Retreating Late Tertiary shorelines in Israel: Implications for the exposure of north Arabia and Levant during Neotethys closure

• DOI: 10.1130/l124.1
• Publication Date: 2011-01-27T02:43:16Z
• Authors: Z. Gvirtzman; J. Steinberg; O. Bar; B. Buchbinder; E. Zilberman; R. Siman-Tov; R. Calvo; L. Grossowicz; A. Almogi-Labin; M. Rosensaft
• Keywords: Foothills; Peninsula; Neogene

Along with the closure of Neotethys after middle Eocene, paleogeography northern Arabian Peninsula changed significantly. Shorelines that had previously extended from Egypt eastward toward Persian Gulf their course northward Turkey along present-day Mediterranean coasts. This paper examines trends Late Tertiary shorelines central Israel and documents gradual change in shoreline direction. The topographic continuity Israel's mountainous backbone Judea to Samaria Mount Carmel similarity exposed rock units throughout these regions raise possibility exposure history is similar. However, integration information obtained both north south suggests differential movements uplifted truncated structure only began during late Miocene, some 20–25 m.y. Israel. In addition, morphostratigraphic analysis ancient abrasive erosive surfaces at Carmel-Samaria foothills unlike Pliocene surrounded west, Oligocene Miocene did not reach region northeastward. Based on data a compilation additional knowledge, we discuss regional land suggest was much later than southern major phase uplift occurred early Miocene.