Morais ophiolite complex

The Morais ophiolite complex, also known as Morais Massif (in Portuguese, Maciço de Morais), is located in the northeast of Portugal in the Bragança District, with its main core in the Macedo de Cavaleiros Municipality. Generally speaking the Morais ophiolite complex is a set of allochthonous units, which include a full range of ultramafic rocks.

Geological uniqueness

Its uniqueness lies in the fact that, within a radius of about 50 km, it's possible to see the geologic evidences of the continental collision between Laurussia and Gondwana with the consequent closure of the Rheic Ocean, to form the supercontinent of Pangaea in the Late Paleozoic (Variscan orogeny).^[1]

This Geologic Complex presents three main units:^[2]

• the terranes once belonging to the stressed edge of the Gondwana continent
• the ophiolite: a complete sequence of oceanic crust (obduction of the Rheic Ocean)
• the terranes once part of the Laurussia continent

See also

• Geology of the Iberian Peninsula – Geology of Spain, Portugal, Andorra, and Gibraltar
• Morais (Macedo de Cavaleiros) – Portuguese parish in the municipality of Macedo de Cavaleiros
• Morais Natura 2000 Site – Site of high geological, botanical and zoological interest