Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Middle Miocene carbonates from the Northern Plateau of the Western Desert (Egypt): Petrography and geochemistry

  • Published:
Facies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

An extensive carbonate platform of predominately Middle Miocene age (Marmarica Formation) occupies the larger part of the northern plateau of the Western Desert of Egypt. The Marmarica Formation (up to 150m thick) exposed on the cliffs facing the Mediterranean coast consists mainly of alternating limestones and dolostones. Deposition took place in a shallow and normal marine environment. The limestones are dominated by algal boundstone, crossbedded packstone and bioturbated wackestone facies. The occurrence of the crossbedded packstone facies throughout the Marmarica Formation indicates that a shallow marine environment prevailed.

Lithification of the precursor carbonates took place mainly in a meteoric environment. Replacement dolomitization ranged from fabric destructive to retentative and from fabric selective to pervasive. The presence of an abundant open marine fauna, the lack of evaporites, coupled with the contents of Sr and Na suggests that dolomitization took place in solutions more dilute than normal sea water.

The limestone and dolostone facies cannot be separated into distinct types based on their major or trace element chemistry. Only Mn and Sr seem to be facially controlled. Both elements are particularly enriched in the lagoonal facies compared with the organic buildup facies. The difference in the Mn content is attributed to their proximity to continental areas at the time of deposition. The differences in Sr values are interpreted by an originally differing mineralogy (calcite versus aragonite) and different rates of diagenesis. Dolomitization did not appear to influence the Mn content as substantially as the Sr content. The amount of the acid insoluble residue is controlled by the distribution of Si, Ti, Al, Fe, k, Rb and Zr.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Annoscia, E. (1969): The bryofauna of Mesomiocenic Al Jaghbub Formation in Eastern Cyrenaica (Libya).—Proc. 3rd African Micropal. Colloq. 37–97, 2 Pls., 4 Figs., Cairo

  • Badiozamani, K. (1973): The Dorag dolomitization model-application to the Middle Ordvician of Wisconsin.—J. Sed. Petrol.43/4, 965–984, 14 Figs., 5 Tables, Tulsa

    Google Scholar 

  • Bathurst, R.G.C. (1975): Carbonate sediments and their diagenesis 2nd ed., 658 p., 359 Figs., 25 Tables, Amsterdam, (Elsevier)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bencini, A. &Turi, A. (1974): Mn distribution in the Mesozoic carbonate rocks from Lima Valley, Northern Apennies.—J. Sed. Petrol.44/3, 774–782, 2 Figs., 3 Tables, Tulsa

    Google Scholar 

  • Brand, U. &Veizer, J. (1980): Chemical diagenesis of multicomponent carbonate system-1 trace elements.—J. Sed. Petrol.,50/4, 1219–1236, 13 Figs., 5 Tables, Tulsa

    Google Scholar 

  • Coniglio, M., James, N.P. &Aissaoui, D.M. (1988): Dolomitiztion of Miocene carbonates, Gulf of Suez, Egypt.—J. Sed. Petrol.58/1, 100–119, 16 Figs., 2 Tables, Tulsa

    Google Scholar 

  • Cosgrove, M.E. &Sulaiman, M.A. (1973): A rapid method for the determination of quartz in sedimentary rocks by X-ray diffraction incorporating mass absorption correction.—Clay Minerals,10, 51–55, 1 Fig., 1 Table, London

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dunham, R.J. (1962): Classification of carbonate rocks according to depositional textures.—InW.E. Ham (ed.) Classification of Carbonate Rocks a symposium.—Am. Ass. Petrol. Geol. Memoir1, 108–121, 7 Pls, Tulsa

  • El-Shahat, A. &West, I.M. (1983): Early and late lithification of aragonitic bivalve beds in the Purbeck Formation (Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous) of Southern England.—Sediment. Geol.35, 15–41, 8 Figs., 3 Tables, Amsterdam

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El-Shazli, M.M., El-Fayoumi, I.F. &Misak, R.F. (1974): Stratigraphic microfacies of the geological succession in El Dabaa-Ras El Hekma area ‘Western Mediterranean Coast, Egypt’.—Mans. Sci. Bull.4, 149–168, 10 Pls, 10 Figs., El-Mansoura

    Google Scholar 

  • Flügel, E. (1982) Microfacies analysis of limestone.—663 p., 53 Pls., 78 Figs., 58 Tables, Berlin (Springer)

    Google Scholar 

  • Folk, R.L. &Land, L.S. (1975): Mg/Ca ratio and salinity, two controls over crystallization of dolomite.—Am. Ass. Petrol. Geol. Bull.59/1, 60–68, 2 Figs., Tulsa

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedman, G.M. (1965): Terminology of crystallization textures and fabrics in sedimentary rocks.—J. Sed. Petrol.35/3, 643–655, 11 Figs., Tulsa

    Google Scholar 

  • Gindy, A.R. (1971): The stratigraphic succession of the exposed coastal Miocene sediments north of Salum town, its diagenesis and correlation with that of the Siwa depression, Western Desert of Egypt.—Proc. Egypt. Acad. Sci. (For 1970).23, 9–28, 2 Pls. 2 Figs., 3 Tables, Cairo

    Google Scholar 

  • — (1987): The relative diagenetic order of preservation of skeletal structures in fossil debris of a Miocene coquina near Salum, Egypt.—N. Jb. Paläont. Mh.1987/1, 27–42, 5 Figs., 2 Tables, Stuttgart

    Google Scholar 

  • Gindy, A.R. &El-Askary, M.A. (1969): Stratigraphy, structure and origin of Siwa depression, Western Desert of Egypt.—Am. Ass. Petrol. Geol. Bull.53/3, 603–625, 9 Figs., Tulsa

    Google Scholar 

  • Heckel, P.H. (1974): Carbonate buildups in the geologic record: A review. In: L. F. Laporte (Ed.) Reefs in time and space.—Soc. Econ. Paleontol. Mineral. Spec. Publ.18, 90–154, 9 Figs., 1 Tables, Tulsa.

  • Hsü, K.J., Ryan, W.B.F. &Cita, M.B. (1973): Late Miocene desiccation of the Mediterranean.—Nature,242, 239–243, London

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ismail, M.M. &Selim, A.A. (1969): Stratigraphy of the Salum area, Western Desert.—Bull. Fac. Sci. Alexandria Univ.9, 309–330, 19 Figs., Alexandria, Egypt

    Google Scholar 

  • Ismail, M.M., Salim, A.A. &Taha, A.A. (1977): Matruh-Barrani carbonate sediments petrography and diagenesis.—Bull. Fac. Sci., K.A. University,1, 145–160, 1 Pl., 2 Figs., 3 Tables, Jedda, Saudi Arabia

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinsman, D. J.J. (1969): Interpretation of Sr2+ concentrations in carbonate minerals and rocks.—J. Sed. Petrol.39/2 486–508, 4 Figs., Tulsa

    Google Scholar 

  • Land, L.S. (1970): Phreatic versus vodose meteoric diagenesis of limestones: evidence from a fossil water table.—Sedimentology,14, 175–185, 6 Figs., 2 Tables, Amsterdam

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • — (1973): Holocene meteoric dolomitization of Pleistocene limestones, North Jamica.—Sedimentology,20, 411–424, 3 Figs., 7 Tables, Amsterdam

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Land, L.S. &Hoops, G.K. (1973): Sodium in carbonate sediments and rocks: a possible index to the salinity of diagenetic solutions.—J. Sed. Petrol.43/3, 614–617, 4 Tables, Tulsa

    Google Scholar 

  • Longman, M.W. (1980): Carbonate diagenetic textures from nearsurface diagenetic environments.—Bull. Am. Ass. Petrol. Geol. Bull.64/4, 461–487, 18 Figs., Tulsa

    Google Scholar 

  • Matthews, R.K. (1967): Diagenetic fabrics in biosparites from the Pleistocene of Barbados, West Indies.—J. Sed. Petrol.37/4, 1147–1153, 10 Figs., Tulsa

    Google Scholar 

  • Qing, H. &Mountjoy, E.W. (1989): Multistage dolomitization in Rainbow Buildups, Middle Devonian Keg River Formation, Alberta, Canada.—J. Sed. Petrol.59/1, 114–126, 18 Figs., 2 Tables, Tulsa

    Google Scholar 

  • Randazzo, A.F. &Zachos, L.G. (1984): Classification and description of dolomite fabrics of rocks from the Floridan aquifer, U.S.A..—Sed. Geol.37/3, 151–162, 8 Figs., 1 Table, Amsterdam

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Said, R. (1962): The geology of Egypt.—377 p., 17 Pls., 71 Figs., 17 Tables, Amsterdam, Elsevier

    Google Scholar 

  • Salem, R. (1976): Evolution of Eocene-Miocene sedimentation patterns in parts of northern Egypt.—Am. Ass. Petrol. Geol. Bull.60, 34–64, 19 Figs., Tulsa

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarkar, S.;Bhattacharyya, A. &Chanda, S.K. (1980): Recognition of hardgrounds and emersion surfaces: a new criterion.—J. Sed. Petrol.50/1, 83–89, 7 Figs., Tulsa

    Google Scholar 

  • Selim, A.A. (1977): Diagenesis of the Middle Miocene limestones of the Salum area, Western Desert, Egypt.—Bull. Fac. Sci. K.A. University.1, 129–144, 3 Pls., 1 Fig., 1 Table, Jedda

    Google Scholar 

  • Steinen, R.P. (1974): Phreatic and vadose diagenetic modification of Pleistocene limestone: petrographic observations from subsurface of Barbados, West Indies.—Am. Ass. Petrol. Geol. Bull.58/6, 1008–1024, 19 Figs., 2 Tables, Tulsa

    Google Scholar 

  • Steinen, R.P. &Matthews, R.K. (1973): Phreatic vs. vadose diagenesis stratigraphy and mineralogy of a cored borehole on Barbados, W.I..—J. Sed. Petrol.43/4, 1012–1020, 2 Figs., 1 Table, Tulsa

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoffers, P.;Summerhayes, C.P. &Dominik, J. (1980): Recent pelletoidal carbonate sediments off Alexandria, Egypt.—Marine Geol.34, M1-M8, 3 Figs., 2 Tables, Amsterdam

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tennant, C.B. &Berger, R.W. (1957): X-ray determination of dolomite-calcite ratio of carbonate rocks.—Am. Mineral.42, 23–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Turekian, K.K. &Wedepohl, K.H. (1961): Distribution of the elements in some major rock units of the earth's crust.—Bull. Geol. Soc. Amer.,72/2, 175–192, 1 Table, New York

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Veizer, J. (1976): Diagenesis of pre-Quaternary carbonates as indicated by tracer studies.—J. Sed. Petrol.47/2, 565–581, 13 Figs., Tulsa

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, 35516, Mansoura, Egypt

    Adam El-Shahat

Authors
  1. Adam El-Shahat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

El-Shahat, A. Middle Miocene carbonates from the Northern Plateau of the Western Desert (Egypt): Petrography and geochemistry. Facies 28, 67–76 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02539728

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02539728

Keywords

Search

Navigation