Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol.11, No.2, pp. 185-192, 1988

©Copyright 2000 Scientific Press, Ltd.

LATE CENOZOIC THERMAL GRADIENTS IN DEAD SEA TRANSFORM SYSTEM BASINS

Amos Bein* and Shimon Feinstein+

* Geological Survey of Israel, Jerusalem 95501.

+ Department of Geology, Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva, Israel.

Abstract

Coal-rank measurements and heat-flow data from three rhomb-shaped grabens along the continental portion of the Dead Sea Transform -- the Hula Depression, the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea Graben -- reveal contrasting thermal regimes. The coalification profile from the Hula Depression indicates a relatively high thermal gradient, averaging 40°C/km, throughout the Late Cenozoic. Similarly, a relatively high heat flow, approx. 1.77 HFU**, was reported in the Sea of Galilee, 35 km to the south. Coalification profile, heat flow data and BHT measurements on the Dead Sea Graben (200 km to the south) reveal a considerably lower thermal regime (approx. 0.7 HFU 20°C/km) that has prevailed since the mid-Miocene.