Delineating deep basement discontinuities of Qarun Lake Area, Egypt

Abstract

The current study is mainly concerned with the description and analysis of the available aeromagnetic anomalies using different methodologies. Some structural elements could be deduced from the qualitative interpretation of such magnetic anomalies. The analysis of the worked magnetic maps, which included the total intensity magnetic map, reduced to-pole map, upward-continued maps, downward-continued maps, anomaly separation based on their wavelengths, or anomaly widths and enhanced horizontal gradient filtering aided in divulging the structural regime of the basement rocks, as well as the shallower features. As a result of the investigation, a basement tectonic map of the study area was constructed. This map shows that the area is portrayed by the presence of several major alternating basement swells and troughs in belts trending ENE–WSW, N–S, NE–SW and E–W. These major trends with the other minor trends dissected the basement surface into several tilted fault blocks forming anticlinal and synclinal zones with various depths and directions. These structural elements are shown in the basement tectonic map, and named Camel Pass-Abu Roash high, El-Sagha high, El Faras-El faiym high and Qattrani-El Gindi low trends.