Mechanics of emplacement and tectonic implications of the Ramon dike systems, Israel

G. Baer, Z. Reches

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

42 Scopus citations

Abstract

A radial system comprising more than 200 basaltic and trachytic dikes and two minor systems of parallel dikes intruded the Ramon area, southern Israel, during the Early Cretaceous. Field relations between dikes and fractures in the radial system indicate that the dikes intruded self-generated fractures, and thus indicate the directions of the tectonic stresses. Other field observations indicate that the dikes propagated in subhorizontal directions up to distances of 15 km from their source. Analysis of the emplacement mechanics of these dikes shows that the horizontal propagation is best explained by the density differences between the intruding magma and the host rocks. Stress trajectories were computed using a 2-D elastic model for a pressurized hole in a regional stress field and compared to the Ramon radial system. The model reveals that the dikes originated at a central intrusion of about 3 km diameter and intruded under a predominantly radial state of stress with negligible regional stress field. -from Authors

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)11,895-11,910
JournalJournal of Geophysical Research
Volume96
Issue numberB7
DOIs
StatePublished - 1991

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