The structure and tectonic setting of the levant continental margin, Eastern Mediterranean

Zvi Ben-Avraham*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

86 Scopus citations

Abstract

The continental slope and rise of a segment of the Levant continental margin were investigated using continuous seismic profiling. The relatively small distances between the profiles and the accurate navigation make it possible to study small-scale variations in the structure and physical character of the stratigraphic sequence on the continental margin. Several prominent reflectors were identified through the entire area and their structure was mapped. Tectonic elements observed in this area consist of structures formed by compressional processes, and normal faults mainly along the continental slope. At the bottom of the slope a diapiric complex lies in a belt parallel to the slope, and in the Levant Basin a large diapiric field with smaller diapirs was mapped. A new conceptual model for the tectonic development of the Levant continental margin is described. The main idea is that the faulting along the continental slope is the expression of the two types of interaction at the northern boundary of the Sinai plate, with the Cyprian arc on one side, and with the Taurus Mountains in Turkey on the other.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)313-331
Number of pages19
JournalTectonophysics
Volume46
Issue number3-4
DOIs
StatePublished - 28 Apr 1978
Externally publishedYes

Funding

FundersFunder number
Israel Oceanographic
Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Israel

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