Seismic reflection structure of intracratonic palmyride fold-thrust belt and surrounding Arabian platform, Syria

Journal Article · Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA)

OSTI ID:6934932

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

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

Seismic reflection and drill-hole data from central Syria provide a detailed view of the subsurface structure (10-15 km depth) of the relatively little-studied intracratonic Palmyride fold and thrust belt. The data set, together with surface geologic mapping, constrains a structural/stratigraphic section spanning the northeast sector of the belt and the surrounding subprovinces of the Arabian platform. The seismic reflection and drill-hole data show Mesozoic stratigraphic sequences thickening abruptly into the Palmyrides from the adjacent, arched Paleozoic platforms Neogene (alpine) folding and thrusting of the Mesozoic basin, as documented on the seismic data, are sharply restricted to the narrow width of the belt ({approximately}100 km), in contrast to the relatively undeformed Phanerozoic strata of the platforms to the north and south. The seismic and drill-hole data support the hypothesis that the palmyrides began as a Permian-Triassic failed rift connected to the Levantine passive continental margin, which was inverted and complexly deformed by the interfering effects of Cenozoic movements along the Dead Sea transform fault system and the Turkish Bitlis convergent zone. The seismic data provide a first view into the extent and depth of the early basin formation and subsequent compressional deformation, and as such represent a necessary element for constraining reconstructions of northern Middle East plate motions. 20 figs.

• OSTI ID: 6934932
• Journal Information: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA), Vol. 74:3; ISSN 0149-1423
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
58 GEOSCIENCES
SYRIA
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
SEISMIC SURVEYS
CROSS SECTIONS
EXPLORATION
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
PERMIAN PERIOD
PLATE TECTONICS
RIFT ZONES
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
STRATIGRAPHY
TRIASSIC PERIOD
ASIA
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GEOLOGY
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
MESOZOIC ERA
MIDDLE EAST
PALEOZOIC ERA
SURVEYS
TECTONICS
020200* - Petroleum- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
580000 - Geosciences