• • Hoxha, L., 2001.The Jurassic-Cretaceous orogenic event and its effects in the exploration of sulphide ores, Albanian Ophiolites, Albania. Eclogae geol Helv. 94, 339-350.Birkhauser Verlag, Basel.

  •  

  • Abstract 

  • Very detailed geological surveys carried out continuously over the past 30 years in searching of sulphide ores, bring new constrains, especially concerning  the geological setting of Albanian ophiolites. The study area, located in central northern Albania, represents the most complete and preserved section of western and eastern type Albanian ophiolites.

  • Relying on the existence of  a stack of thrust sheets, internally highly disrupted, it  can be shown that the westward ophiolite emplacement took place during the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous onto a Late Triassic-Liassic carbonate platform overlain by mélange. This orogenic event was followed by two additional events: westward thrusting of the carbonate platform onto Early Cretaceous flysch-like deposits and the last one onto the Eocene flysch during  Alpine movments.

  • The structural framework of the Jurassic-Cretaceous orogenic event, is used successfully in exploration of sulphide ores, whilst the evidence of two additional orogenic events brings new constrains, important not only in theoretical point of view but also in a practical one.

  • Gawlick, H.J., Frisch, W., Hoxha, L., Dumitrica, P., Krystyn, L., Lein, R., Missoni, S. and Schlagintweit, F. 

  • Mirdita zone ophiolites and associated sediments in Albania reveal Neothethys Ocean origin. International Journal of Earth Sciences, 94, 865-881. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) (2008) 97:865–881 @Springer-Verlag, 2007

  • Abstract

  • The Mirdita Ophiolite Zone in Albania is associated with widespread me´langes containing components of up to nappe-size. We dated matrix and components of the me´lange by radiolarians, conodonts, and other taxa.

  • The components consist of radiolarites, pelagic limestones and shallow-water limestones, all of Triassic age, as well as ophiolites. Triassic radiolarite as a primary cover of ophiolite

  • material proves Middle Triassic onset of Mirditaocean-floor formation. The me´lange contains a turbiditic radiolarite-rich matrix (‘‘radiolaritic flysch’’), dated as Late Bajocian to Early Oxfordian. It formed as a synorogenic sediment during west-directed thrusting of ophiolite and sediment-cover nappes representing ocean floor and underplated fragments of the western continental margin. The tectonic structures formed during these orogenic events (‘‘Younger Kimmeridian or Eohellenic Orogeny’’) are sealed by Late Jurassic platform carbonates. The geological history conforms with that of the Inner Dinarides and adjoining areas; we therefore correlate the Mirdita-Pindos Ophiolite Zone with the Vardar Zone and explain its present

  • position by far-distance west-directed thrusting.

  •  Keywords: Albania . Mirdita ophiolites . Neotethys Ocean . Ophiolitic me´lange . Vardar Zone

• Felix Schlagintweit, Hans-Jürgen Gawlick, Sigrid Missoni, Lirim Hoxha, Richard Lein, Wolfgang Frisch The eroded Late Jurassic Kurbnesh carbonate platform in the Mirdita Ophiolite Zone of Albania and its bearing on the Jurassic orogeny of the Neotethys realm Swiss Journal of Geosciences May 2008, Volume 101, Issue 1, pp 125-138

Abstract

Several Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian?-Tithonian) to Early Cretaceous (Late Berriasian-Valanginian) shallow-water carbonate clasts of different facies are contained in mass-flow deposits in a pelagic sequence in the Kurbnesh area of central Albania. These clasts are used to reconstruct shallow-water carbonate platforms, which formed on top of the radiolaritic-ophiolitic wildflysch (ophiolitic mélange) of the Mirdita Zone. Stratigraphic interpretation of the platform carbonates was compiled on basis of calcareous algae, benthic foraminifera, and calpionellids. From biostratigraphic data and microfacies analysis, the Neocomian clasts can be directly correlated with autochthonous platform carbonates of the western part of the Munella carbonate platform, which at least reaches up to the Late Aptian. A Late Jurassic precursor platform (Kurbnesh carbonate platform; nomen novum) was completely eroded until the Valanginian and is only documented by the clasts described here. It was deposited on top of the Mirdita Ophiolite Zone nappe stack, which formed during the Middle to Late Jurassic Kimmeridian orogeny. Thrusting and imbrications as well as the formation of the syntectonic wildflysch (mélange) therefore occurred much earlier than previously assumed. Our results constrain the Kimmeridian orogeny, which was controlled by the closure of the Neotethys Ocean, and show excellent correlation with the Eastalpine-Dinaric-Hellenic orogenic system.

Kurbnesh. Mass-flows rest on serpentinite

Kurbnesh- Mass-flows

Upper part-Fine grain breccias Early Cretaceous (Berriassian-Valanginian)

Lower part- Coarse grain breccias Late Jurassic( Kimmeridgian?-Tithonian)

H.-J. Gawlick (&) _ S. Missoni _ F. Schlagintweit

Department for Applied Geosciences and Geophysics:

Prospection and Applied Sedimentology,

University of Leoben, Peter-Tunner-Str. 5,

8700 Leoben, Austria

e-mail: gawlick@unileoben.ac.at

W. Frisch

Institute of Geosciences, University of Tu¨bingen,

Sigwartstrasse 10, 72076 Tu¨bingen, Germany

L. Hoxha

Geological Survey of Albania, Tirana, Albania

P. Dumitrica

Dennigkofenweg 33, 3073 Guemligen, Switzerland

L. Krystyn

Department of Palaeontology, University of Vienna,

Althanstr. 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria

R. Lein

Center for Earth Sciences, University of Vienna,

Althanstr. 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria

• Hans-Jürgen Gawlicka∗, Špela Goričanb, Sigrid Missonia,  Paulian Dumitricac,  Richard Leind,Wolfgang Frische,  Lirim Hoxhaf

Middle and Upper Triassic  radiolarite components from the Kcira-Dushi-Komani ophiolitic mélange and their  provenance(Mirdita Zone, Albania)

Radiolarites du Trias supérieur et moyen inclus dans le mélange ophiolitique de Kcira-Dushi-Komani et leur provenance (Zone de  Mirdita, Albanie)

Original article ELSEVIER Revue de micropaléntologie Revue de micropaléontologie xxx (2016) xxx–xxx

ARTICLE IN PRESS  Disponible en ligne sur  ScienceDirect

www.sciencedirect.com

•  Gawlick, H.-J., Lein, R., Missoni, S., Krystyn, L., Frisch, W., Hoxha, L., 2014.

   The radiolaritic-argillaceous Kcira-Dushi-Komani sub-ophiolitic                Hallstatt Mélange in  the Mirdita Zone of northern Albania.

   Buletini i  Shkencave Gjeologjike 4, 1–3

• Felix Schlagintweit 1, Hans-Jürgen Gawlick 2, Richard Lein 3, Sigrid Missoni 2 and Lirim Hoxha 4  Onset of an Aptian carbonate platform overlying a Middle-Late Jurassic radiolaritic-ophiolithic mélange in the Mirdita Zone of Albania Geologia Croatica 65/1 29–40 8 Figs. Zagreb 2012

  • • 1 Lerchenauerstr. 167, D-80935 Munich, Germany; (ef.schlagintweit@t-online.de)

    • 2 Department of Applied Geosciences and Geophysics, Chair of Prospection and Applied Sedimentology,

    • University of Leoben, Peter-Tunner-Strasse 5, A-8700 Leoben, Austria; (gawlick@unileoben.ac.at; s.missoni@

    • daad-alumni.de)

    • 3 University Vienna, Center for Earth Sciences, Althanstr. 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; (richard.lein@univie.ac.at)

    • 4 Empire Mining Albania (Empire Mining Corporation) Rruga Perlat Rexhepi, Pallati Unikon, Kati i VI-te Ap. 28,

    • Tirana, Albania; (l.hoxha@yahoo.com)

      • ABSTRACT

      • Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous carbonate sediments of different age and facies form the post-emplacement settings on top of the Mirdita Ophiolite Zone in northern Albania. They seal the early Late Jurassic emplacement of the ophiolite nappes, and are the only datable relics overlying the ophiolites. They aid evaluating the different tectonic movements associated with uplift and erosion as well as sea-level fluctuations during that time span. These carbonates overlie ophiolite-derived clastics very often as shallowing-upward sequences. One of the largest shallow-water platforms is the Mali i Shenjtit platform, previously assigned to the Barremian-Aptian. A well-preserved section at the base of the platform can be ascribed to the Early-Late Aptian based on orbitolinid foraminifera together with dasycladalean algae. This carbonate platform is the youngest preserved Early Cretaceous platform in Albania, but was largely eroded away. Late Cretaceous shallow-water rudist limestones are widespread and preserved in the Dinaride-Albanide-Hellenide realm directly above an eroded older basement. Therefore, this Aptian platform is very important for the reconstruction of the Early Cretaceous palaeogeography in the northwestern Neotethyan realm. In addition, the stratigraphic ranges of characteristic Aptian orbitolinid foraminifera, Rectodictyoconus giganteus SCHROEDER and Mesorbitolina texana (ROEMER), are discussed on the basis of these results.

      • Keywords: Mirdita Ophiolite Zone, Platform Carbonates, Early Cretaceous, Neotethys Realm

      • Related papers:

      • Felix Schlagintweit • Hans-Jürgen Gawlick

      • The incertae sedis Carpathoporella Dragastan, 1995, from the

      • Lower Cretaceous of Albania: skeletal elements (sclerites,

      • internodes/branches, holdfasts) of colonial octocorals

      • Facies

      • DOI 10.1007/s10347-009-0185-5 Springer-Verlag 200

      • Connected to these issue

        • The incertae sedis Carpathoporella Dragastan, 1995, from the Lower Cretaceous of Albania: skeletal elements (sclerites, internodes/branches, holdfasts) of colonial octocorals

        • Facies DOI 10.1007/s10347-009-0185-5   2009 ORIGINAL ARTICLE

• • Felix Schlagintweit · Hans-Jürgen Gawlick

• Schlagintweit, F. 1, Gawlick, H.-J. 1, Missoni, S. 1, Lein, R. 2 Vukaj, S. 3 and Hoxha, L. 4

Triassic to Early Jurassic shallow-water carbonates from the Shkodra area (NW Albania) – a part of the Adriatic-Dinaric Carbonate Platform

Conference Paper September 2006 See discussions,stats,and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259442358  ResearchGate

• L.Hoxha, Gawlick, W.Frisch, Lein, S.Missoni, I.Dunkl, 2005 Report on Tectonothermal evolution of Albanides during Jurassic-Cretaceous period (in the framework of compiling Carpatho-Balkan-Dinaric Map). In Albanian (Volume 1). Archives of Albanian Geological Survey

Vermosh- Qafa e Bodolecit. In valley  Lepushe village 

In landscape  Bjeshket e Nemuna (Cursed Mountains).

Cukali Zone

 Kiri River, Shkoder. Layered Jurassic limestone with chert intercalations.

At the pool (green color) tuffites intercalated with limestone

 Koman. Cukali folding

Komani HEPP Dam. In photo-Stak Vuka, Lirim Hoxha, Istvan Dunkl (behind boat driver)

Shkodra Castel built with Triassic limestone

Albanian Alps. Maja e Arapit (westward inverted)

Kartsic caves

Albanian Alps, In front of  Thethi (in foot dolomite). In landscape Maja e Radohimes In photo- Sigrid Misoni, Lirim  Hoxha, Hans-Juergen Gawlick, Richard Lein.

• Gawlick H.-J., Dumetrica P., Missoni S. and Hoxha, L. 2006, The Steinman trinity of the Triassic Miraka section in the Mirdita zone (Albania0 evidenced Late Anisian rifting in the Neotethys ocean (XVIIITH Congress of the Carpathian-Balkan Geological Association, Sept 3-6, 2006, Belgrade, Serbia)

• Gawlick H.-J., Schlagintweit F., Lain R., Missoni S., Deda T. and Hoxha, L. 2006 The Munella pcarbonate platform in the Central Mirdita Zone (Albania): an example for platform carbonate growth in a convergent tectonic regime (XVIIITH Congress of the Carpathian-Balkan Geological Association, Sept 3-6, 2006, Belgrade, Serbia)

Late Berriasian-Valanginian Munella Carbonae Platform rest on ophiolite complexes

• Gawlick H.-J., Schlagintweit F., Missoni S., Frisch W. and  Hoxha, L. 2006 Component analysis of mass flow deposits as a tool to solve paleogeographic questions and to reconstruct the early geodynamic history of the Albanides- clasts of cement-rich Middle Triassic reefal limestone from Late Jurassic mass-flows of the Mirdita zone of Albania (Kurbnesh area) and their paleogeographical significance (XVIIITH Congress of the Carpathian-BalkanGeological Association, Sept 3-6, 2006, Belgrade, Serbia)

• Schlagintweit F., Gawlick H.-J., Missoni S., Lain R. and  Hoxha, L. 2006 Late Jurassic to early Cretaceous dasycladales and benthonic foraminifera from the Munella carbonate platform s.l. of the Mirdita zone (Albania) (XVIIITH Congress of the Carpathian-BalkanGeological Association, Sept 3-6, 2006, Belgrade, Serbia)

• Schlagintweit F., Gawlick H.-J. AND Berger P. PORFERITUBUS LIRIMI N.SP*. a N.SP., TUBIFEROUS MICROFOSSIL INCERTAE SEDIS (CYANOPHYTA/) FROM THE EARLY/MIDDLE JURASSIC OF THE ADRIATIC-DINARIC CARBONATE PLATFORM (CROATIA, ALBANIA) (XVIIITH Congress of the Carpathian-Balkan Geological Association, Sept 3-6, 2006, Belgrade, Serbia). PORFERITUBUS LIRIMI N.SP e new species coined by scientists of Leoben University, Austria, in honor of L.Hoxha 

• Gawlick, Hans-Jürgen *, Dumitrica, Paulian **, Missoni, Sigrid * and Hoxha, Lirim *** Middle Triassic radiolarites as sedimentary cover of the Mirdita-ophiolites in the central Albanides (Miraka section, Albania). Erlangen 2005: System Earth –Biosphere Coupling/Regional Geology of Central Europe, Strasburg, p.116-117

• Gawlick, Hans-Jürgen *, Schlagintweit, Felix *, Hoxha, Lirim **, Dumitrica, Paulian ***, Missoni, Sigrid * & Frisch, Wolfgang, 2005 Matrix dating and component analysis of the Perlat-Kurbnesh ophiolitic melange- new insights in the geology of the Albanides (Albania). Erlangen 2005: System Earth –Biosphere Coupling/Regional Geology of Central Europe, p.120-121.

• Hans -Juergen Gawlick,  Paulian Dumitrica, Sigrid Missoni, Lirim Hoxha, 2005 The Miraka Section in the Central Albanides-Middle Triassic Radiolarites as a Sedimentary Cover of the Mirdita Ophiolite.  7th Workshop on Alpine Geological Studies, Alpine Workshop, Opatija 2005 p.31-32

• GAWLICK Hans-Jürgen, HOXHA Lirim, 2005 New insights in geology of the Albanides (Albania). Northeastern Section- 40th Annual meeting (march 14-16, 2005). Saratoga Springs, New York, USA. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 37, N01, p.77.  

• Hans-Jürgen GAWLICK, Lirim HOXHA, Sigrid MISSONI & Wolfgang FRISCH, 2004 Conodont color Alteratin Index (CAI) data of Triassic Carbonates in the Albanides- New insights on the thermal overprint and first detection of a polyphase diagenetic/metamorphic overprint in the different tectonic units. Ber. Inst. Erdwiss.K.F.-Univ. Graz ISSN 1608-8166 Band 9 Graz 2004, p.130-132.

• Hans-Jürgen GAWLICK,Felix SCHLAGINTWEIT,  Lirim HOXHA, Sigrid MISSONI & Wolfgang FRISCH, 2004, Allochtonous Late Jurassic reefal carbonates on top of serpentinites in the Albanides (Albania, Kurbnesh area)- new data for the development of the ideas on the origin of Albanian ophiolites. Ber. Inst. Erdwiss.K.F.-Univ. Graz ISSN 1608-8166 Band 9 Graz 2004, p. 136-137

• HOXHA, Lirim T., 2002 TECTONOSTRATIGRAPHY OF ALBANIAN OPHIOLITES GSA, Northeastern Section - 37th Annual Meeting March 25-27, 2002) Session No.13 Tectonostatigraphy of Ophiolites, Sheraton, Springfield, Ma

• Hoxha, Lirim, 2004, Plate tectonic classification of ore deposits associated with Albanian ophiolites. Northeastern Section (39th Annual) and Southeastern Section (53rd Annual) Joint Meeting (March 25-27, 2004). Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 36, N02, p.92 

Lirim Hoxha, A schematic comparison between Albanian Ophiolites with Idealized Ophiolite Sequence, Penrose Conference, 2003 GSA Northeastern Section Meeting A-21 .

According to Penrose Conference participants (1972) an idealized ophiolite sequence includes from the bottom upward, tectonized ultramafic mantle rocks, layered ultramafic to mafic cumulate rocks, isotropic gabbros, a sheeted dyke complex and a massive volcanic section dominated by pillow lavas and overlain by pelagic sediments.

Albanian ophiolites extending over 4 000 km2 or 1/7th of Albanian territory link together the Dinaric and Hellenic ophiolites. They form two NNW-SSE sub-parallel belts, the western ophiolite belt and the eastern ophiolite belt, representing the most complete and coherent sequence of the Mediterranean ophiolites (Beccaluva et al., 1994; Shallo et al., 1995).

The Western belt ophiolite - It consist of high-Ti tholeiites within volcano-sedimentary series in the western peripheral parts and a volcanic sequence in the western part associated with lherzolite mantle suite and minor harzburgite and dunite tectonite and ultramafic and mafic cumulates (Shallo et al.1985; Beccaluva et al., 1994).

Westermost part ophiolites of the Rubiku-Vela area -

The volcano-sedimentary series comprises high-Ti tholeiitic pillow lavas of MORB affinity (Shallo et al.1985; Beccaluva et al. 1994) with scarce intercalations of argillitic-silicious-sericitic of sericitic-siliceous-carbonate shales and slates, and infrequently, hematitic radiolarian chert.

The series is about 600 thick and northwest trending. The radiolarian assemblages of the chert specimens, intercalated with massive sulfide ores, indicate a Middle-Late Carnian age, possibly including the Early Norian (Hoxha, 2001).

At Rubiku and its vicinities, agglomerate and argillitic-siliceous shales topped by yellow-reddish hematitic manganiferous radiolarian chert overlie basaltic pillow lavas. Volcano-sedimentary series are underlain by gabbro, troctolite, ferro-gabbro, very scarce minor microdiorite as well as ultramafic injections and "wedges", ranging in thickness from few meters up to 100 m. It must be

emphasized that ultramafics in many cases are changed to serpentines.

The greenschist-amphibolite sole Bajocian-Bathonian in age is widespread in the western ophiolite belt; it is located along the volcano-sedimentary-ultramafic contact with thickness from a few meters up to 120 m, with 2 to 4 m amphibolites and 10-120 m greenschsists.

Western part ophiolite of Gziky-Kachinar area - The lithologica-startigraphical section consists of volcanic sequence overlain by Middle Jurassic hematitic shales and is underlain by gabbro, very scarce plagiogranite and ultramafic rocks. The volcanic sequence consists of an Upper basaltic pyroclastic succession averaging 400 m and a Lower basaltic pillows (mainly) and massive succession, about 600 m thick. The enormous resources of vanadium-bearing titaniferous gabbros of the Kachinar area located in their uppermost part, at the base of volcanics,

should be noted.The Eastern belt ophiolites - This belt is characterized by low-Ti tholeiites of basalt-andesite and andesite-dacite (rhyolite) series underlain by sheeted dyke complex, and quartzdioriteplagiogranite and gabbros (ISPGJ-IGJN, 1983; Beccaluva et al.1994; Shallo, 1994) extending from Kyafe Mali in the north to Perlati in the south, offering the best prospects regarding copperpyrite-zinc and precious metals mineralizations.

Due to some differences between the northern and the southern parts they will be describedseparately.

Northern Kyafe Mali-Spach area - It comprises two volcanic successions the lower and the upper one.

The Middle-Late Jurassic lower andesite-basalt pillow lava succession - It consists mainly of pillows (spilite) and occasional massive flows, about 1 000 m thick. They have glassy rim and quenched glass filling interstitial cavities.

Dykes, extending over than 30 km, from Repsi to Kyafe Mali, several centimeters to 2-3 m thick, consist of dolerite, microdiorite, andesite, dacite or rhyodacite and rare boninite dykes (Beccaluva et al., 1994; Shallo, 1994).

The Late Jurassic upper andesitic basalt and dacite pyroclastic succession, about 700 m thick, consists mainly of pyroclastic rocks and occasionally pillows. This succession is followed by a 1meter to 10 m thick manganese-bearing hematitic radiolarian chert sequence of Late Callovian to Early Oxfordian age (Marcucci et al., 1994).

Southern Perlat-Kurbnesch area

The rocks of this area are internally disrupted, due to intense thrust tectonics.

Tectonostratigraphy of the area consist of the Middle-Late Jurassic Lower andesite basalt pillow lava and rare massive flow succession, about 500 m thick and Late Jurassic Upper andesite basalt pyroclastic succession, about 300 m thick overlain by argillaceous-siliceous succession with radiolarian chert.

The volcanics are underlain by sheeted dyke complex, and quartzdiorite-plagiogranite and gabbros.

The Penrose Conference definition remains from the greatest achivments in geosciences.

From the comparison of Albanian ophiolite sections with the Penrose Conference definition only the sheeted dyke dominated segment (Chafe Mali-Reps), widely accepted formed above a subducting plate margin, is similar with it, the other parts seems to represent various stages of oceanic crust formation.

References

Hoxha, L., 2001, The Jurassic-Cretaceous orogenic event and its effects in exploration of sulfide ores, Albanian ophiolites, Albania. Eclogae geol.Helv.94 (2001) 339-350, Basel.

Hoxha, L., 2002, Tectonostratigraphy of Albanian ophiolites. 2002 GSA Northeastern Section Meeting A-21 

Lirim T. Hoxha 1, Mehmet H. Zaçaj 2, Kujtim H. Onuzi 1  The effects of Jurassic-Cretaceous orogenic event in exploration of sulphide deposits, Albanian ophiolites, Albania Tübinger Geowissenschaftliche Arbeiten, Series A, Vol. 52, pp. 108 - 109. 

Abstracts of the 4th Workshop on Alpine Geological Studies, Tübingen 21-24 Sept. 1999

1 Geological Research Institute, Albania

2 Albanian Geological Survey

Albanian ophiolites, considered to be with the most completed section at Mediterranean domain, extend over 4,000 sq.km. or 1/7th of Albania’s territory, link together Dinaric ophiolites at NE part of Albania and Hellenic ophiolites at its SE part.

It is widely accepted that, Albanian ophiolites are divided into two NNE-trending subparallel belts, the western ophiolite belt and the eastern one (ISPGJ 1983; Shallo et al.,1987).

The Western ophiolite belt (WOB) consist of Upper Triassic – Middle Jurassic volcanic and volcano-sedimentary, MORB affinity basalts, toped by chert and underlain by lherzolite type mantle, whilst Eastern ophiolite belt (EOB) consist of Middle – Upper Jurassic chert, basalt-andesite-rhyolite series cut by sheeted dyke complex, plutonic sequence of quartzdiorite-plagiogranite, gabbronorite, websterite, lherzolite, dunite and harzburgite type mantle.

In the WOB are found restricted reserves of VMS, small refractory type chromite occurrences as well as enormous resources of titaniferous gabbros, whilst in the EOB VHMS, quartz-sulphide vein type mineralizations, chromite mineralizations, hosted mainly by mantle tectonite harzburgites, enormous reserves and resources of Fe-Ni/Ni laterites related with the weathering of upper peridotite mantle as well as a lot of industrial mineralizations.

Sedimentary rocks, consist of Middle – Upper Triassic limestones, Upper Jurassic – Lower Cretaceous heterogeneous colored mélange, Tithonian – Lower Cretaceous flysch-like depositions, Barremian-Aptian conglomerate limestones as well as Neogene Molasses.

The Upper Jurassic – Lower Cretaceous mélange is a remarkable deposition, it seems a product of over-riding ophiolitic plate, overlies top part of volcanics and in turn is overlain of Tithonian – Lower Cretaceous flysch-like depositions, succeded by Barremian-Aptian Conglomerate limestones. Also, the top part, cherts of Middle-Upper Triassic limestones of external boundary of ophiolites, is overlain by mélange, which in turn is overthrusted by tectonically disrupted ultramafic rocks. The mélange is a "block-in-matrix-type" set in argilitic matrix, composed of blocks, ranging from few hundred meters down to tens of meters and meter-scale, represented by MORB basalts, chert, serpentinites, Middle-Upper Triassic limestones, sandstones and subalkaline volcanics, too.

Effects of Jurassic-Cretaceous orogenic event, especially thrusting tectonics, as a tool in exploration of sulphide ores, was applied since last decade (Hoxha L. et al., 1988) and almost all sulphide deposits of Albanian ophiolites are affected by above event.

At Kurbneshi copper deposit (with about 3.5 Mt. of ores, already depleted) hosted by gabbros, drillholes after intersection of 400-500 m of gabbros with sulphides, have encountered Upper Jurassic – Lower Cretaceous mélange, proving a thrust sheet with a horizontal displacement more then 7 km and not a high-angle fault, as was considered previously, implying searching beneath the thrust plane.

At Perlati deposit, with more then 4 Mt. drill proved, high grade reserves (Zaçaj M.,1987), from very detailed mapping, and especially based in tens of thousands meters of drillings, clearly were proved three parallel thrust planes of volcanic hosted sulphides over Upper Jurassic – Lower Cretaceous mélange, with more then 1 km horizontal displacement, extending the searching especially at depth (Hoxha L. et al.,1988).

As pointed out by a variety of authors, reverse faults and thrusts, are clearly proved along the NE-trending, 25 km long Qafe Mali-Reps belt, hosting the most important sulphide deposits discovered so far as well as the greatest potential resources e.g. at Spaçi deposit reverse fault, whilst from Gurthspaç-Munella-Qafe Bari area thrust faults, imply the search beneath the fault planes.

At WBO, in a cross section of Rubiku sulphide deposit, is indicated that a borehole drilled about 2 km inside the front of Rubiku ophiolite thrust sheet, after intersection of 300 m volcano-sedimentary series encountered and passed for about 150 m into Upper Jurassic – Lower Cretaceous carbonate-argillic slates.

In connection to the question about the age of continental collision, if it did occur in the Eocene, as was represented firstly in the European tectonic map (1962) and later in Albanian geological (1983) and tectonic map (1985) or during Jurassic–Cretaceous orogenic event, the most of authors have kept the idea that, the "timing of emplacement of Albanian ophiolites, is constrained by Late Jurassic/Kimeridgian-Tithonian transgressive sediments" (ISPGJ 1983), whilst in a couple of papers the answer has been that the existence of a stack of thrust sheets in front and inside ophiolites, that have occurred subsequently, post-mélange and post-flysch-like deposition, in Jurassic–Cretaceous had determined this event (Hoxha L.1987, 1992, 1995 and Onuzi K., 1990).

Hoxha, Lirim , 1987,  Vazhdimesia veriore e VB kromitik te Bulqizes., Ark.e Bul.Shk.Gjeol. Tirana 7p.

Hoxha, Lirim ,   Berxhiku, P. ,   Daci A. , 1988,  Efektet e tektonikes shkeputes per kerkimin e mineralizimeve sulfure ne rajonin Kurbnesh-Perlat.. Bul.Shk.Gjeol.Tirana, 3:7-20.

Hoxha, Lirim , 1992,  Upper Jurassic – Early Cretaceous tectogenesis in the Inner Albanides.. Abstract’s vol. 29th Int, Geol. Congr. Kyoto, Japan, II-6-2 P-43 2130.

Hoxha, Lirim , 1995,  Sulphide mineralizations of Albanian ophiolite’s volcanics. Bul.Shk.Gjeol. Tirana, 1:39-64. ISPGJ, IGJN. , 1983,

Harta Gjeologjike e RPSSH ne shkalle 1:200 000.., MMKS, Tirana Onuzi, K. , 1990,  Marredhenjet e masivit ultrabazik te Bulqizes me formimet sedimentare perendimore.., Ark e IKGJ, Tirane, 70p.

 Shallo, M. ,   Kote, D. ,   Vranai, A. , 1987,  Geochemistry of volcanics from ophiolitic belts of Albanides. Ofioliti, 12:125-136.

Zaçaj, M. , 1988,  Mineralizimet e sulfideve te bakrit te VB Perlat te rrethit te Mirdites dhe rajonit rreth., tij. Disertacion. Tirana 120p. 

• L. BECCALUVA, M. COLTORTI, T. DEDA, K. GJATA, L.HOXHA, A. KODRA et al.: ‘A cross-section through the Western and Eastern Ophiolite belts of Albania (Working Group Meeting of IGCP Project No. 256 – Field Trip A)’, Ofioliti, 1994, 19, 3–26.

• Lirim Hoxha The Upper Jurassic-Early Cretaceous tectogenesis in the inner Albanides, 1992.  Ofioliti 1993, 18 (4), 99 

• L. Hoxha The Upper Jurassic-Early Cretaceous tectogenesis in the inner Albanides, 1992.  II-6-2 P-43 2130 Abstracts (8) 29th International Geological Congress, Kyoto, Japan, 1992

Participant at International Symposium on Geodynamic Evolution of Paleoasian Ocean,15 - 24 June 1993, Novosibirsk, Russia with principal organizers:

Professor Nikolaĭ Leontʹevich Dobret︠s︡ov, geologist, academician, director United Institute of Geology, Geophysics, and Mineralogy, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Professor Robert G. Coleman, Stanford University in USA, an American geologist. Member of the United States National Academy of Sciences. His primary field of expertise is the formation and plate tectonic setting of ophiolites and ultramafic rocks.

Professor Nikita Bogdanov, geologist, academician, director Moscow Institute of the Lithosphere, Russian Academy of Sciences.

Professor J. Klerkx    Royal Museum for Central Africa, Dept. Geology-Mineralogy, Tervuren, Belgium., AT AL.

 With Field trips in  Central Gorny Altai, observations on  upper part  of oceanic sedimentary layer of radiolarian chert (remains/clasts) as well as partial outcrops of metamorphic sole of ophiolites.

In Lake Teletskoe, data supporting for a tectonic origin of the Lake Teletskoe Depression, confirming that the N-S segment of Lake Teletskoe is an extensional tectonic depression formed during Quaternary.

• Field trips with Prof. Dr. Hans-Juergen Gawlick and Dr. Sigrid Missoni in Dachstein Alps, Austria, so-called Dachstein-Kalk ("Dachstein limestone"), dating from Triassic times and Bavarian Alps (German: Bayerische Alpen) on some outcrops of  Eocene iron deposits.