Rift propagation along the southern Dead Sea rift (Gulf of Elat)

Abstract

The Gulf of Elat is located at the southern part of the Dead Sea rift and at the northern part of the Red Sea. Geophysical data suggest that it can be divided into three distinct segments, northern, central and southern, on the basis of shallow and deep structures. The shallow structure of the Gulf of Elat, as well as of other parts of the Dead Sea rift is dominated by the presence of grabens which are usually interpreted as pull-apart basins formed by the horizontal motion on faults along the Dead Sea rift. This rift is considered to be a plate boundary of the transform type. Various geophysical data including heat flow, gravity, magnetics and seismic refraction indicate systematic changes along the length of the Gulf of Elat. The rifting activity is probably more advanced in the southern portion of the gulf. This advanced rifting activity propagate from south northward. Within the southern portion of the Gulf of Elat, the transition from the structure of the Red Sea to that of the Dead Sea rift actually takes place. Of the entire length of the Dead Sea rift only in the southern part and possibly also in the central part of the Gulf of Elat is actual mantle upwelling now taking place. This upwelling is also associated with a widening of the rift zone at depth. The two processes, the transform motion and the propagation of rifting activity, probably proceed independently.