Geochemical studies of carbonates of the Tayiba Formation (Upper Eocene), Abu Zenima area, West Central Sinai

Esmat A Abou El-Anwar

doi:10.1186/s42269-019-0240-5

Abstract

BackgroundTayiba Formation situated at the entrance of Wadi El-Tayiba. It unconformably overlies the Late Eocene Tanka Formation and unconformably underlies the Early Miocene Nukhul Formation. Severely authors studied this formation geologically, stratigraphically, and petrographically. But, geochemical studies on the rare earth elements to illustrate the depositional environments are seldom.ResultsResults were revealed that, mineralogically, the carbonate rocks in the Tayiba Formation are mainly composed of calcite, dolomite, quartz and clay minerals. The terminal parts of the studied Tayiba Formation are more dolomitized relative to the middle beds.Geochemical analysis revealed that the carbonates of Tayiba Formation were deposited under shallow, oxidizing, marine environment. The dolomitization process has taken place in marine environment. Carbonate rocks of the Tayiba Formation are highly enriched in trace elements and highly to moderately rare earth elements. The studied carbonate rocks characterized by light REE (LREE) enrichment than heavy REE (HREE).ConclusionsThe redox-sensitive and rare earth elements study indicates that the carbonate rocks in the Tayiba Formation were deposited under anoxic to oxic marine environment. Also, the trace and rare earth elements values indicated that the studied carbonate rocks are mainly hydrogenous sources. These elements may be derived from more mafic sources.

Highlights

IntroductionThis formation represented a transitional stage between the pre-rifting Eocene marine sediments and the Early Miocene transgression of the newly formed rift (Refaat and Imam 1999)
Tayiba Formation has a considerable importance to the history of the opening of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Suez
The aim of the present work is to study the mineral and chemical composition of the carbonate rocks of the Tayiba Formation (Upper Eocene) in Abu Zenima area to reveal their depositional environments and if there is a possibility of utilizing them in some purposes

Summary

Introduction

This formation represented a transitional stage between the pre-rifting Eocene marine sediments and the Early Miocene transgression of the newly formed rift (Refaat and Imam 1999). Tayiba Formation is located at the mouth of Wadi ElTayiba It unconformably overlies the Late Eocene Tanka Formation Tayiba Formation situated at the entrance of Wadi El-Tayiba It unconformably overlies the Late Eocene Tanka Formation and unconformably underlies the Early Miocene Nukhul Formation. Authors studied this formation geologically, stratigraphically, and petrographically. Geochemical studies on the rare earth elements to illustrate the depositional environments are seldom

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion