Lithology and Geochemistry of the Sediments Along the Eastern Mediterranean Coast

Abstract

Area between the Cyprus and Syrian coast is a wide strait with a complicated relief of the floor and specific circulation of the waters (Hall et al., 1994; Ovchinnikov and Fuoad, 1994) [Figure 1]. Because of the dry climate geological material discharging from the watershed area of Cyprus, Syria and Turkey is week. From the other side the discharges of the Nile river penetrate here in spite of tremendously lardge distance (Emelyanov, 1994). It is still uncertain in which regions of the area an influence of the Nile material is predominant and where it is weakened due to strengthening the role of local material. The latter is spiked by the products of weathering of the ophiolite massives wide spead both on the Cyprus and Syrian coasts. The results of the 27-th cruise of r/v “Vityaz” (1993) in this part of the Mediterranean Sea [Figure 1] give additional possibility to clear up the situation.