TITLE:
Mineralogy and Chemistry Characterization of the New Basaltic Intrusion at Maasser El Chouf/Lebanon
AUTHORS:
Khaled Tarawneh, Nada Nemhe, Amin Shaban, Ghaleb Fauor, George Njeim
KEYWORDS:
Lebanon, Basalt, Intrusion, Basanite, Alteration, Alkaline Olivine Basalt
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.12 No.2,
February
29,
2024
ABSTRACT: The importance of this study is to identify the newly
reordered and recognized basaltic intrusion for the first time in Maasser El Chouf
in Lebanon. The recorded basaltic intrusion cut the Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous rock
in this area. Necessary field inspection, geology, mineralogy and chemical tests
were carried out on 8 basalt samples to determine their mineralogy, petrography
and chemical composition. Representative samples have been tested with polarizing
microscope, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Petrographic and
mineralogical studies show that the basalt is characterized by presence mainly of calcic-plagioclase
feldspar, pyroxene-augite and olivine minerals. Secondary minerals of iron oxides
also present (ilmenite and magnetite). The most appeared property is the alteration
of olivine mineral to iddingsite that indicated highly weathered process. The composition
of the basaltic samples reflects ultrabasic-basic type (Basanite-Tholeiitic basalt).
The existence of volcanic activity occurred mostly with Pliocene age (under very active tension zones. Volcanism of Lebanon
basalts belong to the alkaline olivine basalt, suite generally associated with tension,
rifting and block faulting movements of the continental crust. Most of the volcanisms in Lebanon and in Harrat Ash
Shaam Basalt from Syria and Palestine through Jordan to Saudi Arabia are related
and connected to the opening of the Red Sea Rift System, making the area with tremendous volcanic
tectonic activities.