GAS FIRE FROM MUD VOLCANOES AS A TRIGGER FOR THE APPEARANCE OF HIGH-TEMPERATURE PYROMETAMORPHIC ROCKS OF THE HATRURIM FORMATION (DEAD SEA AREA)

Abstract

The Dead Sea Transform area hosts more than ten complexes composed of specific rocks of the Hatrurim Formation that is most widespread in the eponymous basin. They crown the sedimentary sequence and consist of brecciated terrigenous–carbonate, locally bituminous, sediments and high-temperature metamorphic rocks of the spurrite–mervinite facies accompanied by low-temperature hydrothermal veins. In the geological map of Israel, they are designated by the special symbol MZ (Mottled Zone). The MZ complexes are traditionally attributed to areal combustion of bituminous rocks of the Ghareb Formation.