Miocene high-pressure metamorphism in the Cyclades and Crete, Aegean Sea, Greece: Evidence for large-magnitude displacement on the Cretan detachment

Abstract

Research Article| May 01, 2001 Miocene high-pressure metamorphism in the Cyclades and Crete, Aegean Sea, Greece: Evidence for large-magnitude displacement on the Cretan detachment Uwe Ring; Uwe Ring 1Institut für Geowissenschaften, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, 55099 Mainz, Germany Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Paul W. Layer; Paul W. Layer 2Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Thomas Reischmann Thomas Reischmann 3Institut für Geowissenschaften, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, 55099 Mainz, Germany Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Uwe Ring 1Institut für Geowissenschaften, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, 55099 Mainz, Germany Paul W. Layer 2Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, USA Thomas Reischmann 3Institut für Geowissenschaften, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, 55099 Mainz, Germany Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 06 Sep 2000 Revision Received: 23 Jan 2001 Accepted: 24 Jan 2001 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2001) 29 (5): 395–398. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029<0395:MHPMIT>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 06 Sep 2000 Revision Received: 23 Jan 2001 Accepted: 24 Jan 2001 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Uwe Ring, Paul W. Layer, Thomas Reischmann; Miocene high-pressure metamorphism in the Cyclades and Crete, Aegean Sea, Greece: Evidence for large-magnitude displacement on the Cretan detachment. Geology 2001;; 29 (5): 395–398. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029<0395:MHPMIT>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The Cyclades in the backarc region of the present Hellenic subduction zone are known for widespread Late Cretaceous to Eocene high-pressure metamorphism in the Cycladic blueschist unit. We report 40Ar/39Ar and Rb/Sr phengite ages of 24–21 Ma for high- pressure metamorphism (8–10 kbar, 350–400 °C) in the lowest tectonic unit in the Cyclades, the Basal unit, which structurally underlies the Cycladic blueschist unit. The Basal unit is correlated with the Tripolitza unit of the External Hellenides in the forearc region of the Hellenic subduction zone. The Tripolitza unit is unmetamorphosed on Crete, where it is separated from the underlying high-pressure (8–10 kbar, 300–400 °C) Plattenkalk and Phyllite-Quartzite units by the extensional Cretan detachment. The age for high- pressure metamorphism in the latter units is similar to our age for the Basal unit in the Cyclades. Because pressure-temperature conditions in the Plattenkalk and Phyllite- Quartzite units on Crete and the Basal unit in the Cyclades are also similar, they must have been in close proximity in the early Miocene Hellenic subduction zone. A palinspastic reconstruction suggests a subsequent displacement of >100 km on the Cretan detachment. This is one of the greatest displacement magnitudes ever reported from detachment faults. Because of this large offset, the Cretan detachment was an efficient agent for exhuming high-pressure rocks. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.