A Biostratigraphic and chronostratigraphic review of the Mid-Late Miocene in and around Northern Lebanon*

George Sebastian Gerard Bellos^1,2

(MSc Geology, MA Archaeology. MBA Management)

¹ Prospective PhD Candidate, Lebanese University, Sin El Fil, Lebanon

² Email: gb.leo14@icloud.com, OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7815-0688. 

 

Abstract: This study investigates the stratigraphic framework of Lebanon, focusing on Miocene and Eocene successions that provide critical anchors for regional correlation and paleoenvironmental reconstruction. Positioned at the junction of the Levant Basin and the Arabian Plate, Lebanon’s geology records both local depositional dynamics and basin‑wide tectonic and climatic influences. By integrating sedimentological, biostratigraphic, and astrochronological data, the research reconstructs depositional environments, evaluates reservoir quality, and assesses petroleum system architecture in Neogene carbonates. The findings situate Lebanese exposures within broader Mediterranean paleoceanographic and paleoclimatic models, highlighting their dual role as local archives and global reference points.

 

Context: The study examines the Miocene and Eocene stratigraphy of northern Lebanon by integrating sedimentological, biostratigraphic, and astrochronological data to refine regional correlations and reconstruct paleoenvironmental conditions. It highlights that Lebanon’s geological position between the Levant Basin and the Arabian Plate makes its strata exceptionally sensitive to tectonic and climatic influences and therefore valuable as regional anchors for Mediterranean stratigraphy. The research aims to reconstruct depositional environments, establish high-resolution chronostratigraphy, and evaluate reservoir quality within Neogene carbonates (see: European Environment Agency).

         Findings from the Beit Mounzer and Jabal Terbol sections provide insights into reefal limestone development and Miocene carbonate platform architecture, supported by lithostratigraphic and petrographic analyses along with proposed palynological and geochemical sampling. Regional comparisons emphasize the roles of tectonic uplift, marine transgressions, and sub-Milankovitch cyclicity in shaping sedimentary patterns, while units such as the Vindiboidian limestone cycle, Chekka Formation chalks, and Pontian lacustrine deposits are reevaluated under modern chronostratigraphic frameworks. (cf. IOC-UNESCO).

        The study also considers the petroleum implications of Miocene aquifer systems and potential source–seal–reservoir configurations relevant to exploration in the Levant Basin, underscoring the importance of legacy outcrop data for sequence stratigraphy and hydrocarbon assessment. (see: International Energy Agency). The author, Mr. Bellos, holds diverse academic qualifications in geology, archaeology, tourism, management, and education, and intends to pursue a multidisciplinary PhD in maritime geoarchaeology employing AI for mapping and protecting submerged archaeological sites. The article is being prepared for publication in the Athens Journal of Mediterranean Studies, with references simplified to international institutional sources (cf. UNESCO)

 

Scientific Context: Stratigraphy is the language of Earth history. In the Mediterranean, nearly all Cenozoic stages are defined by Global Stratotype Sections and Points (GSSPs), many located in Italy. Lebanon, though smaller in scale, offers exposures that rival these type sections in completeness and diversity. Its Miocene and Eocene strata provide critical anchors for regional correlation and paleoenvironmental reconstruction (Source: Geologic TimeScale Foundation; International Commission on Stratigraphy).

Regional Significance: Lebanon’s position at the junction of the Levant Basin and the Arabian Plate makes its stratigraphy uniquely sensitive to tectonic and climatic forces. From the fluvial incisions of Albian strata near Ehden to the pelagic chalks of Ras Ech‑Chaqaa, the country’s geology reflects both local dynamics and basin‑wide processes. This duality — local detail and regional resonance — elevates Lebanon’s role in Mediterranean stratigraphy (cf. US Geological Survey; NASA Earth Observatory).

Research Objectives: This study aims to: 1 Reconstruct the depositional environments of Lebanon’s Miocene and Eocene successions. 2 Integrate biostratigraphic and astrochronological data for high‑resolution correlation. 3 Assess reservoir quality and petroleum system architecture in Neogene carbonates. 4 Situate Lebanese exposures within broader Mediterranean paleoceanographic and paleoclimatic models (see: US Energy Information Administration; UNESCO World Heritage Centre).

Study expected outcome: The study is expected to demonstrate that Lebanon’s Miocene and Eocene successions provide regionally significant stratigraphic anchors, enabling high‑resolution correlation with Mediterranean GSSPs, while clarifying depositional environments, reservoir quality, and petroleum system architecture in Neogene carbonates; ultimately, it situates Lebanese exposures within broader paleoceanographic and paleoclimatic models (cf. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History).

Synthesis: This study presented a detailed stratigraphic and sedimentological analysis of Miocene carbonate platforms in Northern Lebanon, with a focus on the Beit Mounzer and Jabal Terbol sections. These outcrops, situated within the eastern Mediterranean Tethyan margin, offer critical insights into reefal limestone development, biostratigraphic resolution, and petroleum system potential (see: Geologic TimeScale Foundation; International Commission on Stratigraphy). The research integrates field-based lithostratigraphy, petrographic classification, and proposed high-resolution palynological and geochemical sampling to reconstruct depositional environments and assess reservoir quality (source: International Commission on Stratigraphy).

Stratigraphic correlations are drawn with regional Miocene successions across the Levant and Mediterranean, emphasizing the role of tectonic uplift, marine transgressions, and sub-Milankovitch cyclicity in shaping sedimentary architecture (cf. US Geological Survey; NASA Earth Observatory). The Vindiboidian reefal limestone cycle, Chekka Formation chalks, and Pontian lacustrine sequences are re-evaluated in light of updated chronostratigraphic models (see: US Energy Information Administration; UNESCO World Heritage Centre). The study also addresses the petroleum implications of Miocene aquifers and potential source-seal-reservoir configurations, particularly in the context of the Levant Basin. This contribution enhances the chronostratigraphic framework of the Lebanese Miocene and supports the integration of onshore data into regional petroleum exploration models. The findings underscore the value of legacy outcrop data in refining sequence stratigraphy and highlight the underutilized potential of Lebanese Miocene strata in hydrocarbon prospectivity and Mediterranean geoscientific synthesis (cf. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History).

 

Author profile: Mr. Bellos graduated from the Official School of tourism in Dekwaneh with a technical Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism Sciences (2024), and marketing and management (2025). In 2023, he also graduated with a Masters of Arts in Educational Leadership and Management from the Lebanese International University (LIU), Mount Lebanon campus. His educational background is varied. He currently is a Masters' degree holder in Geological Sciences from the American University of Beirut (AUB, 2008) and an MA in Archaeological Sciences from the Lebanese University (LU, 2019) as well as an MBA (2019) in Management, with an emphasis on Economic Development and Tourism Management, and a Teaching Diploma in Entrepreneurial Skills Training (2020) from LIU. His current aspirations are to join a Ph.D. program and pursue a doctoral degree in a hybrid Ph.D. program combining Geosciences, Archeology, tourism, and education into one Ph.D. research in a multi-disciplinary track to improve the tourism situation in Lebanon, through education in educating youths about the importance of the natural (hydrocarbon reserves) and cultural (archeology sites) resource valorisation. The selected PhD he seeks will in maritime archeology and geoarchaeology involving the usage of AI tools to detect, map and safeguard the data of submerged archeology sites as well as their full documentation. the author decided to mention this because initially in 2014 he chose to do his PhD in Petroleum geosciences but shifted his research interests to maritime geoarcheology.

* The study is undergoingpublication, as it is proposed to be published in the Athens Journal of Mediterranean Studies. under 2 distinct entries. This is  a small part of the article that can be disseminated to the public. The references are approximative and not academic since they refer to international institution pages like the IUGS, the NASA, the USGS and so on.