The Cretaceous carbonate platform in Israel

E. Sass*, A. Bein

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

65 Scopus citations

Abstract

A huge carbonate platform extended between the open Tethys Sea in the north-west and the Arabo Nubian Massif in the south-east during the Cretaceous. The edge of the platform was situated close to and parallel to the present day coastline of Israel and Sinai. Deposition on the platform was controlled by two main factors: (1) rudist barrier-reefs which to a certain extent isolated the platform from the open sea and (2) local shelf basins which developed within the platform. Because the effects of these factors on the depositional regime changed both in time and degree on a local scale, different lithostratigraphic sequences evolved in geographically close regions. Volcanic activity occurring contemporaneously with sedimentation over part of the platform was another factor contributing to local differences in the sedimentary sequences. Dolomites were by far the dominant deposit which accumulated on the platform, indicating above-normal salinities. In the slightly deeper shelf basins, close to normal salinities prevailed resulting in accumulation of limestones, chalks and marls with some pelagic elements. The Carmel lithostratigraphic sequence is characteristic of the platform edge environment whereas the Judean Hills and Galilee sequences are typical of the platform-environment proper.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)135-144
Number of pages10
JournalCretaceous Research
Volume3
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1982

Keywords

  • Carbonates
  • Cretaceous
  • Israel
  • Platform
  • Reefs

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