Structural setting of the Sidri-Feiran area, Eastern side of the Suez rift

Abstract

Detailed field mapping and study of the Sidri-Feiran area (eastern side of the Suez rift) indicate the predominance of SW direction of dip despite its location within the NE dip province of the rift. Non-tilted areas also exist in this part of the rift between Wadi Sidri and Gebel Mukattab. Pre-rift and syn-rift rocks are dissected by three main sets of high-angle, predominantly normal faults oriented NW-WNW, NNW, and NNE. The longest faults are oriented NNW-NW. Fault plane slickenside striae point to faulting in response to NE-SW extension. The NNW-NW and the NNE faults are linked up, in a zigzag fashion, with throws being transferred between the NNW-NW faults via the NNE faults. Three main tectonic events are distinct. The earliest event is Oligo-Miocene and witnessed the early rift opening. Tectonic subsidence was slow but increased afterwards during the deposition of the claystones of the Lower Miocene Rudeis Formation. The second tectonic event is 17 m.y. old (mid-Clysmic event). It is a major event in the rift history that led to its tectonic reorganization and the uplift of its shoulders. Coarse clastics, deposited as a result of this event, were faulted later during the third tectonic event.