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In Attica, from the Miocene through the Quaternary, successive generations of detachment faults caused exhumation and denudation of Alpine HP rocks and – later on -formation of sedimentary basins. The Mesogea low angle detachment fault separates the HP rocks exposed at the southern flank of the Penteli Mtfrom the Late - post-Late Miocene Mesogea basin. Combined sedimentary-petrologic and structural analyses reveal the following: (i) Late Miocene sediments include material from unmetamorphosed source areas suggesting that, until then, parts of the HP rocks were buried under the (largely unmetamorphosed) Pelagonian nappe unit, (ii) Post-Late Miocene sediments exclusively contain clasts from high-P source areas and show downward bending of the layering that accommodates slip along a lis trie fault surface. Close to the Penteli Mt, within the post-Late-Miocene sediments gravity sliding-blocL· of metamorphic rocks occur. All this indicates post-Late Miocene activity along this detachment fault controlled rapid surface uplift/relief formation, denudation and fast erosion of HP rocks in the Penteli Mt.

The present study aims to analyse in details the tectono-sedimentary processes of the western borderline of the intra-continental graben of Ptolemais-Kozani in NW Macedonia, given the presentday mining activity of Public Power Corporation. Field studies in combination with drilling analysis revealed the extremely geometrical complexity of the sedimentary fill as the result of the recent Quaternary deformation. Bearing in mind, the recognition of left-lateral strike-slip component of movement in the western border fault zone-Mavropigi shear zone, the geometrical coincidence of the morphological shapes of the present-day morphology-of the top-of the bottom of the Pliocene earthy lignite sequence and of the sub-surface morphology of the pre-Cretaceous Pelagonian basement as well as the discovery of several reverse faults in the surrounding area have allowed us to accept the action of a composite Quaternary deformational pattern. For the first time in NW Macedonia, ductile-brittle type macrostructures (mega-anticlines) with NE-SW axis direction are confirmed, showing the simultaneous and progressive action of ductile and brittle deformation of all the geological formations of the western borderline, sedimentary fill and metamorphic basement. The aforementioned geometrical complexity and also the observed field structures strongly reveal the action of a rotational couple-type stress field in Ptolemais-Kozani graben, enclosed in the inca piate in-type deformation of NW Macedonia. In this framework, the occurrence of the extensional post-orogenic structures, which seems that they have been overestimated by previous researchers in the literature, is considered of secondary importance and constitutes part and expression of the complicated Quaternary tectonic structures of the sedimentary fill. This complex deformational pat tern controls and also defines the spatial distribution of the lignite reserves in the Mavropigi Lignite Field with a southward increasing of them as well as causes regions with a composite or a simple post-orogenic geometry and evolution, directly reflected by the sub-surface geometry of the Plio cene lignite sequence. The aforementioned complicated geometry is of great importance, either for the planning and the future expansion of the Mavropigi Lignite Field in the western borderline, or for the better approach of the intra-plate deformational processes of Ptolemais-Kozani graben.

An integrated structural study of the Ptolemais basin of Northern Greece allows assessment of deformation processes and their implicationin the Pliocene–Quaternary structural evolution of this part of Western Macedonia. Normal and reverse faults within Plio–Quaternarysediments, NE–SW striking anticlines in both Plio–Quaternary sediments and pre-Tertiary basement-units, torsions and deformationpartitioning, highlight the particular characteristics of intra-plate deformation. Field investigations and drilling data infer the conclusion that intra-plate processes were governed by progressive shear strain during the Plio–Quaternary. A new kinematic model for the developmentof the Ptolemais basin is proposed, showing the importance of progressive shear strain.