‫‪Beni-Suef University‬‬

‫‪Faculty of Science‬‬
‫‪Geology Department‬‬

‫)‪(The Geological Report of the Scientific Field Trip to West Central SINAI‬‬

‫‪ Prepared by:‬‬

‫جوزيف ابراهيم ظريف وهبه‬
‫بوال يحيي عبد الشهيد‬
‫احمد صالح الدين محمود‬
‫جوزيف موريس رسمي‬
‫حامد مصطفي حامد‬
‫كريم صابر صادق‬
‫محمد احمد ابو اليزيد‬
‫محمد مصطفي عبدالرحمن‬
 Significance and objective of this field excursion
Exposures on the eastern side of the Gulf of Suez provide an excellent opportunity to examine the structural
development and sedimentation patterns in a rift setting.

In the arid climate of the area, the exposures are excellent are so perfect and it possible to examine all the
features of the geology from the small scale up to the spectacular panoramic views.
Faults can be observed at all scales and related to the overall tectonic development of the rift.
This is in addition to the complete stratigraphic section which spanning in age from Precambrian up to
recent.
This section is very well exposed and easy to be sampled.
It is intended that excursion participants will use their field observations and measurements as a mean of
building up a case study of the structure, stratigraphy and sedimentology of a rift system.

Tectonostratigraphy of the Gulf of Suez

 Day one (Sunday, 23-2-2020)
 Depart from the geology department (Beni-Suef University) at 08.00 am,
drive northward to Cairo and then to Abu Rudeis town through Ahmed
Hamdy Tunnel.

 Geology of Ahmed Hamdy Tunnel-Abu Rudeis:

Spot 1: Hammam Faraun hot springs

 Rock Unit: Dolomitic Limestone
 Age: Eocene
 Structure: Coastal fault
 Hammam Faraun hot springs characterized by hot water with temperature
70 degree celesuse and salinity 10000 ppm per litre. The vapors rich of
sulfur so it used as natural sauna.
 Origin of hot springs: due to high depth which make temperature of water
high and may be affected by heat of magma.
 Day two (Monday, 24-2-2020)
Spot 1 Spot 2 Spot 3 Spot 4 Spot 5 Spot 6
Markha Wadi Eastern Tip Of WADI BUDRA Station45 UM BOGMA
plain Baba Baba transfer (Gabal Abu Qafas) (wadi araba) Formation
fault

Spot 1: markha plain

 Introduction about Sinai:
The name of the Sinai is derived from the name of moon god “sin” in ancient Babylon. So,
Sinai means land of the moon. Sinai Peninsula is a triangular micro plate in the northeast of
Egypt. The Sinai Peninsula covers about 60,000 Km2; it constituents about 6% of Egypt.
Sinai Peninsula is separated from the eastern desert of Egypt by the Gulf of Suez.

 Regional setting of the Gulf of Suez rift :

Gulf of Suez is formed due to movement of plate boundaries between African plate in the
SW direction and Arabian plate in the NE direction and form extensional rift basin (is the rift
that narrow deep and long depression), less than 1000 m in depth in contrast to Gulf of
Aqapa is more than 1000m in depth, resulted from pull apart basin with more deep and
short depression.

 The dominant extensional structure of G.O.S is normal fault, trending is NW-SE but
the compression strength that perpendicular to the direction of trend is NE-SW.
 The length of G.O.S is 300 km but the width is from 50-80km.
  The initiation of this rift in the Oligo-Miocene.
 There are 3 dip principles in G.O.S:
1) SW dip in northern side.
2) NE dip in central side.
3) SW dip in southern side.
 There is twisting (Accommodation Zone) between northern and central side called
(Zafrana Accommodation Zone) and between central and southern side is called
(Morgan Accommodation Zone).

Markha plain or Baba plain (Baba transfer fault):

 Is a hard linkage between Hammam faraun coastal fault and Rift
shoulder (Nukhul) fault.
 Is the flat area formed when rugged rocks exposed to erosion.
 Characters of Baba plain:
 Plainly area with no topography
 Main sediment: accumulation of alluvial fan (rock fragment, sand stone,
granite fragment).
  Hammam Faraun coastal fault:
 Characterized by mountainous blocks of G.O.S in front of red sea.
 Normal fault formed by extensional regime.
 Fault throw is SW direction towards the sea.

 Rift shoulder fault(Nukhul fault):

 Is the site that marks the last extension of the rift within the land
behind which there is no significant deformation.
 Normal fault formed by extensional regime.
 Fault throw is SW direction.
 The area between Hammam Faraun coastal fault and Rift shoulder
fault is called rift affected area.
 Stratigraphy of Baba transfer fault:
Rudeis Fm: lower Miocene
Waseiyit Fm: lower Eocene
Esna Fm: lower Miocene
Sudr Fm: upper cretaceous
Matulla Fm: upper cretaceous
Wata Fm: upper cretaceous
Gabal samra: Basement rock

There are three important faults:

1) Between basement rocks (older granites) and upper Cretaceous rocks.
2) Between basement rocks (older granites) and Miocene (yellow) rocks.
3) Between basement rocks (older granites) and Quaternary rocks.
Spot 2: wadi Baba
 ROCK UNIT: Waseiyit Fm that equivalent Thebes Fm in G. Atshan (limestone
with flint and chert bands).
 AGE: Early Eocene.

 STRUCRURE: the area represented by step faults with Strike E-W and Dip N-E

 This valley is external valley, it means that the water reach the sea.
 PRIMARY STRUCTURES: There are primary structures like bedding (lamination )
(( siltstone or carbonates )), cross bedding and conglomerate is the contact (
non-conformity ) between them ( hiatus= disappear in deposition in that time )
and due to mechanical environment , occur intercalation between fine and
coarse grains as well as , there are a ripple marks in bedding that deposited in
intertidal zone and resulted from wave and current action , in addition to
fossils like Oysters and fragments from chert.
 ENVIRONMENT: shallow marine.

Cross bedding
Contact Bedding
(conglomerate)

Spot 3 Eastern Tip of Baba transfer fault

 We saw asymmetrical syncline fold resulted from fold related fault due to
extensional movement.
 The steep slope of fold closes to the master fault but the gentle slope is
away from master fault.
 Syncline fold located in Rudeis formation (Globigerina marl) in Miocene.

Gentle

Steep

 We saw Paleozoic rocks (horizontal in Araba Fm) opposite the upper

Cretaceous (tilted in Raha Fm) and rift shoulder is the contact between
them).
Spot4: WADI BUDRA (Gabal Abu Qafas)
UNITS:
Raha Fm
MALHA Fm
Qiseib Fm
TRIASSIC BASALT

 Qusieb Triassic Formation

 Lithology: claystone.
 Age: Early Triassic.
 Color: brownish.
 Environment: continental.
 Contain lenses from Malachite ( copper carbonate with green color) and
Azurite ( hydrated copper carbonate with blue color).
There is basalt volcanic below it and Malha Fm (sandstone) above it.

Malha Fm Quseib Fm
 Triassic Basalt

Spot 5: station 45
UNITS:
Basalt
Abu thora Fm
Um Bogma Fm
Naqus Fm
Araba Fm

 Araba formation:
 LITHOLOGY: sandstone.
 AGE: Cambrian.
 ENVIRONMENT: shallow marine.
 TRACE FOSSIL OF TRILOBITES: Cruziana.
 NOTE THAT: hard sandstone used as polishing, is the best
place for getting water from underground.

SPOT 6: UM BOGMA Formation:

 LITHOLOGY: Dolostone (Dolomite).
 ENVIRONMENT: Shallow marine.
 Contain Mn lenses composed of pyrolusite (Mno2) in many shapes
(fibrous, banded and kidney shape).
 How Mn formed?
By:
1- Hydrothermal solution.
2- Sedimentation.
It formed by sedimentation as:-
• Gradual concentration of iron.
• Presence of gypsum.
• Presence of Mn as lenses.
• Distributed in large scale.
 Note that: but may be formed by karastification.
  USES OF PYROLUSITE:
1) Source of Mn
2) Battery
3) Paints
4) Alloys
 Day three (Tuesday, 25-2-2020)

Spot 1 Spot 2 Spot 3 Spot 4 Spot 5

Hanging wall of Foot wall of Gabal Musbaa Wadi Khabouba Wadi Matulla
Baba transfer faultBaba transfer Salama
fault

Spot 1: Hanging wall of Baba transfer fault

 Baba transfer fault is considered as an oblique slip fault with its hanging wall
moving both vertically and horizontally, this motion in the two direction is
accompanied with compression force and the evidence of the compression
force can be either folds or reverse faults.
 When two normal faults are parallel to each other and having the same dip
direction, the overlapping zone between them is called relay ramp zone.
 It is a reorientation zone of the layers that are located inside that zone, As a
result the layers become tilted in a dip direction perpendicular to that of the
two normal faults.
 Note that: The entry point of the relay zones can be occupied by
underground waters or hydrocarbon materials, so they are
economically important in oil exploration.
Spot 2: footwall of Baba transfer fault
 STRATIGRAPHY:
Waseiyit Fm Limestone with flint (early
Eocene)
Esna Fm Shale + limestone (Paleocene)
Surd Chalk Fm Chalk limestone (upper
cretaceous)
Top most part of Mattula Fm Shale (upper cretaceous)

The sharp contact

between top part of
Mattula Fm and Sudr
Chalk Fm
  FOSSILS :
 Ammonites and Metatissotia in the middle part of Mattula Fm.
 Lophadictoma in the upper part of Mattula Fm.
 Planktonic Foraminifera and Ostrea vesicularus in Sudr chalk Fm.

 STRUCTURE :
- There are recumbent fold, ductile shale injection and several normal
faults.
  ECONOMIC ASPECT:
Black shale of Mattula Fm is characterized by high organic matter so by
artificial heating we can use it as shale-gas reservoirs.

Spot 3: gabal musbaa salama

 Stratigraphy:
Waseiyit Fm
Esna Fm
Sudr Fm
Duwi Fm
Mattula Fm
Wata Fm
Raha Fm
Malha Fm
 There is a fault between Malha formation "lower cretaceous" and
Raha formation "upper cretaceous.
 Wata Fm Malha Fm
Raha Fm

 Watta Formation:
- Carbonates.
 Raha Formation:
- Marine environment.
- Shale, Marl and Gastropods.
 Malha Formation
- Clay lenses or Kaolin

 ECONOMIC ASPECTS:-
- Kaolinite which used in several industries.
- White sand which used in glass industry.
  KAOLIN MINE :
 The environment: was at the fluvial sand stones, Malha formation "lower
cretaceous", which has an economic aspects such as the following:-
1. Lower part is kaolin which used in several industries.
2. White sand which used in glass industry.
3. It is considered as a good reservoir of oil due to its high porosity and
permeability.

o Uses of kaolin:
1) Porcelain.
2) Ceramic.
3) Paints.
4) Paper.
5) Water purification.
Spot 4: wadi khabouba (Um Bogma Formation)
 Stratigraphy:
Araba formation over line by Naqus and UmBogma overlain by Abu
Thora at the top.

 Um Bogma Fm:
 Lower Carboniferous "Dolomitic lime stone + Marl"
 40m height highly fossiliferous.
 Shallow marine reefal facies.
  FOSSILS :
- Spirifer.
- Crinoid Stem.
- Gastropods.
- Zaphrentis.
- Produtes.
- Brachiopods.
- Tabulate Corals

Spot 5: wadi mattula

 STRATIGRAPHY :
Waseiyit Fm
Esna Fm
Sudr Fm
Mattula Fm
Tertiary Basalt

 Sudr Formation:
It is composed of low grade metamorphosed rocks, with dark colour due
to the burning of organic matter contained in the rock.
 Esna Formation: consist of 3 members:
1- Upper unit typically shale.
2- Middle unit carbonate.
3-lower unit: papery shale.

 There is gradational contact between Esna and Waseiyit Fm, and sharp
contact between Esna, Surd Fm.
  Age: Coniacian- Santonian.
 External drainage wadi.
 contains minor scale faults (normal faults).
 according to geometry of the fault it classified as:
1) Planar (straight) normal fault

 Dip doesn’t change along fault plane.

 2) Flat and ramp listric fault
 Listric fault: it like spoon shape steep slope at the top and gentle
slope at the base.
 Flat: part of fault plane, dip is small (ductile rocks).
 Ramp: part of fault plane, dip is large (hard rocks).
 Roll over anticline fold affected by listric fault, inclined layers on
hanging wall on listric fault.

2) Curved listric fault

 Shallowing dip with depth.

4) Cylindrical fault
 Increasing dip with depth.

 There are horsts and grabbens.

Grabben Half Grabben
 Day four (Wednesday, 26-2-2020)
Spot 1 Spot 2 Spot 3
Belayim oil fields Gebel Nezzazat Wadi El Tayiba

Spot 1: belayim oil fields

- On the way to Gabal Nezzazat we saw two oil fields:
 Belayim Land

 Belayim offshore
  The high hydrocarbon potential of the Gulf of Suez is due to:
 Firstly, rifting tended to produce open marine settings favorable to
source rock accumulation.
 Secondly, relatively high geothermal gradients helped convert
organic matter in the source rocks to hydrocarbons.
 Thirdly, normal faulting produced different structural traps (horsts
and tilted fault blocks).
 Finally, thick accumulation of the Miocene evaporites are acting as
excellent seal.

Spot 2: Gabal Nezzazat

 STRATIGRAPHY:
Mattula Fm
Wata Fm
Raha Fm
Malha Fm
  Raha Fm:
- Age: Cenomanian.
- Environment: Marine.
-lithology: (marl + Glauconite + Gypsum + Shale)
 Unconformable Contact (disconformity) between MalhA Fm. (lower
cretaceous continental deposits) And Raha Fm. (marine deposits)
called paleosol ((ferruginous red deposits))... And this indicates that
Transgression occurred and resulted in deposition of Raha Fm, so in
Raha Fm contain fossils in the lower part like:
(Exogyra Africana, Exogyra flabellate, Hemiaster cubicus), that be
able to bear salinity.
 The change between Malha Fm. to Raha Fm is gradational
- Environment of Contact: Fluvial

Malha Fm Paleosol
Raha Fm
We found some green deposits which indicate to Bioturbation (cycling of
water by organisms):
 Cycle 1: Cyphosoma.
 LITHOLOGY: repeated cycle of shale, marl, and limestone.
 AGE: Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian age).
 ENVIRONMENT: Marine.
 FOSSILS:
- Echinodermata: Hemiaster Cubicus, Cyphosoma.
- Pelecypoda (Bivalvia): Ostrea Africana.
- Gastropods.

 Cycle 2: lenses of sandstone surrounded by shale.

- Reservoir rocks in Gulf of Suez.
 Cycle 3: Ostrea Flabellata.
- Environment: Marine Transgression.
- Lithology: Marl + Glauconitic shale.
 Cycle 4: Ostrea Africana.
- Lithology: Marl + Glauconitic shale.
- Environment: Marine Deposition.

 Wata Fm
 Age: Turonian.
 Lithology: Marl + Hard limestone.
 Fossils: Marl is rich by Ammonites and Gastropods especially
Nerinea and Trochacteon, and pelecypoda such as Rudist.
Spot 3 Wadi El Tayiba
 UNITS:
We found these formations from older to younger:
 Rod El-Awad Fm: Argillaceous limestone in [Link]
 Thal Fm: shale ([Link])
 Tanka Fm: Hard limestone ([Link]) and there is a gradual
contact between Thal and Tanka Fm.
 Tayiba Fm: mainly red variegated beds of shale and sandstone
(Oligocene)
- Continental environment which formed in point bars or alluvial
fans.
 Basaltic flow: which formed as a result to volcanic activity
associated to Rifting in Oligocene and make thermal effect with
Tayiba Fm in initiation rifting.
- Oligocene basalt (flow with syn rift), due to some of basal
conglomerate above it, exposed to erosion.
 Nukhul Fm: of early Miocene which consists of polymectic
conglomerate (due to it came from different sources of rocks),
sandstone and reworked fragments of fossils and indicates to
shallow marine environment.
Thal Fm Basement Tayiba Fm
Tanka Fm
 Economic aspects :
 Stratigraphic trap of oil in [Link].
 Glauconite in [Link] which used as a fertilizer, in cement
industry and source of iron.
 White sand of Raha Fm in [Link].
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Day Five (Thursday, 27-2-2020)
Saint Catherine's monastery:-