Tectonic evolution of northern Wadi Araba, Jordan

Abstract

In the area east of northern Wadi Araba several phases of tectonic fracturing can be distinguished. The oldest is of Precambrian age and is represented by a system of dikes. A second, pre-Cretaceous, tectonic phase is represented by a distinct joint system, which is restricted to the Cambrian sediments and has not cut the Cretaceous sediments. The major tectonic movements which lead to the formation of the Dead Sea rift produced faults and joint systems which cut all rock sequences. The major deformation of the area started in the early Tertiary, when the accumulation of the SE-NW directed compressive stresses produced fold structures which are older than the rift movements. As a result of this stress a conjugate system of fractures was produced; ESE-trending right-lateral (antithetic) faults and SSE-trending left-lateral (synthetic) faults. A major group of tensional faults and fractures, trending 130°, was produced due to this compression. The major displacement along the rift followed the formation of the above mentioned faults. These fault systems dissected the area into different blocks. As the compression continued, the faults and the blocks between them were rotated relative to each other. Two phases of rotational movements were recorded, contemporaneous with the two phases of the rift formation. During its northward movement, the Arabian plate came into collision with the Sinai-Palestine plate in the Dahal area in northern Wadi Araba. Various indications prove that the Wadi Araba fault is still active and the northward displacement of the Arabian plate along this fault continues in recent time.