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Eo-Alpine Metamorphism in the Uppermost Unit of the Cretan Nappe System — Petrology and Geochronology

Part 1. The Léndas Area (Asteroúsia Mountains)

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Abstract

The uppermost unit of the Cretan nappe system contains a variegated series of high-grade metamorphic rocks. In the Léndas area, amphibolites are present characterized by the assemblage

$$\text{brown}\;\text{hornblende}\;+\;\text{diopside}\;+\;\text{plagioclase}\;\text{(An 50)}$$

while associated metapelitic gneisses consist of

$$\text{garnet}\;+\;\text{cordierite}\;+\;\text{biotite}\;+\;\text{sillimanite (andalusite)}\;\pm\;\text{K-feldspar}\;+\;\text{plagioclase (An 40-50)}\;+\;\text{quartz}.$$

Judging from relevant experimental data for the gneiss assemblage including the Fe/Mg distribution on coexisting garnet and cordierite, the P-T conditions of metamorphism are estimated at about 700° C and 5 kb water vapour pressure.

K/Ar determinations on hornblendes from three amphibolites yielded cooling ages of 71.3, 71.2, and 71.1 (±1.7) m.y. respectively; biotites from three paragneisses gave 70.2 ± 1.4, 69.7 ± 1.2, and 67.9 ± 1.4 m.y. respectively. Assuming a sealing temperature against argon diffusion of 300° C, for biotite, and 500° C, for hornblende, a cooling rate of 100–200° C/m.y. is calculated. Thus a late Cretaceous (eo-Alpine) metamorphic event is established in the post-Cretaceous nappes of Crete.

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Acknowledgement

This paper is a first report on a radiometric dating program on the Greek Islands, sponsored by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Bonn-Bad Godesberg) within the Schwerpunkt-Programm “Geodynamik des mediterranen Raumes”. The substantial support of this organization is gratefully acknowledged. We are indepted to H. Closs and I. Wendt (Hannover) who deserve the main credit for initiating the program. Thanks are due to E. Bisákis (Iráklion) for his kind and troublesome support in shipping the samples. We also thank M. Frey (Berne) for critical reviewing the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mineralogisch-Petrographisches Institut, Technische Universität Braunschweig, D-3300, Braunschweig, Germany

    Eberhard Seidel & Martin Okrusch

  2. Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, D-3000, Hannover 51, Germany

    Hans Kreuzer, Helmut Raschka & Wilhelm Harre

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  1. Eberhard Seidel
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Seidel, E., Okrusch, M., Kreuzer, H. et al. Eo-Alpine Metamorphism in the Uppermost Unit of the Cretan Nappe System — Petrology and Geochronology. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 57, 259–275 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03542937

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