During the onset of continental rifting, the rifted edges of the continental crust may undergo uplift synchronously with the start of the main phase of subsidence and extension within the rift itself. Previous data from the Gulf of Suez indicate that this relationship holds, and the initiation of uplift, as dated by basement fission tracks, makes an excellent proxy for timing the onset of rapid extension in the Red Sea Rift. This project will conduct fission track sampling along the Red Sea margins in Egypt and Sudan. Resulting data will be used to determine whether rifting proceeded synchronously along the entire rift or propagated from the south. These data will also be used in conjunction with stratigraphic data to better constrain the rates and magnitude of uplift and erosion at the Gulf of Suez. Results are expected to improve understanding of the behavior of rift flanks during early stages of continental rifting.
