Naqus Formation Research Articles

Integrating facies, mineralogy, and paleomagnetism to constrain the age and provenance of Paleozoic siliciclastic sedimentary rocks along the northern Gondwana margin: insights from the Araba and Naqus formations in western Gulf of Suez, Egypt

The depositional ages and provenance of the Paleozoic Araba and Naqus Formations along the northern Gondwanan margin in Egypt have remained uncertain due to a lack of index fossils. Resolving this issue is crucial for understanding regional geology during deposition and subsequent tectonic development. We integrate detailed facies analysis, anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS), paleomagnetism, and mineralogical data to elucidate the genesis and depositional ages of the Araba and Naqus Formations. Petrographic analyses identified seven distinct facies types, providing insights into sedimentary textures, maturity, and sources, with contributions from igneous and metamorphic sources indicated by heavy minerals. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis identified accessory minerals such as quartz, goethite, kaolinite, hematite, and anatase. Paleomagnetism isolated two magnetic components (CA and CN) providing the first robust paleo pole positions at Lat. = 70.8° N, Long. = 308.2° E and Lat. = 37.8° N, Long. = 233.1° E, indicating Cambrian and Carboniferous ages for the Araba and Naqus formations, respectively. Thermal demagnetization constrained these dates using established polarity timescales. Mineralogical data indicated that the Araba Formation originated from an igneous source, while the Naqus Formation had a mixed metamorphic-igneous provenance. The integrated AMS and paleomagnetic data reveal evidence of post-depositional deformation. Specifically, the clustering of maximum AMS axes in the NW–SE direction for both formations, suggests the initial presence of a primary depositional fabric. However, prevalent tectonic activity during the Cenozoic appears to have overprinted and modified this fabric through deformation related to rifting of the Gulf of Suez region. Through this novel multi-proxy approach, we have resolved long-standing uncertainties regarding the formations' depositional ages. Our study thereby provides the first chronostratigraphic framework for these strategically important sedimentary units, significantly advancing understanding of regional Paleozoic geology.Graphical abstract

Geochemistry of the North Gondwana Paleozoic Araba and Naqus formation siliciclastics, Sinai: implications for provenance, paleoweathering, and tectonic setting

ABSTRACT The Araba and Naqus formations in Ras Milan, Sinai, constitute part of the major continuous Paleozoic clastic belt stretching across northern Gondwana. They are sandstone-dominated successions, resting on Precambrian granitic basement, with lowermost thin basal polymictic conglomerate deposits (1–2 m), marking the unconformity. The Araba Formation section is composed mainly of varicoloured violet to reddish brown, fine to coarse-grained laminated and planner and overturned cross-bedded sandstones, while the overlying Naqus Formation is characterized by chaotically distributed poorly sorted quartz pebbles to cobbles within a moderately-sorted coarse- to medium-grained quartz arenite and by abundance and variety of large-scale tabular and trough cross bedding. Modal QFL classification of Araba and Naqus formation sandstones revealed that they are merely quartzose sandstones (quartz arenites). Geochemistry of the succession shows extremely wide compositional ranges for almost all major elements, but the Araba Formation is relatively enriched in SiO2, TiO2, Fe2O3*, Na2O, P2O5, and depleted in Al2O3, MgO, CaO and K2O relative to Naqus Formation. Only the Araba Formation samples are depleted in the transition elements Ni, Cr and Co and oppositely possess extreme enrichment in the HFSEs (i.e. Zr, Hf, Y, Nb, Ta, Th, U), whereas both formations show variable depletion in the LILE Rb, K and Ba, and excessive REE abundances relative to the PAAS and UCC, and LREE-enriched patterns with marked negative Eu anomalies. The provenance of the Naqus and Araba formations could be an earlier felsic magmatic source, which has undergone extensive sedimentary recycling. They possess high compositional maturity and were subjected to intensive to moderate weathering during humid climatic conditions. Passive margin tectonic setting is implied which denotes the derivation of Araba and Naqus formation siliciclastics from stable continental regions or plate interiors and deposition in intracratonic basins.

Erosional reservoir for the northern segment of the Arabian-Nubian shield: Constrains from U-Pb geochronology of the lower palaeozoic succession, North Eastern Desert, Egypt

Zircon U-Pb geochronology of detrital sedimentary rocks is a precious and unique tool to explore older eroded crust which, frequently, no longer exists. This is because the clastic sedimentary rocks represent a detritus reservoir for the surrounding eroded region. A total of 207 (196 concordant ages) zircon grains from the Lower Palaeozoic Araba and Naqus formations were analysed to investigate the possible rock provenances and examine the different components of the Arabian-Nubian Shield in the region before being intensively eroded between the Cambrian and the Carboniferous. Somr El-Qaa area in the North Eastern Desert (NED) contains one of the rare remnant exposures of the Lower Palaeozoic sediments where the catchment area is expected to be extended through the NED and Southern Sinai. Three main chronological provenances sources were represented: (1) Pre-Pan-African (Pre-Cratonization) source, represented by ca. 35% of Araba Formation and ca. 10% of Naqus Formation total populations (44 grains) with ages varies between 2289 ± 113 Ma and 907 ± 45 Ma, indicates a probable pre-Pan-African crust palaeo-existence in the region. (2) Pan-African (Cratonization) source, represented by ca. 58% of Araba and ca. 76% of Naqus dated zircons (137 grains) with ages varying between 887 ± 44 Ma and 501 ± 25 Ma. Surprisingly, nearly half of the dated grains belong to the age zones of the island arc and syn-orogenic suites which suggests their palaeo-dominance in the NED and being intensively eroded. (3) Post-Pan-African (Post-Cratonization) source, represented by ca. 3% of Araba and ca. 12% of Naqus total analysed grains (15 grains) with ages ranging from 489 ± 24 Ma to 312 ± 16 Ma which refers to probable unidentified magmatic events during the Cambrian-Silurian along with the Hercynian tectonic event. Furthermore, it documents being the so-called Lower Palaeozoic system open in the studied region until Pennsylvanian time.

Geological and engineering appraisal of hydraulic frac sand in some Egyptian localities as a proppant of oil well drilling

Sand that comprises high purity silica grains, in large percent, is of the best naturally occurring grains that can be used as proppants during hydraulic fracturing processes. Proppants are used to increase formations' permeability; to increase reservoirs' productivity, or to reopen plays and utilize unconventional reservoirs. The potentiality of these grains to be used as frac proppants is determined according to certain physical, mechanical, petrographical and chemical evaluations that include particle size analysis, acid solubility, turbidity, bulk density, crush resistance and hardness, sphericity and roundness, mineral and chemical composition. This study shows the evaluation of the silica sand samples collected from Malha Formation in Wadi El Dakhal, Eastern Desert; Naqus Formation in Wadi Qena, Eastern Desert; and Bahariya Formation at Gabal El-Dist area in Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt. The samples were examined according to frac sand international standards. The results showed the potentiality of the tested samples to be utilized as frac sand proppants. Wadi El-Dakhal and Wadi Qena studied areas possess very promising samples for frac sand production. But, the quality of Wadi El-Dakhal samples is somewhat better than that of Wadi Qena samples. The samples of Gabal El-Dist in Bahariya Oasis are relatively less to achieve the requirements; however, they can be utilized in shallow depths.The assessment testing of the studied samples revealed a good results and verifying the standard requirements, where SiO2 content is 89.1% in Wadi Qena, 99.3 % in Wadi Dakhal and 78.1% in Gebel El Dist, crush resistance at 5000 psi gives fine percent 4.71 W.Q, 6.78 W.D, and 14.11 B.O, turbidity readings raining from 100.5 to 133.25 NTU, the grain roundness are rounded to sub rounded, and grain size distribution range is 30/50 to 40/70 grading (710 um to 210 um).

Mineralogic and Diagenetic Controls on Reservoir Quality of Paleozoic Sandstones, Gebel El-Zeit, North Eastern Desert, Egypt

Studying the mineral composition and petrophysical properties of the Cambro–Ordovician sequence in Gebel El-Zeit indicates that it can be discriminated into four rock types, namely quartz arenite (RRT1 of the Cambrian Araba Formation, 35 m; RRT2 of the Ordovician Naqus Formation, 320 m), quartz wacke (RRT3) and mudstone (RRT4) of the Naqus Formation. Diagenesis played a major role in reducing or enhancing the studied microfacies. Cementation by silica, compaction and authigenic clay minerals are the main porosity-reducing factors, whereas dissolution and leaching out as well as fracturing are the most important porosity-enhancing factors. For the present study, reservoir quality was determined using reservoir quality index (RQI), flow zone indicator (FZI) and reservoir potentiality index (RPI) based on helium porosity and permeability values, in addition to the mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP) tests. The best reservoir quality was assigned to the quartz arenite microfacies, whereas the least quality was assigned to RRT4. Reservoir quality is mostly controlled by permeability, which in turn is controlled by the helium porosity and the pore radius of the studied samples (r35 of Winland and r10 of Schowalter). The Araba Formation at the bottom of the sequence is characterized by the best hydraulic flow units (best RQI, FZI, RPI and MICP, rank II). In addition, the middle and top parts of the Naqus Formation have good to very good reservoir quality (rank III).

Deformation bands in normal fault damage zones, Southwestern Sinai, Suez rift, Egypt

The present study provides evidence that the NW-SE normal faults in Nubian Sandstone reservoirs (Malha and Naqus formations) are surrounded by damage zones in which the rocks are affected by cataclastic deformation bands and small scale faults. The paleostress analysis of the small faults indicates that σ3 has NE-SW direction while σ1 is sub-vertical. The thickness of the bands is ranging from 3 mm to 1 cm. The density and thickness of the bands increase toward the faults and decrease backward. The deformation bands form two prominent sets. The first set is running in the NW-SE direction parallel to the main faults and dip towards the northeast and southwest, i.e. synthetic and antithetic conjugate sets. The second set has NE-SW direction and dip mainly in the NW in the Malha Formation and in the SE in Naqus Formation. The two sets of deformation bands mutually crosscut each other, suggesting that both sets developed during the same deformation event. The deformation bands are planar features and occur singly or form braided clusters. The microscopic studies indicate that the host rock is mainly quartz arenite and composed of fine to very fine, well sorted quartz grains which weakly fractured and cemented by calcite. The microscopic studies of the bands indicate that they composed of strong grain crushing (cataclasis) and clay minerals. This composition is probably causes reduction of porosity and permeability within the deformation bands. The reservoir rocks in the damage zones of the normal faults are divided into polygonal areas by the deformation bands.

Combined application of electrical resistivity and GIS for subsurface mapping and groundwater exploration at El-Themed, Southeast Sinai, Egypt

The study area is located at south central part of Sinai Peninsula at El-Thamed area. Geoelectrical resistivity method was used by measuring eighteen vertical electrical soundings using the Schlumberger configuration with total current electrode separation ranging between 3m and 4000m in order to investigate the deep groundwater aquifer and to delineate the subsurface structures of this area.The geoelectrical cross-sections show that the subsurface section consists of six geoelectrical units. The first unit is Quaternary deposits with thickness ranging from 0.6m to 30.9m and the resistivity values ranging from 177Ohm.m. to 39680Ohm.m. The second geoelectrical unit is composed of Egma Formation, with thickness ranging from 9.2m to 12.8m and the resistivity values ranging between 21Ohm.m. and 82Ohm.m. The third geo-electrical unit is composed of Paleocene Esna shale, also not detected at the study area with exception at profile 2, its thickness ranges from 15.6m to 166.5m and resistivity range from 8.9Ohm.m. to 20Ohm.m. This layer has not been detected at the extremely southern part of this profile, its depth ranges from 9.63m to 15.5m. The fourth geoelectrical unit is composed of Nubian Sandstone of Malha Formation (Lower Cretaceous) with depth ranging from 0.5m to 8.9m and its resistivity values ranging from 14Ohm.m. to 133Ohm.m. This layer represents the main aquifer in the study area with thickness ranging between 14.2m and 283m. The fifth geoelectrical unit is composed of claystone of Naqus Formation with depth ranging from 14.2 to 349m and its resistivity values ranging from 2.7Ohm.m. to 13Ohm.m., sometimes, it is extends to the maximum depth of penetration. The sixth geoelectrical unit is composed of Basement rocks. It is characterized by resistivity ranging from 970Ohm.m. to 25462Ohm.m. and depth ranging from 60.1m to 283m. This unit is detected at the eastern part of the study area.Structurally, the study area is affected by sets of faults trending mainly NE-SW (Aqaba Trend).

Production of geopolymer composites enhanced by nano-kaolin material

Nowadays kaolin raw material is usually used to produce nano-kaolin for geopolymer enhancement by using firing method. In the present study, kaolin used was taken from the Naqus Formation (Cambro-Ordovician age), west of Gabal El Gunna, Sinai, Egypt. Nano-kaolin material is an ultrafine material and was prepared from the taken kaolin by the firing process at 800 for 2 ℃ h with a heating rate of 5 /min. Six mixes were prepared and their laboratory specimens were made ℃ and cured up to 90 days. Water cooled slag was used as starting material, and sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate were used in the study as activators for the used kaolin. The formed geopolymer mixes with different ratios (1%, 1.5%, 3%, 5%, and 7%) of nano-kaolin as a partial replacement for the raw kaolin were investigated. Gelenium Ace super plasticizer was added in the ratio of 4% from the dry weight to ensure good dispersing of the used nano clay. Results showed that increasing the percentage of nano-kaolin up to 3% results in an enhancement in the mechanical properties as compared with the control mix up to 90 days of curing, while higher ratios are not preferable where they lead to agglomeration of the added nano materials and matrix dilution.

The Lower Paleozoic rock units in Egypt: An overview

Lower Paleozoic rocks are exposed in various regions of Egypt (south central Sinai, north Eastern Desert and southwest Western Desert), in addition to occurring in the subsurface such as north Western Desert and the Gulf of Suez. The Lower Paleozoic rocks in Egypt include surface and subsurface rock units of formational status. The surface rock units are the Taba, Araba and Naqus formations. The subsurface rock units include the Shifa, Kohla and Basur formations. The Infracambrian Taba Formation has been discovered recently in the outcrops of the southeast central Sinai in the Taba-Ras El-Naqab area. It is missing and/or not recognized in the subsurface. The Taba Formation consists mainly of reddish brown, unfossiliferous gravelly fine- to medium-grained kaolinitic sandstones and subordinate horizons of paleosols. The Cambrian Araba Formation and its subsurface equivalent (the Shifa Formation) are essentially composed of reddish brown, fine-grained laminated sandstone and siltstone with abundant Skolithos and Cruziana sp. In contrast, the Ordovician–Silurian Naqus Formation and its subsurface equivalents (the Kohla Formation and Basur Formation) are mainly composed of white, unfossiliferous, cross-bedded, medium- to coarse-grained sandstones with haphazardly distributed pebbles and cobbles. Sedimentological analysis indicates that the Araba Formation and its subsurface equivalent were deposited in a marginal-marine environment, whereas the Naqus Formation and its subsurface equivalents were laid down in a fluvio-glacial environment. Integrated stratigraphic and sedimentological studies of the Lower Paleozoic rocks permit reconstruction of the paleogeography of Egypt at that time. Egypt has been largely controlled since the Cambrian by the pre-existing structural framework of the pre-Phanerozoic basement rocks inherited from the Late Proterozoic Pan-African event. Additionally, sedimentation processes were controlled during Cambro-Ordovician times by tectonic movements, whereas glacio-eustatic control predominated during the Late Ordovician–Silurian Period. These studies suggest that most areas of Egypt were exposed lands with episodically transgression by epi-continental seas related to the paleo-Tethys. These lands formed a part of a stable subsiding shelf at the northern Gondwana margin.

The Cambrian Araba Formation in northeastern Egypt: Facies and depositional environments

The Cambrian Araba Formation exposed in Gabal El Zeit and in the Sinai Peninsula unconformably overlies Precambrian basement rocks, and is in turn overlain unconformably by the Ordovician Naqus formation. The Araba Formation has been subdivided into three informal lithologic units: lower, middle and upper, from field observations. Seven sedimentary facies assignable to three facies associations (fluvial, tidal and coastal to open marine) are recognized within the Araba Formation. The lower unit comprises two main facies: matrix-supported conglomerate (facies-A) in the south (Gabal Araba and Wadi Feiran) and interbeds of granulestone and sandstone (facies-B) in the north (Gabal Dhalal and Taba) deposited in fluvial conditions. The middle unit includes four facies: cross-bedded sandstone (facies-C), thin laminated sandstone (facies-D), burrowed-massive sandstone (facies-E) and rhythmically bedded sandstone–mudstone (facies-F) deposited mainly under tidal conditions in the coastal zone. The upper unit consists mainly of interbeds of burrowed mudstone-siltstone, with Skolithos, probably deposited in open marine environment. The sequence records the southward transgression of the Tethys Ocean over a horst and graben system developed in the late Precambrian on the northern margin of the Arabo-Nubian continent.

A reassessment of the Naqus Formation in Sinai and the Eastern Desert of Egypt: Stratigraphic and tectonic implications

A reassessment of the Naqus Formation in Sinai and the Eastern Desert of Egypt: Stratigraphic and tectonic implications

Allogenic and authigenic clays of the Lower Palæozoic sandstones of the Naqus Formation at Gebel Gunna, central Sinai, Egypt: their recognition and geological significance

The Lower Palæozoic Naqus Formation of Gebel Gunna in the Sinai Peninsula is conformably underlain by the Araba Formation and unconformably overlain by the Cenomanian Malha Formation. It consists mainly of fine- to medium-grained pebbly sandstones with a few siltstone and granulestone interbeds. Petrographical, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and chemical analyses of the sandstones revealed that they are mainly quartzarenite, containing allogenic and authigenic clays. The allogenic clays were found in small amounts. Such clays exhibit some of the characteristic features of infiltration clay coats. The clays coat a few grain surfaces and form meniscus-shaped pore bridges at points of grain contact. In addition, the clays were observed on the surfaces of crystalline authigenic minerals and in-filled elongated pores of partially dissolved feldspar grains. The recorded authigenic clays are mainly kaolinite with a minor amount of illite. The kaolinite exhibits three morphological habits: vermicular, blocky and fan-shaped. The vermicular kaolinite is dominant and was interpreted to have formed by dissolution of feldspar grains. The blocky kaolinite was observed with a textural relationship, indicating that it was neomorphosed after vermicular kaolinite. The fan-shaped kaolinite was found to be a result of mica alteration. Study of both allogenic and authigenic clays has helped in understanding the sedimentological history of the studied sandstones. The sandstones were deposited in a braided stream, buried at depth of about 1–3 km, and afterwards subjected to surface exposure.

00/00681 Study of structure analysis of oil shale and fuel manufacturing technology. 9

Lower Paleozoic rocks are exposed in various regions of Egypt (south central Sinai, north Eastern Desert and southwest Western Desert), in addition to occurring in the subsurface such as north Western Desert and the Gulf of Suez. The Lower Paleozoic rocks in Egypt include surface and subsurface rock units of formational status. The surface rock units are the Taba, Araba and Naqus formations. The subsurface rock units include the Shifa, Kohla and Basur formations.The Infracambrian Taba Formation has been discovered recently in the outcrops of the southeast central Sinai in the Taba-Ras El-Naqab area. It is missing and/or not recognized in the subsurface. The Taba Formation consists mainly of reddish brown, unfossiliferous gravelly fine- to medium-grained kaolinitic sandstones and subordinate horizons of paleosols. The Cambrian Araba Formation and its subsurface equivalent (the Shifa Formation) are essentially composed of reddish brown, fine-grained laminated sandstone and siltstone with abundant Skolithos and Cruziana sp. In contrast, the Ordovician–Silurian Naqus Formation and its subsurface equivalents (the Kohla Formation and Basur Formation) are mainly composed of white, unfossiliferous, cross-bedded, medium- to coarse-grained sandstones with haphazardly distributed pebbles and cobbles. Sedimentological analysis indicates that the Araba Formation and its subsurface equivalent were deposited in a marginal-marine environment, whereas the Naqus Formation and its subsurface equivalents were laid down in a fluvio-glacial environment.Integrated stratigraphic and sedimentological studies of the Lower Paleozoic rocks permit reconstruction of the paleogeography of Egypt at that time. Egypt has been largely controlled since the Cambrian by the pre-existing structural framework of the pre-Phanerozoic basement rocks inherited from the Late Proterozoic Pan-African event. Additionally, sedimentation processes were controlled during Cambro-Ordovician times by tectonic movements, whereas glacio-eustatic control predominated during the Late Ordovician–Silurian Period. These studies suggest that most areas of Egypt were exposed lands with episodically transgression by epi-continental seas related to the paleo-Tethys. These lands formed a part of a stable subsiding shelf at the northern Gondwana margin.

Depositional facies of the Cambrian Araba Formation in the Taba region, east Sinai, Egypt

A thick succession of Cambrian sediments is exposed in the Taba region, east Sinai, and subdivided into the Araba Formation and the overlying Naqus Formation. The vertical and lateral distribution of the Araba Formation in the Taba region provides an outstanding example of an overall retrograding sequence. Three distinctive units (I, II and III) are distinguished within this succession on the basis of depositional geometries, stratified patterns, sedimentary features and petrographic examinations. They record different depositional environments and each unit is distinguished by a particular facies association, which records processes characteristic of these environments. The lower unit (I) is dominated by five depositional facies (la-le) which belong to low sinuosity braided channels associated with floodplain fines and alluvial fans. Channel deposits are represented by tabular cross-bedded and horizontally stratified pebbly coarse-grained sandstones. The middle unit (II) reveals a relative sea level rise and is composed of fine- to coarse-grained sandstone, shale and mudstone with carbonate intercalcations. From four depositional facies (Ila-Ild), recognised facies (Ila, Ilc and Ild) are comparable to upper-lower shoreface and tidal channel environments. The fourth facies (Ilb) is carbonate-dominated with trilobite tracks, and reflects deposition in the upper-middle intertidal flat. The latter facies (llb) is subjected to intea-Cambrian karstification, which is deduced from the presence of macro- and microscopic fresh water calcite fillings, botryoidal Fe and Mn oxides and terra rossa. The uppermost unit (III) is shale-dominated from the inner shelf and is represented by two facies (Illa and Illb). Despite the general rise in sea-level in the Araba Formation, the uppermost facies (Illb) points to a progradational-upward tendency in unit (III), and this is coeval with an increase in the percentage of interbedded fine-grained sandstones.

Diagenetic history of Cambrian quartzarenites, Ras Dib–Zeit Bay area, Gulf of Suez, eastern desert, Egypt

In the northern corner of the El Zeit range, 370 m of sandstone overlie Precambrian granite and underlie Cretaceous marine strata. The sandstones include the marine Lower Cambrian(?) Araba Formation and the overlying, dominantly fluvial, Upper Cambrian(?) Naqus Formation. The framework compositions of both sandstones are almost entirely quartz, with trace amounts of muscovite, K-feldspar and heavy minerals. Up to 21% oversize pores, some filled with younger cements, attest to extensive dissolution loss of detrital grains. Because the final mineralogical maturation of these quartzarenites reflects diagenesis, they are diagenetic quartzarenites. During burial diagenesis, the introduction of up to 8% quartz cement (inhomogeneously distributed, mean = 3%) was followed by local, pore-occluding calcite cement, which halted compaction. Sandstones without calcite cement underwent additional mechanical and chemical compaction sufficient to develop sutured quartz grain contacts and reduce porosity (∼27%). These events were followed by: (1) extensive dissolution loss of carbonate cement, detrital feldspars, micas, and heavy minerals; (2) formation of local patches of kaolinite (mean = 3%); and (3) formation of extensive iron-oxide cements, including specular hematite. These features suggest extensive invasion by oxidizing meteoric water. The timing of this event can only be dated as post-Cambrian(?) and pre-Cenomanian. Some outcrop samples contain pore-occluding gypsum cement, or mixtures of gypsum and halite. Sr 87/Sr 86 ratios of four samples of gypsum cement have values (0.7079 and 0.7085) that indicate Miocene and slightly younger seawater. Evaporites were evidently leached by modern meteoric water from nearby outcrops of Miocene and younger marine evaporite-bearing strata, transported in surface and ground water to the topographically low terrain where the Cambrian sandstones crop out, and reprecipitated by evaporation. Initial primary porosity (45%) was reduced to ∼27% by compaction in sands with minor quartz cement; compaction ceased where calcite was precipitated. Subsequent dissolution of some calcite cement and unstable detrital grains generated considerable secondary porosity.

Quartz cement of meteoric origin in silcrete and nonsilcrete sandstones, Lower Carboniferous, western Sinai, Egypt

Sandstones from western Sinai which are entirely or partly of Carboniferous age were not buried more than 1.5 km until the Late Cretaceous and younger, when the lowermost rocks reached a depth of 2.5 km. The first diagenetic event was cementation by a trace to 4% of normal quartz overgrowths. Petrographic and O isotope data of the overgrowths are compatible with their precipitation from meteoric water at the surface to depths of a few hundred metres. These nonsilcrete sandstones lack the strong silicification typical of pedogenic or groundwater silcretes. Three anomalous beds are strongly cemented either by megaquartz and cryptocrystalline quartz (15–36%) or by microcrystalline quartz (8%); these beds have characteristics of silcretes. The silcretes, from 1–4 m thick, occur at the top of the Naqus Formation (Early Carboniferous?) and at or near the top of the Abu Thora and Abu Durba Formations (Early Carboniferous). Other formations contain incipient silcretes characterised by discontinuous pore spaces (between detrital grains and syntaxial cement) inferred to represent dissolved opal rinds. Oxygen isotope data for quartz cement in silcretes is compatible with the quartz precipitating from meteoric water between 75°C and 88°C. Evidence favouring near-surface cementation indicates that the cementing waters were thermal fluids; thus, the silcretes are groundwater silcretes and not pedogenic silcretes. The more than 15 cathodoluminescence zones in the Naqus Silcrete attests to variations in the temperature and/or composition of groundwater that precipitated the quartz. After partial cementation of the Abu Durba Silcrete by syntaxial quartz, groundwater flow through the sandstone was strong enough to introduce silt-sized quartz and heavy minerals. The silcretes are probably pre-Cretaceous in age. An episode of igneous activity of Late Triassic-Early Jurassic age in the region may have been the heat source of thermal waters for the silcretes.

Provenance of Gebel El-Zeit sandstones, gulf of Suez, Egypt

The Paleozoic elastic succession at Gebel Zeit chiefly consists of fine- to medium-grained quartz arenite, locally containing well-rounded quartz pebbles. The marine Araba Formation (Early Cambrian) was deposited during transgression over a Precambrian granite. The overlying Naqus Formation (Late Cambrian) is fluvial, except for the uppermost few meters. Paleocurrent data for the Araba and Naqus formations indicate derivation from the north-northeast and south-southwest respectively. Quartz typology, other morphologic features of quartz, and mineral inclusions in quartz, as well as the study of heavy minerals were used to determine the provenance of the sandstones. Quartz typology successfully identified a granitic source for the Araba Formation. A combination of parameters indicates that the Naqus Formation was derived chiefly from a metamorphic terrain. Two ratios, polycrystalline/monocrystalline quartz and undulose/non-undulose quartz, successfully distinguish sandstones of the Araba Formation from those of the Naqus Formation. These values are 0.14 and 0.25 for Araba sandstones and 0.26 and 0.46 for Naqus sandstones, respectively. These differences either reflect different source rocks, or have resulted from selective abrasion loss of polycrystalline quartz in the rigorous surf zone during the marine transgression that deposited the Araba Formation.

Sedimentological and palaeoenvironmental studies on the clastic sequence of Gebel El-Zeit area, gulf of Suez, Egypt

The present work deals with the sedimentological and palaeoenvironmental studies of the Palaeozoic clastic sequence (Cambrian?) of the Gebel El-Zeit area. The sandstones which build up the major part of this sequence are fine to coarse grained moderately to well sorted, mostly of unimodal patterns, strongly fine skewed to near symmetrical and vary from meso- to very lepto-kurtic. The grain-size parameters and their bivariate relations do not give an exact environment of deposition nevertheless, most of them have a fluviatile origin. So, the application of some of the bivariate relations to ancient sediments, which microscopically show mild or no cementation, is still valid if coupled with other parameters, such as sedimentary structures, palaeocurrent analysis and other confirmed data. The palaeocurrent analysis indicates that these sandstones came from two completely different sources. A marine transgression from the north northeast produced the Araba Formation, whereas the Naqus Formation has been interpreted as fluvial. The source is situated to the south southwest. The streams were probably very erratic and intermittent.

Diagenetic Control of Reservoir Quality of Araba and Naqua Diagenetic Quartzarenites (Cambrian), Gebel Araba-Qabeliat, Southwest Sinai, Egypt

Sandstones of the marine Lower Cambrian Araba Formation and the overlying fluvial Upper Cambrian( ) Naqus Formation in Gebel Araba-Qabeliat, southwest Sinai (the eastern side of the Gulf of Suez) were studied to evaluate the major factors controlling potential hydrocarbon reservoir quality. The formations have a composite thickness of 873 m and overlie Precambrian granite and metamorphic rocks and underlie Cretaceous marine strata. The framework composition of both sandstones is almost entirely quartz with trace amounts of muscovite, K-feldspar, and heavy minerals. Up to 21.5% oversize pores, some filled with younger cements, attest to extensive dissolution loss of detrital grains, chiefly feldspar. Because the final mineralogical maturation of these quartzarenites was through diagenesis, they are diagenetic quartzarenites. Following deposition, the introduction of thin coatings of infiltered clay was followed by the precipitation of 6.3% unhomogeneously distributed quartz cement. Some outcrop samples contain pore-occluding gypsum cement or mixtures of gypsum and halite cement. Sr{sup 87}/Sr{sup 86} ratios of seven samples of gypsum cement have values (0.7077 to 0.7083) that are equal to Miocene and slightly younger seawater. These Cambrian sandstones have excellent reservoir potential (mean thin section porosity = 25.7%) because they contained few ductile grains to enhance compaction, and theymore » developed significant amounts of secondary pores by both dissolution of calcite cement and unstable detrital grains. Kaolinite and dickite are potential problems for hydrocarbon production in some beds.« less

The Paleozoic sandstones in Wadi Feiran - El Tor area, Sinai, Egypt

The Paleozoic sandstone succession between Wadi Feiran and El-Tor in southwestern Sinai has been subdivided into five distinct lithostratigraphic units: the Lower Cambrian Araba Formation; the Upper Cambrian Naqus Formation; the Lower Carboniferous Abu Durba Formation; the Upper Carboniferous Aheimer Formation and the Permian Qiseib Formation. The present study has also proved that the Paleozoic Earth movements have undergone distinct changes in the sedimentary facies, together with lateral variations in the composition and thickness of strata. The distribution of the sediments and their faunal contents point to the existence of five major phases of sedimentation during the Paleozoic Era.