STRUCTURAL SETTING OF THE AREA BETWEEN HELWAN, 15TH OF MAY CITY, AND GEBEL ABU SHAMA (CAIRO-SUEZ PROVINCE)

Abstract

The study area represents the southwestern part of the Cairo-Suez District. Specifically; southeast of the Greater Cairo, Helwan and 15th of May city. The study objectives include geological field mapping at scale of 1:50,000 to classify the exposed rock units of the area, to study the geological structures and their origin, to interpret the deformation history of the area and define the geologic events which affected it, and to study the fault damage zones of some faults to determine the lateral extensions of the fractures related to these faults.

Topographically, the study area includes two main plateaus which are Abu Shama - Sdd El Naam Plateau at the east and El Halawna - El Maskhara Plateau at the west. The two plateaus are separated by a a depression called Saysabah Graben. Each plateau is bounded by a plain. From the east, the Abu Shama - Sdd El Naam Plateau is bounded by the Abu Shama Plain while from the west, El Halawna - El Maskhara Plateau is bounded by Arab Abu Saied Plain that extends towards the Nile Valley.

Stratigraphically, the rock units in the study area are made up of sedimentary rocks related to the Middle Eocene and Upper Eocene. The Middle Eocene rocks are represented by the Observatory Formation, El Qurn Formation, and Wadi Garawi Formation while