Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Levantine Countries: The Geology of Syria and Lebanon (Maritime Regions)

  • Chapter
The Ocean Basins and Margins

Abstract

Syria and Lebanon occupy the northern part of the Levant, bordering the eastern side of the Mediterranean Sea. Syria has an area of 184,920 km2 and extends, at its widest in the north, from the Mediterranean Sea eastward to longitude 42°24′E, a distance of about 600 km. Lebanon has an area of 10,400 km2 and lies immediately south of maritime Syria, separating southern Syria from the Mediterranean. At its widest point the east—west distance across Lebanon is 90 km (Fig. 1). The areas of Syria and Lebanon under discussion here are limited to the maritime regions of the two countries and comprise the continental shelf, coastal region, and bordering mountain ranges. The eastern limit of the area is taken at the Ghab and Bekaa structural depressions, bordering the coastal mountain ranges inland and constituting a northward extension of the Jordan-Dead Sea-Aqaba rift system.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Badrawi, R., 1963, The geological significance of the regional gravity data, eastern Mediterranean region, Proc. Fourth Arab Petrol. Cong., Beirut, Paper 25 (B-2), 6 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bender, F., 1968, Über das Alter und die Entstehungsgeschichte des Jordangrabens am Beispiel seines Südabschnittes (Wadi Araba, Jordanien), Geol. Jahrb., v. 86, p. 177–196.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beydoun, Z. R., 1965, A review of the oil prospects of Lebanon, Proc. Fifth Arab Petrol. Congr., Cairo, Paper 29 (B-3), 20 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beydoun, Z. R., 1972, A new evaluation of the petroleum prospects of Lebanon with special reference to the pre-Jurassic, Proc. Eighth Arab Petrol. Congr., Algiers, Paper 80 (B-3), 15 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beydoun, Z. R., and Dunnington, H. V., 1975, The Petroleum Geology and Resources of the Middle East, England: Beaconsfield, Scientific Press, 99 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blumenthal, M., 1938, Die Grenzzone zwischen syrischer Tafel und Tauriden in der Gegend des Amanos, Eclogae Geol. Helv., v. 31 (2), p. 381–383.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bourgoin, A., 1945–1948, Sur les anomalies de la pesanteur en Syrie et au Liban. Discussion et interprétation géologique des observations faites par le R.P.P. Lejay, Notes Mém. Syrie Liban, v. 4, p. 59–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chenevoy, M., 1952, Sur la présence d’une série métamorphique au Nord de Lattaquie (Syrie), C. R. Acad. Sci. France, v. 234, p. 2087–2088.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chenevoy, M., 1959, Le substratum métamorphique des roches vertes dans le Baer et le Bassit (Syrie septentrionale), Notes Mém. Moyen-Orient, v. 7, p. 1–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cizancourt, H. de, 1945–1948, La tectonique profonde de la Syrie et du Liban. Essai d’interprétation géologique des mesures gravimétrique, Notes Mém. Syrie Liban, v. 4, p. 157–191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daniel, E. J., 1963, Syrie intérieure, in: Lexique Stratigraphique Internationale, v. 3, Asie, Dubertret, L., ed., Paris: C.N.R.S., fasc. 10 cl, p. 151–289.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dean, W. T., and Krummenacher, R., 1961, Cambrian trilobites from the Amanos mountains, Turkey, Paleontology, v. 4(1), p. 71–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubertret, L., 1932, Les formes structurales de la Syrie et de la Palestine, C. R. Acad. Sci. France, v. 195, p. 66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubertret, L., 1933, La tectonique de la Syrie septentrionale à la fin du Crétacé et au debut du Tertiäre, Notes Mém. Syrie Liban, v. 1, p. 13–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubertret, L., 1936, Stratigraphie des régions recouvertes par les roches vertes du Nord-Ouest de la Syrie, C. R. Acad. Sci. France, v. 203, p. 1173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubertret, L., 1937, Sur la constitution et la genèse des roches vertes syriennes, C. R. Acad. Sci. France, v. 204, p. 1663.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubertret, L., 1939, Sur la genèse et l’âge des roches vertes syriennes, C. R. Acad. Sci. France, v. 209, p. 763.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubertret, L., 1946, Sur le Quaternaire côtier libanais et les oscillations de niveau de la mer au Quaternaire, C. R. Acad. Sci. France, v. 223, p. 431.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubertret, L., 1947, Sur la limite nord du plateau Syrien, C. R. Soc. Géol. France, p. 107–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubertret, L., 1955a, Géologie des roches vertes du Nord-Ouest de la Syrie et du Hatay (Turquie), Notes Mém. Moyen-Orient, v. 6, p. 5–224.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubertret, L., 1955b, Carte Géologique du Liban au 1:200,000 e , avec Notice Explicative, Beirut: Republique Libanaise, Ministère du Travaux Publics, 108 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubertret, L., 1963, Liban, Syrie: chaîne des grands massifs contiers et confins à l’Est, in: Lexique Stratigraphique Internationale, v. 3, Asie, Dubertret, L., ed., Paris: C.N.R.S., fasc. 10 cl, p. 9–153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubertret, L., 1966, Liban, Syrie, et bordure des pays voisins, Notes Mém. Moyen-Orient, v. 8, p. 251–358.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubertret, L., 1967, Remarques sur le fossé de la Mer Morte et ses prolongements au Nord jusqu’au Taurus, Rev. Géogr. Phys. Géol. Dyn. (2), v. 9 (1), p. 3–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubertret, L., 1970, Revue of the structural geology of the Red Sea and the surrounding areas, Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. London Ser. A, v. 267, p. 9–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dubertret, L., 1976, La péninsule Arabique: explanatory text to sheet 16, Tectonic map of Europe 1:2,500,000, Chapter 6, Section 4, I.G.C. Sub.Commission of Tectonic Maps (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubertret, L., and André, C., 1969, Péninsule Arabique: carte orographie-hydrographie—mers et cartes structurales avec texte explicative, Notes Mém. Moyen-Orient, v. 10, p. 285–318.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edgell, H. S., 1968, Paleontological report on the Sammakieh water well, Ministry of Water and Electric Resources, Beirut, open file report.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ejel, F., and Dubertret, L., 1966, Sur l’âge précis du gisement de poissons et du Crustacés de Sahel Aima, Liban, C. R. Soc. Géol. France, v. 9, p. 353.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emery, K. O., and George, C. J., 1963, The shores of Lebanon, Contrib. Woods Hole Oceanographie Institution, 1385, and American University of Beirut, Misc. Papers Nat. Sci., No. 1,10 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emery, K. O., Heezen, B. C., and Allan, T. D., 1966, Bathymetry of the eastern Mediterranean Sea, Deep Sea Res., v. 13, p. 173–192.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fairbridge, R. W., and Badoux, H., 1960, Slump blocks in the Cretaceous of northern Syria, Proc. Geol. Soc. London, pt. 1581, p. 113–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finetti, I., and Morelli, C., 1973, Geophysical exploration of the Mediterranean Sea, Bull. Geofis. Teor. Appl., v. 15 (60), p. 263–341.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fleisch, H., 1962, La côte libanaise au Pleistocene ancien et moyen, Quaternaria, v. 6, p. 497–524.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freund, R., and Raab, M., 1969, Lower Turonian ammonites from Israel, Tectonophysics, v. 2, p. 457–474.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freund, R., Garfunkel, Z., Zak, I., Goldberg, M., Weissbrod, T., and Derin, B., 1970, The Shear along the Dead Sea Rift, Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. London Ser. A, v. 267, p. 107–130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gass, I. G., and Masson-Smith, D., 1963, The geology and gravity anomalies of the Troodos massif, Cyprus, Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. London Ser. A, v. 255, p. 417–467.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goedicke, T. R., 1972, Submarine canyons on the central continental shelf of Lebanon, in: The Mediterranean Sea, Stanley, D. J., ed., Stroudsburg: Dowden, Hutchinson and Ross, p. 655–670.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goedicke, T. R., and Sagabiel, S., 1976, Sediment movement in Lebanese submarine canyons, in: Symposium on the Eastern Mediterranean, Hulings, N., ed., Acta Adriatica, Split, v. 18, p. 117–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gregor, C. B., and Nairn, A. E. M., 1971, Palaeomagnetic results from Lebanon (abstract), Trans. Amer. Geophys. Union, v. 52 (4), p. 188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guerre, A., and Sanlaville, P., 1970, Sur les hautes niveaux marins quaternaires du Liban, Hannon, Rev. Libanaise Géogr., v. 5, p. 21–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hassan, A. A., 1963, The distribution of Jurassic and Triassic formations in the East Mediterranean, Proc. Fourth Arab Petrol. Congr., Beirut, Paper 25 (B-3), 10 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henson, F. R. S., 1951, Observations on the geology and petroleum occurrences of the Middle East, Proc. Third World Petrol. Congr., The Hague, v. 1, p. 118–140.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henson, F. R. S., Browne, R. V., and McGinty, J., 1949, A synopsis of the stratigraphy and geological history of Cyprus, Q. J. Geol. Soc. London, v. 105, p. 1–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IFP-CNEXO (Institut Français du Pétrole and Centre National pour l’Exploration des Océans), 1974, Carte géologique et structurale des bassins Tertiares du domaine Méditerranéene, échelle 1:2,500,000, Paris: Editions Technip.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kafescioglu, I. A., 1976, Preliminary results of quantitative distribution of foraminifera on the central continental shelf of Lebanon, in: Symposium on the Eastern Mediterranean, Hulings, N., ed., Acta Adriatica, Split, v. 18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kazmin, V. G., and Kulakov, V. V., 1965, Formation of ophiolites in the Northwest of Syria, Izvest. Vysz. Ucheb. Zaved. Geol. y Razv., v. 2, p. 3–14 (In Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kazmin, V. G., and Kulakov, V. V., 1968, The Geological Map of Syria, Scale 1:500,000: Explanatory Notes [for Part of the Lattaqiah Region], Damascus: Syrian Arab Republic, Ministry of Petroleum, Electricity and Execution of Industrial Projects, 124 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keller, A., 1933, Le Miocène au Liban avec liste des faunes néogènes connu en Syrie, au Liban, à Chypre, et en Cilicie, Notes Mém. Syrie Liban, v. 1, p. 155–182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kober, L., 1915, Geologische Forschungen in Vorderasien zur Tectonik des Libanon, Das Taurus Gebirge, Denkschr. Akad. Wiss. Wien, v. 91, p. 379–428.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krasheninnikov, V. A., 1965, Zonal Paleogene stratigraphy of the eastern Mediterranean, Acad. Sci. U.S.S.R. Geol. Inst. Trans., v. 133, p. 5–75 (In Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Krasheninnikov, V. A., 1971, Stratigraphy of the Miocene deposits of the Mediterranean on the basis of foraminifera, Acad. Sci. U.S.S.R. Geol. Inst. Trans., v. 220, p. 5–238 (In Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lartet, L., 1869, Essai sur la Géologie de la Palestine, Thesis, Fac. Sci. Paris, v. 316, Paris: Masson, 292 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lejay, P., 1938, Exploration Gravimétrique des Etats du Levant sous Mandat Français, Paris: Comité National Française de Géodésie et Géophysique, 54 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Majer, V., 1962, Magmatische Gesteine im Gebiet von Bassit zwischen Latakia und Kessab im Nordwestlichen Syrien, N. Jahrb. Min., v. 98 (2), p. 250–282.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matthews, D. H., 1974, Bathymetry and magnetic anomalies of the eastern Mediterranean (abstract and preliminary maps), Committee for Marine Geology and Geophysics, XXIV Congrès-Assemblée Plenière de la C.I.E.S.M., Monaco.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mulder, C. J., 1973, Tectonic framework and distribution of Miocene evaporites in the Mediterranean, in: Messinian Events in the Mediterranean, Drooger, C. W., ed., Amsterdam: North-Holland Publ. Co., p. 44–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pfannenstiel, M., 1960, Erläuterungen zu den bathymetrischen Karten des ostlichen Mittelmeeres. Bull. Inst. Océanogr. Monaco, v. 59 (1192), p. 1–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Picard, L., 1967, Thoughts on the graben system in the Levant, Geol. Surv. Canada, Prof. Paper 66–14, p. 22–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Piro, Y., 1967, Contribution à l’Etude des Roches Vertes du Nord-Ouest de la Syrie, Thèse 3e cycle, Montpellier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ponikarov, V. P., Kazmin, V. G., Mikhailov, I. A., Razvaliayev, A. V., Krasheninnikov, V. A., Kozlov, V. V., Soulidi-Kandratiyev, E. D., Mikhailov, K. Y., Kulakov, V. V., Faradzhev, V. A., and Mirzayev, K. M., 1967, The Geology of Syria: Explanatory Notes on the Geological Map of Syria, Scale 1:500,000, Part I, Stratigraphy, Igneous Rocks and Tectonics, Damascus: Syrian Arab Republic, Ministry of Industry, 229 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quennell, A. M., 1958, The structural and geomorphic evolution of the Dead Sea Rift, g. J. Geol. Soc. London, v. 114, p. 1–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Renouard, G., 1951, Sur la découverte du Jurassique inférieur (?) et du Jurassique moyen au Liban, C. R. Acad. Sci. France, v. 232, p. 992–994.

    Google Scholar 

  • Renouard, G., 1955, Oil prospects of Lebanon, Bull. Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol., v. 39, p. 2125–2169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ricou, L. E., 1971, Le croissant ophiolitique péri-arabe, une ceinture de nappes mises en place au Crétacé supérieur, Rev. Géogr. Phys. Géol. Dyn. (2), v. 13, p. 327–349.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rigo de Righi, M., and Cortesini, A., 1954, Gravity tectonics in foothill structure belt of southeast Turkey, Bull. Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol., v. 48, p. 1911–1937.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saint-Marc, P., 1974, Etude stratigraphique et micropaléontologique de TAlbien, du Cénomanien et du Turonien du Liban, Notes Mém. Moyen-Orient, v. 13, p. 9–298.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanlaville, P., 1969, Les bas niveaux marins Pleistocenes du Liban, Méditerranée (3), p. 257–292.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanlaville, P., 1970, Les variations Holocènes du niveau de la mer au Liban, Rev. Géogr. Lyon, v. 45 (3), p. 279–304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sitter, L. U. de, 1962, Structural development of the Arabian shield in Palestine, Geol. en Mijnb.,v.41, p. 116–124.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stahl, P., and Plassard, J., 1959, Carte Gravimétrique du Liban au 1:200,000 e avec Notice Explicative, Beirut: Republique Libanaise, Ministère des Travaux Publics, 23 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stchepinsky, V., 1947, Sur la limite septentrionale du plateau Syrien, Bull. Soc. Géol. France (5), v. 17, p. 33–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ten Dam, A., 1965, La bordure nord de la platforme arabique, C. R. Soc. Géol. France, p. 153–156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tiberghien, V., 1974, Le champ de la pesanteur au Liban et ses interpretations, Publications Techniques et Scientifiques de l’Ecole Supérieure d’Ingénieurs de Beyrouth, no. 26, 193 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Dongen, P. G., Van der Voo, R., and Raven, T., 1967, Paleomagnetic research in the central Lebanon mountains and in the Tartous area (Syria), Tectonophysics, v. 4 (1), p. 35–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vaugnat, M., and Cogulu, E., 1968, Quelques réflexions sur le massif basique-ultrabasique du Kizil Dagh, Hatay, Turquie, C. R. Soc. Phys. Hist. Nat. Genève, 2 (3), p. 210–216.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vaumas, E. de, 1953, Sur les terraces d’abrasion marine dé la région de Lattaquie (Syrie), C. R. Acad. Sci. France, v. 237, no. 20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wetzel, R., and Haller, J., 1945–48, Le Quaternaire côtier de la région de Tripoli (Liban), Notes Mém. Syrie Liban, v. 4, p. 1–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wetzel R., and Morton, D. M., 1959, Contribution à la géologie de la TransJordanie, Notes Mém. Moyen-Orient, v. 7, p. 95–191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolfaart, R., 1967, Geologie von Syrien und dem Libanon, in: Beiträge zur Regionalen Geologie der Erde, Martini, H. J., ed., Berlin: Gebrüder Bornraeger, v. 6, 326 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong, H. K., and Zarudski, E. F. K., 1969. Thickness of unconsolidated sediments in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, Bull. Geol. Soc. Amer., v. 80, p. 2611–2614.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zijderveld, J. D. A., and Van der Voo, R., 1973, Palaeomagnetism in the Mediterranean area, in: Implications of Continental Drift on the Earth Sciences, Tarling, D. H., and Runcorn, S. K., eds., London: Academic Press, v. 1, p. 133–161.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zumoffen, G., 1926, Géologie du Liban, Paris: Henry Barrère, 165 p.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon

    Ziad R. Beydoun

Authors
  1. Ziad R. Beydoun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA

    Alan E. M. Nairn  & William H. Kanes  & 

  2. Department of Geology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    Francis G. Stehli

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1977 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Beydoun, Z.R. (1977). The Levantine Countries: The Geology of Syria and Lebanon (Maritime Regions). In: Nairn, A.E.M., Kanes, W.H., Stehli, F.G. (eds) The Ocean Basins and Margins. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-3036-3_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-3036-3_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-3038-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-3036-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation