The Dead Sea Continental Transform Fault (DSCTF) system represents a significant tectonic boundary delineating the Arabian plate from the African plate, extending approximately 1000 km from the northern Red Sea to the East Anatolia Fault and Cyprus subduction zone. This chapter provides an overview of the structural styles and tectonic evolution of the DSCTF, emphasizing its role in shaping the regional geology and seismicity. The DSCTF is characterized by distinct transtensional and transpressional structures, which have caused the development of a series of rhomb-shaped pull-apart basins and significant topographic features. Among these, the Dead Sea Basin, Sea of Galilee, and the Ghab Basin stand out as prominent examples, each showcasing complex fault geometries and sedimentary histories. Additionally, the Lebanese restraining bend, a notable transpressional feature, has led to the uplift of the Mount Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon ranges. The tectonic activity along the DSCTF, which began in the Miocene, continues to influence the region's seismicity, with deep earthquakes frequently occurring beneath the Dead Sea Basin. This chapter aims to enhance the understanding of the DSCTF’s geodynamic significance and its implications for regional tectonics and natural resource distribution.

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The Dead Sea Continental Transform Fault System: Accommodating Left-Lateral Movement Between the African and Arabian Plates

  • Mohamed Yousef

摘要

The Dead Sea Continental Transform Fault (DSCTF) system represents a significant tectonic boundary delineating the Arabian plate from the African plate, extending approximately 1000 km from the northern Red Sea to the East Anatolia Fault and Cyprus subduction zone. This chapter provides an overview of the structural styles and tectonic evolution of the DSCTF, emphasizing its role in shaping the regional geology and seismicity. The DSCTF is characterized by distinct transtensional and transpressional structures, which have caused the development of a series of rhomb-shaped pull-apart basins and significant topographic features. Among these, the Dead Sea Basin, Sea of Galilee, and the Ghab Basin stand out as prominent examples, each showcasing complex fault geometries and sedimentary histories. Additionally, the Lebanese restraining bend, a notable transpressional feature, has led to the uplift of the Mount Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon ranges. The tectonic activity along the DSCTF, which began in the Miocene, continues to influence the region's seismicity, with deep earthquakes frequently occurring beneath the Dead Sea Basin. This chapter aims to enhance the understanding of the DSCTF’s geodynamic significance and its implications for regional tectonics and natural resource distribution.