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The Red Sea — A Geophysical Background

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Hot Brines and Recent Heavy Metal Deposits in the Red Sea

Abstract

The history and evolution of the Red Sea are considered in the light of the continental movement of Africa and Arabia. The relevant palaeomagnetic data pertaining to the latter are summarized. The Red Sea developed in phases, and it is likely that these correspond in time to phases of continental drift. The geophysical data for the Red Sea are summarized in a general résumé and in more detail by considering the Red Sea in three parts, viz. the northern Red Sea (north of 25°N), the central Red Sea (17° to 25°N) and southern Red Sea (south of 17°N). Structural differences from north to south are noted. Finally, a summary is given for the evolution of the Red Sea taking into account geophysical and geological data for the whole Afro-Arabian region.

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  1. School of Physics, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    R. W. Girdler

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  1. Department of Chemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA

    Egon T. Degens

  2. Department of Geology and Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA

    David A. Ross

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Girdler, R.W. (1969). The Red Sea — A Geophysical Background. In: Degens, E.T., Ross, D.A. (eds) Hot Brines and Recent Heavy Metal Deposits in the Red Sea. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-28603-6_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-28603-6_6

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