Skip to main content

Advertisement

Springer Nature Link
Log in

Characterization of fault structures in southern Sinai Peninsula and Gulf of Suez region using geophysical data

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this work, an integrated study was carried out to delineate the prevailing subsurface fault structures and their tectonic position in the southern part of the Sinai Peninsula. The study area is selected due to its active tectonic situation. This study is implemented using the available geophysical data; these include magnetic, Bouguer gravity, seismic data to trace the delineated fault structures in shallow subsurface and magnetotelluric data to trace down these structures at deeper depths. To achieve this goal, several techniques have been applied in the interpretation of the data including least squares, trend analysis, Euler deconvolution, 3-D modeling and analytical signal techniques. The results indicate that the main fault structural trends are N 35°–45° W, N 15°–25° E and E–W directions, in accordance with the regional tectonics of the Gulf of Suez rift and Gulf of Aqaba, transform as well as the Tethyan tectonics. The depths to the basement rocks are widely varying from 0 km to about 4 kms. Two seismic lines (EG 31 and MP-70), compiled by Egyptian General Petroleum Cooperation, have been interpreted as well as a geologic cross section derived from well-logging data. The results illustrate that the study area has been affected by the fault structures prevailing there and affecting the rock units and dividing them into several major blocks. The results obtained from 2-D inversions of magnetotelluric soundings show that the fault structures that have E–W trends extend to deeper depths than faults which have N35°–45°W, N15°–25°E.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

References

  • Abdelrahman EM, Bayoumi A, Amin YA (1985) Discussion on a least-squares approach to depth determination from gravity data. By O.P Gupta. Geophysics 50:262–263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abu Al-Izz MS (1971) Landforms of Egypt. p 281. Dar-A1-Maaref, Cairo, Egypt

  • Atchuta Rao D, Ram Babu HV, Sanker Narayan PV (1981) Interpretation of magnetic anomalies due to dikes: The complex gradient method: Geophys 46:572–1578

  • Bhattacharyya BK (1980) A generalized multibody model for inversion of magnetic anomalies: Geophys 45:255–270

  • Bosworth W (1994) A model for the three-dimensional evolution of continental rift basins, north-east Afirca. In: Schandelmeier H, Stern RJ (eds) Geology of Northeast Africa (Part 2), Geologisch, Rundschau, vol 83, pp 671–88

  • Bosworth W, McClay KR (2001) Structural and stratigraphic evolution of the Gulf of Suez rift, Egypt: a synthesis. In: Zeigler PA, Cavazza W, Robertson AHFR, Crasquin-Soleau S (eds) Peri-Tethys Memoir 6: ‘Peritethyan Rift/Wrench Basins and Passive Margins’. Memoires du Museum National d’Historie Naturelle de Paris, vol 186, pp 567–606

  • Bott MPH (1963) Two methods applicable to computers for evaluating magnetic anomalies due to a finite three-dimensional bodies. Geophys Prospect 11:292–299

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colleta BLe, Quellec P, Letouzy J, Moretti I (1988) Longitudinal evolution of the Suez rift structure (Egypt). Tectonophysics 153:221–233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis JC (1973) Statistical and dat analysis in geology. Wily

  • Egyptian General Petroleum Cooperation (1990) Aeromagnetic map for Sinai Peninsula Scale 1:100000

  • Egyptian General Petroleum Cooperation (EGPC) (2000) List of drilled wells in Egypt, internal report

  • Encom ModelVision Pro (2004) Software for PC developed and supported by Encom Technology Pty Ltd. Version 6.00 September 2004: Head Office Level 2, 118 Alfred St. Milsons Point, New South Wales, Australia 2061

  • Gawthorpe RL, Sharp I, Underhill JR, Gupta S (1997) Linked sequence stratigraphic and structural evolution of propagating normal faults. Geology 25:795–798

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grant FS, West GF (1965a) Interpretation theory in applied geophysics. McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, pp 179–191

    Google Scholar 

  • Grant FS, West GF (1965b) Interpretation theory in applied geophysics. MacGraw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Gupta S, Underhill JR, Sharp IR, Gawthorpe RL (1999) Role of fault interactions in controlling synrift sediment dispersal patterns: Miocene Abu Alaqa Group, Suez Rift, Sinai, Egypt. Basin Res 11:167–189

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hsu SK (2002) Imaging magnetic sources using Euler’s equations. Geophys Prospect 50:15–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Institute for Petroleum Research and Geophysics, Holon, Israel, c. (IPRCca) (1982) Bouguer anomaly map of Sinai. Scale 1: 100000

  • Linsser H (1967) Investigation of tectonic by gravity detailing. Geophys Prospect 15:480–515

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Masero W, Fischer G, Schnegg P (1997) Electrical conductivity and crustal deformation from Magnetotelluric results in the region of the Araguainha impact, Brazil. Phys Earth Planet Inter 101:271–289

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McClay KR, Nicols GJ, Khalil SM, Darwish M, Bosworth W (1998) Extensional tectonics and sedimentation, Eastern Gulf of Suez, Egypt. In: Purser BH, Bosence DWJ (eds) Sedimentation and tectonics of Rift Basins, Red Sea-Gulf of Aden. Chapman and Hall, London, pp 223–238

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Moustafa AM (1976) Block faulting of the Gulf of Suez. In: Presented at 5th exploration seminar, Egyptian general petroleum company. Cairo, unpublished report, p 19

  • Moustafa AR (1993) Structural characteristics and tectonic evolution of the east-margin blocks of the Suez rift. Tectonophysics 223:381–399

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nabighian MN (1972) Additional comment of the analytic signal of two-dimensional magnetic bodies with polygonal cross-section. Geophysics 39:85–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nabighian MN (1984) Toward the three-dimensional automatic interpretation of potential field data via generalized Hilbert transforms. Fundam Relat Geophys 53:966

    Google Scholar 

  • Oasis M (1998) Geosoft mapping and application system, Inc, Suit 500, Richmond St. West Toronto, on Canada N5SIV6

  • Patton TL, Moustafa AR, Nelson RA, Abdine SA (1994) tectonic evaluation and structural setting of the Suez Rift. In: London SM (ed) Interior rift basins, American association of Petroleum Geologist, Memoir 59, pp 7–55

  • Rabeh T, Miranda JM, Milan Hvozdara (2010) strong earthquakes associated with high amplitude daily geomagnetic variations, Nat Hazard J 53(3):561–574.doi:10.1007/s11069-009-9449-1

  • Reid JM, Allsop HG (1990) Magnetic interpretation in three dimensions using Euler deconvolution. Geophysics 55(1):80–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roest WE, Verhoef J, Pilkington M (1992) Magnetic interpretation using 3-D analytic signal. Geophysics 57:116–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Said R (1990) The geology of Egypt. Elsevier Publishing Co., Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharp IR, Gawthorpe RL, Underhill JR, Gupta S (2000) Fault-propagation folding in extensional sttings: example of structural style and synrift sedimentary response from the Suez rift, Sinai, Egypt. Bull Geol Soc Am 112(12):1877–1899

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shuey RT, Pasquale AS (1973) End corrections in magnetic profile interpretation. Geophysics 38(3):507–512

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siripunvaraporn W, Egbert G (1999) Software documentation and user manual a Reduced Basis Occam (REBOCC) Inversion for two-dimensional magnetotelluric data. Collage of oceanic and Atmospheric Science, Oregon State University

  • Siripunvaraporn W, Egbert G (2000) An efficient data-subspace inversion method for 2-D magnetotelluric data. Geophysics 65:791–803

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Surfer Ver. 8. (2012) Golden Software program. Golden, CO 80401-1866 USA, Surfer(R) Version 8. Accessed Feb 28 2012

  • Talwani M (1960) Rapid computation of gravitational and Ewing, M. attraction of three-dimensional bodies of arbitrary shape. Geophysics 25:203–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson DT (1982) EULDPH: a new technique for making computer-assisted depth estimates from magnetic data. Geophysics 47:31–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Geological Survey (1998) Open-File Report 99-50-A,U. S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado, World Energy Project, October 1998

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics, Cairo, Egypt

    Taha Rabeh & Ahmed Khalil

Authors
  1. Taha Rabeh
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ahmed Khalil
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Taha Rabeh.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rabeh, T., Khalil, A. Characterization of fault structures in southern Sinai Peninsula and Gulf of Suez region using geophysical data. Environ Earth Sci 73, 1925–1937 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-014-3541-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-014-3541-x

Keywords