GEOLOGICAL AND GEOCHEIVHCAL STUDIES ON THE PLIOCENE--QUATERNARY SEDIMENTS OF EL-HAMRAWIN-MERSA-ALAM DISTRICT, RED SEA COAST, EGYPT

Abstract

The present thesis deals with the geology and geochemistry of Pliocene and Quatern surface sediments in six localities namely: Wadi Quseir El-Kadium, Wadi Essel, Wadi Sherm El-Bahari, Wadi Um-Gheig, Wadi Abu-Dabbab and Ras Shagra area, on the Red Sea coast. The area of study is delineated by latitudes 25° 4' 30" Nand 26° 7' 30" N along the Red Sea coast. About 168 samples were collected from these localities representing the different lithologic beds. These samples were subjected to thin section study, to recognize the microfacies associations as well as some thin sections for representative fossils and their recent equivalents, grain size analysis, heavy mineral study, X-ray diffraction analysis for both bulk samples (with glycolation and heating for the clayey samples) and representative fossil samples and their recent equivalents and chemical analysis aiming at understanding their lithostratigraphy, mineralogy, diagenesis, geochemical characteristics as well as to interpret the depositional environment and the geologic history of the studied sediments. The exposed Pliocene-Quaternary sediments in the study area attain different thicknesses which is well developed markedly at Abu-Dabbab. These sediments are stratigraphically subdivided into three formations. These are from top to base: Abu-Shegeili Formation Pleistocene (unconformity) Shagra and Gabir Formations (Pliocene). Both Gabir and Shagra Formations have the least thickness at Sherm EI-Bahari and Um-Gheig localities and increases in the northern and southern localities. The Abu-Shegeili Formation has the greatest thickness at Abu-Dabbab locality. Each of Gabir, Shagra and Abu-Shegeili