Everything about The Gulf Of Suez Rift totally explained
The
Gulf of Suez Rift is a continental
rift zone active between the Late
Oligocene (ca. 28
Ma) and the end of the
Miocene (ca. 5 Ma). It represented a continuation of the
Red Sea Rift until break-up occurred in the middle Miocene, with most of the displacement on the newly developed Red Sea
spreading centre being accommodated by the
Dead Sea Transform. During its brief post-rift history, the deepest part of the remnant rift topography has been filled by the sea, creating the
Gulf of Suez.
The exact geometry and extent of the northern end of the rift system becomes unclear as it passes beneath the
Nile delta.
History
During the Late Cretaceous to Eocene, the area now occupied by the rift was a shallow sea depositing
carbonates without any active
tectonics. Rifting began along the whole of the Red Sea -Gulf of Suez rift system during the Late Oligocene. In the Gulf of Suez rift, the rifting culminated during the
Burdigalian stage (late Early Miocene) (ca. 18 Ma). In the Middle Miocene break-up occurred along the whole length of the Red Sea rift with seafloor spreading beginning in the Late Miocene. This break-up was associated with a gradual reduction in the rate of rifting along the Gulf of Suez with most activity stopping by the beginning of the Pliocene. Since then the area of the Gulf of Suez rift has begun to experience post-rift thermal subsidence accompanied by flooding of the topographically lowest parts of the rift.
Geometry
The Gulf of Suez rift is strongly segmented along its length with
half-grabens of alternating polarity. The changes in fault polarity and position from segment to segment are taken up by broad accommodation zones.
Economic importance
More than 120
hydrocarbon fields and discoveries have been reported from the Gulf of Suez rift with a variety of
plays.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Gulf Of Suez Rift'.
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