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

Abstract

Newly developed paleomagnetic map of the Easternmost Mediterranean joined with tectono-structural analysis unmask geodynamic history of this regionAbstract: Comprehensive magnetic-paleomagnetic analysis of physical-geological models developed for the Easternmost Mediterranean (northern part of the Sinai plate) accompanied by gravity and seismic data examination enabled the detection of a zone of inverse magnetization of submeridional strike with a total volume exceeding 120,000 km . Such a large zone must correspond to the prolonged period of inverse polarity in the Earth's magnetic eld history. We suggest that this inversely magnetized thick block of the Earth's crust corresponds to the known Kiama hyperzone. A paleomagnetic map constructed on the basis of abovementioned geophysical data analysis combined with detailed examination of structural, radiometric, petrological, facial, paleogeographical and some other data indicates that to the west of the Kiama zone is situated the Jalal zone, and to the east -Illawarra, Omolon and Gissar zones. Discovery of the Kiama paleomagnetic zone combined with tectonogeodynamical analysis and paleobiographical data examination indicates that the Earth's oceanic crust blocks may have been shifted by transform faults from the eastern part of the Tethys Ocean to their modern position in the Easternmost Mediterranean. Analysis of potential geophysical elds and seismological maps integrated with tectonostructural examination show the isolation of the northern part of Sinai plate from other terranes. For the rst time formation-paleogeographical maps of Triassic and Jurassic for the Easternmost Mediterranean have been compiled and their tectono-geodynamical explanation has been given. The obtained data create a basis for reconsidering tectonic zonation, paleogeodynamical reconstructions and searching for economic deposits in this region.

Paleomagnetic-Radiometric Mapping of the Transition Zone from Ocean to the Continent: A Review

“…Gvirtzman et al [53] suggested that the formations composing this graben have a predominantly continental genesis, including soils and coal. According to other data [82,83], the Asher Volcanics relate to a deep basin with a possible ocean-like crust; the results of our investigation [22,31,32] partially agree with the last proposition.…”

“…However, their initial application in the easternmost Mediterranean region was triggered by the work of Ben-Avraham et al [30]. The previous experience of our studies in this region [16,18,[31][32][33] indicates that paleomagnetic studies are effective in analyzing the geodynamic-tectonic features of the easternmost Mediterranean.…”

“…The combined magnetic-paleomagnetic analysis enabled the discovery of the Kiama zone of inverse polarity in the easternmost Mediterranean [31]. This research triggered the development of the first paleomagnetic map of the easternmost Mediterranean based on the integrated interpretation of different geophysical fields and comprehensive analysis of the surrounding sedimentary and volcanogenic structures [22,32,33,52].…”

“…It was the first experience of such research in the transition areas from the ocean to the continent. In the context of the regional geological-geophysical studies of the African-Arabian region, paleomagnetic mapping of the area of the Sea of Galilee has been significantly expanded and detailed ( [16,23,32,52].…”

“…The deep structure is elicited from the regional tectonic constructions [15,32], results of seismic profiling [103,107,108], boreholes data [88,109], regional geological map [64], radiometric data [61,63,96,104,106]; and the results of the paleomagnetic zonation [16,18,19,22].…”