Regional Fracture Analysis South Latitude 29° N of Egypt and Their Influence on Earthquakes

Abstract

Egypt had been subjected to earthquakes of various degrees but earthquake observation in this country started only in 1899. Earthquakes were found in the locations where fractures have relatives high densities.The Fracture pattern of Egypt south Latitude at 29° N was studied regionally based on Landsat images and aerial photomosaics. Fractures in the Eastern Desert have the prominent trends, NW, E-W, NNW and ENE, showing high density in the northern and southern parts. These fractures control the distribution of mineral deposits and radioactivity in the basement rocks.Fractures in Western Desert are less remarkable with the main trend NNW, E-W, N-S and NW, showing high density in the central part. The NNW trending fractures have the same direction of sand dunes which cover larger areas in the northwestern part of Western Desert.Based on the geographical distribution of earthquakes in the seismic maps and centers of high fractures density on the structural contour maps, the area south of latitude 29° N of Egypt was divided into three regions: The Red Sea, Western Desert and Aswan Environs. This correlation led to the conclusion that the fractures have an effect on earthquake activity, are trending ENE and WNW in the Red Sea, NW and N-S in the Western Desert and E-W and NNW in Aswan Environs.It should be emphasized that fractures with higher density are more susceptible to earthquakes in the locations characterized by two dominant sets of fractures especially at their intersections.Key wordsEgyptearthquakesfracture density