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Petrography and geochemistry of the Upper Cretaceous Nubia sandstones, Eastern Desert, Egypt: implications for provenance, paleoweathering, and tectonic setting

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Abstract

The provenance of the Upper Cretaceous Nubia sandstones from four vertical sections along Qena-Safaga and Qena-Quseir roads in central Eastern Desert of Egypt was investigated based on their modal composition and geochemical data. The Nubia sandstone samples are abundant in quartz content with low feldspar and lithic fragments. Their average modal composition (Q94.2F1.3R4.5) classifies them as quartz arenites with subordinate quartz wackes which is consistent with geochemistry data. The average CIA, CIW, PIA, and Th/U ratio values revealed that the intensity of weathering in the studied areas was similar, varying from moderate to intensive weathering, and may reflect low-relief and warm humid climatic conditions in the source area. The ICV (< 1) and SiO2/Al2O3 ratio (> 5) indicate that the Nubia sandstones are texturally and mineralogically mature. The petrographical and geochemical analyses suggest that the Nubia sandstones were mainly derived from felsic (granitic) and/or recycled sand sources. The major element-based multidimensional tectonic discrimination diagrams suggested the Nubia sandstones were deposited in a passive continental margin of a syn-rift basin. This result agreed with the general geology of central Eastern Desert of Egypt during the Upper Cretaceous.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Editor-in-Chief Angelo Romualdo and Associate Editor J.S. Armstrong-Altrin and an anonymous reviewer for their very constructive and helpful comments. The authors thank the members of the laboratory of the Central Metallurgical Research and Development Institute, Egypt, for facilitating the analytical work for the present research.

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  1. Geology Department, Faculty of Sciences, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44511, Egypt

    Samir M. Zaid & Oussama A. El-Badry

  2. Weatherford SLS, Kuwait City, Kuwait

    Zein A. Abdelaziz

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  1. Samir M. Zaid
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Zaid, S.M., El-Badry, O.A. & Abdelaziz, Z.A. Petrography and geochemistry of the Upper Cretaceous Nubia sandstones, Eastern Desert, Egypt: implications for provenance, paleoweathering, and tectonic setting. Arab J Geosci 11, 352 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-018-3705-1

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