The study of continental Neogene deposits in Damascus and Kalamoun
areas has led to distinguish two lithological formations: the bottom one is
composed of debris with fine elements in general, dominated by sand and clay,
widespread on its base loc
ally remnants of volcanic basalt flow. The top
formation consist of conglomerate sediments with coarse elements of mixed
sizes and sources.
The study showed that volcanic flow which came from the south as basaltic
flow from Al-Manea Mountain to the south of Damascus, reached the southern
part of Dimas Basin and not far beyond it towards the north.
Also, the study demonstrated that the age of the continental deposits
overlying the volcanic flows belong at their bases to Lower Miocene age, in
comparison with the data of the isotopic analysis of the volcanic rocks
previously recorded in the region.
The lithological study and micropaleontological analyses of 21 samples
taken from four geological sections of lower Miocene deposits led to a
stratigraphic study for determination of enrichment of planktonic species in
these deposits . These speci
es were combined with biozones of lower miocene
and their stratigraphic distribution in the studied sections according to
planktonic foraminifera of worldwide spreading . This study contributed in
understanding of paleogeographic development of Neogene basin within this
period of time , which appeared as a marine progress in lower Miocene ,
which continued up to upper Miocene in the northwestern part of Syria . The
sediments of lower Miocene consisted of marl , clay marl deposits with
interfacial layers of clay and limestones or marl limestones deposited
unconformithy with nummoliticlimestones of Eocene , or cretaceous
carbonates rich in betome sometimes .
The lithologic and palaeontologic study of the marine Neogene in Salquine
area (NW Of Syria) gave new data which allowed the distinguishing of a
number of lithostratigraphic units and the determination of their ages. This led
to precise lithostrat
igraphic correlations between the studied area and the
neighboring areas, and finally a clear knowledge of the geological evolution of
the area during the Neogene. The stratigraphic distribution of the planktonic
foraminifera in the area showed a perfect agreement with what is known
during the Tethys Neogene. The comparison with the neighboring areas led to
the discovery of an important stratigraphic lacuna in Salquine area during
salinity period of the Upper Miocene of the Mediterranean region.
