Bouguer gravity trends and crustal structure of the Palmyride Mountain belt and surrounding northern Arabian platform in Syria

Journal Article · Fri Nov 30 23:00:00 EST 1990 · Geology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1990)018<1235:BGTACS>2.3.CO;2· OSTI ID:5796626

Best, J A; Barazangi, M ^[1]; Al-Saad, D; Sawaf, T; Gebran, A ^[2]

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1. Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (USA)
2. Syrian Petroleum Company, Damascus (Syria)

This study examines the crustal structure of the Palmyrides and the northern Arabian platform in Syria by two- and three-dimensional modeling of the Bouguer gravity anomalies. Results of the gravity modeling indicate that (1) western Syria is composed of at least two different crustal blocks, (2) the southern crustal block is penetrated by a series of crustal-scale, high-density intrusive complexes, and (3) short-wavelength gravity anomalies in the southwest part of the mountain belt are clearly related to basement structure. The crustal thickness in Syria, as modeled on the gravity profiles, is approximately 40{plus minus}4 km, which is similar to crustal thicknesses interpreted from refraction data in Jordan and Saudi Arabia. The different crustal blocks and large-scale mafic intrusions are best explained, though not uniquely, by Proterozoic convergence and suturing and early Paleozoic rifting, as interpreted in the exposed rocks of the Arabian shield. These two processes, combined with documented Mesozoic rifting and Cenozoic transpression, compose the crustal evolution of the northern Arabian platform beneath Syria.

• OSTI ID: 5796626
• Journal Information: Geology; (USA), Journal Name: Geology; (USA) Vol. 18:12; ISSN GLGYB; ISSN 0091-7613
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580000* -- Geosciences
ASIA
BASEMENT ROCK
CONTINENTAL CRUST
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DIMENSIONS
EARTH CRUST
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GEOLOGIC MODELS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
GRAVITY SURVEYS
IGNEOUS ROCKS
MIDDLE EAST
MOUNTAINS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLUTONIC ROCKS
REFRACTIVITY
RIFT ZONES
ROCKS
SURVEYS
SYRIA
TECTONICS
THICKNESS
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS