Cretaceous to present paleothermal gradients, central Negev, Israel. Constraints from fission track dating

B. P. Kohn, S. Feinstein, M. Eyal

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Apatite and zircon fission track ages (FTA), vitrinite reflectance (VR) data and burial history curves were integrated for reconstruction of Early Cretaceous to present maximum thermal gradients in four deep boreholes in the central Negev, Israel. The most complete data set is available from the Ramon 1 borehole. Supplementary data were obtained from Hameishar 1, Makhtesh Qatan 2, and Kurnub 1 boreholes. Between ca. 122-90 Ma the constraints on thermal gradient obtained from apatite FTA overlap with those derived from zircon FT and VR data, restricting them to <45-50°C km-1. Apatite FTA between 90 and 80 Ma in Ramon 1 and Hameishar 1 suggest rapid cooling at the time recorded or earlier. Constraints on thermal gradient history derived from these ages are considerably strengthened over a short time span. From 80 Ma to the present, FTA data indicate that gradients had probably decayed to present-day regional levels (ca. 20°C km-1) by Early Tertiary time. Thermal constraints derived from apatite FTA and VR data in Makhtesh Qatan 2 and Kurnub 1 boreholes are consistent with those obtained post-56 Ma for Ramon 1. For pre-56 Ma, only VR data are available and these indicate considerably lower maximum gradients than those obtained for the same time period from Ramon 1. This dichotomy reflects different Early Cretaceous-Early Tertiary thermal regimes between the northern and southern parts of the study area.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)381-388
Number of pages8
JournalNuclear Tracks and Radiation Measurements
Volume17
Issue number3
StatePublished - 1 Dec 1990
EventProceedings of the 6th International Fission Track Dating Workshop - Besancon, Fr
Duration: 5 Sep 19889 Sep 1988

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Engineering

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