Sand on the southern Mediterranean Ridge: proximal basement and distal African-Nile provenance

Auteurs :
STANLEY, D. J.
SHENG, H.
KHOLIEF, M. M.

Description :
Petrographic analysis of Quaternary ferriferous sand layers in eastern Mediterranean cores reveals distinct mineralogical differences between the Egyptian Shelf-Nile Cone region and the southern part of the Mediterranean Ridge. A compositionally and texturally immature suite in Ridge cores, mixed with a Nile-derived assemblage, identifies a fresh non recycled mineral component derived from proximal igneous and metamorphic surface or near-surface exposures, probably in the south-central Ridge area rather than from distal African sources. The presence of such basement terrains would be consistent with a compressive thrust-belt origin for this part of the Mediterranean Ridge.


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Nature London, 1979, vol. 279, n°. 5714, p. 594-598, Références bibliographiques : 22 réf.

Date :
1979