Subsurface Structural Features of the Basement Complex and Geothermal Resources Using Aeromagnetic Data in the Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt

Abstract

Egypt gives priority to Western Desert in land reclamation and sustainable development projects. The Bahariya oasis, a northernmost oasis of Egypt, is closer to the capital compared to other remote oases and represents the most interesting potential candidates for the sustainable development. Many researches provide insight into the hydrogeology and structural geology of the Bahariya oasis; however, very few attempts have been done to investigate its geothermal potentiality. The aim of present study is to reflect the geothermal resources of the Bahariya oasis encountered with the predominant structures utilizing aeromagnetic and borehole data. The main subsurface structures and the depth-to-basement map were retrieved from the 2D modelling of the aeromagnetic data. The results of the 2D models were verified by well stratigraphic data. Spectral analysis of the aeromagnetic data was applied to estimate the Curie point depth (CPD) and to produce geothermal gradient and heat flow maps for the Bahariya oasis. The results of the study indicated that the depth to the basement rocks in the area ranges from 0.6 to 4.0 km. The CPD is 15 km in the central parts and increases to 24 km eastward. The geothermal gradient varies from 20 to 35 °C/km with an average 30 °C/km; however, the heat flow changes from 60 to 100 m W/m2 with an average of 90 m W/m2. These results, in addition to basement structures, imply a high temperature gradient and heat flow correlating with shallow Curie depths. The results are in agreement with previous work in the same region.