CHARACTERIZATION OF THE FRACTUR-FAULT SYSTEM IN SOUTH SINAI-EGYPT, USING GEOPHYSICAL INVESTIGATIONS

Document Type : Original Article

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National Research Institue of Astronomy and Geophysics,

Abstract

Studying the active faults in South Sinai aims to accurately locate potential areas of rupture as a part of seismic hazard evaluation. In order to describe the faults system characteristics in south Sinai, the subsurface structures have been investigated based on the geological, ground penetrating radar, seismicity and land magnetic data. Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey has been conducted to image near surface sedimentary environments. Sites of investigation are mainly based on the known and unknown trends of faults. The result of GPR imaging shows that, a lot of fractures and sinkholes are associated with the fault system in Sharm El-Sheikh which could be a risk for the buildings. It reveals the branching geometry of faults and the precise location within 1 m. The magnetic data reveal that, the area is affected by a set of faults trending mainly in the NNE-SSW, NW-SE, E-W and N-S directions. Also, the basement structural trends are controlled mainly by these predominant faults. Furthermore, the seismicity is concentrating in three seismic segments (northern part of Red sea, Gulf of Aqaba and Gulf of Suez). These seismic zones behave differently over the time and space domains, as indicated by the seismic rate, depth migration, b-value and special clustering. This integration demonstrates the seismically active segments, which can be related to the tectonic movements in the Gulf of Aqaba and probably generated relative large movement rates in the future, which must be considered in the engineering designs and constructions

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