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Tectonic evolution of northeast Syria: Implications for regional tectonics and hydrocarbons

Author
Brew, Graham; Litak, Robert; Barazangi, Muawia; Sawaf, T.; Zaza, T.
Abstract
We present the Phanerozoic tectonic evolution of northeast Syria and incorporate the
results into regional deformation models of the northern Arabian Platform and nearby
Arabian Plate boundaries. Based on analysis of extensive seismic reflection profiles and
well data, we interpret that the Sinjar-Abd el Aziz area in northeast Syria was subsiding
under extension at various rates from the Carboniferous until the end of the Mesozoic,
most markedly during the latest Cretaceous. The predominant basin through most of
the Late Paleozoic and Mesozoic was southwest-northeast trending; this formed the
northeast extension of the major Palmyride Basin to the southwest. During the Late
Cretaceous, extension in eastern Syria initiated along southeast-northwest and then eastwest
trends - possibly as a result of changing subduction geometries and plate motions
in the Neo-Tethys to the northeast. The east-west striking faulting resulted in syntectonic
deposition of up to approximately 1,600 meters of Late Campanian-Maastrichtian marly
limestones in the Sinjar-Abd el Aziz area. The area was subjected to horizontal shortening
throughout the Cenozoic, primarily during Plio-Pleistocene time, resulting in structural
inversion along some of the faults. Although crustal shortening through the Syrian Sinjar
and Abd el Aziz structures is relatively minor (approximately 1%), this has been critical
to hydrocarbon trap formation in Mesozoic and Cenozoic strata through the formation
of fault-propagation folds. We present regional models that show the interrelated tectonic
history of northeast Syria, the Palmyrides, and the Euphrates Fault System are all
inseparably linked to the polyphase opening and closing of the nearby Neo-Tethys Ocean.
Date Issued
1999Publisher
Gulf Petrolink
Subject
Syria; tectonics; hydrocarbons
Previously Published As
GeoArabia, vol. 4, no. 3, p. 289-318