Rift domains and structural framework of the northwestern Red Sea basin, Egypt

Afifi, Ahmed S.; Moustafa, Adel R.; Helmy, Hany M.

doi:10.1007/s00531-023-02340-3

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 59 publications

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“…Indeed, several studies argue for a continuous spreading and formation of an oceanic crust since 13 to 15 Ma along the entire rift (e.g., Izzeldin, 1987;Sultan et al, 1993;Augustin et al, 2021;Delaunay et al, 2023;Mitchell et al, 2023). Others postulate that the oceanization is of much younger age (5 Ma;Issachar et al, 2023) and that the basement north of 19.5°N consists of a hyperextended continental crust punctuated by volcanic deeps (e.g., Bonatti, 1985;Ligi et al, 2011;Ligi et al, 2018;Le Magoarou et al, 2021;Saleh et al, 2021;Afifi et al, 2023;Sang et al, 2023). However, while the nature of the crust under the Miocene evaporites is up to debate, it is generally agreed that the uncovered crust, consisting of isolated bathymetric troughs and basins, the so-called "Deeps" in the central RSR consists of oceanic crust (e.g., Tramontini and Davies, 1969;Pautot, 1983;Bonatti, 1985;Haase et al, 2000;Augustin et al, 2014;van der Zwan et al, 2015;Ligi et al, 2018;Augustin et al, 2021;Mitchell et al, 2023;Sang et al, 2023).…”

Section: Geological Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Magmatism at an ultra-slow spreading rift: high-resolution geomorphological studies of a Red Sea Rift segment in Hadarba Deep

Le Saout,

van der Zwan,

Schiebener

et al. 2023

Front. Mar. Sci.

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The mid-ocean rift in the Red Sea is one of the youngest rifting systems on Earth. Only recently, state-of-the-art methods and modern deep-sea instruments have been used to explore this young and unique volcanic system. During the first autonomous underwater vehicle surveys of the Red Sea Rift in Spring 2022, we collected multibeam bathymetry, backscatter, sub-bottom profiler data, and water column data over a 9 km long ridge segment in the Hadarba Deep between 22.49°N and 22.56°N to investigate the volcano-tectonic processes of this ultra-slow spreading segment (12 mm/year spreading rate). The high-resolution hydroacoustic data was used to (1) delineate and quantify the geometry of tectonic structures and individual lava flows, (2) define lava flow morphology and eruption style, (3) estimate relative ages of flows and features, and (4) retrace the evolution of the volcanic activity. In addition, the geochemistry of several young lava flows provides information on the relation between the different magma that supply these eruptions. About 90 eruptive units with variable sedimentary cover have been identified within the 43 km2mapped region. The oldest lava flows are buried under 3 to 4.2 m of sediment, indicating ages of up to ~30 ka based on average sedimentation rate estimates (~14 cm/ka), while the youngest eruptions are covered by<10 cm of sediment, and are thus younger than 700 years. Three volcanic phases have been identified based on changes in flow morphology and distribution, and tectonic pattern. All three axial phases have an average eruptive frequency of ~100-250 years. The segment displays an overall low tectonic extension (<10% of the total extension) and low vertical offset. Our geomorphological maps, analyses, and statistics reveal a moderately faulted, ultra-slow spreading MOR segment in the Red Sea with a surprisingly large amount of magmatic extension, implying that the segment has been underlined by a large magma supply for at least 15 ka. All these observations provide valuable implications for the formation history of the Red Sea Rift and the formation of ultra-slow spreading crust.

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Section: Geological Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Magmatism at an ultra-slow spreading rift: high-resolution geomorphological studies of a Red Sea Rift segment in Hadarba Deep

Le Saout,

van der Zwan,

Schiebener

et al. 2023

Front. Mar. Sci.

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The ocean-continent transition in the Western Central Red Sea

Mitchell,

Preine,

Okwokwo

et al. 2023

Journal of African Earth Sciences

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The tectonostratigraphic latitudinal record of the eastern Red Sea margin

Baby,

Delaunay,

Aslanian

et al. 2024

BSGF - Earth Sci. Bull.

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We characterize the eastern Red Sea necking domain through its north-south structural and stratigraphic record. Along-strike segmentation occurred during rifting (~28-14 Ma), with tilted blocks filled by siliciclastic sediments structuring the northern poor-magmatic segment (28°N-21.5°N), while siliciclastic/volcanoclastic sediments and volcanic flows interpreted as SDRs characterize the southern magmatic segment (21.5°N-13°N). Tectonic and magmatic activity stopped in this portion of the margin when a thick salt layer precipitated during the Middle Miocene (~14-13 Ma). The stratigraphy of the margin then became homogeneous between the two segments suggesting similar post-salt subsidence and common crustal characteristics throughout the Red Sea. This work provides new insights into understanding the Red Sea geology and, more broadly, on the tectonostratigraphic evolution of rifted margins in magma-poor and magma-rich settings.

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Rift domains and structural framework of the northwestern Red Sea basin, Egypt

Cited by 3 publications

References 59 publications

Magmatism at an ultra-slow spreading rift: high-resolution geomorphological studies of a Red Sea Rift segment in Hadarba Deep

Magmatism at an ultra-slow spreading rift: high-resolution geomorphological studies of a Red Sea Rift segment in Hadarba Deep

The ocean-continent transition in the Western Central Red Sea

The tectonostratigraphic latitudinal record of the eastern Red Sea margin

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