GEOPHYSICAL AND GEOLOGICAL STUDIES OF THE AREA SOUTH WEST SAFAGA, CENTRAL EASTERN DESERT, EGYPT

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present study is concerned with interpret thc total intensity aeromagnctic and Bougucr gravity anomaly maps of South West Safaga, Central Eastern Desert, Egypt. From the original maps dcduce another second vertical derivative, the reduction to the North magnetic pole (RTP), and downward continuation maps. Detenninc the anomalous features · and calculate the parameters of the causative bodies, such as the depth. The digitized and gridded aeromagnetic and Bouguer gravity data of the study area has been processed and enhanced using firstly Fourier transfonnation and then applying various filter techniques to deduce filter maps and profiles suitable for all geological interpretations (Qualitative and Quantitative interpretations). The resulting structure trends analysis showed that the present • i study area is affected by N-S, Red Sea-Gulf of Suez trends (These faults changes gradually from NNW through NW to the WNW), Gulf Aqaba trend (These faults changes gradually from NNE through NE to the ENE) and E-w directions, in descending order. On a forward calculated magnetic and gravity fields an automatic and a manual methods were used to estimate the depths. Whereas the resulting average depths to the basement rocks ranges between less than 0.6 km to about more than 3 .5 km indicating that it is subjected to strong tectonic activities. The study of these anomalous features indicates that great number of the different types of structures has affected this area. Some of these anomalies suggest that their origin could be attributed to fault and dike like intrusions related to the shear and the deep faulted zones. These intruded bodies may be the reason for supplying the structures with the hydrothermal solutions which were playing important role during the formation of ore deposits.