Thickness variation of the sedimentary cover in the south Western Desert of Egypt as deduced from Bouguer gravity and drill-hole data

Abstract

Bouguer gravity anomaly mapped at a scale of 1:500,000 and the lithological logs of about 120 deep wells were used to determine the thickness of the sedimentary sequence containing the main sandstone water formation in important area of Egypt. The area is located in the southern part of the Western Desert bounded by the latitudes 22_000–26_300 N, and longitudes 28_300–33_000 E. The predominant structures affecting the basement rocks and the sedimentary cover were also studied. The gravity stripping approach was applied to eliminate the gravity effects caused by sedimentary sequence and to separate density anomalies within the sedimentary fill from the influence of rocks at deeper levels in the crystalline crust. The present study indicated that the surface of the basement rocks is highly rugged and mostly controlled by structures which have a direct effect on thickness variation of the sedimentary cover all over the area. Regionally the area is characterized by two major...