones... 185
Outline of the geology of the Rhodope and Serbo-Macedonian zones .... 185
Geology of meta-igneous rocks of the Rhodope zone
189
Geology of meta-ophiolites and amphibolites of the Serbo-Macedonian
zone
190
Granites of the Serbo-Macedonian zone
192
Petrography and geochemistry of Mesozoic igneous rocks of
northeastern Greece
193
Ophiolitic rocks of the Almopias subzone
193
Ophiolitic rocks of the eastern Peonias subzone
196
Guevgueli ophiolites
199
Sithonia ophiolites
201
Ophiolitic rocks of Samothraki and Thrace
204
Ophiolitic rocks of the Rhodope and Serbo-Macedonian zones
206
Ophiolitic rocks of Lesbos
207
Subduction-related volcanism of the Pa'ikon subzone
210
Chortiatis suite
210
Jurassic dykes and granites of the Vardar zone
212
Older granites of the Serbo-Macedonian zone
213
Regional synthesis
216
Regional tectonic framework
216
The ophiolites of the Vardar zone and circum-Rhodope belt
218
Tectonic evolution of the Serbo-Macedonian and Rhodope zones
222
A plate tectonic model
223
Cretaceous ophiolites and subduction in central and south Greece
Late Cretaceous ophiolitic rocks
Late Cretaceous oceanic crust in central Evia
Possible latest Cretaceous oceanic crust in the Sporades, Pelion,
Skyros and Macedonia
;
The Ermioni Complex of Argolis
Cretaceous oceanic crust in the south Aegean islands
Stratigraphic distribution of manganiferous sedimentary rocks in
the Pindos basin
Petrography and geochemistry of the ophiolitic rocks
Cretaceous subduction/accretion complexes
Crete
Cyclades
Possible evidence of Cretaceous subduction in the blueschist belt of
Evia and the Cyclades
Petrography and geochemistry of the subduction complexes
Regional syndiesis
226
226
226
226
228
228
229
229
231
231
233
234
234
236
XII
7
7.1
7.1.1
7.1.2
7.2
7.2.1
7.2.2
7.2.3
7.2.4
7.2.5
7.3
7.3.1
7.3.2
7.3.3
7.3.4
7.3.5
7.3.6
7.4
7.5
7.5.1
7.5.2
7.6
7.6.1
7.6.2
7.6.3
7.6.4
7.6.5
7.6.6
7.7
8
8.1
8.1.1
8.1.2
8.1.3
8.1.4
8.1.5
8.2
8.2.1
8.2.2
8.2.3
8.2.4
8.3
8.3.1
Contents
Early Tertiary plutonism and volcanism of Macedonia and Thrace
Cenozoic evolution of the Aegean region
Introduction
Regional evidence for extension
Pre-Oligocene plutons of the Serbo-Macedonian and Rhodope zones
Introduction
Sithonia plutonic complex: a type example of Eocene plutonism in
Chalkidiki
Ouranopolis and other Eocene plutons of Chalkidiki
The Elatia-Skaloti pluton
Other plutons of uncertain age
Oligocene plutonism
Introduction
Xanthi pluton: type example of Oligocene plutonism
Northeastern Vrondou pluton
Smaller Rhodope plutons
Plutons of central Thrace
Oligocene porphyry intrusions of the Serbo-Macedonian zone
Oligocene volcanic rocks of the Rhodope zone and Thrace
Early Miocene extension-related plutonism
Kavala pluton
Southwestern Vrondou pluton
Petrography and geochemistry
Eocene plutons of Chalkidiki
Elatia - Skaloti pluton
Oligocene plutons and volcanic rocks
Miocene plutons and hypabyssal rocks
Isotopic data
Petrogenesis of the Eocene-Miocene igneous rocks
Regional synthesis
Early Miocene volcanism of the northeast Aegean
Lesbos: a type example
Regional geologic setting
Geology of Lesbos
Stratigraphic and spatial variations in geochemistry of Lesbos
Isotope geochemistry of Lesbos
Mineralogy of the volcanic rocks of Lesbos
The geology of other volcanic centres
Limnos
Agios Evstratios
Samothraki
Anatolia
Petrography and geochemistry of the other volcanic centres
Volcanic rocks
238
238
238
239
244
244
244
245
246
248
248
248
248
250
251
251
252
255
257
257
258
259
259
260
264
274
277
281
282
284
284
284
284
289
293
295
296
296
297
298
300
301
301
Contents
XIII
8.3.2
8.4
Plutonic rocks
Regional synthesis
302
304
9
9.1
9.1.1
9.1.2
9.2
9.2.1
9.2.2
9.2.3
9.2.4
9.2.5
9.2.6
9.2.7
9.2.8
9.3
9.3.1
9.3.2
9.4
9.4.1
9.4.2
9.5
9.5.1
9.5.2
9.5.3
9.6
9.6.1
9.6.2
9.6.3
9.7
9.7.1
9.7.2
Miocene plutonism in the Cyclades
The general setting of Miocene igneous activity in the Cyclades
Introduction
The metamorphic history of the Cyclades
The central Cyclades granites
Geology of Naxos
Petrography and geochemistry of Naxos
Geology and structure of Delos
Petrography and geochemistry of Delos
Tinos
Mykonos
Paros and adjacent islands
Ikaria
The western Cyclades granodiorites
Serifos
Lavrion
The eastern Cyclades monzonites
Kos
Samos
Regional variation in the plutonic rocks of the Cyclades
Synthesis of age of plutonism
Regional trends in petrography and geochemistry of the plutons
Regional trends in isotopic variation
Mid-Cenozoic minor volcanism in the South Aegean
Oligocene ash in Rhodos ..;...
Rhyolitic pyroclastic rocks of Miocene-Pliocene age
The record of volcanism from tephra deposits
Synthesis: petrogenesis and tectonic setting
Petrogenetic synthesis
:
Tectonic setting
310
310
310
312
313
313
316
320
327
328
329
330
331
333
333
333
335
335
335
337
337
339
339
341
341
341
342 ,
342
342
342
10
10.1
10.2
10.2.1
10.2.2
10.2.3
10.2.4
10.2.5
10.2.6
10.2.7
10.3
Miocene-Quaternary volcanic rocks of central and northern Greece .... 346
Introduction: the Aegean Sea as a back-arc basin
346
Geology of individual volcanic centres
349
Mid-Miocene of the eastern Aegean
349
Mid-Miocene of the central Aegean
350
Upper Miocene of the southeast Aegean Sea
352
Euboecos
356
The north Aegean Sea and Macedonia
356
Western Anatolia and eastern Thrace
358
Geothermal activity
359
Petrography and geochemistry
359
XIV
Contents
10.3.1
10.3.2
10.3.3
10.3.4
10.3.5
10.3.6
10.3.7
10.4
10.4.1
10.4.2
General geochemical character of the back-arc volcanic rocks
Mineralogy
Isotopic variability
Basalt
Trachyte and related rocks
Adakite
The chronological sequence of lavas
Synthesis: petrogenesis and tectonic setting
Petrogenetic synthesis
Tectonic interpretation of regional variability
359
361
364
368
373
377
383
384
384
385
11
11.1
11.1.1
11.1.2
11.1.3
11.1.4
11.1.5
11.1.6
11.1.7
11.2
11.2.1
The South Aegean Arc
The geologic setting of the major volcanic centres
Introduction
The marine tephrochronology record
Volcanic centres of the Saronic Gulf
The Milos group
Santorini
Volcanic centres of the southeast Aegean
The relationship of tectonism and volcanism
Petrography and geochemistry
General geochemical character of the volcanic rocks of the South
Aegean Arc
Isotopic variability in the volcanic rocks of the South Aegean Arc
Petrological evolution through time at centres of the Saronic Gulf
and Milos
Petrological evolution through time at Santorini
Petrological evolution through time at Nisyros and Kos.i.
The evolution.and eruption of magma chambers
Processes of geochemical evolution
Synthesis: Petrogenesis and tectonic setting
:.
Petrogenetic synthesis
The role of subduction and extension
393
393
393
395
398
402
406
412
417
418
11.2.2
11.2.3
11.2.4
11.2.5
11.2.6
11.2.7
11.3
11.3.1
11.3.2
12
12.1
12.2
12.2.1
12.2.2
12.2.3
12.2.4
12.2.5
12.2.6
12.3
418
419
425
426
427
430
433
435
435
436
Synthesis
438
Introduction
438
General themes in the geological evolution of Greece
438
Late Paleozoic assembly of continental fragments
438
Permian-Triassic rifting
438
Mesozoic - Cenozoic history of the Atlantic Ocean and its control
on events in Greece
439
Ophiolites
439
Ocean closure and collision of continental fragments
440
Cenozoic extension and southward migration of the subduction zone .... 440
Geochemical and isotopic evolution of the sub-continental lithospheric
mantle
441
Contents
12.3.1
12.3.2
12.3.3
12.4
12.4.1
12.4.2
12.4.3
12.4.4
Pb isotopes
Sr and Nd isotopes
Regional interpretation of isotopic variability
Economic and societal aspects of igneous activity
Mineral resources
Geothermal resources
Radon and other geomedical hazards
Volcanic risk
XV
441
442
442
443
443
446
446
447
References
448
Appendix 1
511
Appendix 2
525
Appendix 3
557
General Index
562