ABSTRACT
The Miocene evaporites of the N Red Sea comprise two distinct units, the first coinciding with the transition from continental proto-rift sedimentation to syn-rift open marine carbonates, the second postdating these Early Miocene marine series. The Earlier evaporites indicate the beginning of the Burdigalian transgression. The progressive change from open marine to resticted marine carbonates situated on top of certain Miocene platforms suggests that restriction, ultimatly leading to the main evaporite deposition, was not provoked by sea -level lowering but are related to tectonic movements (Red Sea separated from parental Mediterranean).
