Cyprus – level 5 Geology Study Tour 2011 and 2012

A two-week residential field course studying world-class igneous and sedimentary geology,

including the famous Troodos ophiolite, which represents a uniquely-accessible section

through ancient oceanic crust and upper mantle.

Studying upper mantle rocks in the Troodos mountains.

Although this may look like cross bedding in a sandstone, the rock is actually a

layered gabbro on Troodos, preserving evidence of dynamism in a magma chamber.

Abandoned asbestos mine at Amiandos in the Troodos mountains. The mineralization

was produced by hydrothermal alteration of the upper mantle rocks in the ophiolite.

Recording evidence for the interaction of faulting and volcanic processes in exposures of the

ophiolite succession near Malounda Bridge in the Akaki River gorge.

Sketching the transition between the sheeted dyke complex and pillow lavas in

oceanic crust exposed in the ophiolite succession at Klirou on the Akaki River.

Examining pillow lavas and sheet flows in the ophiolite near the village of Margi. Across the

stream can be seen the overlying chalk beds.

Abandoned copper mine at Kokkinopezoula, that was part of a hydrothermal vent

system.

Logging fossiliferous Palaeogene deep sea limestones at Kouris Bridge.

Recording petrological data on part of an exposed deep sea debris flow, Lageia.

Mega channel of Pleistocene age cut through Miocene shallow marine limestones at Choirikotia.

Note the size of the boulder!

Collecting detailed observations of Holocene/Quaternary beach rock on the shoreline

near Pafos airport.

Lunch break with a view in Armageti near where we see 2 metre high gypsum crystals.

Examining slowly accumulated deep sea Jurassic clays with cherts in the Dhiarizos

Valley.

Group photo on the beach at Petra Tou Romiou.

Recording observations on deep marine mudrocks in part of a Triassic marine

sequence exposed along the shoreline at Loudra Tis Afroditis.

Governor’s Beach near Limassol; dark green sand but pink and white rocks. How

does that work?

Farewell from the Troodos until the next time. Group photo at Amiandos.