Peculiarities of recent sedimentogenesis in the eastern mediterranean sea

Abstract

An investigation of Recent bottom sediments between Cyprus Island and the Syrian seacoast on the 27th cruise of the R/VVityaz (1993) gave comprehensive field data significantly complementing our understanding of the sedimentation process in this part of the Mediterranean. Mineralogical and geochemical indicators testify to different input into sedimentaion of the Syrian and Nile River sources. The Nile River plays the leading role in terrigenous sedimentation in the southeastern Mediterranean, especially in deep-sea areas. In contrast, the contribution of the weathering products of basalts and ophilites of the Syrian drainage area (hornblende, monoclinic and rhombic pyroxenes, olivine, spinel, palagonite, and epidote) are particularly detectable in sediments in the near-coastal zone. During the Late Quaternary, the terrigenous material input was irregular in time and distribution both from the Syrian and Nile sources.