Avraham Honigstein

Relative Sea Level Changes During the Cretaceous in Israel

Detailed lithologic, microfaunal, and biometric investigations, using relative abundances, diversity indexes, and duration charts of ostracods and foraminifera, allowed the recognition of sea level changes during the Cretaceous of Israel. Three major transgressive-regressive sedimentation cycles occur on the northwest margins of the Arabian craton. These cycles are the Neocomian-Aptian, which is mostly terrigenous sediments; the Albian-Turonian, which is basin marls and platform carbonates; and the Senonian, which is uniform marly chalks. The cycles are separated by two major regional unconformities, the Aptian-Albian and Turonian-Coniacian boundaries. The sedimentary cycles are related to regional tectonic and volcanic events and eustatic changes. The paleodepth curve il ustrates the gradual sea level rise, reaching its maximum during the Late Cretaceous, with conspicuous advances during the late Aptian, late Albian-Cenomanian, early Turonian, early Santonian, and early Campanian. Major lowstands occur at the Aptian-Albian, Cenomanian-Turonian, Turonian-Coniacian, and Campanian-Maastrichtian boundaries. This model for Israel agrees well with other regional and global sea level fluctuations. Four anoxic events (black shales) accompanying transgressions correspond to the Cretaceous oceanic record. We hypothesize the presence of mature oil shales in the present-day eastern Mediterranean basin close to allochthonous reef blocks detached from the Cretaceous platform.

Upper Cretaceous high-resolution multiple stratigraphy, northern margin of the Arabian platform, central Israel

Abstract Nineteen columnar sections of pelagic sediments, from outcrops and boreholes across central Israel, deposited at relatively moderate rates on the outer shelf and the continental slope of the Arabian margin, were correlated using lithological and electric-log markers, calcareous nannofossils, planktic and benthic foraminifera, ostracods and ammonites. Thirty-seven local correlatable datum levels, from Upper Coniacian to the end of the Cretaceous, were recognized, of which 30 are based on diagnostic fossils of Tethyan significance. These datum levels include first (FA) and/or last (LA) appearances of 13 nannofossils, 14 planktic and 9 benthic foraminifera, 5 ostracod zones and 4 ammonites, as well as 10 lithological markers of chalks, marls, cherts, phosphorites and dark bituminous shales. The biostratigraphic planes do not cross lithological boundaries and therefore both are considered synchronous events. The datum levels are used for a biostratigraphic zonation, a lithostratigraphic subdivision and a chronostratigraphic interpretation. The multi-disciplinary correlations provide a powerful high-resolution stratigraphic tool for further quantitative basin analysis and for the study of global events.

The senonian succession in israel—Lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy and sea level changes

Senonian rocks in Israel consist predominantly of homogenous chalk containing abundant nanno- and micro-fauna as well as horizons rich in megafossils. A synthesis of all available faunal data for the Senonian of Israel and the Levant indicates a series of transgressions and regressions. The sea level fluctuations are compared to the known global sea level data for the Senonian. A good correspondence is established between Israel and the global pattern throughout the entire interval with the exception of the Maastrichtian.

Ostracods and foraminifera from the Early - Middle Eocene of Qeren Sartaba, Jordan Valley

23 species of ostracods and 20 species and species groups of planktonic foraminifera from the 80m thick Qeren Sartabasection, central Jordan Valley, are described and illustrated. The material is determined by planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy to belong to the latest Early Eocene (upper part of Zone P9) and the early Middle Eocene (Zone P10). The palaeoecology is representative of a pelagic marine shelf, with periodic events of shallowing and hardground formation.

Mid-turonian anoxic event in Israel — a multidisciplinary approach

Abstract Bituminous marls of the Daliyya Formation with up to 2% total organic carbon content, from the Galame quarry, Mount Carmel, northern Israel were studied. A great part of the organic matter is composed of exceptionally abundant dinoflagellate cysts. These sapropelic sediments were deposited in oxygen-depleted, quiet waters in a shelf basin. The massive encystment and good preservation of the cysts, chitinous test linings of foraminifers and the occurrence of pyrite also indicate reducing environments. Primary production was stimulated by upwelling of nutrient-rich oceanic waters, influx of fresh-water and derivates from the Mount Carmel volcanism. A middle Turonian age was determined on the basis of planktonic foraminifers ( Helvetoglobotruncana helvetica zone) and ostracodes ( Cythereis rawashensis kenaanensis zone). The anoxic event in the studied area post-dated the main phase of the global Late Cenomanian-Early Turonian anoxic event OAE-2, due to a pre-existing structural high in this region.

Detailed biostratigraphy of the Santonian/Campanian boundary interval in Northern Israel

One of the best continuous and fossiliferous Late Santonian-Early Campanian successions in Israel is the approximately 6m thick Kabri section in northern Israel. Its chalky marls were deposited in an outer shelf to upper slope environment with minor depth fluctuations. This Santonian/Campanian interval was studied examining calcareous nannoplankton, palynomorphs, ostracods and benthonic and planktonic foraminifera. The planktonic foraminiferal Dicarinella asymetrica - Globotruncanita elevata concurrent range zone was first observed in Israel in the Kabri section. The first occurrence of Aspidolithus parcus parcus herein is characterized by small specimens, difficult to determine by light microscopy. The lower boundary of the Campanian in this sequence was defined by the first occurrence of G. elevata, in accordance with the ammonite stage definition. This datum line nearly coincides with the first occurrence of the nannofossil marker A. parcus parcus and with the base of the Leguminocythereis dorsocostata (S-4) ostracod zone, both slightly above the foraminiferal boundary.

Combined ostracod and planktonic foraminiferal biozonation of the Late Coniacian – Early Maastrichtian in Israel

The distribution and zonation of planktonic foraminifera and ostracods during the Late Coniacian – Early Maastrichtian succession in Israel was studied in detail from six surface sections. The combination of contemporaneous biozones led to a more accurate age determination of the local ostracod zones, according to the Tethyan planktonic foraminiferal zonation. The configuration of the biozones of both taxa presents more datum lines for stratigraphic correlation of the Senonian strata of Israel. Three new ostracod species were described from Campanian sediments: Cytherelloidea zinensis, Loxoconcha hebraica and Cristaeleberis ordinata.

Ostracodes as Indicators of River Pollution in Northern Israel

Organic pollution produces changes in the aquatic environment. Effluent reduces the dissolved-oxygen concentration as a result of decomposition of organic material and increases the levels of ammonia and phosphate, and both the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). These affect the stream fauna so that different communities often show a zonation that characterizes distinct sections downstream of the discharge (Kolkwitz, 1950; Hynes, 1960; Liebmann, 1962; Hawkes, 1962; Chandler, 1970). This biotic zonation led to the traditional classification of water quality: a heavily polluted (polysaprobic) zone, a moderate (mesosaprobic) polluted zone (divided into two subzones, alpha and beta), and a slightly (oligo-saprobic) polluted zone, also known as the recovery zone, which indicates an advanced stage of self-purification of the river.

Late Scythian–Anisian ostracods (Crustacea) from the Meged-2 borehole, central Israel

Cutting samples from the Zafir Formation in the Meged-2 well (5013–5200 m), central Israel, were examined for ostracods. Seventeen species, belonging to eleven genera, could be distinguished. Five of them are described here as new species: Bairdia megedensis nov. sp., Bairdia bariudini nov. sp., Renngartenella ragilis nov. sp., Renngartenella perii nov. sp. and Patellacythere ephraimi nov. sp. Six species of the genera Renngartenella, Mostlerella and Kerocythere may also represent new taxa, but were left in open nomenclature, due to their rare occurrence in the samples. Only one species has been reported from other localities. Punctate forms of the genus Bairdia and Paracypris sp. are the most common species in the samples. The ostracods indicate a normal open-marine environment of deposition. The ostracod assemblages point to a Late Scythian–Anisian age, confirmed by foraminiferal and palynological data, but this age assignment remains disputed until the new taxa described here have been independently dated.

The middle Turonian Daliyya type section in Israel: biostratigraphy, palaeoenvironment and sea-level changes

The type section of the marly Daliyya Formation in Daliyat el Karmil, northern Israel, has been examined for planktonic foraminifera and ostracods. The coexisting assemblages of the upper part of the Helvetoglobotruncana helvetica total range zone (= Marginotruncana sigali interval zone) and of the Cythereis rawashensis kenaanensis assemblage zone indicate that this succession is middle Turonian in age. The depth of deposition varied from neritic (100–200 m) to shallow (≈50 m) with a short littoral episode. The palaeobathymetric oscillations agree rather well with global sea-level changes. Included in this paper are taxonomic remarks on some of the foraminifera and ostracods.