Integrated analysis of magnetic, paleomagnetic and K‐Ar data in a tectonic complex region: An example from the Sea of Galilee

Abstract

Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret) is located in northern Israel in the area of complex tectonic setting where the Dead Sea Transform crosscuts other fault systems. Practical absence of wells in the sea hinders geological‐geophysical data interpretation. Map of the total magnetic field shows an intricate pattern of the magnetic field distribution caused by a combined influence of the basalt flows of various age and magnetization in and around the sea. The identified magnetic anomalies were analyzed using methods of quantitative interpretation specially developed for complex geological conditions. The paleomagnetic stratigraphy of basalt associations around the Sea of Galilee basin proved to be correlated with the paleomagnetic zones in the sea. For the first time was developed the detailed magnetic‐paleomagnetic scheme with K‐Ar dating unmasking structure of magnetic anomalies in the sea and coordinating the revealed peculiarities with the surrounding anomalies.

Newly developed paleomagnetic map of the EasternmostMediterranean joined with tectono-structural analysis unmaskgeodynamic history of this region

“…It should be noted that a local combined paleomagnetic-radiometric map was created earlier for the Sea of Galilee situated at the eastern boundary of the EMM [118]. The paleomagnetic reconstructions with attraction of radiometric data of ophiolitic complexes in the zone of transition of continental zone to oceanic one, petrological and facial data (with consideration of age of tectono-thermal activations [18,19]) were utilized to construct the rst paleomagnetic map of the ocean crust in the EMM (Figure 7 and Table 1).…”

Do subterranean mammals use the Earth’s magnetic field as a heading indicator to dig straight tunnels?

“…All analyzed burrow systems originate from a single small area in the Upper Galilee Mountains, and six of nine examined burrow systems were located in basaltic soils. Basaltic soils are generally characterized by rather strong magnetic signatures and the studied region is known for magnetic anomalies ( Eppelbaum, Ben-Avraham & Katz, 2004 ) that might compromise magnetic orientation. Furthermore, the population density in basaltic soil is five times higher than in rendzina soil ( Lövy et al, 2015 ).…”

Peer Review #1 of "Do subterranean mammals use the Earth’s magnetic field as a heading indicator to dig straight tunnels? (v0.2)"

“…Manuscript to be reviewed characterized by rather strong magnetic signatures and the studied region is known for magnetic anomalies (Eppelbaum et al, 2004) that might compromise magnetic orientation. Furthermore, the population density in basaltic soil is five times higher than in rendzina soil (Lövy et al, 2015).…”