Shallow Structure and Geologic Development of the Southern Red Sea

Abstract

Research Article| December 01, 1973 Shallow Structure and Geologic Development of the Southern Red Sea DAVID A. ROSS; DAVID A. ROSS 1Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar JOHN SCHLEE JOHN SCHLEE 2U.S. Geological Survey, Falmouth, Massachusetts 02540 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information DAVID A. ROSS 1Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543 JOHN SCHLEE 2U.S. Geological Survey, Falmouth, Massachusetts 02540 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (1973) 84 (12): 3827–3848. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1973)84<3827:SSAGDO>2.0.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation DAVID A. ROSS, JOHN SCHLEE; Shallow Structure and Geologic Development of the Southern Red Sea. GSA Bulletin 1973;; 84 (12): 3827–3848. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1973)84<3827:SSAGDO>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract A series of 34 shallow-penetration seismic-reflection profiles made across the Red Sea show that it developed in two main stages. Initially, an early or pre-Miocene uplift and lateral extension resulted in crustal thinning and eventual formation of the main Red Sea Basin. During Miocene time, the Red Sea was isolated from the Indian Ocean but possibly connected with the Mediterranean Sea, which, like the Red Sea, was an evaporite basin at that time. A distinct acoustic reflector (reflector S) in the Red Sea marks the top of the Miocene evaporite sequence and is correlative with reflector M in the Mediterranean, which is similarly identified with termination of evaporite conditions.In Pliocene time, connection with the Indian Ocean was re-established, the opening to the Mediterranean was closed, and normal marine conditions were resumed in the Red Sea. Sea-floor spreading first started in Pliocene-Pleistocene time, and resulted in the formation of the axial zone of the Red Sea. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.