The development of a late Cretaceous microplate suture zone in SW Cyprus

Abstract

Detailed mapping and volcanic geochemistry of rocks exposed in erosional windows through post-Cretaceous cover rocks in SW Cyprus provide evidence for the development of a model for late Cretaceous microplate collision in the eastern Mediterranean. Two major juxtaposed terranes are recognized: the older Mamonia Complex and the younger Troodos Complex. The two complexes were juxtaposed along an intricate suture zone, the evolution of which displays two main phases of contractional deformation of late Cretaceous age. These are a primary north- and northwest-directed thrusting, and a secondary backthrusting episode towards the west and southwest, that in places reorganized the initial structural stacking sequence. Although there is some evidence for strike-slip faulting, this process does not appear as extensive as proposed by previous workers. -from Authors