EARS2043 Structural Geology and Tectonics
Rob Butler

Fault array evolution and transpression-transtension along the Dead Sea Transform

This practical is designed to investigate structural evolution and fault zone linkage along a plate boundary. We are concerned with the evolution of the Dead Sea Transform.

You are provided with a sketch map (pdf file) onto which you should annotate your findings. In addition you will need to consult various information presented on this web-site -

You are strongly urged to sketch your own annotated diagrams, rather than just print off information from the web pages.

1. Regional kinematics

Use the regional maps to assess the overall kinematics. You should also assess the general style of different parts of the plate boundary (releasing/ restraining bends etc). This regional view should allow you to predict what is happening at some specific localities:

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2. Southern Dead Sea area.

Use the satellite images to investigate segment length and style.

Compare with behavior expected from your regional assessment.

Is this area in transtension or transpression now?

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3. Lebanese area

Contrast the finite deformation here with that in the southern part of the plate boundary. You can use the satellite image together with the field photographs.

Compare with behavior expected from your regional assessment.

Is this area in transtension or transpression now?

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4. Strain partitioning on oblique fault segments: the Niha structure

Use the tabulated structural data to assess if the fold structure is transected. (hint: use bed-data to find mean fold hinge and compare with the cluster of intersection lineations).

TABULATED DATA

What do these data imply about strain partitioning....

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5. Modern Fault Segmentation - The Roum Fault

Use the information on the Roum Fault Zone to deduce structural activity in southern Lebanon. Are the faults through-going?

How are the segments organised?

What is the evidence -
A - from the field
B - from seismicity

that most of the active slip on the plate boundary is localised on the Roum Fault Zone?

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