Das Paläozoikum des östlichen Mittelgriechenland und einiger ägäischer Inseln (Ein Überblick)

Abstract

The oldest fossiliferous sediments in the region are the Silurian graptolite shales and limestones on Chios island. Rocks older than Silurian are unknown. The chiotic Agrelopos reef limestone and its equivalents on the Karaburun peninsula have an Upper Silurian or Lower Devonian age. On Chios island Lower Devonian is also known as conodont-bearing sandy shales and limestones. Middle Devonian rocks are not yet proved in the Aegean region, whereas Upper Devonian deposits on Chios island occur in a facies of conodont-bearing sandy and siliceous shales and in a goniatite limestone-facies. Also in the Lower Carboniferous two facies can be differentiated: graywackes, lydites and dark limestones with conodonts in Northwest Chios, and coral-brachiopod-limestones in elastic series in East Chios, Lesbos, Karaburun, and in Attica. Basic volcanic rocks are often intercalated in the Lower Carboniferous sediments. Light neritic limestones are abundant in the Upper Carboniferous of South Chios and the chiotic nappe. The contemporary deposits on Euboea island and in the Parnes mountains consist of shales, sandstones and lenses of dark limestones with foraminifera and conodonts. Sediments of the Lower Permian are elastics with intercalated limestones, which contain rich algal and fusulinid faunas. They are exposed in Attica and on the Isles of Hydra, Euboea, and Chios. During a regression in lower Middle Permian time the older sediments were eroded and elastics probably of continental origin were deposited. Only near Hydra island and in the Othris mountains Middle Permian Neoschwagerina limestones have been found. A widespread transgression is documented by the upper Middle Permian and Upper Permian marine sediments, which occur in Attica, in the Othris mountains, on the isles of Euboea, Hydra, Chios, Lesbos, and on the Karaburun peninsula. These sediments consists of dark algal dolomites and limestones, massive grey or reddish reef limestones with calcisponges and tubiphytes and on Salamis island in a basinal facies dark shales and limestones. During the uppermost Permian the sea again regressed from the area and returned only after a time of erosion and karstification in the Upper Skythian.