Reef limestone and chalks of the Lefkara and Pachna formation on Kottafoi Hill.


The uniqueness of this outcrop is due to the fact that in a relatively small section, of approximately one hundred meters in thickness, the Troodos sedimentary sequence is almost fully exposed. At the base of this section, Kottafoi hill, white chalks and cherts of the Lefkara Formation are exposed, which pass upwards to the yellow chalks, marly chalks and marls of the Pachna Formation, with characteristic brownish horizons rich in organic matter at its higher stratigraphic layers. At the very top of the hill, reef limestones of Koronia Member are exposed. These sediments include microfossils, which determine the age of the sediments (approximately between 56 and 7 million years ago) and consist the best natural recorders for the changes of the marine environment.
Initially, the marine environment of the Neotethys Ocean was very deep, near the carbonate compensation depth (approximately 3,200 m during that period), where the deposition of white chalks and cherts took place. Gradually, with the shallowing of the marine environment to approximately 1,000 m, yellow chalks and marls with the brownish organic rich horizons were deposited. The deposition of these horizons begun 15 million years ago, indicating a significant event for the evolution of the Mediterranean Sea. During that period, the Arabian Plate collided with the Eurasian Plate, resulting in the creation of the semi-enclosed configuration of the Mediterranean Sea, where in heavy precipitation periods, organic matter precipitated at the bottom of the sea. Finally, 7 million years ago the sea became very shallow and warm, allowing reef growth in tectonically uplifted areas, which later produced the reef limestones.
Thus, these sediments act as natural recorders of the uplift of the Troodos Ophiolite Complex and the progressively shallowing sea around it, from a very deep to a shallow and warm marine environment.

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