Top of the crystalline basement in the Levant

Abstract

A structural map of depth to the top of the crystalline basement has been constructed for the Middle East continental and marine terrains by reviewing available relevant information on the Levant (deep boreholes, seismic profiles, and magnetic and gravity data (and adopting the regional compilation of Cornell University for the adjacent areas. This new compilation enabled significant upgrading of the Cornell University database for the Levant with emphasis on Israel. The present top of the crystalline basement map gives a good large‐ and medium‐scale overview on the basement relief of a complex area that includes (1) the African and Arabian continental platforms; (2) the Mesozoic Levant passive continental margins; (3) the Mesozoic Syrian arc and the Palmyrides fold belt and rifts; (4) the Cenozoic Cyprus collision zone; (5) the Alpine orogenic belt of Turkey; (6) the Red Sea oceanic spreading center and the Suez rift; and (7) the Dead Sea Transform.