Tectono-stratigraphic evolution of the western margin of the Levant Basin (offshore Cyprus)

Stratigraphic interpretation of twenty-four 2D seismic reflection profiles coupled with available well data from the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) offshore Cyprus enabled identification of the main unconformities and the seismic packages in the western part of the Levant Basin and their correlation with major geodynamic events. The basic concepts of seismic stratigraphy were applied to improve our understanding of the tectonostratigraphy and the sedimentary architecture of Eratosthenes isolated carbonate platform. This platform is composed of dominant retrograding and aggrading Mesozoic carbonate build-ups and its evolution partly resembles that of the Egyptian margin. Deep-water mixed carbonates and siliciclastics probably prevailed in the basin during the Early Cretaceous. During the Late Cretaceous, these platforms were drowned. Following the convergence of the two plates, both the Eratosthenes Seamount (ESM) area and the Levant Basin progressively became part of a foreland basin along the Cyprus Arc. Different units in the Eratosthenes carbonate platforms (ECPs) and the transition to the deep Levant Basin are detailed here for the first time. We present a 3D conceptual model for the evolution of the western margin of the Levant Basin. We discuss the effect of the Miocene collision between the Cyprus Arc and Eratosthenes to understand the presence of upper Miocene Mass transport complexes (MTCs) in the deep basin and the tilting of the top of the adjacent ECPs. We briefly examine the deformation mechanisms of the Messinian salt near the paleo-shelves of the ECPs.