Morais ophiolite complex
# Morais ophiolite complex

The Morais ophiolite complex, also known as Morais Massif (in Portuguese, Maciço de Morais), is located in the northeast of Portugal in the Bragança District, with its main core in the Macedo de Cavaleiros Municipality. Generally speaking the Morais ophiolite complex is a set of allochthonous units, which include a full range of ultramafic rocks.

## Geological uniqueness

Its uniqueness lies in the fact that, within a radius of about 50 km, it's possible to see the geologic evidences of the continental collision between Laurussia and Gondwana with the consequent closure of the Rheic Ocean, to form the supercontinent of Pangaea in the Late Paleozoic (Variscan orogeny).

This Geologic Complex presents three main units:

* the terrains once belonging to the stress edge of the Gondwana continent
* the ophiolite: a complete sequence of oceanic crust (obduction of the Rheic Ocean)
* the terrains once belonging to the Laurussia continent
