Pyroclastic series of Kyra (15)

The whole series appears on the eastern slopes of the volcano; it exhibits Middle dacitic lavas at the foot and rhyodacitic lavas with inclusions at the top. A second albeit smaller tuff appears on the NW coast; it is inlaid in the conglomerate of Kastro.

Layers of the same series (mainly layers of fallout lapilli and ash) occur in Pahia while respective tuffites appear at Pyrgousa. Distal phases of these explosive events have been identified on Tilos and Halki islands, as well as at the Knidos peninsula (Keller et al., 1990).

These are pyroclastic products, deposited by severe explosive events, fed by dacitic and andesitic magma volumes.

More than 6 major eruptions deposited 27 layers mainly comprising lapilli and ash of andesitic scoriae and dacitic pumice through fall, flow and (dry and wet) surge depositional mechanisms.

The presence of xenoliths from the limestone substratum and skarn is quite remarkable; these amount up to 30% of the deposit, as regards the overall composition.

Maximum thickness of the series amounts to 70m.