Vestnik Otdelenia nauk o Zemle RAN VOL. 2, NZ6006, doi:10.2205/2010NZ000024, 2010

Earth crust of Lesser Caucasus, ophiolites, volcanism, oilgasbearing, seismisity

Arutyunyan A. V.

Abstract

The results of studies seismic and density properties of rocks at high termobaric conditions, interpretation of numerous geologic-geophysical data have allowed to offer composition, construction and model of evolution of earth crust of the territory of Armenia. On the proposed model the following interdependent problems are debated:

1. mechanism of forming of ophiolites and originating magmatic centers within the limits of earth crust,
2. genesis of organic and inorganic hydrocarbons,
3. reasons of originating of the seismic centers.

• Ophiolites are arise owing of protrusive intrusion of serpentinized masses on deep faults to the upper horizons of the earth crust. The basic source of their formation is the third layer of oceanic crust. Magmatic centers within the limits of the crust arise on different depths owing to dehydration of serpentinized mass, but basically on depths 35–40 km.
• The inorganic hydrocarbons are generated in process of dehydration on different depths. The main source of hydrogen components serve the serpentinized layer. The hydrocarbons of organic genesis are arise at the metamorfization of rocks which have marine origin.
• Seismic centers arise also at the protrusive intrusion serpentinized masses to the upper horizons, at dehydration of rocks, and at the polymorphic transformations in minerals.

Received 28 April 2010; published 5 June 2010.