Isotopic composition of formation waters from deep drillings in southern Israel

E. Fleischer, M. Goldberg, J. R. Gat, M. Magaritz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

62 Scopus citations

Abstract

Formation water samples from deep drillings in southern Israel fall into three regional groups, each of which shows distinct chemical and isotopic characteristics. Waters from the Mediterranean coastal plain appear to be of marine lagoonal origin; some of these brines are associated with occurrences of oil. In the mountain region the top part of the sedimentary sequence has been flushed by fresher waters, apparently during Pleistocene time. In Jurassic and deeper-lying formations one encounters concentrated brines of seawater origin, with low Na/Ca ratios, which have undergone a process of ultrafiltration. In the Rift Valley proper, magnesium-rich brines have invaded the deeper formations, and are evidently of continental lake origin. The absence of oil occurrences in association with the CaCl2 brines of the inland locations is interpreted as being due mainly to loss of oil as a result of the tectonic events associated with the formation of the Jordan Rift Valley.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)511-525
Number of pages15
JournalGeochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Volume41
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 1977
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geochemistry and Petrology

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