Geology of North Africa

A reference volume on the geology of North Africa, this volume deals with Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco. In great detail the geology, tectonic elements, the geology of the Pan-African Shield, the Phanerozoic geological evolution and most of the lithostratigrahpic units of the five countries are described. Moreover, the petroleum geology and petroleum systems are discussed, as well as the history of geological exploration.
With the incentive to provide a reference to the geology of North Africa that can be used both by professionals and students, this review work provides a large amount of data, based on more than 2500 references. Written in a clear, straight-forward and structured style, and with many schematic maps, it allows the reader to easily search a topic and find further information with help of the extensive bibliography.
This volume is intended for senior undergraduate and graduate students, professional geologists and geophysicists, who are working in North Africa and the Middle East. It is ideally suited for any professional who is looking for a quick, round-up reference on the geology of North Africa. It is an expanded and revised version of ‘The Geology of Egypt and Libya’ by the same author (Balkema, 2001).

Ed Tawadros, Ph.D., P. Geol., is an international geological consultant based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Educated in Egypt, Scotland and Canada and specialized as an applied geologist, he worked for a number of consulting and major oil companies in Egypt, Canada, Libya, Argentina and other countries. With a rich research and publication career in the geology of Northern Africa, he is a true specialist in this area. Dr Tawadros has also written several papers on the geology of Canada and is currently active in Argentina. Besides a PhD in Geology from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, he holds a BA Major in Spanish from the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Preface AcknowledgementsAbout the author PART 1 HISTORY OF GEOLOGY AND HYDROCARBON EXPLORATION IN NORTH AFRICA 1. Introduction 1.1 Egypt 1.2 Libya 1.3 Algeria 1.4 Tunisia 1.5 Morocco PART 2 TECTONIC FRAMEWORK OF NORTH AFRICA 2. Northeast Africa’s Basins 2.1 Mediterranean Basin 2.2 Alboran Sea 2.3 Nile Basin 2.4 Northern Egypt Basin 2.5 Gulf of Suez & Red Sea 2.5.1 Evolution of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Suez 2.6 Cyrenaica/Marmarica Platform 2.7 Sirte Basin 2.7.1 Evolution of the Sirte Basin 2.8 Murzuq Basin 2.9 Ghadames Basin 2.10 Kufra Basin 2.11 Jifarah Basin 3. Tertiary volcanics 4. Northwest Africa’s Basins 4.1 Algerian Basins 4.2 Tunisian Basins 4.3 Moroccan Basins 4.3.1 Evolution of the Atlas Mountains 4.4 Western High Atlas 4.5 Argana Basin 4.6 Souss Basin 4.7 Haouz Basin 4.7.1 Tectonic history of the Meseta Domain 4.8 The Atlantic Passive Margin 4.9 Moroccan Marginal Basins 4.10 Agadir, Tarfaya, and Essaouira Basins 4.11 Essaouira-Haha Basin 4.12 Guercif Basin4.13 Tafilalt & Maider sub-Basins PART 3 PAN-AFRICAN SHIELD & WEST AFRICAN CRATON 5. Precambrian 5.1 Stratigraphy 5.1.1 Gneisses and migmatites 5.1.2 Metasediments 5.1.3 Old metasediments 5.1.4 Old metavolcanics 5.1.5 Serpentinites 5.1.6 Gabbros 5.1.7 Granitoids 5.1.8 Dokhan volcanics5.1.9 Younger gabbros 5.1.10 Younger granites 5.1.11 Trachyte plugs (post-Hammamat felsites) 5.1.12 Swarm dikes 5.1.13 Ring dike complexes 5.2 Evolution of the Pan-African Shield 5.2.1 I. Lower Gebel Oweinat cycle 5.2.2 II. Upper Gebel Oweinat cycle 5.2.2.1 Rodinia Supercontinent (1300–1000 Ma) 5.2.3 III. Lower magmatic-arc cycle 5.2.3.1 Platform and ocean basin assemblages 5.2.3.2 Ophiolite assemblages 5.2.3.3 Volcanic-arc assemblages 5.2.3.4 Older granitoids, gneisses & migmatization (987–670 Ma) 5.2.4 IV. Upper Magmatic-Arc Cycle (650–550 Ma) 5.2.4.1 Upper magmatic-arc sequence of the Northern Eastern Desert 5.2.4.2 Hammamat sediments (616–590 Ma) 5.2.4.3 Younger granites (615–550 Ma) 5.2.4.4 Dokhan volcanics 5.2.4.5 Younger gabbros 5.2.4.6 Upper magmatic-arc sequence in Southern Sinai 5.2.4.7 Upper magmatic-arc sequence of Libya and South-Central Algeria 5.2.5 V. Post-Tectonic Cycle 5.2.5.1 Ring dike complexes and Swarm dikes 5.2.5.2 Feldspathic and quartzose sandstones 5.3 Summary
PART 4 PHANEROZOIC GEOLOGY OF NORTH AFRICA 6. Phanerozoic geology of Egypt 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Paleozoic 6.3 Cambrian and Ordovician 6.4 Silurian 6.5 Devonian 6.6 Carboniferous 7. Mesozoic 7.1 Triassic-Lower Cretaceous 7.2 Triassic 7.3 Jurassic 7.3.1 Jurassic of Sinai 7.3.2 Jurassic of the Northern Western Desert (Northern Egypt Basin) 7.4 Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous 7.4.1 Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous of the Southern Western Desert 7.4.2 Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous of the Northern Western Desert 7.4.3 Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous of Sinai 7.5 Upper Cretaceous 7.5.1 Upper Cretaceous of the Northern Western Desert 7.5.2 Cenomanian-Santonian 7.5.2.1 Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian-Santonian) of Sinai and the Gulf of Suez region 7.5.2.2 Cenomanian-Santonian of the central Nile Valley and the Eastern Desert 7.5.2.3 Cenomanian-Santonian of Southern Egypt 7.5.3 Campanian 7.5.3.1 Maastrichtian chalks 7.5.3.2 Maastrichtian-Paleocene shales 7.5.3.3 Upper Cretaceous-Tertiary succession in extreme Southern Egypt 7.5.3.4 The nature of the Upper Cretaceous-Early Tertiary contact (unconformities) 8. Tertiary 8.1 Eocene 8.1.1 Lower Eocene (Ypresian) 8.1.2 Middle Eocene 8.1.3 Upper Eocene (Bartonian) 8.2 Oligocene 8.2.1 Miocene of the Northern Western Desert of Egypt 8.2.2 Miocene in the subsurface of the Nile Delta and its offshore area 8.2.3 Miocene of the Gulf of Suez and Red Sea region9. Tertiary-Quaternary 9.1 Pliocene-Pleistocene 9.1.1 Pliocene-Pleistocene sediments of the Nile Valley 9.1.2 Pliocene-Pleistocene in the subsurface and the offshore of the Nile Delta 9.1.3 Pliocene-Pleistocene of the Western Desert (Northern Egypt Basin) 9.1.4 Pliocene-Pleistocene of the Gulf of Suez and Red Sea region 9.1.5 Pliocene-Pleistocene of Sinai
10. Quaternary (Pleistocene-Holocene) 11. Phanerozoic geology of Libya 11.1 Introduction 12. Paleozoic 12.1 Cambrian and Ordovician 12.1.1 Cambrian and Ordovician of West Libya 12.1.2 Cambrian and Ordovician of the Sirte Basin 12.1.3 Cambrian and Ordovician of the Kufrah Basin 12.1.4 Cambrian and Ordovician of Northeast Libya 12.2 Silurian 12.2.1 Silurian of West Libya 12.2.2 Silurian of the Kufrah Basin 12.3 Devonian 12.3.1 Devonian of West Libya 12.3.2 Devonian of the Sirte Basin 12.3.3 Devonian of the Kufrah Basin 12.3.4 Devonian of Northeast Libya 12.4 Carboniferous 12.4.1 Carboniferous of West Libya 12.4.2 Carboniferous of the Sirte Basin 12.4.3 Carboniferous of Northeast Libya 12.4.4 Carboniferous of the Kufrah Basin 12.5 Permian 13. Mesozoic 13.1 Triassic-Early Cretaceous 13.2 Triassic 13.2.1 Triassic of Northwest Libya 13.2.2 Triassic of Northeast Libya & the Sirte Basin 13.2.3 Triassic of the Kufrah Basin 13.3 Jurassic 13.3.1 Jurassic of Northwest Libya 13.4 Mesozoic Continental Sediments 13.4.1 Nubian Sandstones/continental intercalcaire 13.4.2 Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous (Neocomian) of the Sirte Basin 13.4.3 Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous (Neocomian) of Northeast Libya 13.4.4 Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous (Neocomian) of the Kufrah Basin 13.5 Aptian-Albian 13.6 Upper Cretaceous 13.6.1 Upper Cretaceous of Northeast Libya 13.6.2 Upper Cretaceous of Northwest Libya 13.6.3 Upper Cretaceous of the Sirte Basin 14. Tertiary 14.1 Paleocene 14.1.1 Paleocene of offshore Northwest Libya 14.1.2 Paleocene of Northwest Libya 14.1.3 Paleocene of the Sirte Basin 14.1.4 Paleocene of Northeast Libya 14.2 Eocene 14.2.1 Eocene of Northwest Libya & the Sirte Basin 14.2.2 Lower Eocene (Ypresian) 14.2.3 A review of the Gir Formation 14.2.4 The Gir Formation in the subsurface of the Sirte Basin 14.2.5 Middle Eocene (Lutetian) 14.2.6 Revision of the Wadi Tamet Formation 14.2.7 Middle Eocene in the subsurface of the Sirte Basin 14.2.8 Upper Eocene (Bartonian) 14.2.9 Eocene of offshore Northwest Libya 14.2.10 Eocene of Northeast Libya 14.3 Oligocene 14.3.1 Oligocene of Northeast Libya 14.3.2 Oligocene of the Sirte Basin 14.3.3 Oligocene of Northwest Libya 14.4 Miocene 14.4.1 Miocene of the Sirte Basin 14.4.2 Miocene of Northeast Libya 14.4.3 Miocene of Northwest Libya & offshore 14.5 Pliocene-Pleistocene 14.6 Pleistocene-Holocene 15. Phanerozoic geology of Algeria 15.1 Lithostratigraphy of the Sahara Platform 15.2 Paleozoic 15.2.1 Cambrian/Ordovician of the Sahara Platform 15.2.2 Silurian 15.2.3 Devonian 15.2.4 Carboniferous 15.3 Mesozoic 15.3.1 Triassic 15.3.2 Jurassic 15.3.3 Cretaceous 15.4 Tertiary of Algeria 15.4.1 Paleocene 15.4.2 Eocene 15.4.3 Oligocene/Miocene 15.4.4 Pliocene and Quaternary
16. Phanerozoic geology of Tunisia 16.1 Introduction 16.2 Phanerozoic Geology of Tunisia 16.2.1 Precambrian 16.2.2 Paleozoic of Tunisia 16.2.2.1 Cambrian 16.2.2.2 Ordovician 16.2.2.3 Silurian 16.2.2.4 Devonian 16.2.2.5 Carboniferous 16.2.2.6 Permian 16.2.3 Mesozoic of Tunisia 16.2.3.1 Triassic 16.2.3.2 Jurassic 16.2.3.3 Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous 16.2.3.4 Lower Cretaceous of Tunisia 16.2.3.5 Aptian-Albian of Central Tunisia 16.2.4 Tertiary 16.2.4.1 Paleocene 16.2.4.2 Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary 16.2.4.3 Eocene 16.2.4.4 Oligocene-Miocene of Tunisia 16.2.4.5 Pliocene of Tunisia 16.2.4.6 Quaternary
17. Phanerozoic geology of Morocco 17.1 Introduction 17.2 Tectonic Subdivisions of Morocco 17.3 Sahara Platform 17.4 Anti-Atlas 17.4.1 Phanerozoic stratigraphy of the Atlas Mountains 17.4.1.1 Cambrian 17.4.1.2 Ordovician 17.4.1.3 Silurian 17.4.1.4 Devonian 17.4.1.5 Carboniferous 17.4.2 Atlas Mountains 17.4.2.1 Permian-Jurassic (Central High Atlas) 17.4.2.2 Jurassic 17.4.2.3 Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous 17.4.3 Western High Atlas 17.4.4 Atlantic Passive Margin 17.5 Tertiary 17.5.1 Tertiary of the Central High Atlas 17.5.1.1 Oligocene-Pleistocene17.5.1.2 Quaternary
PART 5 PETROLEUM GEOLOGY & PETROLEUM SYSTEMS OF NORTH AFRICA
18. Petroleum Geology & Petroleum Systems of North Afrika18.1 Introduction 18.2 Tectono-Depositional Phases 18.3 Tectono-Stratigraphic Provinces in North Africa 19 Hydrocarbon systems in North Africa 19.1 Neoproterzoic petroleum systems in North Africa 19.2 Phanerozoic Petroleum Systems 19.2.1 Egypt’s hydrocarbon systems 19.2.2 Libya’s hydrocarbon systems 19.2.3 Algeria’s hydrocarbon systems 19.2.4 Tunisia’s hydrocarbon systems 19.2.5 Morocco’s hydrocarbon systems
PART 6 PHANEROZOIC GEOLOGICAL HISTORY
20. Phanerozoic geological history20.1 Introduction 20.2 Phanerozoic 20.3 Lower megasequence 20.3.1 Paleozoic 20.3.1.1 Cambrian period 20.3.1.2 Ordovician period 20.3.1.3 Silurian period 20.3.1.4 Devonian period 20.3.1.5 Carboniferous period 20.3.1.6 Permian period 20.3.2 Mesozoic 20.3.2.1 Triassic period 20.3.3 Early Triassic (Scythian) 20.3.4 Upper Triassic (Carnian-Rhetian) 20.3.5 Continental Triassic 20.3.5.1 Jurassic period 20.3.6 Middle Jurassic 20.3.7 Upper Jurassic 20.3.7.1 Continental Upper Jurassic-Early Cretaceous 20.3.7.2 Aptian-Albian 20.3.7.3 Aptian 20.3.7.4 Albian 20.4 Middle Megasequence 20.4.1 Cretaceous 20.4.1.1 Upper Cretaceous period 20.4.1.2 Cenomanian-Turonian 20.4.1.3 Coniacian-Santonian 20.4.1.4 Campanian 20.4.1.5 Maastrichtian 20.4.2 Tertiary 20.4.2.1 Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary 20.4.2.2 Paleocene period 20.4.2.3 Eocene period 20.4.2.4 Basinal facies (facies 1–2) 20.4.2.5 Fore-bank facies (facies 3) 20.4.2.6 Bank facies (facies 4) 20.4.2.7 Back-bank facies (facies 5–6) 20.4.2.8 Lagoonal-littoral facies (facies 7–8) 20.4.2.9 Lagoonal-evaporitic facies (facies 9) 20.5 Upper Megasequence 20.5.1 Oligocene period 20.5.2 Miocene period 20.5.3 Pliocene period20.5.4 Quaternary (Pleistocene-Holocene) References Subject index Color plates