Mapping and Analyzing the Volcano-Petrology and Tectono-Seismicity Characteristics Along the Syrian Rift – NW the Arabian Plate - Advances in Data, Methods, Models and Their Applications in Geoscience - page 139

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Mapping and Analyzing the Volcano-Petrology
and Tectono-Seismicity Characteristics Along
the Syrian Rift - NW the Arabian Plate
Ahmad Bilal
Damascus University,
Syria
1. Introduction
The European and African continents are crossed by several N-S-trending rifts, all together
major structural features at world scale. They include, from North to South, firstly the Oslo
Permian rift (Norway), continued by the Neogene fracture system of Central-Southern
Germany (Eifel, Rhine Graben), then the rift system of French massif Central and Rhone
valley, ending finally with the great African rift, the major structure of this continent.
These major crustal fractures, extending down in the underlying mantle, have been active at
different times, while always keeping the same approximate N-S direction. Periods of major
activity are marked by extensive volcanism, with a distinct tendency to show younger ages
southwards: Permian in Norway, Neogene in Germany, Neogene to subactual in France,
actual (present-day) in Africa. These ages correspond mainly to the initial stage of rift-
forming, whereas more ancient accidents (e.g. Norway) could repeatedly play again, at each
phase of crustal extension.
In direct continuity with the Dead Sea Fault, the Syrian rift links the rigid Arabian plate to
the mobile ophiolite belt of Cyprus and Southern Turkey (Juteau 1974, Parrot 1977). It plays
a very important role in the regional geodynamic structure. Its exact position, as well as the
related fracture system, has been documented from the analysis of complete aerial photo
coverage of the whole Syrian territory (Bilal and Ammar 2004).
Many partial works on the different aspects of this area: tectonics, geodynamics, volcanism,
crustal and mantle rocks, and seismicity have been done. But a global synthetic on these
aspects are given in this research, using new data in field and laboratory. The results either
of my team at Damascus university, or either those of the scientific cooperation projects,
from 1998 till now, with the teams of colleagues from the French universities: professors
Jean Chorowicz, and Albert Jambon, from Pierre and Marie Curie university; professor
Phillipe Huchon, from Ecole Normal Superior of Paris; professor Jacques Touret, from Ecole
des Mines of Paris, and professor Jean Ives Cottin from the university Jean Monnet of Saint-
Etienne. In addition to international works indicated in the references list. While the global
work, at the macro- scale, has been achieved, it still more works to do at the micro -scale:
the detailed composition variations of the volcanic rocks, and their geologic process
indication; the liaison between the different tectonic unities, and theirs liaison with the
regional geotectonic; and the micro- seismic zonation in the country.