The Most Important Events of Geological Evolution of Cyprus in the Late Cretaceous

• Published in: Stratigraphy and geological correlation Vol. 30; no. Suppl 1; pp. S78 - S95
• Main Author: Bragin, N. Yu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow Pleiades Publishing 01-12-2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Accumulation; Archaeology; Biostratigraphy; Carbonates; Continental margins; Cretaceous; Deep water; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Evolution; Geology; Geophysics/Geodesy; Gravity; Historical Geology; Isotopes; Metamorphism; Ocean floor; Olistostromes; Ophiolites; Sedimentology; Sequences; Stratigraphy; Structural Geology; Cyprus; olistostrome; radiolarians; planktonic foraminifers; tectonics; mélange; stratigraphy
• ISSN: 0869-5938; 1555-6263
• DOI: 10.1134/S0869593823010021

The stratigraphic and structural setting of a series of sequences and complexes is refined on the basis of long-term studies of biostratigraphy of the Upper Cretaceous rocks of Cyprus (by radiolarians and planktonic foraminifers). Thus, the most important geological events are dated on this basis and five main Late Cretaceous stages of geological evolution of the region are distinguished: (i) the early Turonian related to the end of the formation of the Mamonia Complex (a continental margin of the Tauride Block); (ii) the middle Turonian–early Campanian related to the collision of the Troodos (Neotethys Ophiolites) and Mamonia complexes, metamorphism of the Mamonia Complex, formation of the Mamonia Mélange, and the beginning of formation of a nappe system of the Mamonia Complex; (iii) the middle–late Campanian leading to the origination of the Kyrenia volcanic arc, accumulation of a pyroclastic sequence of the Kannaviou Formation and the Moni Olistostrome, and the end of the formation of the nappe system of the Mamonia Complex; (iv) the early Maastrichtian related to the accumulation of the Kathikas Formation (gravitational mixtite) upon the erosion of the seafloor during the formation of the nappe system of the Mamonia Complex; and (v) the late Maastrichtian with ubiquitous deep-water carbonate sedimentation (Lefkara Formation).