GEOLOGICAL HAZARD AT RAS EL-BAHAR AREA AS DEDUCED FROM POTENTIAL FILED DATA AND EARTHQUAKES DISTRIBUTION

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Biological and Geological Dept., Faculty of Education at Kafr El-Sheikh, Tanta University.

2 * Biological and Geological Dept., Faculty of Education at Kafr El-Sheikh, Tanta University.

3 ** Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Egyp.

Abstract

The present study aims to interpret the shearing deformations and their tectonic implications at Ras El-Bahar area. From the Bouguer anomaly and RTF magnetic maps, two major sets wrench (shear) zones mostly of strike-slip faults were delineated in the western side. Eight major sets of normal and left and right lateral horizontal displacements have affected the basement rocks in the study area -with NW system (Suez trend) and NNE system (Aqaba trend).
The approximate depth estimated using the absolute value of the 3-D analytic signal technique ranges between 0.5 to 3.5 km. The average depth levels of the causative sources deduced by using Power spectrum technique on the Bouguer anomaly and RTP maps, range also between 0.5 to 3.5 km. The depth to faults using Euler solution for the Bouguer anomaly map ranges from 0.5 to 2.5 km, while for the magnetic data the depth ranges from 0.4 to 7.8 km.
The interpreted faults and shear zones in the study area are seismically active and responsible for the seismic hazard in this area, where the recent earthquakes of magnitude 1 to 3.9 are spatially scattered and associated with both sides of these zones. Three major uplifted belts of the basement in this area, associated with Ras El Bahar anticline and East and West Zeit Bay anticlines are considered to be good potential areas for oil prospecting