Tectonic development of the Vardar ocean and its margins Evidence from the Republic of Macedonia and Greek Macedonia

Robertson, A.H.F.; Trivi?, B.; ?eri?, N.; Bucur, I.I.; Robertson, A.H.F; Trivi?, B; ?eri?, N; Bucur, I.I

doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2012.07.022

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Tectonic development of the Vardar ocean and its margins Evidence from the Republic of Macedonia and Greek Macedonia

Robertson, A.H.F.; Trivi?, B.; ?eri?, N.; Bucur, I.I.

Tectonophysics 595-596: 25-54

2013

ISSN/ISBN: 0040-1951

DOI: 10.1016/j.tecto.2012.07.022

Document Number: 342518

The tectonic development of the northeast margin of the Korabi-Pelagonian continent and the adjacent Vardar ocean is discussed based on study of nine traverses across the former northeastern margin of the Korabi-Pelagonian continent, represented by the West Vardar subzone in the Republic of Macedonia. A detailed correlation of units is also made across the international border with Greece, coupled with regional comparisons. Precambrian-Palaeozoic units were metamorphosed and intruded by granitic rocks, followed by Mid-Triassic rifting and the construction of a carbonate platform bordering a Late Triassic-Early Jurassic ocean. Neritic deposition was followed by Late Jurassic (syn-or pre-Early Tithonian) subsidence with radiolarian and then terrigenous turbidite sedimentation. Overlying ophiolitic rocks are characterised by a relatively thin (<500m), laterally persistent (>200kmN-S) sheet of sheared, blocky serpentinite (mainly mantle harzburgite), associated with ophiolite-derived debris flows. The emplaced ophiolitic rocks were subaerially weathered to form local Fe-Ni accumulations. Following marine transgression, a shallow-water carbonate-siliciclastic deposits, including coralgal reefs, accumulated during Late Tithonian-Early Cretaceous. After a hiatus, mixed terrigenous-carbonate gravity flows accumulated in deep water during the Late Cretaceous. The Vardar ocean opened during the Late Triassic-Early Jurassic separating the Korabi-Pelagonian and Serbo-Macedonian continents. Northeastward subduction created a Late Jurassic magmatic arc along the southern margin of the Serbo-Macedonian continent, while future ophiolites formed by supra-subduction zone spreading within the Vardar ocean. These ophiolites were emplaced in response to collision of the subduction trench with the Korabi-Pelagonian continent. The pre-Mesozoic basement detached and subducted undergoing high pressure-low temperature metamorphism during the Late Jurassic (Tithonian), followed by amphibolite/greenschist facies metamorphism and exhumation prior to the Late Cretaceous. A much reduced Vardar ocean survived into the Late Cretaceous until this finally closed during the latest Cretaceous-Early Cenozoic, triggering continental collision and thick-skinned folding/thrusting of the Pelagonian, Vardar and Serbo-Macedonian zones towards the W/SW. New sedimentary, palaeontological and structural data on emplacement of Jurassic ophiolites and related units in the Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). Restored Triassic-Late Cretaceous stratigraphy of the NE margin of the Korabi-Pelagonian continent; New data on ophiolitic rocks, including associated ophiolite-derived debris flows; Structural data demonstrating mainly latest Cretaceous-Cenozoic S and SW-directed folding and thrusting; Detailed geological correlations between Republic Macedonia and Greek Macedonia; Vardar ocean rifting; spreading; subduction/emplacement; cover development; related metamorphism. New model for Triassic-Eocene development of the Vardar ocean.

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Tectonic development of the Vardar ocean and its margins Evidence from the Republic of Macedonia and Greek Macedonia

Tectonic development of the Vardar ocean and its margins Evidence from the Republic of Macedonia and Greek Macedonia

Robertson, A.H.F.; Trivi?, B.; ?eri?, N.; Bucur, I.I.

Tectonophysics 595-596: 25-54

2013

Document emailed within 0-6 h

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