Sequence Stratigraphic Interpretations in a Continental Strike-Slip Basin - Southern Dead Sea, Israel: ABSTRACT

Abstract

Sequence stratigraphic interpretations of subsurface data from the Southern Dead Sea have been integrated with computer modeling of the stratigraphy, demonstrating that the sedimentary fill was controlled by extremely high rates of subsidence (1000 m/MY), salt tectonics, multiple sediment sources, and lake-level fluctuations. The southern part of the basin is underlain by half-grabens and full-grabens. A northwest-southeast directed shear zone (5-6 km wide) closes the basin to the north, while the large Amaziahu growth fault, developed by gravity sliding and salt-withdrawal, separates the basin into two segments. Fan deltas entered the basin at its southern and northern ends, while salt and lacustrine offshore sediments accumulated in its interior. The southern and northern lacustrine systems interfinger in a mixing zone which changed position as a function of lake-level variations. The advance of the northern system was accompanied by lake level falls, while lake-level rises favored an influx from the southern system. The northern sedimentary system gradually became more dominant. The stratigraphic simulation revealed that the lake-level falls paralleled those of the Mediterranean sea, but with a slight (0.3-0.4 MY) delay. Combined stratigraphic and thermal maturation modeling suggests that sediments in the deepest part of the basin are currently within the oilmore » generation window. Significant pinch-out zones flanking the Mount Sedom diapir, buried fan delta complexes, and the peculiar interfingering, zones may be important exploration targets.« less