The Morais ophiolite complex, also known as Morais Massif (''in Portuguese, Maciço de Morais''), is located in the northeast of Portugal in the Bragança District, with its main core in the Macedo de Cavaleiros Municipality. Generally speaking the Morais ophiolite complex is a set of allochthonous units, which include a full range of ultramafic rocks.

Geological uniqueness

Its uniqueness lies in the fact that, within a radius of about 50 km, it's possible to see the geologic evidences of the continental collision between Laurussia and

Gondwana Gondwana () was a large landmass, often referred to as a supercontinent, that formed during the late Neoproterozoic (about 550 million years ago) and began to break up during the Jurassic period (about 180 million years ago). The final stages ...

with the consequent closure of the Rheic Ocean, to form the supercontinent of Pangaea in the Late Paleozoic ( Variscan orogeny). This

Geologic Complex In geology, a complex is a lithodemic unit consisting of two or more lithodemes of more than one genetic class ( metamorphic, igneous or sedimentary). The law of superposition is inapplicable to intrusive, highly deformed, or metamorphic bodies of ...

presents three main units: * the terrains once belonging to the stress edge of the

continent * the ophiolite: a complete sequence of oceanic crust ( obduction of the Rheic Ocean) * the terrains once belonging to the Laurussia continent

Notes

Sources

*Pereira, E., Ribeiro, A., Castro, P.F., 2000 – Carta Geológica de Portugal à escala 1:50.000. Notícia explicativa da Folha 7 - D (Macedo de Cavaleiros). Serv. Geol. de Portugal. *Pereira, E., Ribeiro, A., Castro, P. & De Oliveira, D., 2004 – Complexo Ofiolítico Varisco do Maciço de Morais (NE de Trás-os-Montes, Portugal). In Pereira, E., Castroviejo, R. & *Ortiz, F. (Eds.), “Complejos Ofiolíticos en Iberoamérica – Guías de Exploración para Metales Preciosos”, pp. 265–284. Proyecto XIII.1 – CYTED, Madrid, España. *Pereira, Z., Meireles, C. e Pereira, E., 1999 – Upper Devonian Palynomorphs of NE Sector of Trás-os-Montes (Central Iberian Zone). XV Reun. Geol. Oeste Peninsular, Resumos, pp. 201–206 *Pin, C., Paqette, J.L., Ibarguchi, J.G., Zalduegui, J.F., Aller, J.R. and Cuesta, L.A., 2000 - Geochronological and geochemical constraints on the origin of the ophiolitic units from the Northwestern Iberian Massif. GALICIA 2000, Variscan-Appalachian dynamics: the building of the Upper Paleozoic basement, Abstracts, pp. 146–147. *Rebelo, J.A. e Romano, M., 1986 - A contribution to the lithostragraphy and paleontology of the lower Paleozoic rocks of the Moncorvo region, Northeast of Portugal. Com. Serv. Geol. Portugal, T. 72, fasc.1/2, pp. 45–57. *Ribeiro, A., 1974 - Contribution à l'étude tectonique de Trás-os-Montes Oriental. Serv. Geol. de Portugal, Mem. 24, 168 p. *Ribeiro, A., Marcos, A., Pereira, E., Llana-Fúnez, S., Farias, P., Fernández, F.J., Fonseca, P., Chaminé, H.I. and Rosas, F., 2003 - 3-D strain distribution in the Ibero-Armorican Arc: a review. VI Cong. Nac. Geologia, Lisboa, Actas: D63-D64; Ciências da Terra (UNL), nº esp V, CD-Rom, D63-D64. *Ribeiro, A., Pereira, E. and Dias, R., 1990 - Structure in the NW of the Iberia Peninsula (Alloctonous sequences). In: Dallmeyer, R.D. and Martinez Garcia, E. (Eds.): Pre- Mesozoic Geology of Iberia, Springer-Verlag, p. 220-236. *Ribeiro, A., Silva, J.B., Dias, R., Pereira, E., Oliveira, J.T., Rebelo, J.A., Romão, J. e Silva, A.F., 1991 – Sardic inversion tectonics in the Centro-Iberian Zone. III Congr. Nac. Geol., Resumos, Coimbra, p. 71. *Ribeiro, M. L, 1986 - Geologia e Petrologia da região a Sw de macedo de Cavaleiros (Trás-os-Montes). Tese, Fac.Cienc. Univ. Lisboa, 202 p. *Rodrigues, J., Pereira, E. e Ribeiro, A., 2006 – Estrutura interna do Complexo de Mantos Parautóctones, sector de Murça-Mirandela (NE de Portugal). In: Dias, R & Araújo, A.(Eds.) Geologia de Portugal no Contexto da Ibéria. Universidade de Évora, pp. 63–84. *Sá, A.A., 2006 – A sucessão do Ordovícico superior de Trás-os-Montes (Zona Centro-Ibérica,Portugal) e sua correlação com Valongo e Buçaco. VII Cong. Nac.de Geologia, Univ. Évora, Livro de Resumos II, pp. 621–624. *Sousa, M. B., 1982 - Litostratigrafia e Estrutura do Complexo xisto grauváquico ante-Ordovícico - Grupo do Douro (NW de Portugal). Tese Univ. Coimbra, 222 p. *Teixeira, C. e Pais, J., 1973 - Sobre a presença de Devónico na região de Bragança (Guadramil e Mofreita) e de Alcañices (Zamora). Bol. Soc. Geol. Portugal, 18, pp. 199–202

External links

GePortal.LNEG.pt: InicioAzibo.org: Azibo Reservoir Protected Landscape website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morais Ophiolite Complex Geology of Portugal Carboniferous Europe Permian System of Europe Geologic formations of Europe Ophiolites Suture zones

Geological uniqueness

See also

Notes

Sources

External links