Integrating magnetic and stratigraphic data to delineate the subsurface features in and around new Galala City, Northern Galala Plateau, Egypt

Abstract

The Egyptian Government is developing a new city, Galala, above the Northern Galala Plateau, western side of Gulf of Suez between Ain Sukhna and Zafarana. The aim of the study is integrating magnetic and stratigraphic data to delineate the subsurface features beneath the New Galala City, in order to avoid the possible geological hazards. The strati- graphic succession in the study area consists of Precambrian basement complex overlain unconformably by Phanerozoic sequence. The Phanerozoic sequence composed mainly of siliciclastic-dominated rocks superimposed by carbonate-dominated rocks. The carbonate- dominated rocks cover most surface area, whilst the siliciclastic-dominated rocks exposed along eastern and southern foot slope of the Northern Galala Plateau. The observed palaeo- karst surfaces, fissures, caves, sink-holes and fault zones within carbonate rocks may cause some geological hazards in the study area. The total intensity aeromagnetic map was subjected to un-prescribed structural index 3D-Euler Deconvolution (ED), the tilt angle derivative (TDR) and the power spectrum in order to estimate both trends and source depths. The source depths range from 500 m to 4000 m, which result from the Precambrian basement complex. However, the trends of encountered structural elements are mainly NE–SW, NW–SE, NNW–SSE and E–W directions.