The Geological History of Egypt and of The Red sea in particular

Abstract

The geological history of Egypt is a very complex but most fascinating story which starts at least 1000 million years ago in the Pre-Cambrian. In order to give the complete history it would be necessary to discuss both the macrostratigraphical and the micro-paleontological conditions in Egypt. However, in view of the limited time available, I shall have to restrict myself to the macrostratigraphy only and in particular to the lithological aspects of Egyptian stratigraphy.

Due to the complicated tectonic structure of Egypt and the sedimentation in different, often separated basins, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to give a brief summary of the lithological characteristics of the different geological periods in Egypt. Since 1897 considerable reconnaissance work has been done by the Geological Survey in Egypt (1. 2, 3, 4, 8), but verv accurate detail surface mapping in Mesozoic and younger beds started much later, in combination with extensive drilling for oil by the Standard Oil Co. of Egypt, Anglo-Egyptian Oilfields (Royal Dutch Shell) and the Socony Vacuum Oil Co. Their studles increased our knowledge about the post-Paleozoic rocks tremendously, in particular during the last 10 years. But unfortunately most of these latter data are kept secret by the different oil companies. The summary given here represents therefore only a compilation of facts known from published data, personal observations during 1937-1940 and 1947-1949 and finally verbal informations received from a great number of oil geologists of the Socony Vacuum Oil Co., Anglo Egyptian Oilfields (Shell) and the Standard Oil Of Egypt. Still this compilation gives far from a complete picture of the present geological knowledge of Egypt.

Keywords

• Egypt,Geological History

Mısır ve bilhassa Kızıldenizin jeolojik tarihçesi

Abstract

Mısırdaki strüktürel durumun kompleks olması, teressüplerin başka başka havzalara ait bulunması muhtelif jeolojik katlardaki sahraların litolojik karakterlerini hülâsaten vermesi güç yapmaktadır. Mısır’da 1897 denberi Mısır Jeoloji Enstitüsü tarafından bir çok işler görülmüş olmakla beraber Mesozoik ve daha genç sahaların dakik hartaları petrol kumpanyaları tarafından yapılan faaliyetle başlar. Bu hususda bilhassa son on sene zarfında büyük terakkiler kaydedilmişse de maalesef bu malûmatın çoğu kumpanyaların arşivlerinde mahfuz bulunmaktadır. Bu konuşmada verilen bilgi 1937-1940-1947 ve 1949 senelerinde yapılan şahsi incelemelerle Mısır'da çalışan bir çok jeologlarla yaptığım şahsî temaslara istinad etmektedir.

Keywords

• Mısır, Jeolojik tarihçe,Kızıldeniz

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