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Which types of sediment were deposited in the Dead Sea valley?

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White salt deposits cover rocks along the shore of the Dead Sea near Masada, Israel, with green water and dramatic cloudy sky in the background. — Dead Sea Salt deposits at the Dead Sea near Masada, Israel.

The Dead Sea valley contains thick layers of sediment that have accumulated over millions of years. Beginning approximately 2.5 million years ago, heavy streamflow into the lake deposited significant quantities of shale, clay, sandstone, rock salt, and gypsum.1

Subsequent geological activity resulted in additional strata consisting of clay, marl, soft chalk, and gypsum, which were deposited over layers of sand and gravel. These deposits, which cover the valley to thicknesses ranging from 1 to 4 miles (1.6 to 6.4 km), were exposed as the lake gradually shrank due to evaporation exceeding replenishment from precipitation.1