Low‐latitude anhydrite from the Red Sea coast: palaeoclimaticand palaeohydrological implications

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Abstract
Recent supratidal anhydrite (CaS04) is reportedly confined to a latitudinal range of ˜ 24–30°N. Because of this apparent constraint, it is problematical to relate known distributions of ancient deposits to palaeomagnetically determined latitudes. Recent work on the Red Sea coast of the Sudan shows that anhydrite is present south of 18°N and possibly down to 15°N latitude. In Arabia and North America ancient sabkha anhydrites occupy near‐equatorial positions, which imply climatic belts within subtropical high‐pressure cells. There is no reason why anhydrite should not occur at lower latitudes, provided the depositional area is within an effective rain‐shadow where evaporation far exceeds rainfall (as in the Red Sea region).