Transform faults as lithospheric boundaries, an example from the Dead Sea Transform

The relationship between the distribution of Pliocene basaltic volcanism and the Dead Sea Transform fault is studied in the Korazim block, north of the Sea of Galilee. In this area, the Dead Sea Transform is divided into two segments. Early (Miocene) slip occurred along the western segment, while recent (Plio-Pleistocene) slip was mainly restricted to the eastern segment. Late Pliocene alkali-basalts from the Korazim block are geochemically distinct (concentrations of silica and alkalis and ratios of incompatible elements) from the Late Pliocene basanites of the nearby Upper Galilee to their west but are similar to Late Pliocene basalts from the adjacent Golan to the east. It is argued that the geochemical differences are due to derivation of magmas from different lithospheric domains and that these domains were emplaced next to each other during an early sinistral movement along the western segment of the transform. It is suggested that though being less active, the western segment formed a sharp boundary and prevented intermixing of lithospheric magmas ascending on both its sides during the Late Pliocene. During the Early Pliocene, alkali basalts erupted in southern Korazim, but not in the adjacent areas to the east and west (restoring for the 25–30 km along the eastern segment). These basalts were probably channeled from the south with both western and the eastern segments acting as barriers.

► I use basalts’ geochemistry to study the lithosphere along the Dead Sea Transform.
► Two different lithospheric domains were identified in very close proximity.
► This is attributed to an early displacement along a segment of the transform fault.
► This segment also prevented mixing of lithospheric magmas en route to the surface.
► Another fault segment was crossed by the magmas on their way to the surface.