Geological Map of Greece

The present compilation of the Geological Map of Greece at a scale of 1:1,000,000 is based on recent geological information and the existing geological map at a scale of 1:500,000 and all geological maps at a scale of 1:50,000, which cover almost the whole Hellenic territory.

This map presents the complete geological picture of Greece, an area constituting a significant geological junction in the folded alpine arc of the Dhinarides--Hellenides--Taurides, Iranides, and other mountain ranges.

The map shows the subdivision into geotectonic zones, the lithostratigraphic succession of the geological formations including the basic tectonic structures, and specifically the nappes, which are a characteristic feature of the Hellenic mountain ranges. Younger volcanic rocks, which are related to the Aegean volcanic arc, are also recognizable within the Hellenides.

The Hellenides mountain ranges belong to the Dinaric branch. They are mainly of alpine age and were formed from the folding of formations deposited in the Tethys Ocean during the Mesozoic and Paleogene. In this area, rocks of Paleozoic and older occur that have been deformed by older folding episodes and are considered to be prealpine. There are also rocks of younger age, Lower Miocene, considered to be post-alpine excluding the molassic sediments of older age (mid-Eocene to Miocene).