Science of Lefka Ori in Crete

18/05/2026

This piece of work here contains nice field pictures with structure geology data from the tectonic contacts between Phyllites-Quartzites, Trypali and Plattenkalk Units. There are several new pressure-temperature data corroborating the subduction zone development. The dome like structure in Western Crete is dominating with high pressure rocks (Phyllites-Quartzites) to overly medium to low pressure rocks (Trypali and Plattenkalk). The reason why the Plattenkalk were not metamorphosed in the same degree like Phyllites-Quartzites is still an interesting question with multiple answers.

Setting the Sequence of Slicing Events Along Deep Subduction Interfaces: 1. The Tectonic and Thermal Structure of the High-P Duplex in Western Crete (Hellenic Margin) Article Sidebar Article (PDF) Supporting Information Review Report Published: Apr 9, 2026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.55575/tektonika2026...

12/09/2025

A spectacular publication describing the detail architecture of the subduction zone south of Crete. It is a text-like example of interpreting structures in a compressional setting.

https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2025TC008943

12/09/2025

Here are the first results from IGCP-715 for the central Lefka Ori massif. We have mapped a new thrust fault which changes the geology model in the central Lefka Ori massif. In our perception the findings are going to influence the interpretation of subduction and uplift processes along with the hydrogeology understanding in Lefka Ori massif.

https://www.episodes.org/journal/view.html?uid=2424&vmd=Full

02/04/2024

Here is a review article about the geodynamic evolution of the Aegean-Anatolian region and I put it here because it refers extensively in the Arna Unit (high P-T metamorphic rocks) and the Mani Unit (Plattenkalk) which has a subduction metamorphic history between 25-16 Ma. To put it differently, they were exposed in the surface (partly in Crete, Peloponnese and elsewhere) later than 16 Ma ago. Enjoy

30/12/2023

This publication connects the lower stratigraphically metamorphic rocks of Cyclades (Amorgos, Samos) with the metamorphic rocks in Crete. It is spectacular argument that the basal metamorphic unit in Cyclades (Samos) which today are at a distance of 250 km from similar rocks in Crete, was less than 150 km during early Miocene (24 m.y.). This structural connection explains simple what is happening as the subduction zone is moving from north to south. I think this publication has to offer more in the understanding of subduction zone evolution as it migrates and at the same time creates extension in the backarc

"Miocene high-pressure metamorphism in the Cyclades and Crete, Aegean Sea, Greece: Evidence for large-magnitude displacement on the Cretan detachment"

Uwe Ring, Paul W. Layer, Thomas Reischmann; Miocene high-pressure metamorphism in the Cyclades and Crete, Aegean Sea, Greece: Evidence for large-magnitude displacement on the Cretan detachment. Geology 2001;; 29 (5): 395–398. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2001)0292.0.CO;2

04/11/2023

We will talk about Crete and Lefka Ori Mountains, and Al Hajar mountains, this forthcoming Tuesday 7th November 2023.Under the umbrella of IUGS and UNESCO. Zoom: https://sharjah-ac-ae.zoom.us/j/4860144414

The workshop is hosted by the University of Sharjah , College of Science, Department of Applied Physics and Astronomy.
Enjoy

24/04/2023

12th of June 2023 we are going to have a meeting and a field training with some sampling too. Target area, Lefka Ori in Crete-Greece, the largest karst system onto a unique subduction zone. The field visit, training and mapping will take place under the IGCP-715 project.

12th of June 2023 we are going to have a meeting and a field training with some sampling too. Target area, Lefka Ori in Crete-Greece, the largest karst system onto a unique subduction zone. The fie…

04/03/2023

This is a work discussing the Miocene tectonic evolution of Crete, based on the study of Phyllites-Quartzites unit in western Crete. The Phyllites-Quartzites unit was a clastic sediment rocks which went through multiple stages of metamorphosed induced events, as it was underthrusted below Crete. The work shows a long process of deformation from different dating techniques. The authors conclude that the Phyllites-Quartzite unit reach the surface of the island at about middle Miocene (16-13 million years before present). We could roughly say that after this time period the island looked like it is today.

Enjoy

The Phyllite-Quartzite Unit on Crete is subdivided into two high-pressure nappes The upper Phyllite-Quartzite Unit underwent high-pressure metamorphism at 24–21 Ma, the lower one probably after 1...

18/06/2022

A workshop in my beloved place is approaching. 27th of June 2022 in Technical University of Crete and 28th and 29th of June in Lefka Ori mountains. All under the auspices of UNESCO IGCP-715.

Read below the details

05/04/2022

This is a soil study from central and western Crete. This is a very good colleague and he is dedicated to explain the unsolved questions regarding soil development the last 2 million years in Crete. This study here indicates that Holocene soil development is totally lacking from the island. Either this is due to intense anthropogenic presence or a result of insense physical processes like erosion is still an open question.
We are working in these questions and hopefully to have some answers soon

Geomorphological processes and soil formation in slope positions within the Mediterranean area have been in the focus of research for a long time. Man…