U–Th dating of calcite corals from the Gulf of Aqaba
Most of the fossil corals in the elevated reef terraces along the Gulf of Aqaba (GOA) were
extensively altered to calcite. This observation indicates extensive interaction with
freshwater, possibly when the terraces passed through a coastal aquifer that existed along
the shores of the GOA, implying a wetter climate during the time of recrystallization from
aragonite to calcite. Thus, dating of the recrystallization events should yield the timing of past
wetter conditions in the current hyper-arid area of the GOA. In the present study, 18 …
extensively altered to calcite. This observation indicates extensive interaction with
freshwater, possibly when the terraces passed through a coastal aquifer that existed along
the shores of the GOA, implying a wetter climate during the time of recrystallization from
aragonite to calcite. Thus, dating of the recrystallization events should yield the timing of past
wetter conditions in the current hyper-arid area of the GOA. In the present study, 18 …