Note on stratigraphic relations of Zefa, Hazeva, and Hufeira formations in southern Israel

Abstract

Shahar, J. 2008. Note on stratigraphic relations of Zefa, Hazeva, and Hufeira formations in southern Israel. Isr. J. Earth Sci. 57: 33-44.Three cycles of erosion generate the indicative round flint pebbles in the Negev during uplift phases of Oligocene-Miocene times. Products of the first cycle (Zefa Formation, Oligocene) were found in Ef'e syncline and probably also along Abu-Treife fault. Products of the second cycle (Hazeva's Rotem Member, Middle Miocene) are known all over the Negev as layers of marl, silt, sand, and round pebbles attaining thicknesses of a few tens of meters. The third cycle (Hufeira Formation, Late Miocene) is restricted to the tectonically sinking Arava and related faults, attaining thicknesses of up to 2 km, deposited in an arid climate, distinctly different from the more humid Rotem cycle. Among the three cycles, only the Rotem cycle belongs to Hazeva Formation. The two others predate and postdate Hazeva Formation, respectively. This threefold process may resolve the ambiguity regarding "Zefa" and "Rotem" stratigraphic units to one single cycle.

The Comminution of Chert Gravel by Microwave Irradiation

“…The rock in the region belongs to the Rotem Formation of the Hazeva group from the Miocene stage. The overall thickness of the Rotem Formation reaches 1100 m [49][50][51][52], while the sand deposit is up to 70 m. Figure 1 shows the fragment of the geological map of the region [53], where the zone of sand quarries is marked in green. Based on visual assessment, the average content of chert gravel in the sand deposit is around 40% of the quarry volume [51].…”

Oligocene regional denudation of the northern Afar dome: Pre- and syn-breakup stages of the Afro-Arabian plate

“…These geological-geomorphological, morpho tectonic, and morphostratigraphic analyses, together with a geodynamic examination, are essential for better understanding the Cenozoic geological processes around the Red Sea. However, traditional regional morphostratigraphic interpretations, which need to be based on accurate ages of numerous local continental clastic units, often face diffi culty due to the poor age constraints of the clastic units and rapid facies changes (Purser and Hötzl, 1988;Horowitz, 2001aHorowitz, , 2001bShahar, 2008;Swezey, 2009). Garfunkel and Bartov (1977), Garfunkel (1988Garfunkel ( , 2001, and Gvirtzman et al (2008) have argued that the initiation of the Suez rift, as the extension of the northern Red Sea, began in the late Oligocene-early Miocene (25-20 Ma), associated with the emplacement of the Red Sea dikes dated between ca.…”