Pervasive E-ENE oriented faults in the northern Egypt and their relationship to Late Cretaceous petroliferous basins in the northern Western Desert

Abstract

Detailed subsurface and surface studies of different parts of northern Egypt indicate the presence of pervasive E-ENE oriented faults that controlled the development of several prolific sedimentary basins. These faults include Zarif, Rabat, Alamein, Washka-Shaltut, Kattaniya, and Wadi El Rayan Faults in the northern Western Desert; N. Galala, Ataqa-Qattamia-Maadi, Oweibid, and Shabrawet-Um Qamar Faults in the northern Eastern Desert; and El Mistan, Um Latiya, N. Halal, S. Halal, El Minsherah, Araif El Naqa, Mitla, and Themed Faults in northern Sinai.

Detailed studies indicate that the Mesozoic-Cenozoic deformations of northern Egypt were controlled by these pervasive faults. Jurassic-Early Cretaceous rift basins formed in northern Egypt during the opening of the Neotethys are half grabens bounded by these faults. Late Cretaceous-Early Tertiary “inversion” of these basins proceeded by right-lateral wrenching on the same faults during the closure of the Neotethys. Miocene and post-Miocene extension in northern Egypt due to the drift of Arabia away from Africa formed a large number of NW-SE oriented normal faults and rejuvenated the E-ENE oriented faults in the Cairo-Suez district by dextral transtension.