THE QUATERNARY SEDIMENTS OF WADI FEIRAN
AND WADI KHASHBI, SOUTHERN SINAI, EGYPT
AMAN A. ZALAMAH
Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig. Egypt
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The sections representing the Pleistocene lacustrine and fluvio-marine sediments exposed in Wadi Feiran and Wadi Khashbi respectively were lithologically, and minerallogically investigated. The changes in lithology, source rocks and transport agents of the sediments reflect changes in the paleoclimate. The lacustrine sediments of Wadi Feiran and the fluvio-marine one of Wadi Khashbi seem to have remained unchanged throughout the deposition of the studied successions. The watercourses issuing from the mountains in southern Sinai excavate deep ravines with deep sides and steep gradients were filled with a series of grey, cross-bedded sandstones, pebbly with interbeds of conglomerates, and limestones.
The heavy minerals reflect that source rocks represent a mixture of the nearby basement rocks. The X-ray diffraction analysis indicates the abundance of quartz, albite and calcite with accessories of zircon and minor clay minerals. The SEM studies illustrate the surface textures of the grains and some diagenetic features as silica overgrowth, authigenic clays and carbonate.
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