Initial Emplacement of Oceanic Lithosphere in the Northern Red Sea

Multibeam, magnetometric and seismic reflection surveys were carried out in 2005 at the Thetis and Nereus axial deeps in the Northern Red Sea, together with bottom rock sampling. The Thetis Deep includes three en- echelon rift valleys that have joint together. Axial neovolcanic zones were observed in each of these rift valleys, together with large number of diffuse small volcanic cones. Both are made of fresh MORB type rocks. The walls of the rift valleys are formed by normal faulting with superimposed salt tectonics. Complex deformation patterns, partly also caused by salt tectonics, were observed at the transfer zone between Thetis and Nereus Deep to the north. We will present some results of this work, and their bearing on ideas on the initial emplacement of the oceanic lithosphere in the Northern Red Sea.