Ultrabasic Massif of Goleshi (Kosova): Microstructural and Kinematic Analysis

The Goleshi Peridotite massif is representative of the dippest mantle section of the Vardar oceanic lithosphere: these deep mantle peridotite are characterized by the lack of pyroxenite dykes, gabbroic dykes, chromite ore bodies and the presence of rare and small dunite lenses. The ophiolitic peridotite of the Goleshi massif is thrust above metamorphic Palaeozoic-Triassic series and is overlain by transgressive Pliocene formations. The foliation strikes north-eastward and dips 40° northwestwards. A northwards plunging lineation is measured in the foliation plane all over the massif. Microstructure analysis s of harzburgites have revealed the presence of low temperature (800-1000°C) porphyroclastic and mylonitic texture of implying a deviatory stress between 580 and 1100 bar. These microstructural features relate to the deformations of oceanic lithosphere, during upper Jurassic convergence, when an intraoceanic thrust break up formed at or close to the mid-oceanic ridge. Kinematic analysis reveals that the hangingwall of this thrust was transported from West to East.