Troodos Ophiolite, Cyprus

The Apliki Mine, NW Troodos: © Andrew Martin
The Troodos Mountains on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus are part of an ophiolite complex; an ophiolite is an uplifted fragment of oceanic crust and the Troodos ophiolite is a bigger version of the one we see at The Lizard in Cornwall. Troodos formed at the bottom of the Tethys Ocean during the Cretaceous around 92 Myrs ago. During the Neogene (20 Myrs ago) the island began to uplift due to fluid-rock reactions deep within mantle rocks; the uplift was uneven and centred around Mt.
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Pyrite 'Fools Gold': © Andrew Martin |
Olympos and has led to the exposure of a complete, concentric sequence of ophiolitic rocks. Subsequent exposure and erosion of the sediments which formed above Troodos means you can walk from the mantle (several km below our feet) to the modern seafloor. The uplift of Troodos is ongoing and Cyprus remains tectonically
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Blue staining often indicates copper secondary minerals such as malachite: © Andrew Martin |
In recognition of the scientific, cultural and geological significance of Troodos, in 2008 UNESCO designated Troodos as a Geopark; an area of special geological significance.
Further reading:
Geological Survey: www.moa.gov.cy/moa/gsd/gsd.nsf
Troodos Geopark: www.troodos-geo.org
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