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Tectonic model of Egypt based on magnetic analysis

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Abstract

The main target of this work was to study the dynamics of the Earth’s crust for Egypt based on the magnetic survey. High-resolution land magnetic data were analyzed, combined with the results of GPS and seismic stress analyses.

The constructed tectonic map shows that the N35°-N45°W trend of the structure (related to the Red Sea and Gulf of Suez tectonics) predominates along the Gulf of Suez, Red Sea, covering wide parts of the study area. The N45°-N65°E tectonic trend (related to the Syrian Arc tectonics), prevailing in the northern part of Egypt, is of the second rank. The Aqaba (N15°-25°E) and E-W trends prevail in the northern part and along the transition zone of stable/unstable shelves. The depth to the basement rocks ranges from the surface along the Red Sea and southern parts of Egypt to more than 4 km below sea level at the northern part of the study area.

The results also show that the opening rate along the Red Sea was faster in the past than nowadays. Furthermore, a preliminary kinematics model is proposed.

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Correspondence to Taha Rabeh.

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Rabeh, T., Ernst, T. Tectonic model of Egypt based on magnetic analysis. Acta Geophys. 57, 680–695 (2009). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11600-009-0013-x

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