Digital surface geology map of Beirut and suburbs (Lebanon)

The surface geology in the city of Beirut (Lebanon) is very complex and highly variable at small distances. The last attempt to identify geological soil units and plot a map of surface geology was proposed by Dubertret in 1945. A significant portion of the western side of the city is dominated by Quaternary red sandy soils and dune sandstone. The red sand likely originated from weathered and eroded sandstone, resulting in the well-known “Terre Rouge” red sands in Beirut (Dubertret, 1945; Bedran, 1997). Recent alluvial deposits can be found in various areas of the city, covering the sandy layer. These superficial alluvial soils are present in the Downtown district, along the Beirut River, and in the northern-eastern suburbs. On the eastern side of the city, alongside the recent alluvial deposits, occasional red sands containing pebbles and cobbles can be observed near the Beirut river banks and in a narrowing coastal plain towards the south. The eastern-southern parts of Greater Beirut are mainly dominated by Jurassic units consisting of cretaceous sandstone and clayey sandy limestone.