Geology of Cyprus: laminated gypsum

I haven’t written a post for several days. I actually have an excuse. I am geologizing in Cyprus. I have gathered some nice material for future posts and hope to see much more in the remaining seven days.

I’d surely like to write a blog as well but internet connections aren’t so easy to find here. My hotel room, for example, doesn’t have such a luxury.

I came here mostly to see the world-famous (among geologists) Troodos ophiolite complex. Unfortunately, the most special part of it (rocks from the mantle) are still snow-covered. They are exposed in the mountains just around the highest peak of Cyprus.

This is a major disappointment to come here from cold and snowy Estonia just to discover that people here are skiing as well. But this means that I have more time for other parts of the island. There is so much more to see. Geology in Cyprus is varied and well exposed.

I won’t promise but I will try to post a photo with short geological explanations every remaining day of my trip. These photos are taken during the past few days here in Cyprus.

Take a look at the beautiful swallowtail gypsum exposure as well that is located only about 100 meters away.

Laminated gypsum from the Messinian (5…6 Ma). This episode is known here as the Messinian salinity crisis. The Mediterranean was isolated from the Atlantic, its water turned hypersaline and large evaporite deposits (gypsum here) formed.