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 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.
In Yemen, the outcropping Cretaceous System consists of continental and
marine clastics and carbonates which are distributed in three main lithofacies:
continental (in northern provinces), transitional (in western parts of southern
provinces), and
marine (in eastern parts of southern provinces). These are
included within the Tawilah Formation and Ahwar/Mahra Groups. The
occurrence of the Tawilah Formation (Cretaceous-Paleocene) is restricted to
the northern provinces. Its lower parts consist of continental (fluvial)
sandstones (continental lithofacies) of Cretaceous age which constitute the Zone
without diagnostic fossils. Its upper parts consist of alternations of nonmarine
and fossiliferous marine sandstones of Paleocene age which constitute the
Pulsiphonina prima Zone.