GEOLOGY AND TECTONIC EVOLUTION OF THE AREA AROUND OF GABAL ABU FURAD, NORTHERN EASTERN DESERT EGYPT

Abstract

1.1. Delimitation of the Area The area around Gabal Abu Furad which forms the subject ofthe present thesis, is located in the southern sector of the northern Eastern Desert ofthe exposed Precambrian rocks of Egypt (Fig. 1.1). It is named after the conspicuous mountain of Abu Furad which occupies the central part ofthe present map area. The study area covers about 994 km? ofthe basement crystalline rocks. The central part of the district is traversed by the Qena - Safaga highway which runs in an E - W direction, leading from the Nile valley to the-Red Sea coast. The area under consideration is bounded by the following coordinates: Longitude : 33° 28' 15" - 33° 48' 28" E. Latitude : 26° 32' 25"- 26° 48' 42" N. 1.2. Physical Features The conspicuous land features ofthe present area include the following mountains arranged roughly from north to south : - Gaba!l Ras Barud (1339 mas.l) - Gabal Abu Hawis ( 1046 m.a.s.l.). - Gaba1 Um Taghir El-Foqani (900 m.a.s.I.). - Gabal Abu Furad (1029 m.a.s.l.). - Gaba! Abu EI-Diyab (479 m.a.s.l.). The area under consideration is drained by three main wadies and their tributaries. These include W. Barud, W. Um Taghir and W. Safaga. W. Barud crosses the northern part of the area, trending roughly NW -SE and flowing southeastward. It opens into W. Um Taghir along which the Qena - Safaga highway ( about 160 km ) is laid atkm. 10 from Safaga. It had a very wide sandy plain striking Gabal Ras Barud from the south. It also opens into W. Um Taghir at km. 38 from Safaga. W. EI-Barud El-Abiad is a tributary of W. Barud. W. Safaga crosses the southern part ofthe present district, trending roughly E-W and flowing eastwards to the Red Sea. Between W. Safaga and W. Um Taghir the studied area is drained by W. El-Bula, W. Abu Furad and W. Abu Maya. Both of W. EI-Bula and W. Abu Furad flows into W. Safaga, whereas W. Abu Maya flows and opens into W. Um Taghir. The southern part ofthe map area is drained by W. Talet EI-Zarga and W. Abu Marawat El-Rayan. Water resources ofthe studied area include Bir Ras Barud, Bir Abu Maya and Bir Abu Marawat.