Gravity and Aeromagnetic Signatures and their Geological Significance in the Abu Gharadig Basin, Northwestern Desert, Egypt PDF

Keywords

gravity, geology, Egypt

Abstract

Geological interpretation of Bouguer gravity anomalies and total intensity magnetic anomalies of two profiles from the Abu Gharadig basin suggests a general northward increase in basement depth (about 3 to 6 km). Gravity modeling using software given by Enmark (1981) and Begg et al. (1987) are applied along the gravity profiles, giving reliable results agreeing with the available geologic information on the area. The magnetic profiles are interpreted and analyzed using two methods: non-linear optimization techniques and interactive techniques. A prominent uplift of the basement rocks is observed to the south, which is considered a part of the major basement high in the northern Western Desert of Egypt. In addition, a significant deepening of the basement is found to the north, which represents a part of the major subsidence including the present Mediterranean basin. The abnormal thickness of the sedimentary section of various facies, and the presence of deep-causative intrabasement (acidic or basic bodies) are possibly considered the main causes for 1) the origin of different gravity anomalies (negative and positive respectively); and 2) the origin of different magnetic anomalies (low and high), particularly those in the middle part of the study area.