Structural setting and tectonic evolution of the Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt
Moustafa, A.R.; Schwartz, B.; Molokhia, H; Ibrahim, I.M; Saoudi, A; Moubasher, A;
Abstract
An integrated surface mapping and subsurface study of the Bahariya Depression aided
the regional subsurface interpretation. It indicated that four major ENE-oriented structural
belts overlie deep-seated faults in this part of the ‘tectonically stable’ area of Egypt. The
rocks of the Bahariya area were deformed in the Late Cretaceous, post-Middle Eocene, and
Middle Miocene-and subsurface data indicated an early Mesozoic phase of normal faulting.
The Late Cretaceous and post-Middle Eocene deformations reactivated the early normal
faults by oblique slip and formed a large swell in the Bahariya region. The crest was
continuously eroded whereas its peripheries were onlapped by Maastrichtian and Tertiary
sediments. The tectonic evolution of the Bahariya region shows great similarity to the
deformation of the ‘tectonically unstable’ area of the northern Western Desert where several
hydrocarbon fields have been discovered. This similarity may indicate that the same
phases of deformation could extend to other basins lying in the ‘tectonically stable’ area,
such as the Asyut, Dakhla, Nuqura, and El Misaha basins.
the regional subsurface interpretation. It indicated that four major ENE-oriented structural
belts overlie deep-seated faults in this part of the ‘tectonically stable’ area of Egypt. The
rocks of the Bahariya area were deformed in the Late Cretaceous, post-Middle Eocene, and
Middle Miocene-and subsurface data indicated an early Mesozoic phase of normal faulting.
The Late Cretaceous and post-Middle Eocene deformations reactivated the early normal
faults by oblique slip and formed a large swell in the Bahariya region. The crest was
continuously eroded whereas its peripheries were onlapped by Maastrichtian and Tertiary
sediments. The tectonic evolution of the Bahariya region shows great similarity to the
deformation of the ‘tectonically unstable’ area of the northern Western Desert where several
hydrocarbon fields have been discovered. This similarity may indicate that the same
phases of deformation could extend to other basins lying in the ‘tectonically stable’ area,
such as the Asyut, Dakhla, Nuqura, and El Misaha basins.
Other data
Title | Structural setting and tectonic evolution of the Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt | Authors | Moustafa, A.R. ; Schwartz, B. ; Molokhia, H ; Ibrahim, I.M ; Saoudi, A ; Moubasher, A | Issue Date | 2004 | Publisher | Gulf Petrolink | Journal | GeoArabia |
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