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

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 f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Arabian journal of geosciences 2018-07, Vol.11 (13), p.1-17, Article 352
Main Authors: Zaid, Samir M., El-Badry, Oussama A., Abdelaziz, Zein A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aluminum oxide
Arenites
Climatic conditions
Composition
Continental margins
Cretaceous
Deserts
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth science
Earth Sciences
Feldspars
Geochemistry
Geological time
Geology
Humid climates
Original Paper
Petrography
Petrology
Provenance
Quartz
Sandstone
Sedimentary rocks
Silica
Silicon dioxide
Vertical sections
Weathering
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Summary: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 (Q 94.2 F 1.3 R 4.5 ) 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 ( 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.
ISSN:1866-7511
1866-7538
DOI:10.1007/s12517-018-3705-1