Abstract
THE Troodos ophiolitic suite (Cyprus) has long been considered as a model of a piece of oceanic crust1–4 with its sheeted complex as the proof of accretion during Mesozoic times5,6. Using geochemical data, however, it has been suggested7 that the Troodos may have been formed in an island arc environment. Thus, a discussion has arisen on the origin of this ophiolite8–10. New fieldwork and detailed studies show that the Troodos sheeted complex consists of two main structurally well defined families of dykes, the first one partly produced by accretion, the second related to accretion and late fracturing of a magma chamber when spreading stopped. All the dykes are tholeiitic and four generations have been recognised: diabase, dolerite, picritic lamprophyre and basalt—this succession may be compared to the evolution of the Troodos pillow lavas11. New geo-chronological measurements reported here suggest that the emplacement of the sheeted complex started before 80 Myr, and confirm the existence of an active ‘tethyan’ ridge in middle cretaceous. Isochrone ageing show that greenschist fades metamorphism is also pre-Campanian.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Gass, I. G. & Masson-Smith, D. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. A255, 417 (1973).
Gass, I. G. Nature 220, 39 (1968).
Moores, E. M. & Vine, F. J. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. A268, 443
Greenbaum, D. Nature 238, 18 (1972).
Gass, I. G. & Smewing, J. D. Nature 242, 2 (1973).
Kidd, R. G. W. & Cann, J. R. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 24 (1974).
Miyashiro, A. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 19 (1973).
Gass, I. G. et al. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 25 (1975).
Hynes, A. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 25 (1975).
Moores, E. M. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 25 (1975).
Desmet, A. thesis, Univ. Nancy, France (1977).
Bagnall, P. S. J. Geol. Chicago, 72 (1964).
Simonian, K. O. & Gass, I. G. (in the press).
Desmet, A. et al. Int. Colloq. BVMA Grenoble, France (1977).
Irvine, T. N. & Baragar, W. R. Can. J. Earth Sci. 8 (1971).
Yoder, H. S. J. & Tilley, C. E. J. Petrol. 3 (1962).
Vine, F. J., Poster, C. K. & Gass, I. G. Nature phys. Sci. 244, 34 (1973).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
DESMET, A., LAPIERRE, H., ROCCI, G. et al. Constitution and significance of the Troodos sheeted complex. Nature 273, 527–530 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/273527a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/273527a0
This article is cited by
-
Contamination of stream waters, sediments, and agricultural soil in the surroundings of an abandoned copper mine by potentially toxic elements and associated environmental and potential human health–derived risks: a case study from Agrokipia, Cyprus
Environmental Science and Pollution Research (2020)
-
Ophiolite Tectonics, Rock Magnetism and Palaeomagnetism, Cyprus
Surveys in Geophysics (2010)
-
Petrology and origin of primitive lavas from the Troodos ophiolite, Cyprus
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology (1985)
-
Pb isotopic composition of ophiolitic volcanogenic sulphide deposits, Troodos Complex, Cyprus
Nature (1982)
-
Eo-alpine metamorphism in the uppermost unit of the Cretan nappe system ? Petrology and geochronology
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology (1981)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
