Permian–Triassic palaeogeography of the external Hellenides

In the External Hellenides two crustal types are developed: (1) a Variscan basement overlain by the Tyros Unit and (2) a presumably Panafrican basement overlain by the Phyllite-Quartzite Group (Late Carboniferous-Early Triassic) and the Plattenkalk Group (Permian-Oligocene). If we accept this assumption, the Plattenkalk and the Phyllite-Quartzite Groups fit well into the Permian-Triassic palaeogeography of the northeastern margin of Afro-Arabia. During the Permian-Triassic there is evidence for a siliciclastic fluvio-marine system in the western Sinai and Nile area, whereas the Early Triassic shelf of eastern Sinai and Israel is dominated by a carbonate platform. The western facies association of the Plattenkalk and the Phyllite-Quartzite Groups represents the northward extension of a fluvio-marine system. The siliciclastics of the Plattenkalk Group formed part of a marine delta, those of the Phyllite-Quartzite Group indicate a turbidite fan system. The units of Middle and Eastern Crete represent the seaward continuation of the carbonate platform (Plattenkalk Group) and a deep sea realm free of turbidite influx (Phyllite-Quartzite Group). During the Permian-Triassic the different crustal segments were brought together due to dextral strike slip movements of Gondwana against the southern margin of the European Plate as indicated by a uniform shallow marine facies of the Carnian/Norian.