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Where are well-known ophiolites found on land?
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oceanic crust
A cross section of Earth's outer layers, from the crust through the lower mantle.
Ophiolites are sections of the ocean floor that have been thrust onto land through plate tectonics and mountain building processes. Because the preservation of oceanic crust on land is rare, these complexes serve as vital natural laboratories for studying the composition and structure of the crust.12
Well-known locations where ophiolites are found include:
- North America: Extensive deposits are found in the Pacific Coast Ranges of California, stretching from the Klamath Mountains to the Diablo Range. Additionally, the Cape Smith belt in Canada contains ancient ophiolites.123
- Cyprus: The Troodos Mountains are a classic and well-studied example of an ophiolite complex.14
- Oman: The mountains on the southeastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula host significant ophiolite exposures.1
- Other Regions: Proterozoic ophiolites are found in the Pan-African belts of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Yemen, and The Sudan, as well as in southern Finland.3