Genesis and Emplacement of the Supra-Subduction Zone Pindos Ophiolite, Northwestern Greece

Abstract

The north Pindos Mountains of mainland Greece expose a series of thrust sheets, which were emplaced towards the southwest during the Early Tertiary. The Jurassic Pindos ophiolite forms the upper part of this assemblage, and reveals a complex history, interpreted as mainly the result of supra-subduction zone spreading processes. Ophiolitic thrust sheets are additionally found structurally beneath the main peridotite body, and contain variable volcanic sequences, including units of island arc tholeiitic and boninitic affinities. The metamorphic sole formed in response to overthrusting of the young, hot, ophiolite, followed by emplacement onto the Pelagonian continental margin to the east. During the Cretaceous, the Pindos ocean existed as a remnant basin to the west of the emplaced ophiolite, and was infilled by deep marine sediments. During final Late Eocene collision, the Cretaceous sediments and Tertiary foreland basin deposits, were overthrust by the Pindos ophiolite and underlying thrust sheets, then emplaced onto Apulia to the southwest.