Course in

By

Dr. Adly Abdel Aziz Helba

Course Content

Introduction Location Topography & Geomorphology Tectonic Framework Stratigraphic Sequences Economic Potentiality

☻Understanding the general geological framework of Egypt

COURSE OBJECTIVES

☻Familiarize you with the litho-and bio-stratigraphy, structural setting, and geological history of Egypt, and the main economic resource and its hosting rocks

☻Acquiring The Skill Of How To Differentiate the different time rock sequences of Egypt?

Stratigraphic Sequences

Paleozoic Successions

Mesozoic Successions

Cenozoic Succession

Major structural

trends of NE Africa and

Arabia

Najd Fault System

Central African

Lineament

Trans-

Africa

n

Linea

men

t

Mesozoic Sequences

In Egypt

Triassic Deposits, started since 245my

Jurassic Deposits, started since 208 my

Cretaceous Deposits, started since 144-66 my

Mesozoic Era lasted about 160 my

Two main global events: Tectonic and biologic

Equator

Gondwana Land

Lauras

ia

ProtoPangea

Subsurface occurrence: a rather complete Triassic section of both marine and fluvial deposits is recorded in the subsurface well (Halal Well No. 1) drilled at Gabal Halal in north Sinai.

Triassic Deposits in Egypt

Surface & subsurface occurrences Marine deposits of Middle Triassic age

outcrops only in the core of Gabal Aref El Naqa anticline in northeast Sinai, while southwards in central Sinai and Gulf of Suez, the exposures of the Triassic age are almost of fluvial origin.

Aref El Naqa

El Maghara

Subsurface Triassic SuccessionSubsurface Triassic Succession

4 -Mohilla Fm: Sabkha facies3 -Aref El Naqa Fm

2 -Raaf Fm: Shelf carbonate3 -Zafir Fm: Shale, Sandstone,

fossiliferous shale and dolostone

Geology of Egypt

Geology of Egypt

Hetangian

Sinemurian

Pliensbachian

Toarcian

Aalenian

Bajocian

Bathonian

Callovian

Oxfordian

Kimmeridgian

Portlandian

LIASS

DOGGER

MALM

J U

R A

S S

I

C LOWER

MIDDLE

UPPER

CLASSIFICATION

Global Geography and tectonic setting

Shallow seas invaded and occupied only northern Egypt and filled the isolated basins. Its paleo-shorelines never extend far south of El Maghara-Wadi Araba- Abu Gharadiq arbitrary line. The southern and central Egypt was positive area subjected to erosion and fluvial sedimentation in isolated low-lying alluvial plains.

Jurassic paleogeography in Egypt

Distribution of Jurassic rocks in Egypt

Surface occurrences

South Western Desert

El Maghara

in northern Sinai at G. El Maghara, G. Giddi, G. Minsherah and G. Aref El Naqa.

In central Sinai, they share in forming the southern scarp of G. El Tih Plateau.In northern sector of the Gulf of Suez, isolated faulted blocks of Jurassic rocks outcrop in the western side of the Gulf (e.g. Khashm El Galala, Wadi Um Lug, Ras El Abd and Maa Sweilam.

in most southern terrain of the Western Desert.

Thick Jurassic deposits bearing both source and reservoir rock are met in most penetrating wells in many oil fields of north Western Desert (e.g. Obaiyed Field).

Subsurface occurrences

Lithostratigraphy of the Jurassic rocks 1. Jurassic rock units in north Sinai

Lithostratigraphy of the Jurassic rocks

2- Jurassic rock units central Sinai

Malha FmRaqaba FmTemmariya Fm

3- Jurassic rock units Gulf of SuezKhashm El Galala

Fm

4- Jurassic rock units Western DesertSix Hills

Formation

0600

0

Isopach map of Bahrein Fm

0

500

Isopach map of Wadi El Natrun Fm

Isopach map of Khatatba Fm

0

1000

1000

0

900

Isopach map of Masajid Fm

In El Maghara area, the Jurassic Safa Formation hosts the economic coal deposits of EgyptThe Jurassic marine deposits form a source rocks in many oil fields in both the Gulf of Suez and north Western Desert The Jurassic clastics of El Khatatba Formation is one of the main reservoirs of gas in some hydrocarbon fields of north Western Desert

ECONOMIC POTENTIALITY OF JURASSIC ROCKS IN EGYPT

Geology of Egypt

Geology of Egypt

Valanginian (144-121)

Hauterivian (121-117 myr)

Barremian (117-113 myr)

Aptian (113- 108 myr)

C r

e t

a c

e o

u

s

Early Cretaceous

Late Cretaceous

CLASSIFICATION

Albian (108-96 myr)

Cenomanian (96-92 my)

Turonian (92- 89 my)

Coniacian (89-88 my)

Santonian (88-84 my)

Campanian (84-74 my)

Maastrichtian (74-66 my)

1- Lower Cretaceous deposits in Egypt

Pre-Aptian Paleogeography

in Egypt

1- Lower Cretaceous deposits in Egypt

Aptian Paleogeography

in Egypt

1- Lower Cretaceous deposits in Egypt

Albian Paleogeography

in Egypt

Distribution of Lower Cretaceous rocks in Egypt

Surface occurrencesin northern Sinai at G.

El Maghara, G. Rizan Aneiza, G. Minsherah and G. Aref El Naqa.

In central Sinai, they share in forming the southern scarp of G. El Tih Plateau.In Gulf of Suez and Eastern Desertin most southern terrain of the Western Desert.

Thick Lower Cretaceous deposits forming reservoir rocks are met in most penetrating wells in many oil fields of north Western Desert (e.g. Alamain Field).

Subsurface occurrences

Lower Cretaceous rocks in north Sinai

Late

Ju

rassic

Ap

tian

-A

lbia

n

Cenomanian

Thin undifferentiated Lower Cretaceous Nubian clastics

Rizan Aneiza Fm.

Rizan Aneiza Formation

N-S Facies change of Lower Cretaceous rocks in Sinai