Troodos: A Giant Serpentinite Diapir

Roelof Dirk Schuiling

.

DOI: 10.4236/ijg.2011.22010                

Abstract

Troodos is a classical ophiolite complex. It is proposed that the serpentinized harzburgites that now form the top of the mountain and represent the originally lowest part of the ophiolite sequence rose as a diapir. This diapiric rise is caused by the pervasive serpentinization of a suboceanic harzburgite, due to rock-sea water interaction. The serpentinization caused a 44% expansion of the rocks. Contrary to salt diapirism, the driving force for this diapiric rise is not so much the difference in density, but the volume increase asscociated with the transformation of harzburgite into serpentinite. The overlying gabbros, sheeted dike complex and pillow lavas were pierced by this serpentinite diapir but barely deformed. Their interaction with sea water was li- mited to some pyroxenes in the gabbros being transformed to amphiboles, and epidotisation of some of the dikes in the sheeted dike complex. The location of steep faults in the Troodos massif is determined by the contrasting expansion behavior of different rock-types on both sides of the fault.

Keywords

Ophiolites, Seawater Interaction, Serpentinization, (Lack of) Deformation, Cyprus, Olympic Flame

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	P. Fryer and G. J. Fryer, “Origin of Nonvolcanic Seamounts in a Forearc Environment,” In: B. H. Keating, P. Fryer, R. Batiza and G. W. Boelert, Eds., Seamounts, Islands, and Atolls, Geophysical Monograph Series 43, American Geophysical Union, Washington DC, 1987, pp. 61-69.
[2]	G. Boillot, et al., “Ocean-Continent Boundary off the Iberian Margin: A Serpentinite Diapir West of Galicia Bank,” Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Vol. 48, No. 1, 1980, pp. 23-34. doi:10.1016/0012-821X(80)90166-1
[3]	R. A. Robie, et al., “Thermodynamic Properties of Minerals and Related Substances at 298.14 K and 1 Bar (105 Pascals) Pressure and at Higher Temperatures,” US Geological Survey, 1978.
[4]	W. Bach, et al., “Unraveling the Sequence of Serpen- tinization Reactions: Petrography, Mineral Chemistry and Petrophysics of Serpentinites from MAR 15°N,” Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 33, No 13, 2006, pp. 4-7. 10.1029/2006GL025681
[5]	B. Jamtveit and H. Austhreim, “Metamorphism: The Role of Fluids,” Elements, Vol. 6, No. 3, 2010, pp. 153-158. doi:10.2113/gselements.6.3.153
[6]	I. G. Gass, “Origin and Emplacement of Ophiolites,” Geological Society, Vol. 7, 1977, pp. 72-76. doi:10.1144/GSL.SP.1977.007.01.07
[7]	R. D. Schuiling, “Serpentinization as a Possible Cause of High Heat-Flow Values in and near Oceanic Ridges,” Nature, Vol. 201, No. 4921, 1964, pp. 807-808. doi:10.1038/201807b0
[8]	R. D. Schuiling, “Geochemical Engineering; Taking Stock,” Journal of Geochemical Exploration, Vol. 62, No. 1-3, 1998, pp. 1-28. doi:10.1016/S0375-6742(97)00042-3
[9]	News Archive Space, “TerraSAR-X Image of the Month: Ground Uplift under Staufen’s Old Town,” 22 October 2009.
[10]	P. Nuriel, et al., “Fault-Related Oceanic Serpentinization in the Troodos Ophiolite, Cyprus: Implications for a Fossil Oceanic Core Complex,” Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Vol. 282, No. 1-4, 2009, pp. 34-46. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2009.02.029
[11]	D. S. Kelley, “From the Mantle To Microbes. The Lost City Hydrothermal Field,” Oceanography, Vol. 18, No. 3, 2005, pp. 33-45.