LITHOFACIES ANALYSIS OF THE SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
AND GROUNDWATER QUALITY OF THE WADI
GHARANDAL, SOUTH-WEST SINAI, EGYPT
BOTHAINA M. MOUSSA. ASHRAF R. SHABANA and ABDEL MOHSEIN
H. MOHAMED
Desert Research Center, Cairo, Egypt |
The Aptian-Albian ( Malha Fm.), Cenomanian (Raha Fm ), Turonian ( Abu Qada and Wata Fm.), Coniacian-Santonian (Matulla Fm.), Campanian (Gabal Thelmet Fm.), Maastrichtian (Sudr Fm.), Paleocene( Esna Shale Fm), Early Eocene (Thebes Fm.) and Early Miocene (Rudeis Fm.) sediments were studied pctrographicallv and geochemically. Sixteen water samples representing the encountered aquifers were studied for their hydrogeochemical characteristics.
the microfacies studies reveals the presence of five types (quartz-arenite. biomicrite, biomicrosparite, biosparite and calcerous quartz-wacke). These microfacics associations are affected by compaction, cementation. recrystallization. dolomitization and dissolution. The different associations reveal their deposition in shallow marine water from intratidal to inner neritic. These types were deposited either as biomicrites, biosparites with algal and foraminiferal assemblages. The quartz-arenite facies indicates fluvial environment.
The geochemical behavior of major and trace elements of the clastic deposits reveal their classification as dominant arkose with minor graywacke. They were deposited in passive continental margin basins.
The groundwater in the studied area is related to three aquifers as Quaternary alluvium, Cenomanian carbonate and lower Cretaceous aquifers with different water types and characteristics. The studied water points are evaluated for different purposes and indicate that most of them are suitable for domestic and irrigation uses whereas all of them are nor suitable for laundary purposes.
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