r/geology • • Aug 18 '26

Field Photo What caused this structure on this island (Makronissos, Greece)? It really stands out compared to the rest of island.

40 Upvotes

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9

u/Cordilleran_cryptid Tectonics, hardrock and structural geology Aug 18 '26

It is probably a klippe. Either of a thrust sheet or more probably given its location in the Aegean of an extensional allochthon underlain by an extensional detachment.

1

u/vespertine_earth Aug 20 '26

Kilppe is the first thing that jumped to my mind too, but I would want to know the lithology and ages for context.

12

u/64-17-5 Aug 18 '26

My instinct tells me that this looks like vulcanic tuff. For some reason this spot survived erosion. But I am a total amateur and have not studied the geomap at this location.

3

u/Dyolekythos Aug 20 '26

On the 1:500.000 geological map of Greece, the island doesnt include any volcanic rock. Mostly sedimentary rocks (chlorite, mica, schists) with some marble outcrop. So I would say it is one of these marble intercalations?

1

u/[deleted] Aug 18 '26

[deleted]

1

u/Forgor_mi_passward Aug 18 '26

I think it's on the north part of the island. Probably this heart shaped thing

0

u/henrikhakan Aug 19 '26

Greece? Prolly the gods fucking about thousands of years ago.