Egyptian Tethyan margin in the Mesozoic: Evolution of a mixed carbonate-siliciclastic shelf edge (from Western Desert to Sinai)

Tassy, Aurélie; Crouzy, Emmanuel; Gorini, Christian; Rubino, Jean‐Loup; Bouroullec, Jean-Luc; Sapin, François

doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2015.10.011

Cited by 52 publications

(24 citation statements)

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“…The main rifting phase related to the formation of the Levant margin occurred from latest Triassic to early Middle Jurassic time (Gardosh et al, 2010;Gardosh & Druckman, 2006;Garfunkel, 1998Garfunkel, , 2004. The architecture of the Levant and Egyptian margins and the orientation of the Eratosthenes seamount (approximately NE-SW, Figure 1) and transform faults ( Figure 1; Montadert et al, 2014;Tassy et al, 2015) support a NW-SE direction of extension (e.g., Barrier et al, 2008;Chamot-Rooke, Rangin, et al, 2005;Frizon de Lamotte et al, 2011;Gardosh et al, 2010;Gardosh & Druckman, 2006;Garfunkel, 1998Garfunkel, , 2004Garfunkel & Derin, 1984;Tari et al, 2012). Evidence for rifting over the same period is also reported in Libya (Arsenikos et al, 2013), Tunisia , and Sicily (Basilone et al, 2010;Basilone, Sulli et al, 2016).…”

Section: Geodynamic Scenarios: Geological and Paleomagnetic Constraintsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The details of the segmentation and the associated partitioning of the deformation between transform, oblique, and orthogonal segments remain to be established in the Ionian Basin, but we can nevertheless conclude that the Malta and Apulian segments were initially not conjugate margins. The NW-SE direction of opening is now firmly established for the Levant and Egyptian margins at the same period (Gardosh et al, 2010;Garfunkel, 1998Garfunkel, , 2004Tassy et al, 2015). Le Pichon et al (2019) recently proposed an end-member solution to this overall NW-SE opening of the eastern Mediterranean Basins.…”

Section: Age Of the Ionian Basinmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Simplified structural map of the eastern Mediterranean Basins. AEFA: Alfeo‐Etna Fault system; Ce: Cephalonia Fault; CyR: Cyrenaica Ridge; DaB: Darnah Basin; Era: Eratosthenes; IFS: Ionian Fault System; JAA: Jabal Al Akhdar; Jef: Jeffara Basin; Le: Lebanon; MaB: Marmarica Basin; Pa: Palmyra through (after Arsenikos et al, ; Bosworth et al, ; Chamot‐Rooke, Rangin, et al, ; Frizon de Lamotte et al, ; Gallais et al, ; Polonia et al, , , ; Robertson, ; Tassy et al, , and own observations). Bathymetry from Becker et al ().…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A central question is the timing of formation of these deep basins in the general framework of the successive Tethys openings. The best structural and stratigraphic constraints are from the far east Levant margin (e.g., Ben-Avraham et al, 2002;Collin et al, 2010;Gardosh et al, 2010;Gardosh & Druckman, 2006;Garfunkel & Derin, 1984;Hawie et al, 2013;Steinberg et al, 2018) and Egyptian margin (e.g., Camera et al, 2010;Moustafa, 2008;Tari et al, 2012;Tassy et al, 2015;Yousef et al, 2010), which were thoroughly studied in the recent years because of their offshore petroleum potential. Several studies support the occurrence of polyphased rifting from Late Palaeozoic to Trias leading to extreme continental thinning (<10-km crust) in the Levant Basin and oceanic spreading in the Herodotus Basin in Early to Middle Jurassic time, with a preferred approximately NW-SE oriented extension (e.g., Barrier et al, 2008;Ben-Avraham et al, 2006;Frizon de Lamotte et al, 2011;Gardosh et al, 2010;Gardosh & Druckman, 2006;Garfunkel, 1998Garfunkel, , 2004Garfunkel & Derin, 1984).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Geology of the Ionian Basin and Margins: A Key to the East Mediterranean Geodynamics

et al. 2019

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We revisit the nature, structure, and evolution of the Ionian Basin and its surrounding passive margins (Apulia, Eastern Sicily/Malta, and Cyrenaica margins). Relying on geological observations (wells, dredges, and dives) and seismic calibrations from the surrounding platforms and escarpments, we present age correlations for the deepest sedimentary sequences of the Ionian Basin. Two‐ship deep refraction seismic data combined with reprocessed reflection seismic data enable us to identify, characterize, and map these thick sedimentary sequences and to present a consistent seismic stratigraphy across the basin. At a larger scale, we present new geological transects illustrating the tectonostratigraphic relationships between the Ionian Basin and its surrounding rifted margins. On this basis, we suggest that a Late Triassic‐Early Jurassic rifting preceded the late Early Jurassic to Middle Jurassic formation of the Ionian Basin. The combination of geophysical and geological arguments suggests that the entire deep basin is floored with oceanic crust of normal thickness, but with high seismic velocity in the upper part. Upscaling our results in the framework of the eastern Mediterranean, we propose that the Ionian Basin represents the remnant of a short‐lived oceanic basin resulting from the interaction between two propagating oceans: the Central Atlantic and the Neo‐Tethys.

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Section: Geodynamic Scenarios: Geological and Paleomagnetic Constraintsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Age Of the Ionian Basinmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Geology of the Ionian Basin and Margins: A Key to the East Mediterranean Geodynamics

et al. 2019

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“…Redeposited terrigenous sediments are thought to be major hydrocarbon source rocks in the Nile Delta. They are widespread on-and offshore and occur throughout the northern Egyptian margin (Tassy et al, 2015). Similar Early Tertiary deltaic sediments with Type III kerogen have been investigated as potential oil source rocks in the Western Mediterranean basin (Avramidis and Zelilidis, 2007).…”

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confidence: 99%

Organic Geochemistry of Oil and Natural Gas in the West Dikirnis and El‐tamad Fields, Onshore Nile Delta, Egypt: Interpretation of Potential Source Rocks

Leila

Moscariello

2016

Journal of Petroleum Geology

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Crude oil in the West Dikirnis field in the northern onshore Nile Delta, Egypt, occurs in the poorly‐sorted Miocene sandstones of the Qawasim Formation. The geochemical composition and source of this oil is investigated in this paper. The reservoir sandstones are overlain by mudstones in the upper part of the Qawasim Formation and in the overlying Pliocene Kafr El‐Sheikh Formation. However TOC and Rock‐Eval analyses of these mudstones indicate that they have little potential to generate hydrocarbons, and mudstone extracts show little similarity in terms of biomarker compositions to the reservoired oils. The oils at West Dikirnis are interpreted to have been derived from an Upper Cretaceous – Lower Tertiary terrigenous, clay‐rich source rock, and to have migrated up along steeply‐dipping faults to the Qawasim sandstones reservoir. This interpretation is supported by the high C29/C27 sterane, diasterane/sterane, hopane/sterane and oleanane/C30 hopane ratios in the oils. Biomarker‐based maturity indicators (Ts/Tm, moretanes/hopanes and C32 homohopanes S/S+R) suggest that oil expulsion occurred before the source rock reached peak maturity. Previous studies have shown that the Upper Cretaceous – Lower Tertiary source rock is widely distributed throughout the on‐ and offshore Nile Delta. A wet gas sample from the Messinian sandstones at El‐Tamad field, located near to West Dikirnis, was analysed to determine its molecular and isotopic composition. The presence of isotopically heavy δ13 methane, ethane and propane indicates a thermogenic origin for the gas which was cracked directly from a humic kerogen. A preliminary burial and thermal history model suggests that wet gas window maturities in the study area occur within the Jurassic succession, and the gas at El‐Tamad may therefore be derived from a source rock of Jurassic age.

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Soft‐sediment deformation structures in the Late Messinian Abu Madi Formation, onshore Nile Delta, Egypt: Triggers and tectonostratigraphic implications

et al. 2022

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The Upper Messinian Abu Madi Formation of the Nile Delta constitutes sediments deposited during the final stage of the Messinian salinity crisis (MSC). Several levels of soft‐sediment deformation structures (SSDS) were observed in the transgressive heterolithic fluvial facies deposited adjacent to the deep‐seated faults. The most common deformation features include diapiric structures, intraformational lithoclastic breccia, small‐scale normal faults, slump folds, and liquefied beds. Such association of SSDS typically resembles those described elsewhere as generated by a complex interplay of gravity‐driven and seismically induced liquefaction processes. The pore pressure measurements revealed high pore fluid density ~ 9.1 ppg equivalent density values which reflect a mild pressure disequilibrium in Abu Madi sediments. Pressure disequilibration is observed all over the studied section of the Abu Madi Formation and is not only restricted to the fluvial channel sandstones deposited during rapid loading. Therefore, allogenic seismic activity has been proposed as the main trigger for pressure disequilibrium and the development of SSDS in the Abu Madi Formation. The heterolithic nature of the Abu Madi sediments as well as the scarcity of bioturbation provides the favourable conditions for the preservation of the seismically induced deformation. The lateral variation in thickness suggests deposition of the Abu Madi Formation during periods of active subsidence which promotes the generation of the SSDS. Late MSC tectonism likely controlled the evolution and sedimentary facies variability of the Abu Madi canyon‐infill system, and therefore the distribution of Abu Madi facies varies significantly over very short distances. Abu Madi SSDS follows the spatial distribution observed in other “lago‐mare” deposits (e.g., Foes Formation and SE Spain), characterized by spatial variability and vertical rhythmic alternation between deformed and non‐deformed layers. Accordingly, regional tectonic instability in the circum‐Mediterranean margins during the late stage of the MSC is proposed.

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Egyptian Tethyan margin in the Mesozoic: Evolution of a mixed carbonate-siliciclastic shelf edge (from Western Desert to Sinai)

Cited by 52 publications

References 38 publications

Geology of the Ionian Basin and Margins: A Key to the East Mediterranean Geodynamics

Geology of the Ionian Basin and Margins: A Key to the East Mediterranean Geodynamics

Organic Geochemistry of Oil and Natural Gas in the West Dikirnis and El‐tamad Fields, Onshore Nile Delta, Egypt: Interpretation of Potential Source Rocks

Soft‐sediment deformation structures in the Late Messinian Abu Madi Formation, onshore Nile Delta, Egypt: Triggers and tectonostratigraphic implications

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