Geology of Greece

Typically, there are not prerequisite courses. Essentially, the students should possess basic principles provided through all the previously taught theoretical courses.

The course is aimed at undergraduate students who understand the basic principles of Geology. The aim of the course is to acquire advanced knowledge and skills in subjects related to the geological evolution of Greece and its prolongation in countries bordering Greece. Students will learn the geological evolution of the Greek mountain ranges from the Paleozoic to the Cenozoic Eras. Also the objective of the course is to acquire advanced knowledge and skills on issues related to the structure of the Hellenic Palaeogeographic province during the Alpine orogeny. The creation of the mountain ranges in Greece that has formed during the convergence of a series of lithospheric plates being bordering the Tethys Ocean and its splays. The complexity of this palaeogeographic province and its structural evolution is high. The Hellenides mountain range includes magmatic, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks that amalgamated in a complex collage of rocks with peculiar grading in their deformation and metamorphism.

The students after the successful completeness of the course will be able to know:

• The paleogeographic and structural variability within the various branches of Tethys (i.e. the Palaeo-Tethys and Neo-Tethys) those that were important for the final complexity of the Greek mountain ranges.
• The ways of moving the individual lithospheric units that compiled the Greek mountain ranges.
• The rocks deformation, magmatism and metamorphic processes that occurred in the Tethys Ocean area and when the rift-drift procedure of the lithospheric units that eventually led to the formation of the Greek mountain ranges.

• Search and analyze key observations regarding tectonostratigraphy and stratigraphy of the Hellenides mountain range. Synthesize geological  data and information using the necessary technologies,
• Autonomous work,
• Teamwork,
• Promote free, creative and inductive thinking

The content of the course includes the following chapters (for simplicity we will refer only to the parts of thecourse):

1. Introductory concepts for the Hellenides mountain range
2. Stratigraphy, palaeogeography and structural evolution of the External Hellenides
3. Orogenic model of the evolution of the External Hellenides
4. Tectono-stratigraphy of the Internal Hellenides mountain range
5. Provinces in the Hellenides mountain range bearing oceanic rock assemblages.

1. Optionally, preparation of two in total home-works from groups of two students each. 30% of the mean mark of the home-works is added to the grade obtained in the final written examination, provided that the student has secured at least the grade 4.
2. Written examination after the end of the semester - final grade (GSOC), unless the student participated in the preparation of home-works during the semester. In that case, the 30% of the mean mark of the home-works is added to the final examination mark.

Recommended Literature :

1. Koukouvelas I., Xypolias P. and Kokkalas S.  2007.Geology of Greece (in Greek).

Related Scientific Journals :

1. Journal of Geological Society of London
2. Tectonics
3. Tectonophysics
4. Gondwana Researh