GEOLOGICA BALCANICA, 21. 5, Sofia, Oct. 1991, p. 69-76.

K-Ar dating of ophiolites from Rhodes

and Karpathos islands, Dodekanese, Greece
K. Hatzipanagiotou
Department of Geolog'y, University of Patras, 26110 Patras, Greece

(Received 18. 06.1990; accepted 18. 09. 1990}

K. XM:J~Cunanazaomy- K-Ar BoJpacm o¢uo,tumoB c ocmpoBoB PoiJoc u Kap11amoc, J(oiJeKa neJbl ( Tpequ11).
fipone)lem.r reoxponorrorwfecKue uccrre)lonaHHll o<IJHOJIHTOD c ocTponon Po)loc H KaprraToc (JJ:o)leKaHe3hl,
rpeuull). 0rrpe)leJIJlJICll D03paCT (K-Ar MeTO)l) MOHOMHHepaiibHbiX <IJpaKUHH H3 MarMaTH'fOCKHX (aM<IJHOOJIO·
BOe ra66po) H MeTaMOMIH'fOCKHX nOpo)l, npHHa,!VIellCailiHX K HH33M o<IJHOJIHTOBOfO (aM4!1HOOJIHTOBOrO) pa3•
pe33. JJ:aTHpOnaHHbie 06pa3Ubl DJJITbi H3 reTeporeHHOit, XaOTH'IOCKOil: 'faCTH o<IJHOJlllTOBOfO MeJI3.JVICa. Arul Mar-
MaTH'IOCKHX nopo)l onpe)leJieH nepXHeMenonoll noJpaCT - 82-88 Ma, a )lJill MeTaMop<IJB'lOCKHX - cpe!lHeiOp-
cKHtt- 160-180 Ma.
Ha ocuonaHHH nux pe3yJibtaTOB o<IJuoJIHnr Po)loca H Kapnaroca MOJKKO xoppeiiHponaTb xaK c nepx-
HeMeJIOBhiM o<IJHJIHTOBblM nOliCOM TanpHil, Tax R co cpe,llHeiOpCKRM o<IJHOmiTOBbiM nol!COM 3JIJieHHil-JJ:H-
uapR)l. B COOTBeTCTBHR C 3THM o6a OCTpona 3aHHMaiOT Cpe,llHee lTOJIOJKeHHe MCJK)lY O<IJHOJIHTOBbiMH !TOllcaMH
- MeJKilY TanpcKHM nOliCOM c cenepo-noCTOKa u 3nrumu)lHo-JJ:uaapu)lHhiM- c cenepo-Jarra)la.
Ab1tract. Geochronology of the ophiolites of Rhodes and Kar}!lathos islands, Dodecanese, Greece, has been
done by dating mineral concentrates from magmatic (hornblende gabbros) and metamorphic rocks at the base
of ophiolites (amphibolites) by the K-Ar metnod. The dated rocks come from a heterogeneous chaotic
mixture of the ophiolitic melange. K-Ar dating revealed different ages for the magmatic and metamorphic rocks,
that is 82-88 Ma (Upper Cretaceous) and 160-180 Ma (Middle Jura ssic), respectively.
Based on these results, the ophiolites of Rhodes and Karpathos can be connected to the Upper Cre-
taceous ophiolite belt of the Taurides, on the one hand, and the Middle Jurassic one of the Hellenides-
Dinarides, on the other. These two islands therefore have an intermediate position between the ophiolite belts
of Taurides to the northeast and Hellenides-Dinarides to the northwest.

Geological setting
The islands of Rhodes and Karpathos, southwestern Aegean Sea, are characterised, accor-
ding to recent studies, by large-scale nappe tectonics. An autochthonous sequence of pla-
ty limestones (Plattenkalk) is overlain by a nappe-pile consisting of four major nappes.
Clastic sediments, mainly of Tertiary and Quaternary age, are transgressively overlying
the previously mentioned geological units (Christo do u I o u, 1960, 1963; Mutt i
et al., 1970; Davidson-Monett, 1974; Baumann et al., 1977; Hartung,
1982; Seidel, Wachendorf, 1982; Hatzipanagiotou, 1988).
The uppermost allochthonous unit of Rhodes consists of an ophiolitic melange (in the
sense of G an sse r, 1974) at the base and a relictic ophiolitic nappe on top. A charac-
teristic feature of the ophiolitic melange is the presence of a heterogeneous chaotic mix-
ture of different rock types. The formation of this mixture is ascribed to a combination
of sedimentary and tectonic processes.
On the island of Rhodes the ophiolitic melange has a thickness of approximately

69
300 m and covers an area of 30 km~ at the NW part of the island, whereas the ophio-
litic nappe occurs in minor outcrops at the NE part (Fig. 1).
On the island of Karpathos (Fig. 2) the uppermost nappe is made up only of minor
occurrences of ophiolitic melange, about 200m thick, cropping out at the central and south-
ern parts (H at z i p a n a g i o t o u, 1988).
The ophiolitic melange of these two islands consists of a variety of rock types such
as serpentinites, pyroxenites, gabbroic and basaltic rocks, tuffs, shales, radiolarites, neri-
tic and pelagic sediments. Moreover, within the ophiolitic melange of Rhodes exotic blocks
of metamorphic rocks were found. On that island, the overlying ophiolitic nappe consists
exclusively of serpentinized peridotites, locally crossed by microgabbroic dykes.
Rock samples, suitable for isotopic add geochronological work of the ophiolitic com-
plex, have been taken from the heterogeneous chaotic mixture of Rhodes and Karpathos.
The petrological types selected for this purpose were hornblende-gabbros and amphibo-
lites.

Petrography
Hornblende-gabbros

The hornblende-gabbros of Rhodes are characterized by the mineral paragenesis of brown

hornblende- plagioclase. Metamorphic overprint is indicated by a slight orientation of
the mineral constituents and by occasionally well-formed amphibole porphyroblasts.
Greenish-brownish, hypidiomorphic to xenomorphic amphibole together with also
hypidiomorphic plagioclase are the main constituents of the samples 124K, 215K and
237K (locality: north of Kopria bay). Brown hornblende, with pronounced cleavage,
2 mm in diameter and showing a strong pleochroism, constitutes the predominant
mineral phase; na= pale yellow-green to pale green-brown< nh = yellowish-green to yellowish-
brown<n ~= yellowish-green to green-brown. Brown hornblende is preserved, in most
cases, in the core of crystals the outer rim of which is a green amphibole. Plagioclase
has an average length of 1 mm and reaches about 40-50 vol. ~-;; . In most cases it is twin-
ned according to the albite - and albite-pericline-law and shows thin lamellae. The anor-
thite content ranges between 48-56 mol /';; . A mechanic influence is confirmed by undula-
tory extinction and, more rarely, on bending of the twinning lamellae and by kink-bending
of grain aggregates. Sericitisation is also observed .
Clinopyroxene is preserved only occasionally as a relic while in most cases it is en-
tirely replaced by green amphibole. The presence of fine, rounded sphene aggregates within
the amphibole grains is an indication of high titanium contents of the original clinopyro-
xenes. Fine chlorite leaves as well as fine-grained epidote are subordinate. Xenomorph
ore aggregates and rounded apatite inclusions in amphibole and plagioclase are accesso-
ry phases. Quartz participates also as accessory.
The hornblende gabbros of Karpathos show many similarities to those of Rhodes. Cha-
racteristic are the paragenesis hornblende-plagioclase and the metamorphic orientation.
Brown and greenish, hypidiomorphic to xenomorphic amphibole together with hypidio-
morphic plagioclase are the main constituents of the samples 19X, 129X and 150X (lo-
cality: Stavri valley), whereas the clinopyroxene percentage is significantly lower.
Brown hornblende with pronounced cleavage and a diameter between I and 3 mm is
the main constituent of these rocks. Their pleochroism is strong: na= brown-ycllow<
nb = reddish-brown nc< = olive-brown. Like in the case of the hornblende-gabbros of Rho-
des, brown hornblende constitutes the core of the crystals whereas the rim consists of
green amphibole and chlorite. Also, here, plagioclase with an average length of 2 mm is
twinned according to the albite- and albite-pericline law. The anorthite content ranges
between 40-55 mol %. Sericitisation or saus siritisation is observed, in most cases, starting
from the core of the crys tal and proceeding outwards, but sometimes the whole grain

70
 Rhodes

RHOD£$

Psinthos

Mandnko

NEOAUTOCHTHON

CJ Pliocene - Pleistocene
Transition from Flysch
(c¥#111 to Mola sse
ALLOCHTHON
lllllll Ophiolitic nappe(l.) and
. u . ophiolitic melange (r . )
ITIIllJI] Profi tis I 1i as Group
~ Archangelos Group

~ Tectonic melange (e .g.Flysch

~ of Larma)
AUTOCHTHON
Ffi?=i1 Atavi ros and Li ndos
~ Li mestones
12km

Fig. I. Geological sketch map of Rhodes

71
 KARI'A THOS

NEOAUTOCHTHON
~ Oligocene - Pleistocene

ALLOCHTHON
Ophiolitic melange

Xindothio series
Spoa-
Kali limni, Assomata and
Menete series
Anginara-Adra Flysch

AUTOCHTHON
!'I5:5] Carbonate series of Anginara,
tr:Jt:D Agios Nikolaos and Adra
Xindothio--

Skm

Fig. 2. Geological sketch map of Karpathos

72
is altered. Clinopyroxene relics are sometimes preserved and are usually entirely replaced
by green amphibole. Magnetite aggregates, as well as sphene and apatite are present in
subordinate to accesory amounts.

Metamorphic rocks of Rhodes

Metamorphic rocks crop out in the western part of Rhodes island in form of tectonic
blocks within the ophiolitic melange. A large outcrop of around 100 m2 , in form of ter-
rasses occurs in northwest Kritinia, near Mavri. The metamorphic rocks are bounded by
fine-grained diabases and overlain by Neogene sediments of Poros. Another outcrop, a
few m2 large, with the same rock association lying about 150 m higher, was found further
to the northwest. In the outcrop of the Mavri area, the following metamorphic rocks can
be identified:
(l) fine-grained, homogeneous, dark-coloured to black-green amphibolites
(2) banded calc-silicate rocks consisting of fine-grained layers made. of amphibolites and
a pyroxene+ garnet rock. Alteration of the above layers which are a few millimeters
up to centimeter thick and have a dark-green and dirty pink results to the characteristic
banding of these rocks.
(3) Metapelites which are the most extended rock-type. Dark-coloured mica-rich layers
are alterated with light-coloured quartz-rich parts; these layers are also a few milli-
meters up to centimeter thick.

Amphibolites
The main mineral constituent of the amphibolites is a hypidioblastic, fine-grained horn-
blende with a diameter of 0.2-0.7 mm showing a slight s-parallel orientation. Moreover,
isolated hornblende i>Orphyroblasts, 2-3 mm large are also present. Strong pleochroism
is distinguished: na=pale-green nb< = yellowish-brown-green nc< =brownish-green to olive-
green. In some cases. hornblende shows retrograde replacement by actinolite or chlorite,
the alteration starting from the crystal rims. Plagioclase forms xenoblastic grains 0.2-
0.5 mm large, developed at the hornblende edges and is twinned according to the albite-
and occasionally the albite-pericline law. Determination of the anorthite-content yielded
values between 40-50 mol % . Fine, rounded sphene aggregates occur as inclusions in horn-
blende crystals, as well as in the interstices of the mineral grains. Sphene is often rim-
ming ore aggregates, 0.1-0.3 mm in diameter. Besides actinolite and chlorite, prehnite and
calcite were found as secondary phases; moreover, quartz forms small, accessory, xeno-
blastic grains.

Geochronology
In order to determine the age of metamorphism of the gabbroic rocks of Rhodes and
Karpathos three samples of hornblende gabbros have been dated radiometrically by the
K-Ar method. Also for the same purpose hornblende concentrates from three amphibolite
samples were prepared.
The mineraLconcentrates were prepared by magnetic and heavy liquids separation in
the Mineralogisches Institut of the Braunschweig Technical University under the supervi~
sion of Prof. E. Seidel. The Sieve fraction 63-125 mm was used. The geochronological
work has been done in the geochronological laboratory of the Bundesanstalt fur Geowis-
senschaften und Rohstoffe in Hannover, under the supervision of Dr. H. Kreuter. Argon
isotope analyses were obtained by a digitalised mass spectometer (MAT CH4). K-deter-
mination was performed by use of a digitalised flame photometer (EEL 170). Errors
are within a 95% confidence interval of the internal laboratory analytical precision. For

73
comparison of the results with those of other laboratories and methods the analytical
values for the standard minerals (Glauconite GL-0) should be eliminated (radiog. Ar: 24.
74Nnl/g, K : 6,591 wt%; see in ODIN, 19826, 142-143). In order to ensure that there
was no eventual systematic error during the K-determination at low K-contents, 0.002 wt%
was added in the error arising from the scattering of the repeated measurements. The follo-
wing constants according to the Sydney-convention (S t e i g e r, J ii g e r, 1977), were used:

1..11 =4,962 X I0- 1 oa- 1 ; A.e= 0.581 X 10- 1 a- 1

"°K/K=0.001167 Atom-% ; atmosph. 40Ar / 36 = 295.5
The model ages of the hornblende-bearing magmatic rocks of Rhodes yielded an age of
around 90 Ma (Table 1), whereas the age of the corresponding rocks of Karpathos ran-
ge between 82.6 ± 3.2 Ma and 88.2 ± 2.2 Ma (Table 1). These age values are in very good
agreement with those reported for doleritic dykes of Rhodes and Karpathos (Koepke,
1986).
In contrast to the gabbroic rocks, the amphibolites of Rhodes yielded significantly
higher model ages. The K-Ar data for the amphibolites range between 160-180 Ma (Tab-
le I) thus pointing to Middle Jurassic age.

Conclusions
Based on the radiometric dating, the ophiolites of Rhodes can be considered as the south-
eastern continuation of the Jurassic ophiolite belt of the Balkan peninsula. They are con-
nected with the ophiolites of the Greek mainland by the occurrences of Crete and Ange-
lona (in SE Peloponnese). K-Ar mineral data from the amphibolites of Angelona which
occur also as tectonic blocks in the ophiolitic melange, point also to a Middle Jurassic
age (K o e p k e et al., 1985; Koepke , 1986). Identical Middle Jurassic
mqdel ages, between 160-180 Ma, are reported from radiometric K-Ar dating of rocks
from several occurrences of the Greek mainland (Spray, Roddick, 1980; T h u i-
z at et al., 1981 ). These rocks come from the metamorphic sole at the base of the ophio-
lites or /and from the ophiolites themselves of the ophiolitic melange. A Middle Jurassic
age is reported also from metamorphic rocks at the base of ophiolites in Yugoslavia (La n-
phere eta1.,1975; Karamata, Lorrie, 1978; Okrusch etal.,l978; Majer
et at., 1979).
On the other hand, the ophiolites of Rhodes and Karpathos show similarities in age
to the Upper Cretaceous ophiolite belt of the Taurides and can thus be considered as
their southwestern continuation. Radiometric dating of sub-ophiolitic metamorphic rocks
of the Lycian Nappe have yielded ages between 85 and I 05 Ma (T h u i z a t, M o n t i g-
n y, 1979; T h u i z at et al., 1981).
It is thus remarkable that the magmatic and metamorphic rocks of the ophiolites of
the East Mediterranean area show different ages, regardless of any similarities in struc-
tural state of material of the ophiolitic complexes. While the age of the magmatic rocks
in Rhodes and Karpathos corresponds to the Upper Cretaceous data of the southwest
Lycia, that of the metamorphic rocks fit well with the Middle Jurassic age of the Hel-
lenides and Dinarides.
Therefore, the age determination point to an intermediate position of Rhodes and Kar-
pathos islands between the Hellenides or Dinarides and Taurides.

74
 Table I
K-Ar dating of Hornblende Gabbros from the ophiolitic melange of Rhodes and Karpathos as well as of Amphibolites of Rhode s

Athmo>Sph. Radiog.
Sample Locality No Rock type Mineral I KWt.- % 40K J36Ar lOAr f36Ar K-Ar dates Ma
A rgon Ncm3fg. 107
- - ---- - - - - - - --

Rhodes
124K Kopria gabbro amphibole 3.5 ± 0.03 3.18 ± 0.03 0.0879 ± 0.0025 48.7 559 90.8 ± 2.8
125K 2 km SW from
Kamiros Skala gabbro amphibole 2.46 ± 0.04 1.48 ± 0.023 0.0426 34.4 474 87.2± 5.0
0.0424
0.0426± 0.0024
237 K 2 Km S from gabbro amphibole 2.77 ± 0.05 1.7161 0.029 0.0488 34.6 479 89.2 ± 7.5
Kamiros Skala 0.0498
0.0463
-0.0483 ± 0.0041
Karpathos
19X Xindothio gabbro amphibole 3.47 ± 0.03 4.50 ± 0.04 0.1455±0.0038 77.5 680.5 83.5±2.4
129X Katostavri gabbro amphibole 2.59 ± 0.08 4.36 ± 0.06 0.1238 95.1 795 88.2± 2.2
0.1244
0.1241±0.0026
350X Katostavri gabbro amphibole 2.55 ± 0.08 1.952 ± 0.014 0.0594± 0.0023 46.2 522.5 82.6 ± 3.2
Rhodes
221 Mavri amphibolite hornblende 2.02 ± 0.11 26.76 ± 0.73 0.3645 ± 0.0038 358 4227 179.7± 5.0
222 Mavri amphibolite hornblende 2.03 ± 0.04 18.32 ± 0.29 0.2537 ± 0.0030 248 2973 176.8± 3.3
224 Mavri amphibolite hornblende 2.03 ± 0.10 12.78± 0.14 0.1980 ± 0.0030 198.5 2221 159.6± 2.9

~
References
B au mann, A., Best, G., Wac hen do r f, H. 1977. Die alpidischen Stockwerke der siidlichen Agiiis.
- Geol. Rundschau, 66, 2; 492-522.
C h r i s to do u lou, G. 1960. Geologisch• und mikropalliontologische Untersuchungen auf der Inset Kar-
pathos (Dodekanes). -Palaent., 115 (A) : 1-143.
C h r i s to do u lou, G . 1963. Geologicaii1Ulp of Greece-Karpathas. In st. Geol. Subsurface Res.; Athens:
Davidson-Monett, J. 1974. Contribution cl /'etude geologique de /'arc egeen: L'ile de Karpathos (Do-
decanese Meridional, Grece) . These 3eme cycle, Paris: 157 p.
H a r tung, B. 1982. Von Flysch- zum Molasse-Stadium: Eine sedimentologisch-geodynamische Studie auf
Rhodos /Griechenland. Disser. TU Braunschweig; 117 p.
Hat zip an agio to u, K. 1988. Embindung der obersten Einheit von Rhodos und Karpathos (Griechen-
land) in den alpidischen Ophiolith-Giirtel.- N. Jb . Geol. Paliiont. Abh. 176, 3; 395-422.
Karam at a, S., L o v ric, A. 1978. The age of metamorphic rocks of Brezovica and its importance for
the explanation of ophiolite emplacement.- Bull. Acad. Serbe Sci., 17; 1-9.
K o e p k e, J., K r e u z e r, H., S e i de I, E. 1985. Ophiolites in the Southern Aegean Arc (Crete, Karpathos,
Rhodes) Linking the Ophiolite Belts of the Hellenides and the Tau rides. - Ofioliti, 10; 343-354.
Koepke, J. 1986. Die Ophiolithe des siidiigaischen Inselbrucke- Petrologie und Geochronologie. Disser.
TU Braunschweig; 204 p.
Lanphere, M.A., Coleman, R. G., Karamata, S., Pami c, J. 1975. K /Ar age of some amphi-
bolites in the Dinarides Central Ophiolite zone, Yugoslavia.- Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 26 ; 271-276.
Majer, V., Kreuzer, H., Harre, W., Seide I, E., A It herr, R., 0 k r usc h, M. 1979. Petrolo-
gy and geochronology of metamorphic rocks from the Banija Area, Yugoslavian ophiolite belt.-
Internal. Ophiolite Symposium Nicosia-Cyprus, abstracts 46-47.
0 k r usc h, M., Seide I, E., Kreuzer, H., H a rre, W. 1978. Jurassic age of metamorphism and the
base of the Brezovica peridotite (Yugoslavia).- Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 39; 291-297.
S e ide I, E., Wac hen do r f, H. 1982. Die siidagaisc~ lnselbriicke. -In: Jacobs hagen, V. (ed.).
Geologie 1•on Grieclzen/and. Gebr. Borntraeger, Stuttgart; 54-80.
S p ray, J. G., Roddick, J. C. 1980. Petrology and 40Ar /39Ar geochronology of some Hellenic sub-ophio-
lite metamorphic rocks.- Contrib. Mineral., 72, 43-55.
Steiger, R. H ., Jager, E. 1977. Subcomission on Geochronology: convention on the use of decay con-
stants in geo- and cosmochronology.- Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 36; 359-362.
T h u i z at, R ., Monti g n y, R. 1978. K-Ar geochronology of three Turkisch ophiolites.- Internal. Ophio-
lite Symposium Nicosia/Cyprus, abstracts; 80-81.
Thuizat, R., Whitechurch, H., Montigny, R., Juteau, T. 1981. K-Ar dating of some infra-
ophiolitic metamorphic doles from the eastern Mediterranean: new evidence of oceanic thrustings
before obduction. - Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 52; 302-310.

76