15: Shallow Marine Miocene Carbonate Rocks around Matala
The fossil rich limestones were deposited on a shallow marine platform and reflect a transgressive sequence. Based on work by Kröger this guide shows how a section can be split up into facies types and used to define water conditions as well as for dating using fossils and Sr-Stratigraphy.
9: Variscan Basement lodged between Alpine Nappes, Mochlos to Chamezi
The area provides opportunity to study high grade metamorphic rocks such as mica shist, gneisses and amphibolites that have undergone several phases of deformation during the variscan orogeny. This guide also describes the prealpine basement cover as
well as andesite from the PQ-Unit.
10: Fragments of Prealpine rocks east of Sitia and Tyros Beds Vai Peninsula
Slivers of metamorphic Variscan rock crop out east of Sitia and at the Vai Peninsula. These were no doubt sheared off and transported during alpine nappe tectonics. Upper Triassic Tyros Beds are well exposed at the Vai Peninsula and have been classified by German and French geologists.
20: Uppermost Unit - Ophiolites and Hornblendite, Kerames to Korifi Mt.
Serpentinite, hornblendite and much younger mafic dykes partly with pegmatitic texture exist in this area. The surrounding rocks belonging to the Uppermost Unit display primarily metamorphic calc-silicate rock as well as chaotic flysch containing marble blocks. The Korifi Mt. consists of the Preveli nappe.
11: Tripolitza Nappe Thrust upon the
Tyros Unit of Eastern Crete
Eastern Crete is a good place to study the Cretan Detachment Fault. A Tripoliza limestone nappe has been thrust onto the Upper Violet Slate of the Tyros Unit. Cataclastic rock and fault gouge accompanied by scaly cleavage occur within the shear zone indicating the forces at work.
12: Marine Terraces Miocene Corals and Tripoliza Flysch at Kato Zakros
Well developed marine terraces known for mammal fossil finds. The Kato Zarkos Gorge reveals a Miocene coral body and there is a thrust plane between Upper Violet Slates and a Tripolitza nappe. The Zarkos palace can be visited on the way to the beach
where there is Tripoliza Flysch.
13: Tripoliza Flysch and Pindos Nappe at Chametoulo
Slicken slides and cataclastites are sure signs of large normal faults. A road cut reveals a nicely developed flysch section overlain by Pindos limestone. Conglomerates, sandstone and silt beds display a classic fining up sequence. Trough crossbedding and greywacke are other typical features.
14: Siliclastic Continental Miocene Sedimentary Rocks South of Matala
The clastic rocks that crop out along the valley floors represent a former Miocene coastline with marshes, fresh water lakes and lagoons. In addition to silty clay deposits sections display finely laminated lacustrine limestone, lignite, gypsum crystals, and crossbedded delta sands and conglomerates.
Field guides
2: Mountain Building in Western Crete North and South of Sfinari
Folding of quartzite and phyllite strata and a second phase of brittle faulting indicate rock deformation at different levels within the earth’ crust. A nappe of Miocene rock on the Phyllite Quartzite unit indicates nappe tectonics.
3: Triassic Gypsum of the Phyllite Quartzite Unit in Western Crete
Highly deformed gypsum occurs together with rauhwacke within the Phyllite Quartzite unit. The evaporate rock is thought to have severed as a lubricant during nappe tectonics. However, the stratigraphic allocation of the gypsum is still controversial.
4: Western Crete, Stovles to Paleochora
Thick quartzite beds and siltstones have been offset by large faults containing fault gouge. A second location is a good example of the Cretan Detachment. A Tripoliza limestone nappe overlies the Phyllite Quartzite unit. Good examples of a tectonic thrust breccia.
5: Kalamos-Sequence of the Phyllite-Quartzite Unit in Western Crete
Impressive isoclinal folds within phyllite and aragonite rocks. The presents of aragonite is a sign of high pressure low temperature metamorphism and subsequent rash uplift. Fossils are not deformed in spite of folding and metamorphic conditions.
6: Holocene Reefs as Indicators of Sea Level Changes near Plakias
Marine organisms are important carbonate rock builders. This guide introduces some of the taxa and processes involved. A large Holocene reef is exposed along the coast revealing marine morphological features. Boulders of porphyritic volcanic rock are thought to have been deposited by a Tsunami.
1: Pleistocene to Holocene Crustal Movement, Phalasarna, Paleochora and Aradhena Gorge
Ancient uplifted harbor ruins destroyed by a tsunami and erosional notches as well as red algae crusts help to determine former sea level changes. Fine examples of carbonate sand dune rock and former marine terraces.
8: Neogene Sediments and Fossils Sita to Topula
The Aghia Fotia Beach is rich in Neogene marine fossils. Near by a Deinotherium was discovered. The scenic Toplua Gorge provides good examples of the Neogene Skopi Formation and Tafoni morphology. Miocene Corals can be found at a neighboring
marine Terrace.
7: Platy Marble Flysch and Triassic Gypsum, Mochlos to Kalavros
The Graben of Lastros is easily seen from a distance. To the north there is a huge gypsum quarry, which belongs to the Tripal unit. Close by are Quartz-Phyllite and Platy Marble rocks. Platy Marble Flysch crops out at Mochlos Beach and also appears on top of the magnificent Kalvaros cliffs further east.
16: Plakias Graben, Young Faults and Continental Neogene Sedfiments
An impressive normal fault is exposed as an approx. 30m high cliff. It is part of much larger half graben. Neogene continental sediments deposited in the Plakias basin were deposited by rivers. A lignite seam indicates former flora and small mammal fossils
are described in literature.
19: Uppermost Unit - Priveli Nappe, Domani Bay to Korifi Mt.
The Preveli nappe is a subunit of the Uppermost Unit. Crossite and glaucophane indicates LT/HP metamorphism that is reported to be of Lower Cretaceous age and therefore pre-alpine. The Preveli nappe is thrust onto Pindos and Tripoliza
limestone displaying tectonic breccias.
18: Sellia to Rodakino and Fangokastello
WORK ONGOING
32:
TEMPLATE
21: Uppermost Unit - Ophiolites and
Vatos Nappe, Aktounda to Ardakatos
Ultramafic intrusions and basalts along with quartzite, sandstone and phyllite are part of an ophiolite suite representing oceanic crust. The genesis is still being discussed today. An interesting but confusing feature is a chaotic formation
referred to as “Wild Flysch”.
29: Nappe Sequence at Gonies and the Anogia Thrust
The Anogia Thrust is a fine example of an older Nappe (Tripolitza) being thrust on to younger Neogene sediments. There are also ultramafic intrusions representing oceanic crust in the area. Near Gones a succession of Tripoliza and Pindos
rocks are nicely exposed.
17: Sellia to Asamatos - Creatan Detachment and Ravdoucha Beds
The Cretan Detachment fault separates metamorphic nappes from the non-metamorphic nappes and therefore is evidence of nappes being buried by subduction deep within Earth’s crust. The subsequent buoyant exhumation to the surface is thought to
have involved a flat lying normal fault.
24: Uppermost Unit - Asterousia Mts. Traverse, Apesokari-Miamou-Lendas
The traverse begins at the edge of the Messara graben and going South ends at the coast. A widespread flysch landscape with large olistolith limestone bodies passes near Miamou in to basaltic lavas and ophiolitic mélange. Near Krotos there are paragneisses, ultamafics and migmatites.
23: Uppermost Unit - Asterousia Mts, Platia Peramata to Lutra
The coast road runs along a fault zone where older metamorphic rocks have been thrust onto younger volcanic and marine sedimentary rocks. The thrust planes are characterized by fine grained cataclastic rock and often include lens-shaped old marble bodies.
22: Uppermost Unit - Asterousia Mts,
Kali Limenes to Sinifas Beach
The rocks of Asterousia Mts. belong to the Uppermost Unit and are something special as they are thought to have originated from the Palegonian Continent. Granitoid intrusions and paragneisses indicate HT/LP conditions. Coastal outcrops expose younger rocks.
25: Uppermost Unit - Asterousia Mts,
Traverse, Gerokampos to Agios Kyrillios
Starting at the south coast and travelling northwards the first crystalline rocks exposed are metamorphic calc-silicate rocks and paragneiss that are intruded by intermediate diorite. Intusions display crosscutting younger pegmatite veins. Marble bodies and dark metapelites are offset by younger faults
28: Plattekalk Unit - Talea Ori Mts, Vossakos Traverse
This traverse provides exceptional examples of folds within the black and white sequences of the Plattenkalk. Moving down section into older rocks there are the Mavri and Sisses limestones. an erosional unconformity yielding bauxite has been used for radiometric dating.
26: Phyllite-Quartzite Unit - Telea Ori Mts West of Heraklion
The Phyllite Quartzite Unit is found in other parts of Crete, but the rocks of the Talea Ori are unique. In the Talea Ori Mts the unit has been divided into subunits. Particularly interesting are shiny green phyllites/amphibolites, red pyroclastic rocks, and
the controversial Wassilikon Marbles.
27: The Plattenkalk Unit - Talea Ori Mts, Sisses Traverse
Certain subunits of the Plattenkalk Unit are only found in the Talea Ori Mts. The oldest rocks date back to the Upper Carboniferous, which are overlain by fossiliferous Permian limestone. The Triassic and Jurassic Sisses and Mavri limestones display
ooides, oncoids and stromatolites.
31: Sedimentology of the Apostoil Basin
The basin displays the transition from continental
to marine shelf sedimentation. Beginning with alluvial fans, conglomerate channel fills and fine grained over bank deposits the succession progresses into fresh water limestones and a brackish water facies. Shoreface deposits are followed by light grey marls and finally by shelf limestones.
30: The Plattenkalk Unit - Psilorities Mts.
The Psilorities National Park presents impressive examples Plattenkalk and Plattenkalk flysch, which is over thrust by Tripoliza limestone. Well preserved silicious sponges can be observed at one location. At the Nida Plateau a major normal fault exposes the side of a mountain ridge revealing Tripoliza limestone in contact with Plattenkalk.