Abstract
The Simoni (=Mirdita) Melange, as well as the Firza Flysch, belongs to the sedimentary sequence associated with the Jurassic ophiolites from the Mirdita nappe, Albania. This sedimentary melange of Late Jurassic age is characterized by block- in-matrix texture. The lithologies of these blocks include both oceanic and continental derived rocks, but the most common lithological type (up to 50%) recognized in the Simoni Melange is represented by sandstones.
This paper deals with the petrographic features of the sandstone blocks. These sandstones consist of sublithic-arenites to lithic-arenites characterized by the prevalence of mono- and polycrystalline medium-grained quartz fragments. Minor amounts of acidic volcanics, low-grade metamorphic and sedimentary lithic grains are present in the sandstone blocks, whereas ophiolitic, plutonic and high-grade metamorphic fragments are lacking. The collected data suggest a Permian-Early Triassic age for the sandstones, analogues to that recognized in the Late Paleozoic, sequences of Korabi (=Pelagonian) continental zone. This implies that the prevalent blocks (up to 70-80%) recognized in the Simoni Melange were derived from source rocks located in a continental setting.