Δελτίο της Ελληνικής Γεωλογικής Εταιρίας, Τομ. XXXIV/1, 267-274, 2001 Bulletin of the Geological Society of Greece, Vol. XXXIV 1 267-274, 2001  Πρακτικά 9ου Διεθνούς Συνεδρίου, Αθήνα, Σεπτέμβριος 2001 Proceedings of the 9th International Congress, Athens, September 2001  KINEMATIC ANALYSIS AND TERTIARY EVOLUTION OF THE LESVOS  OPHIOLITES AND METAMORPHIC SOLE (AEGEAN SEA, GREECE)  D.MOUNTRAKIS 1 , E.THOMAIDOU 1 , N.ZOUROS 2 , A.KILIAS 1 ABSTRACT  In Lesvos Island, the ophiolites and the metamorphic sole are emplaced onto the Permo-Triassic continen- tal margin rocks. New field data on the Tertiary kinematics distinguished three successive tectonic events that  affected the Lesvos ophiolites and sole. The Dl compressional event took place in Late Eocene - Early Oligocene  and produced several thrust sheets and their stacking over the continental margin. The thickening of the crust  after the Dl event, was followed by an important extensional tectonic event (D2) in semi-ductile conditions in  Oligocene-Early Miocene times, which produced the uplift process of the orogen and the lateral rejection of the  tectonic nappes through large extensional semi-ductile faults of low angle (detachment faults) and caused the  exhumation of the underlying continental margin rocks in the form of a tectonic window. This extensional tec- tonic event led to the thinning of the crust in the wider area of Lesvos and probably caused the Early Miocene  volcanic activity. The last D3 extensional tectonic event, took place in brittle conditions and represents the  neotectonic regime in Late Miocene-Recent times.  KEY WORDS: Tertiary tectonics; Ophiolites; metamorphic sole; uplift-exhumation; Lesvos Island; Greece.  1. INTRODUCTION Ophiolites and metamorphic ophiolitic sole occur in Lesvos Island in the northeastern Aegean Sea. The  ophiolitic rocks are separated in two main masses, both located in the southeastern part of the island. The  western mass which is the larger in the area of Olympus Mt.-Polychnitos and the eastern (smaller one) in the  Amali peninsula in the south of Mytilene town (fig. 1 ).  The ophiolites of the two masses are thrust on a metamorphic sole and both of them are structurally em- placed onto the Permo-Triassic rocks.  Lesvos' Permo-Triassic rocks probably represent a continental margin, although there is still much argu- ment regarding its origin. The origin and emplacement of Lesvos' ophiolites also remains uncertain and there is  a doubt whether they belong to IRÒ or ERO ophiolitic suture of Greece, since Lesvos is an island and its connection to the geotectonic zones of Greek mainland is not observable. In this paper we present new field data on the Tertiary kinematics of ophiolites and metamorphic sole of both the ophiolitic masses of Lesvos, based on the study of shear criteria and kinematic indicators. 2. GEOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK OF LESVOS ISLAND AND REMARKS ON THE OPHIOLITES AND THE METAMORPHIC SOLE The geology of Lesvos comprises a basement composed by pre-alpine and alpine rocks, which is covered in its major part by post-alpine formations, mainly volcanic rocks of Miocene age. The basement is widely observ- able in the southeastern part of the island (fig.l). According to the mapping of Hecht (1972,1974), Lesvos' basement is divided into the following three major units, which are in tectonic contact: the schists and marbles of Carboniferous age, the schists, phyllites and marbles of Carboniferous-Triassic age, and the ultramafic rocks. A considerably revised map has been proposed by Katsikatsos et al. (1986), including the following units. The autochthonous unit of Neopaleozoic to Triassic age, which consists of low-grade metamorphic rocks i.e.: mica schists, quartzites, calcitic schists, metasandstones and phyllites. A carbonate sequence, often more than 400m thick, occurs in the upper parts of this unit. Although the origin of this autochthonous unit still remains undocumented, it is considered as a probable remnant of the Cimmerian continent, belonging to the Pelagonian geotectonic zone (Mountrakis et al. 1983, Katsikatsos et al. 1986, Papanikolaou 1999). 1. Department of Geology and Paleontology. School of Geology, University of Thessaloniki, GR-54006, Thessaloniki, Greece. 2. Natural History Museum of the Petrified Forest of Lesvos, Sigri. Lesvos. -267-