The geology of
Northern Cyprus includes the Troodos Massif, Kyrenia Range, the Cyprus Basin in the east.[1]
Geologic Summary
Troodos Massif: The world's most heavily studied
ophiolite, in the south and center of Northern Cyprus. Lower units include
harzburgite interpreted as deformed mantle, overlain by massive
gabbro, with
dunite bodies left from mantle diapirs. It also includes
trondjemite bodies, plagio-granite,
chromite and dikes metamorphosed to
zeolite and
greenschist grade. These are covered by layers of extrusive rocks with sulfide mineralization and bounded by a fault lineament to the south. Pillow lavas are overlain by
Mesozoicchert and volcaniclastic rocks as well as
Cenozoic carbonates.
Kyrenia Range: The range includes the oldest rocks in the region, in the form of
Permian black shales. Shallow-water
Paleogeneolistrosomes and the Kantara Limestone are also important units. An active margin in the
Quaternary drove uplift of the range, which had previously accumulated carbonates and
turbidite.
References
^Moores, E.M.; Fairbridge, Rhodes W. (1997). Encyclopedia of European & Asian Regional Geology. Springer. p. 161-165.
The geology of
Northern Cyprus includes the Troodos Massif, Kyrenia Range, the Cyprus Basin in the east.[1]
Geologic Summary
Troodos Massif: The world's most heavily studied
ophiolite, in the south and center of Northern Cyprus. Lower units include
harzburgite interpreted as deformed mantle, overlain by massive
gabbro, with
dunite bodies left from mantle diapirs. It also includes
trondjemite bodies, plagio-granite,
chromite and dikes metamorphosed to
zeolite and
greenschist grade. These are covered by layers of extrusive rocks with sulfide mineralization and bounded by a fault lineament to the south. Pillow lavas are overlain by
Mesozoicchert and volcaniclastic rocks as well as
Cenozoic carbonates.
Kyrenia Range: The range includes the oldest rocks in the region, in the form of
Permian black shales. Shallow-water
Paleogeneolistrosomes and the Kantara Limestone are also important units. An active margin in the
Quaternary drove uplift of the range, which had previously accumulated carbonates and
turbidite.
References
^Moores, E.M.; Fairbridge, Rhodes W. (1997). Encyclopedia of European & Asian Regional Geology. Springer. p. 161-165.