Geology of North Africa

About this book

A reference volume on the geology of North Africa, Geology of North Africa 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.

Geology of North Africa 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).

Contents

Preface 
Acknowledgements
About 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 Basin
4.13 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 volcanics
5.1.9 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 region
 
9. 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-Pleistocene
17.5.1.2 Quaternary 

PART 5 PETROLEUM GEOLOGY & PETROLEUM SYSTEMS
OF NORTH AFRICA 

18. Petroleum Geology & Petroleum Systems of North Africa
18.1 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 history
20.1 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 period
20.5.4 Quaternary (Pleistocene-Holocene) 

References 
Subject index 
Color plates

Customer Reviews

Biography

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.