Sedimentary Geology, 23 (1979) 127--136 127

© Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam -- Printed in The Netherlands

D E E P - W A T E R G Y P S U M D E P O S I T S AS I N D I C A T E D BY T H E N E O G E N E
GEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE CENTRAL COASTAL PLAIN OF
ISRAEL

DAVID NEEV
Marine Geology Division, Geological Survey of Israel
(Received November 14, 1978)

ABSTRACT

Neev, D., 1979. Deep-water gypsum deposits as indicated by the Neogene geological his-
tory of the central coastal plain of Israel. Sediment. Geol., 23: 127--136.

Analyses of additional data from two adjacent boreholes in the coastal plain of Israel
(Gan Yavne 1 and 2) indicate that the depth of seawater at that specific site during depo-
sition of the Messinian evaporites (anhydrite) was close to 350 m. Two different facies of
the evaporitic sequence were noted there on top of a paleophysiographic high, and in the
paleo-trough. This change of facies is analogous to the differences found in the anticlinal
and synclinal facies of the Upper Cretaceous flint-beds as well as of the phosphate
deposits in the Negev.
It is suggested that the chances for the preservation of the gypsum precipitates in the
bottom sediments of any hypersaline sea are better during stages of lowering sea levels
than during pluvial stages when the runoff to evaporation ratios are higher.
Another conclusion derived from the additional studies of the Gan Yavne 1 and 2
wells is that the regional tectonic uplift and erosion phase which preceded the deposition
of the Mavqi'im Formation (Messinian) occurred during the Oligocene--Miocene transi-
tion.

INTRODUCTION

Neev ( 1 9 6 0 ) p o s t u l a t e d a s t r o n g vertical d i s p l a c e m e n t d u r i n g the Late

O l i o g o c e n e - - E a r l y M i o c e n e along ' e i t h e r a fault line or a sharp m o n o c l i n e '
t r e n d i n g N N E , r o u g h l y c o i n c i d i n g w i t h t h e p r e s e n t coastline o f Israel. This
m o v e m e n t , w h i c h is c o n t r o l l e d b y regional crustal processes (Neev, 1 9 7 5 ) ,
lifted t h e eastern ( c o n t i n e n t a l ) b l o c k to an elevation o f a b o u t 1 0 0 0 m a b o v e
sea level, causing e n t r e n c h m e n t o f long a n d d e e p erosional channels. Later,
starting in t h e Early Miocene, b o t h t h e u p t h r o w n a n d d o w n t h r o w n b l o c k s
subsided, p r o b a b l y d u e t o s u b c r u s t a l isostatic a d j u s t m e n t s , resulting in a grad-
ual transgression o f the M i o c e n e sea. G v i r t z m a n ( 1 9 7 0 ) and B u c h b i n d e r and
G v i r t z m a n ( 1 9 7 6 ) agreed w i t h t h e a b o v e c o n c e p t , b u t c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h e
regional uplifting o c c u r r e d in Middle t o Late Miocene times, and was fol-
128

lowed b y several additional up and d o w n tectonic movements which resulted

in several transgression--regression cycles. Neev et ah ( 1 9 7 6 ) c o n c l u d e d that
the regional Oligo-Miocene sequence o f events is a repetition of an analogous
and very similar sequence of events which occurred during the Jurassic-
Early Cretaceous transitional phase.
Chumakov (1973) and Hsfi et al. (1973) discussed extensive erosional
drainage systems in the Mediterranean basin and along its rims and related
them to the Messinian evaporation; they maintain that the erosional systems
were entrenched due to the drastic drop of the Mediterranean Sea level,
which followed the desiccation event. Ryan and Cita (1978) and Ryan
(1978) concluded, on the basis o f offshore seismic profiles, that no earlier
Miocene and Oligocene desiccation and erosional events preceded the Mes-
sinian event.
Different data are provided by the Gan Yavne No. 1 and 2 test holes *
which are located some 10 km east o f the Ashdod coastline. The holes were
drilled during the late fifties by the Israel American Oil Exploration Com-
pany. The bio- and lithostratigraphical sequences of these two holes, as well
as o f others, were studied by Gvirtzman (1970) and by Derin and Reiss
{1973). The present study is a re-evaluation of the data from these two
holes, in view o f additional micropaleontological analyses which were carried
o u t at the request of the author by G. Martinotti o f the Geological Survey of
Israel, as well as the study of newly acquired stratigraphic and seismic data
(made available to us by the courtesy of E. Kashai, of Israel Oil Explora~
tion--Investments Limited). It is hoped that these data will clarify certain
confusion and misinterpretations concerning the regional geological history
and contribute to the understanding o f sedimentological processes of gyp-
sum--anhydrite precipitation (shallow versus deep water genesis).
In the present paper the term 'Messinian evaporites' is used for the anhy-
drites o f Unit 4, although Martinotti found no positive faunal p r o o f for their
Messinian age.

STRATIGRAPHY

Fig. 1 shows the stratigraphic sequences of the Gan Yavne 1 and 2 holes
from 900 m down to total depth. As the wells' surface elevations differ by
5 m only (+52 m and +47 m) and they are only about 1 km apart, no correc-
tion was made for depth in the geological cross-section.
Gan Yavne 1 b o t t o m e d out at a depth of 1067 m in dense Cenomanian
dolomites which are overlain by a 67 m thick chalk and dense white lime-
stone apparently of Turonian age. These Cretaceous carbonates are uncon-
formably overlain b y a 50 m thick brown-grey marl, paleonthologically
defined as Unit 4 (Late Miocene to Early Pliocene or units N17 to N19 of

* L o c a t i o n s o f wells are: G a n Y a v n e 1 - - 3 1 ° 4 7 ' 1 0 " N , 3 4 ° 4 3 ' 0 0 " W G a n Y a v n e 2 - - 31%

46'50"N, 34°42'40"W
 SW NE>
4
@.Y ;~ SHALE GREY G,'~
9°°m -_- WATER DEPTH:~IOOm ~9o~
{LM--E P)U._._~~1:1
~-=- core
OUTER SUBLITTORAL
~2

L~.~ i
9~0 ~
.~(~ ,MARL BR-GY
(LM2) U4,
iooo ~
MARL DARK GREY = = Jcoo
',~

~o~o ~--

1067 m

Hoo

140 •
li50 -=
~5 dod

_ _ •so •

.... .AN-ffVNE+
HYPERSALIN~U.4
OSTRACODE$.,~H-~_NOFAUNA ~ t~oe
. . . . . I ) ' ~ U4(L.M--Ep) 2oe
z~,ou

13o Z400 130

~z ~o -~(//'///.~ U 4 (L M - - E P )

2100

ztoo

U3(E tOM MIOCENE) zgo•

Jooo o Scoll
~Km
MARL U.

cot, # 31 DENSE'
T.b ~342n~ " ~:=DE N 0 M ANIAN
- It
l
Fig. 1. A geological cross-section b e t w e e n t h e G a n Y a v n e 1 a n d 2 holes, p r e s e n t i n g t h e s t r a t i g r a p h i c (litho- and b i o z o n a t i o n ) a n d elec-
tric logs of t h e intervals b e t w e e n 9 0 0 m b e n e a t h t h e surface a n d t h e t o t a l d e p t h . T w o e r o s i o n a l e v e n t s are r e f l e c t e d ; o n e occurred in
Late OlJgocene and the o t h e r in MessJnian t i m e s (Late M i o c e n e ) . See inset m a p for l o c a t i o n s . A s h d o d is l o c a t e d o n t h e c o a s t l i n e , s o m e
~O

30 k m s o u t h o f Tel Aviv.
130

Blow, 1969). The marl is overlain by 22 m of massive anhydrite rocks,

which, although t h e y are devoid of fauna, are considered to be a part of the
Messinian evaporites as they are overlain by a thick grey shale member which
also belongs to Unit 4. On the basis of correlation with the adjacent Gan
Yavne 2 hole, (see below) the lower contacts of the anhydrite in both wells,
unlike the upper contacts, appear to be unconformable.
In Gan Yavne 2 the Neogene--Cretaceous u n c o n f o r m i t y occurs at 1335 m,
which is 335 m lower than the Neogene-Cretaceous unconformable con-
tact at Gan Yavne 1, suggesting an erosional channel, as shown by Gvirtzman
(1970). The lowest 50 m of Neogene sediments in Gan Yavne 2 consist of
two brownish grey marl members. However, these marls are significantly
older than the lowermost Neogene sediments in Gan Yavne 1 (Unit 4--Late
Miocene to Early Pliocene); the lower member of Gan Yavne 2 belongs to
Unit 2 (base Miocene) and the upper one contains elements of Units 2 and 3
(Early to Middle Miocene). Overlying the Early to Middle Miocene marls of
Gan Yavne 2 is a 95 m sequence of alternating anhydrite and dark shale.
The latter contains faunal elements of Unit 4 (Late Miocene to Early Plio-
cene). The sequence is therefore correlative to the Messinian evaporites of
Gan Yavne 1.
The absence of the pre-Messinian Unit 4 marl from the channel's trough in
Gan Yavne 2, and its presence on the adjacent rim in Gan Yavne 1 indicate
that this formation was also present in the former but has been eroded in
pre-Messinian times. During the same phase it was also eroded probably from
the channel's rim (at Gan Yavne 1) although less than in the channel. This is
to be expected, assuming that the catchment area of the drainage system was
big enough (see Neev, 1960). The lower contacts of the Messinian evaporites
in both Gan Yavne i and 2 must therefore be of an unconformable nature.
The faunal elements found in the dark shales within the evaporite
sequence of Gan Yavne 2 indicate sublittoral environments. Hypersaline
ostracodes, which were found in core No 1 of this hole (see Fig. 1) also have
a depth range of a few hundred metres (G. Sohn, pers. comm.). As in Gan
Yavne 1, the transition from the Messinian anhydrites to the overlying light
grey marl member o f Unit 4 age in the Gan Yavne 2, appears to be gradual
and conformable.
Fig. 2 is a CDP seismic profile which extends NNE--SSW between the
present coastline and the cross-section between the Yavne 1 and 2 holes (see
insert on Fig. 1). The prominent M Reflector, which is derived from the base
of the Messinian evaporites, clearly expresses a broad erosional channel,
whose trough is located at the depth of about 1.5 sec (or close to 1300 m).
Deeper reflection and diffraction features from beneath this trough appear
to indicate the existence of an older trough at a depth of about 1.8 sec.
Another reflector extends almost horizontally and apparently undisturbed
below the M at the depth o f 2--2.3 sec and probably marks the top Jurassic
unconformable surface. This indicates that at that place the channel is of
erosional origin and its location is not fault controlled.
~W TROUGH OF THE G&N Y&VN[ CHANNEL NF"

m
;HOT POINTS
, INSI

REI
:FLECTOR

;RIETACEOUS
roP

)URASSIC

i
;ig. 2. C.D.P. Seismic profile No. D S - 5 2 4 ( c o u r t e s y o f Israel Oil E x p l o r a t i o n - - I n v e s t m e n t L i m i t e d . ) For l o c a t i o n o f the s h o t - p o i n t s see
nset location map in Fig. 1. The t w o erosional surfaces n o t e d in the c a p t i o n to Fig. 1 can be observed. A deeper reflector p r o b a b l y
'rom the t o p o f the Jurassic is also n o t i c e d , indicating that at this place the erosion did n o t f o l l o w a t e c t o n i c trend (fault line).
132

GEOLOGICAL HISTORY

The great regional uplift and the deep erosion which accompanied it
(Fig. 3, I and II) occurred before the Miocene, as indicated by the presence
of early Miocene fossils at the base of the Neogene sequence in Gan Yavne 2.
Neev (1960) has already shown, on the basis of the presence of Late Eocene
to Early Oligocene sediments on the channel rims and their absence in the
trough, that this event occurred in post-Early Oligocene time. Further evi-
dence for this date is obtained from the well log data of the Ashdod i and 2
boreholes (kindly provided by Israel Oil Exploration--Investments Ltd.;
Paleontology b y B. Derin), which are located close to the coastline just to
the east of Ashdod (see inset in Fig. 1). In both of these holes thick layers of
sands and conglomerates were found within the depth intervals of 1995--
2060 m and 1835--1930 m respectively, in sequence dated as Upper Oligo-
cene (Unit 1). Moreover, sediments of Unit 0 (Late Eocene--Early Oligo-
cene) underlie these coarse detrital units. It is therefore d e d u c e d that during
this time interval the base level was located rather close to the present coast-
line.
The erosional phase was followed by subsidence, transgression and succes-
sive accumulation of normal marine sediments, which belong to Units 2 and
3 (early to mid Miocene), within the trough o f the channel (Fig. 3, Stage
III). This m o v e m e n t is interpreted to be the result of subcrustal isostatic
adjustment. It is not impossible that fluctuations of the rising sea level
caused minor unconformities within the sequence o f Units 2 and 3. The
presence of pre-evaporite normal marine sediments of Unit 4 on the rim of
the channel at Gan Yavne 1 and their absence within the trough at Gan
Yavne 2 suggest that originally these sediments covered the entire area,
filling the channel to its rim and the adjacent plateau as well (Fig. 3, III).
Later they were eroded by a pre-evaporite erosional event, which renewed
and partly re-excavated the previous pre-Miocene channels (Fig. 3, IV). This
erosion indicates the reoccurrence of a drop in base level, either caused by
another tectonic uplift or by an eustatic change in sea level of different
cause. The drastic drop in sea level appears to be the last event before the
deposition o f the regional evaporites, which t o o k place in Late Miocene
(Messinian) times. It is highly probable that the nearly total desiccation of
the Mediterranean Sea during those times (Hsti et al., 1973) is responsible for
the drop o f base levels and for the subsequent erosion and subaerial
entrenchment of the drainage system.
It would appear that, unlike the first (Late Oligocene) erosional event, the
second (late Miocene) was not caused by regional tectonic activity (differen-
tial vertical m o v e m e n t ) along the coastal fault system. Moreover, as stated by
Neev et al (1973, p. 34), no rejuvenation of the coastal fault system occurred
between Late Oliogocene and the Holocene because the regional subsidence
which occurred during that period due to the isostatic compensation equally
affected both the offshore and onshore areas.
 SW GY-2 GY-1 NE 133
ii

+$ U.4 (A Mess) ~ '

A
~ ' ~
A v v
"

I/ i '3,_+.:,j:,.-+/.~/ i ce°.
ten,. ",. "," ~,__~--i-7~ ~ J
/ / I i 7 I ~

IV
LEGEND

Regression

4" Transgression
T • Pre UM: s s. )

t. 9 oo,i,,
~ . n ~ i ~ / 1 ~r Subsidence

Cenomonion Dolomite

Turonion Limestone
-9
II ~ Lo,e Eocene ,o
Eorly Oligocene (marJy)

C e n ~ / U2 Early Miocene

U3 Middte Miocene

U.4(A:Mess) Late Miocene 1o

Early Pliocene
(Post Messinian)

U.d(P. Mess.) Late Miocene to

Early Pliocene
(Pre Messinion)
Evaporites

Fig. 3. A sequence of diagrams demonstrating the following tectonic--erosional--deposi-

tional sequence of events:
Stage I = Late Eocene--Early Oligocene regional transgression.
Stage H = Late Oligocene regional uplifting east of the present coastline which involved
regression and entrenchment of deep channels.
Stage I I I = Early to Late Miocene regional subsidence which involved a gradual transgres-
sion and the deposition of Units 2 to 4 (pre-Messinian) in the channels, on the channel
rims and also on the surrounding plain.
Stage I V = Desiccation of the Mediterranean Sea at the beginning of the Messinian stage
(Late Miocene to Early Pliocene) which involved the re-entrenchment of the erosional
channels, sometimes leaving relics within the troughs and on the shoulders. Apparently
tectonic uplifting was not involved in this erosional stage.
Stage V = A relatively rapid regional subsidence caused the submergence of the previously
exposed territory into the hypersaline Messinian sea water resulting in the deposition of
gypsum (anhydrite) in the channels as well as on the channel rims and surrounding plain.
The end of the salinity crisis is reflected by the gradual upward transition into normal
marine Early Pliocene sediments (Unit 4 -- post-Messinian).
134

It is quite possible that the erosional history of the upper Nile Valley
(Chumakov, 1973; Hsfi et al., 1973) is analogous to that of the Gaza and
Gan Yavne channels, i.e. its original entrenchment could have occurred in
Late Oligocene times and not during the Messinian salinity crisis. Following
the latter the Pliocene seas transgressed through the pre-existing channel of
the river Nile.
In both of the Gan Yavne holes the lower contact of the Messinian eva~
porites is sharp and abrupt and the expected sequence of chemical precipi-
tates, which could reflect an increase in the salinity of a gradually evaporat-
ing basin, is not noticed. It is therefore suggested that the eastward transgres-
sion of the hypersaline Messinian sea was due to a rapid regional subsidence~
which exceeded the evaporative drop of sea level (Fig. 3, Stage V).
The appreciably thicker anhydrite sequence in Gan Yavne 2 (95 m) as
compared with Gan Yavne 1 (22 m) and the difference in facies between the
two (alternating anhydrite and shale in the former and a massive anhydrite
layer in the latter) point to the different environments which prevailed con-
temporaneously in the channel's trough and on its rim. Such a model is anal-
ogous to the one suggested by Bentor and Vroman (1960, pp. 50--53) for
the anticlinal and synclinal facies of the Campanian flint sequence (Mishash
Formation) with massive flint on the highs and layered flint within inter-
bedded chalks and detritus in the lows. A similar model was applied by them
to the overlying phosphate-rich layers in the Negev (southern Israel). The
model assumes winnowing of the detrital particles from the high areas and
their accumulation in the tows. The difference in elevation between the syn-
chronic anhydrite in both holes indicates that the water depths of the Messi-
nian sea in the Gan Yavne area was at least 350 m. This is a minimum figure
for the greatest water depth of the Messinian sea at the time it was precipi-
tating anhydrite. An analogous channel trough--rim situation is found some
40 km to the southwest, where Messinian evaporites are found at --1000 m
m.s.1, within the trough of the Gaza channel (Afiq 1) and at about --300 m
m.s.1, on its southern rim (Beeri SH4) (Derin and Reiss, 1973; Neev et al.,
1976). This increases the value for the minimal water depth of the Messinian
Sea to about 700 m and indicates that gypsum was precipitated from the wa-
ters of such a deep sea and preserved at its bottom.

MODE OF PRECIPITATION AND PRESERVATION OF GYPSUM AND ANHYDRITE

IN RELATIVELY DEEP WATER

It is c o m m o n l y held t h a t gypsum and anhydrite deposits have been

formed mostly in very shallow to supra-tidal environments (Shearman, 1966;
Kinsman, 1969). Neev and Emery (1967) as well as Nissenbaum and Kaplan
(1976) described recent depositional processes in the Dead Sea and con-
cluded that gypsum crystals which were precipitated from the upper water
mass (surface to 40 m water depth) were biochemically decomposed on their
way to the b o t t o m (337 m --greatest depth) through the anoxic lower water
 135

mass. This biogenic decomposition is perhaps even more intense within the
b o t t o m sediments, as only negligible quantities of gypsum were found there.
However, the density stratification of the Dead Sea water b o d y had gradu-
ally been destroyed during the last years (due to climatic and man-caused
reduction of inflow). Consequently, overturn with accompanying aeration of
the entire water b o d y of the Dead Sea has begun since late 1976 (Beyth,
1977). Recent extensive grab sampling by M. Beyth recovered newly depos-
ited chunks of layered and coarsely crystalline halite, argonite and gypsum at
the b o t t o m of the Dead Sea d o w n to water depths of 250 m. These deposits
were not found there some 15 years ago when the lake was well stratified.
Based on the above the following considerations are made: Although gyp-
sum could precipitate from shallow as well as deep water bodies, provided
they are saturated with CaSO4 salts, they are n o t always preserved at the bot-
tom. A prerequisite condition for preservation is that the water b o d y be
saturated with oxygen and aerated (i.e. at least seasonably overturned), so
that the activity of the sulphate reducing anaerobic bacteria is prevented.
Complete overturning of the entire water b o d y is inhibited by permanent
stratification withip it. The latter is usually affacted by excessive inflow of
fresh or brackish water. It is therefore suggested that the chances for the
preservation of the gypsum (anhydrite) precipitates in the b o t t o m sediments
of any hypersaline sea are better during stages of lowering sea levels than
during pluvial stages when the r u n o f f to evaporation ratios are higher.

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