Structural geology and Seismotectonics of Wadi Hagul Area, East of New Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Wadi Hagul is one of the most notable and dry diverse wadies in the Eastern Desert. The study area is bounded by latitudes 29°41′ & 30°01′N and longitudes 32°08′ & 32°24′E). Due to its location at the junction of three main roads (directed northward to Suez City, southward to Hurghada city and north-westward to Cairo city) includes most of the prospective project areas in Egypt, for relieving the over-population problem in the narrow strip of the Nile valley and Delta. Wadi Hagul area occupies an area of approximately 345 km2, representing 0.15% of the total area of the Eastern Desert and lies at the northwestern part of the Suez Gulf. It is bordered by the Suez Gulf from the east, Gebel Ataqa from the North, Wadi Bada from the south and Gebel El-Kahaliya from the west. The main wadies near the study area, are streaming into the coastal plain and the wadi of Beda, Wadi Akheider and Wadi Ghoweiba. Wadi Hagul area is considered as a morphotectonic depression, falling between the southern scarps of Gebel Ataqa, to the north and the northern scarp of El-Galala El-Bahariya Plateau, to the south. However the elevation of Wadi Hagul area rises gradually westwards, until it merges into the great limestone plateau of Eocene age, forming the central part of the northern Eastern Desert. Its main channel extends for a distance of 38.4 km, with a width of 5–10 km and runs to the south and southeast to debauch into the Suez Gulf. The topography of the studied area is highly controlled by the lithologic and geologic structures, where the drainage lines have taken most of their present shape in the Post-Miocene time, and follow in most cases major faults. The study area is a depression situated between Gebel Ataqa from the east and Gebel El-Kahaliya from the west, which is highly deformed. Generally, the depression and its adjacent topography have been controlled primarily by faulting. However, the folding and unconformities are noticeable in several sites.