The Kannaviou Formation, Cyprus: volcaniclastic sedimentation of a probable late Cretaceous volcanic arc

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Abstract
In SW Cyprus the upper pillow lavas of the Troodos Igneous Complex are directly overlain by up to 75° m of volcaniclastic sediments, ranging in age from Lower Campanian to Mid-Maastriehtian. The basal sediments are pre-dominantly non-calcareous bentonitic clays and radiolarian mudstones representative of relatively slow deposition, probably below the carbonate compensation depth. In contrast, stratigraphically higher calcareous bentonitic clays, volcaniclastic siltstones and volcaniclastic sandstones show evidence of much more rapid deposition by a combination of mass flow, traction and minor turbidity currents. The basal volcaniclastic sandstones were partly derived by submarine erosion of the subjacent Troodos lavas. In contrast, the overlying sequences contain abundant fine-grained pumice, basic to acid volcanics, and also terrigenous material derived predominantly from outside the present area of southern Cyprus. The hetero-geneous provenance of the Kannaviou sediments can be explained by postulating late Cretaceous subduction of Troodos-type oceanic-crust with genesis of a related volcanic arc and eventual tectonic juxtaposition of the Troodos Massif with a Mesozoic continental margin.