Skip to main content
Log in

Middle Jurassic age of basalts and the post-obduction sedimentary sequence in the Guevgueli Ophiolite Complex (Republic of Macedonia)

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Guevgueli Ophiolite Complex near Demir Kapija (Eastern Vardar Ophiolitic Unit) was studied for the age and facies of the overlying sediments. Cherts in direct contact with basalts are dated to late Bathonian–early Callovian with radiolarians. The post-obduction sequence, here informally named the Demir Kapija group, is composed of polymictic conglomerate, probably Kimmeridgian in age, and a more than 350-m thick carbonate succession. The carbonate succession consists of hemipelagic, slope and platform margin facies and contains algae and benthic foraminifers indicative of the Tithonian age. These new data support the previously proposed palaeogeographical connection between the Guevgueli and South Apuseni ophiolite complexes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anders B, Reischmann T, Poller U, Kostopoulos D (2005) Age and origin of granitic rocks of the eastern Vardar Zone, Greece: new constraints on the evolution of the Internal Hellenides. J Geol Soc Lond 162:857–870

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bassoullet JP (1997a) Foraminifères—Les grands foraminifères. In: Groupe Français d’Étude du Jurassique. Biostratigraphie du Jurassique ouest-européen et méditerranéen: zonations parallèles et distribution des invertébrés et microfossiles. Bull Centre Rech Elf Explor Prod, Mém 17:293–304

  • Bassoullet JP (1997b) Algues Dasycladales—Distribution des principales espèces. In: Groupe Français d’Étude du Jurassique. Biostratigraphie du Jurassique ouest-européen et méditerranéen: zonations parallèles et distribution des invertébrés et microfossiles. Bull Centre Rech Elf Explor Prod, Mém 17:339–342

  • Baumgartner PO, Bartolini A, Carter ES, Conti M, Cortese G, Danelian T, De Wever P, Dumitrica P, Dumitrica-Jud R, Goričan Š, Guex J, Hull DM, Kito N, Marcucci M, Matsuoka A, Murchey B, O’Dogherty L, Savary J, Vishnevskaya V, Widz D, Yao A (1995a) Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous radiolarian biochronology of Tethys based on Unitary Associations. In: Baumgartner PO, O’Dogherty L, Goričan Š, Urquhart E, Pillevuit A, DeWever P (eds) Middle Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous Radiolaria of Tethys: occurrences, systematics, biochronology. Mém Géol (Lausanne) 23:1013–1038

  • Baumgartner PO, O’Dogherty L, Goričan Š, Dumitrica-Jud R, Dumitrica P, Pillevuit A, Urquhart E, Matsuoka A, Danelian T, Bartolini A, Carter ES, De Wever P, Kito N, Marcucci M, Steiger T (1995b) Radiolarian catalogue and systematics of Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous Tethyan genera and species. In: Baumgartner PO, O’Dogherty L, Goričan Š, Urquhart E, Pillevuit A, DeWever P (eds) Middle Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous Radiolaria of Tethys: occurrences, systematics, biochronology. Mém Géol (Lausanne) 23:37–685

  • Bébien J, Dubois R, Gauthier A (1986) Example of ensialic ophiolites emplaced in a wrench zone: innermost Hellenic ophiolite belt (Greek Macedonia). Geology 14:1016–1019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beccaluva L, Coltorti M, Saccani E, Siena F (2005) Magma generation and crustal accretion as evidenced by supra-subduction ophiolites of the Albanide-Hellenide Subpelagonian zone. Isl Arc 14:551–563

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernoulli D, Laubscher H (1972) The palinspastic problem of the Hellenides. Eclogae Geol Helv 65:107–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Bortolotti V, Marroni M, Ionel N, Pandolfi L, Principi GF, Saccani E (2002) Geodynamic implications of Jurassic ophiolites associated with island-arc volcanics, South Apuseni Mountains, western Romania. Int Geol Rev 44:938–955

  • Bortolotti V, Chiari M, Marcucci M, Marroni M, Pandolfi L, Principi G, Saccani E (2004a) Comparison among the Albanian and Greek ophiolites: in search of constraints for the evolution of the Mesozoic Tethys Ocean. Ofioliti 29:19–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Bortolotti V, Marroni M, Ionel N, Pandolfi L, Principi GF, Saccani E (2004b) An update of the Jurassic ophiolites and associated calc-alcaline rocks in the South Apuseni Mountains (Western Romania). Ofioliti 29:5–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Bortolotti V, Marroni M, Pandolfi L, Principi G (2005) Mesozoic to Tertiary tectonic history of the Mirdita ophiolites, northern Albania. Isl Arc 14:471–493

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bortolotti V, Chiari M, Marroni M, Pandolfi L, Principi G, Saccani E (2013) Geodynamic evolution of ophiolites from Albania and Greece (Dinaric-Hellenic belt): one, two, or more oceanic basins? Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 102:783–811

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Božović M, Prelević D, Romer RL, Barth M, Van den Bogaard P, Boev B (2013) The Demir Kapija Ophiolite, Macedonia (FYROM): a snapshot of subduction initiation within a back-arc. J Petrol 54:1427–1453

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown SAM, Robertson AHF (2003) Sedimentary geology as a key to understanding the tectonic evolution of the Mesozoic-Early Tertiary Paikon Massif, Vardar suture zone, N Greece. Sed Geol 160:179–212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chiari M, Marcucci M, Prela M (1994) Mirdita ophiolites project: 2 radiolarian assemblages in the cherts at Fusche Arrez and Shebaj (Mirdita area, Albania). Ofioliti 19:313–318

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiari M, Bortolotti V, Marcucci M, Photiades A, Principi G (2003) The Middle Jurassic siliceous sedimentary cover at the top of the Vourinos ophiolite (Greece). Ofioliti 28:95–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiari M, Marcucci M, Prela M (2004) Radiolarian assemblages from the Jurassic cherts of Albania: new data. Ofioliti 29:95–105

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiari M, Bortolotti V, Marcucci M, Photiades A, Principi G, Saccani E (2012) Radiolarian biostratigraphy and geochemistry of the Koziakas massif ophiolites (Greece). Bull Soc Géol Fr 183:287–306

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Danelian T, Robertson AHF, Dimitriadis S (1996) Age and significance of radiolarian sediments within basic extrusives of the marginal basin Guevgueli ophiolite (northern Greece). Geol Mag 133:127–136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dilek Y, Furnes H, Shallo M (2008) Geochemistry of the Jurassic Mirdita ophiolite (Albanian) and the MORB to SSZ evolution of a marginal basin oceanic crust. Lithos 100:174–209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dumurdzanov N, Serafimovski T, Burchfiel BC (2005) Cenozoic tectonics of Macedonia and its relation to the South Balkan extensional regime. Geosphere 1:1–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrière J, Chanier F, Ditbanjong P (2012) The Hellenic ophiolites: eastward or westward obduction of the Maliac Ocean, a discussion. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 101:1559–1580

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gawlick H-J, Schlagintweit F (2006) Berriasian drowning of the Plassen carbonate platform at the type-locality and its bearing on the early Eoalpine orogenic dynamics in the Northern Calcareous Alps (Austria). Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 95:451–462

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gawlick H-J, Frisch W, Hoxha L, Dumitrica P, Krystyn L, Lein R, Missoni S, Schlagintweit F (2008) Mirdita zone ophiolites and associated sediments in Albania reveal Neotethys Ocean origin. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 97:865–881

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gradstein FM, Ogg JG, Schmitz MD, Ogg GM (2012) The geological time scale 2012. Elsevier, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Hristov S, Karajovanović M, Stračkov M (1973) Osnovna geološka karta SFRJ 1:100.000, list Kavadarci. Savezni geološki zavod, Beograd

  • Insalaco E (1996) Upper Jurassic microsolenid biostromes of the north and central Europe: fabrics and depositional environment. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 121:169–194

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ivanov T, Mísař Z, Bowes DR, Dudek A, Dumurdzanov N, Jaros J, Jelínek E, Pačesová M (1987) The Demir Kapija-Gevgelija ophiolite massif, Macedonia, Yugoslavia. Ofioliti 12:457–478

    Google Scholar 

  • Karamata S (2006) The geological development of the Balkan Peninsula related to the approach, collision and compression of Gondwana and Eurasian units. In: Robertson AHF, Mountrakis D (eds) Tectonic development of the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Geol Soc London Spec Publ 260:155–178

  • Lupu M, Avram E, Antonescu E, Dumitrica P, Lupu D, Nicolae I (1993) The Neojurassic and the Cretaceous of the Drocea Mts: the stratigraphy and the structure of an ensialic marginal basin. Rom J Tect Reg Geol 75:53–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Marcucci M, Kodra A, Pirdeni A, Gjata T (1994) Radiolarian assemblages in the Triassic and Jurassic cherts of Albania. Ofioliti 19:105–114

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Dogherty L, Carter E S, Dumitrica P, Goričan Š, De Wever P, Bandini AN, Baumgartner PO, Matsuoka A (2009) Catalogue of Mesozoic radiolarian genera. Part 2: Jurassic-Cretaceous. In: O’Dogherty L, Goričan Š, DeWever P (eds) Catalogue of Mesozoic radiolarian genera. Geodiversitas 31:271–356

  • Ozsvárt P, Kovács S (2012) Revised Middle and Late Triassic radiolarian ages for ophiolite mélanges: implications for the geodynamic evolution of the northern part of the early Mesozoic Neotethyan subbasins. Bull Soc Géol Fr 183:273–286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pellenard P, Nomade S, Martire L, De Oliveira Ramalho F, Monna F, Guillou H (2013) The first 40Ar–39Ar date from Oxfordian ammonite-calibrated volcanic layers (bentonites) as a tie-point for the Late Jurassic. Geol Mag 150:1136–1142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prela M, Chiari M, Marcucci M (2000) Jurassic radiolarian biostratigraphy of the sedimentary cover of ophiolites in the Mirdita Area, Albania: new data. Ofioliti 25:55–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Robertson AHF (2012) Late Palaeozoic-Cenozoic tectonic development of Greece and Albania in the context of alternative reconstructions of Tethys in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Int Geol Rev 54:373–454

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson AHF, Shallo M (2000) Mesozoic-Tertiary tectonic evolution of Albania in its regional Eastern Mediterranean context. Tectonophysics 316:197–214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson AHF, Karamata S, Šarić K (2009) Overview of ophiolites and related units in the Late Palaeozoic–Early Cenozoic magmatic and tectonic development of Tethys in the northern part of the Balkan region. Lithos 108:1–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson AHF, Trivić B, Đerić N, Bucur II (2013) Tectonic development of the Vardar ocean and its margins: evidence from the Republic of Macedonia and Greek Macedonia. Tectonophysics 595–596:25–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saccani E, Bortolotti V, Marroni M, Pandolfi L, Photiades A, Principi G (2008) The Jurassic association of backarc basin ophiolites and calc-alkaline volcanics in the Guevgueli Complex (Northern Greece). Implication for the evolution of the Vardar Zone. Ofioliti 33:209–227

    Google Scholar 

  • Saccani E, Beccaluva L, Photiades A, Zeda O (2011) Petrogenesis and tectono-magmatic significance of basalts and mantle peridotites from the Albanian-Greek ophiolites and sub-ophiolitic mélanges. New constraints for the Triassic-Jurassic evolution of the Neo-Tethys in the Dinaride sector. Lithos 124:227–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Šarić K, Cvetković V, Romer RL, Christofides G, Koroneos A (2009) Granitoides associated with East Vardar ophiolites (Serbia, F.Y.R. of Macedonia and northern Greece): origin, evolution and geodynamic significance inferred from major and trace element data and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopes. Lithos 108:131–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Săsăran E (2005) Sedimentaţia carbonatică în Jurasicul superior şi Cretacicul inferior din pânza de Bedeleu (Munţii Apuseni): faciesuri, biostratigrafie şi evoluţie sedimentară. Dissertation, Babeş-Bolyai University

  • Săsăran E (2006) Calcarele Jurasicului superior—Cretacicului inferior din Munţii Trascău. Cluj University Press, Cluj-Napoca

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlagintweit F, Gawlick H-J, Missoni S, Hoxha L, Lein R, Frisch W (2008) The eroded Late Jurassic Kurbnesh carbonate platform in the Mirdita Ophiolite zone of Albania and its bearing on the Jurassic orogeny of the Neotethys realm. Swiss J Geosci 101:125–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmid MS, Bernoulli D, Fügenschuh B, Matenco L, Schefer S, Schuster R, Tischler M, Ustaszewski K (2008) The Alpine-Carpathian-Dinaridic orogenic system: correlation and evolution of tectonic units. Swiss J Geosci 101:139–183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spray JG, Bébien J, Rex DC, Roddick JC (1984) Age constraints on the igneous and metamorphic evolution of the Hellenic-Dinaric ophiolites. In: Dixon JE, Robertson AHF (eds) The Geological evolution of the Eastern Mediterranean. Geol Soc London Spec Publ 17:619–627

  • Stampfli GM, Borel GD (2002) A plate tectonic model for the Paleozoic and Mesozoic constrained by dynamic plate boundaries and restored synthetic oceanic isochrons. Earth Planet Sci Lett 196:17–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zachariadis P, Kostopoulos D, Reischmann T, Himmerkus F, Matukov D, Sergeev S (2006) U–Pb ion-microprobe zircon dating of the subduction-related magmatism from northern Greece: the age of the Guevgueli, Thessaloniki and Chalkidiki igneous complexes. Geophys Res Abstr 8: SRef-ID: 1607-7962/gra/EGU06-A-05560

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the Slovenian Research Agency (programme no. P1–0008). We thank Dragica Turnšek for the coral determination, Ivan Gušić for the determination of foraminifers, Kata Cvetko Barić for preparing the thin sections, Vida Bitenc for cartographic visualisation of the geological map, and Murray James Bales for English corrections of the final text. Reviewers Marco Chiari and Dejan Prelević are thanked for their comments which improved the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Duje Kukoč.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kukoč, D., Goričan, Š., Košir, A. et al. Middle Jurassic age of basalts and the post-obduction sedimentary sequence in the Guevgueli Ophiolite Complex (Republic of Macedonia). Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 104, 435–447 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-014-1086-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-014-1086-6

Keywords

Navigation