Open AccessThe Troodos ophiolite: petrology of a fresh glassy basalt
Author(s) -
K. A. Jørgensen,
Caelan Brooks
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
bulletin of the geological society of denmark
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.674
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 2245-7070
pISSN - 0011-6297
DOI - 10.37570/bgsd-1981-30-03
Subject(s) - basalt , ophiolite , geology , geochemistry , silicic , olivine , plagioclase , pillow lava , mineralogy , lava , petrology , volcano , paleontology , quartz , tectonics
Droplets of rapidly quenched, silicic tholeiite glass are described, which are relatively unaltered except for the absorption of about 6% H2O. The glass is variolitic and contains minor olivine, chromite, clinopyroxene and plagioclase of various habits, whose relationships to cooling history may be deduced in the light of experimental data and whose compositions are reported. It is suggested from this recon-naissance study that the Troodos Upper Pillow Lavas have most probably formed at a spreading centre, perhaps a back-arc environment, rather than an island arc.