The Study of the World's Plainlands

Abstract

From Mr. G. W. Murray, lately Director, Desert Survey of Egypt :— My attention has been caught by a discussion in the Journal (106, 108, 470) as to the origin of the Qattara depression, in which Dr. Arkell questions Professor L. C. King's assertion that this was tectonic. During 1927–31, the depression was surveyed by my colleagues and myself of the Desert Survey of Egypt on the 1 : 100,000 scale with 5-metre contours and the scarp to the north of it examined in detail at the four points of emergence of as many projected tunnels designed by the late John Ball to connect the sea with the depression. (The results of our survey were given in abstract by Ball in the Geographical Journal for October, 1933.) At the eastern end of the depression, two vertical lithological sections were compiled in the field quite independently by the late H. J. Ll. Beadnell and myself. Two hundred miles farther west, Siwa Oasis, another depression at the foot of the same scarp was mapped geologically (though not published) by Dr. O. H. Little, the then Director of the Geological Survey of Egypt. During the four years of our survey, and during many discussions since with geologists who have had personal knowledge of the region, I had not, until I read Professor King's reply to Dr. Arkell, either seen in the field or heard in the office any suggestion of either faulting or folding in the area. My former colleagues may, perhaps, differ