THE BURIED AFIQ CANYON (EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN, ISRAEL) - A CASE-STUDYOF A TERTIARY SUBMARINE-CANYON EXPOSED IN LATE MESSINIAN TIMES

The Afiq submarine canyon was one of a series of canyons initially inc ised in a drowned shelf edge and slope of the eastern Mediterranean ma rgins in early Oligocene times (P19 zone). During most of the Early Mi ocene submarine erosion or non-deposition prevailed. This was followed by deposition of pelagic marls and debris flows in early Middle Mioce ne (NX) times. Large-scale sliding in late Middle Miocene times (N14) resulted in the collapse of the slope, the removal of most of the midd le Miocene sequence and the formation of a box-shaped scar. Back-cutti ng incision ultimately resulted in the incision of the shelf in Late M iocene times. A sea-level fall ranging between 50 and 800 m below the canyon's rim resulted in the deposition of the Messinian Lower Evapori tes (Mavqiim Formation) within the canyon. A subsequent rise of a simi lar extent led to the deposition of the Upper Evaporites (Be'eri Gypsu m) which are found on the canyon's southern shoulder. The final Messin ian sea-level drop, below the canyon's floor resulted in a subaerial e nvironment in the canyon, the erosion of the upper evaporites and the subsequent deposition of fluvial and brackish sediments (Afiq Formatio n). The latter correspond to the Lago-Mare sediments known throughout the Mediterranean. The rapidly rising sea level during the Pliocene al ong with the high rate of Nilotic elastic sedimentation resulted in th e final burial of the Afiq Canyon, and a pronounced seaward progradati on (20-30 km) of the shelf edge.