DEVELOPMENT OF THE WATER RESOURCES IN WADI QENA BASIN ...
Transcript of DEVELOPMENT OF THE WATER RESOURCES IN WADI QENA BASIN ...
DEVELOPMENT OF THE WATER RESOURCES IN WADI
QENA BASIN, EASTERN DESERT, EGYPT
A Thesis Submitted
BY
Hussien Mohammed Hussien Mohammed
(B. Sc., Geology, Cairo University, 2004)
(M.Sc., Geology, Ain Shams University, 2011)
For
To
Geology Department, Faculty of Science
Ain Shams University
Supervisors
Prof. Dr. Ezzat. A. Korany
Professor of Hydrogeology, Geology
Department, Faculty of Science, Ain
Shams University
Prof. Dr. Tarek. A. Aggour
Professor of Hydrogeology, Geology
Department, Desert Research Center
Prof. Dr. Alan. E. Kehew
Professor of Hydrogeology,
Geosciences Department, Western
Michigan University
Dr. Abdel-Mohsen. H. M. Hassanein
Assistant professor of Hydrogeology,
Geology Department, Desert Research
Center
Dr. Samah. M. Morsy
Lecturer of Hydrogeology, Geology Department,
Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University
Geology Department
Faculty of Science
Ain Shams University
2017
Ain Shams University
Faculty of science
Geology Department
The Ph. D. Degree in Geology
(Hydrogeology)
Approval sheet
DEVELOPMENT OF THE WATER RESOURCES IN WADI QENA BASIN, EASTERN DESERT,
EGYPT
A Thesis
Submitted for the requirements of the Ph.D.
Degree in Geology (Hydrogeology)
By
Hussien Mohammed Hussien
Supervision Committee:
Prof. Dr. Ezzat A. Korany
Professor of Hydrogeology, Geology Department,
Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University
Prof. Dr. Tarek A. Aggour,
Professor of Hydrogeology, Geology Department,
Desert Research Center
Prof. Dr. Alan E. Kehew
Professor of Hydrogeology, Geosciences Department,
Western Michigan University
Assist. Prof. AbdelMohsen H. M. Hassanein
Assistant professor of Hydrogeology, Geology Department,
Desert Research Center
Dr. Samah. M. Morsy
Lecturer of Hydrogeology, Geology Department,
Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University
Ain Shams University
Faculty of science
Geology Department
NOTE Name of Student: Hussien Mohammed Hussien
Degree requirements: Ph.D. in Geology (Hydrogeology)
Department: Geology
Faculty: Science
University: Ain Shams
Graduate Year: 2004
M.Sc. Awarded: 2011
Head of Department: Prof. Dr. Abdel-Mohsen M. Morsy
Ain Shams University
Faculty of science
Geology Department
This work is dedicated to
The soul of My Father,
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First, thanks to God for the continuous and persistent patience and
effort to complete this thesis.
A special thanks to Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Ain
shams University for continuous support and encouragement.
I would like to express my deep gratitude to Prof. Dr. Ezzat Ali Korany
(Prof. of Hydrogeology, Ain Shams University), for the supervision of the
present work, reviewing the manuscript and continuous help.
I am greatly indebted to Prof. Dr. Tarek Ali Aggour (Prof. of
Hydrogeology, Desert Research Center) who suggested, planned, supervised
and guided all steps of this research project. The completion of this work was
the result of his continuous support and fruitful discussion.
My deepest thanks for Prof. Dr. Alan Kehew (Geosciences
department, Western Michigan University for his supervision and providing
facilitates in Western Michigan University laboratories during my study in the
external scholarship in USA.
I wish to express my sincere gratitude and thanks to Dr. Abdel Mohsen
Hassaneian Mohammed (Asst. Prof., Desert Research Center) for his
supervision, discussion, helping in all steps of the thesis and reviewing of the
manuscripts.
I wish to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Samah Mohamoud Morsi
(Geology Department, Ain Shams University) for her continuous help and
encouragement during the progress of this work and also her efforts in
reviewing the manuscript.
Special thanks to Mr. Karem Fatthi (NRIG), and Mr. Mahmoud El
Ammawy (DRC) for their help in the field and office works.
A special thanks and gratitude to My Mother, My Wife and all my
family members for their kind help and encouragement during the progress of
this work.
ABSTRACT
Wadi Qena basin represents a promising area in the Eastern
Desert of Egypt for land reclamation and settlement of new
communities. It is located between latitudes 26° 15´ 00" & 28° 15´ 00"
North and between longitudes 32° 15´00" & 33° 30´33" East. The
average annual precipitation over Wadi Qena basin ranges from 13.43
mm/y on the northeastern part of the study area to 2.78 mm/y on the
western parts.
The present work focuses on the factors controlling the water
resources development in Wadi Qena basin. It is conducted through
detailed geomorphologic, geologic and hydrogeologic studies for the
study area. Geomorphologically, Wadi Qena basin is divided into two
main geomorphic units; the highlands and lowlands. The highlands
include the Red Sea mountainous terrain, the high plateaus (El Maaza
limestone and El Ababda sandstone), the low plateau and hilly area. The
lowlands embrace the morphotectonic depressions, piedmont plain and
drainage networks. The assessment of the flood strength and hazard
degrees of Wadi Qena sub-basins indicates that Wadi Fattera sub-basin
has the highest hazard degree while, Shahdeen, Jurdi and Um Solimate
sub-basins have the lowest. Stratigraphically, the rock exposures along
Wadi Qena basin belong to a range in age from Precambrian to
Quaternary. Petrographically, Twenty-five thin sections from the
exposed succession along Qena-Safaga road represents the Nubia
sandstone (Abu Aggag Formation) are investigated for their
petrographical constituents and the diagenetic processes. Four main
microfacies association are recognized including; quartz arenite, sub-
litharenite, quartz wacke and pebbly quartz wacke. Compaction and
cementation are the main diagenetic processes. The studied sandstone
thin sections have well developed intergranular porosity in most samples
ranging between 10-21%. Based on Landsat images, aeromagnetic data,
geologic maps and field investigations, the area of study is structurally
controlled by two main shear zones; Qena-Safaga shear zone (QS) and
Najd shear zone. Their trends are northeast-southwest (NE-SW) and
northwest- southeast (NW-SE), respectively. Spatial analysis of these
structures refers that the surface shear zones and faults are an echo of
the deep seated faults dissecting the massif belt of the Precambrian
crystalline rocks and the overlying Phanerozoic strata. This situation
favor the strong influences of uplift related sub-vertical faults on the
groundwater flow and aquifer connectivity in Wadi Qena basin.
Hydrogeologically, four water-bearing formations are recognized in the
study area. They comprise the Quaternary aquifer, the Post Nubia
aquifer, Nubia sandstone aquifer, and fractured basement aquifer. The
Nubia sandstone and Quaternary aquifers are the most promising water-
bearing formations in Wadi Qena basin. The exploitable thickness of the
Nubia aquifer is 200m.The water salinity of this aquifer ranges between 1300
mg/l to 2251mg/l.
The environmental stable isotopes (Oxygen, Deuterium) reveal
four isotopic groups. These comprise; group (I) highly depleted Nubia
water, group (II) modern water in fractured basement, group (III) a
mixed group between Nubia water and recent water and group (IV) a
mixed evaporative group between Nubia and modern waters with a
considerable deviation from the global meteoric water line.
For sustainable development of the water resources, based on the
present investigations, several recommendations are suggested. Among
them are; the construction of a strong controlling system (dames,
barriers and tunnels) to mitigate the flash floods and harvest their water
in order to use in the development activities and projects. Good
management of The Quaternary aquifer in Wadi Qena basin by using
modern techniques of irrigation to avoid the deterioration of the soil and
water. The Nubia sandstone aquifer has a good water quality. More
geophysical exploration and hydrological investigation are needed
especially in the downstream portion of Wadi Fattera sub-basin, where
it receives a considerable recharge of meteoric and fresh water from the
underlying Nubia sandstone aquifer.
I
Page CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ABSTRACT IV LIST OF FIGURES……………………………………………... IX LIST OF TABLES………………………………………………
INTRODUCTION
1 Location……………………………………………………..........
3 Review of Previous Work ………………………….…................
7 The Scope of the Present Study……………………………..........
CHAPTER (I) GEOMORPHOLOGIC FEATURES,
LANDFORMS AND HYDROLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE
11 1.1 The High Lands (Watershed areas)……………….…………..
11 The Red Sea mountainous terrains…………………………
14 The high plateaus………………………………………….. 16 The low plateau…………………………………………….
16 The hilly area..……………………………………………..
17 1.2 The Low Lands (Water collectors) …………………………...
17 Morphotectonic depressions………………………………
19 Piedmont plain…………………………………………….
19 The drainage network……………………………………..
20 1.3 The Morphometric Analysis………..…….………………......
37 1.4 Hydrogeological Significance…………...……………….......
38 1.5 Priorities of Flood Control ………………...……..…………..
40 1.6 Potential Recharge Sites………………………………………
44 1.7 Recharge Mechanism Using Dams…………………………...
CHAPTER (II) GEOLOGIC SETTING
45 2.1. Lithostratigraphic Succession……………………………….
48 Precambrian basement complex…………………………...
48 Wadi Qena Formation (? Albian-Cenomanian)……………
49 Galala Formation (Late Cenomanian to Early Turonian)….
50 Umm Omeiyid Formation (Late Turonian)………………..
50 Abu Aggag Formation (Turonian-Early Coniacian)……….
II
51 Hawashiya Formation (Coniacian-Santonian)……………….
54 Rakhiyat Formation (Late Middle Campanian)……………...
54 Quseir Variegated shale (Campanian)……………………….
55 Duwi Formation (Campanian-Maastrichtian)………….........
55 Sudr Formation (Maastrichtian)……………………………..
56 Dakhla Formation (Maastrichtian –Early Paleocene)……….
57 Tarawan Formation (Late Paleocene)…………
57 Esna Formation (Paleocene-Early Eocene)…………………..
57 Thebes Formation (Early Eocene)…………………………...
58 Pliocene deposits…………………………………………….
58 The Quaternary deposits……………………………………...
59 2.2 The Petrographic Description………………………………...
59 Petrographic description of Abu Aggag sandstone rock unit…
65 Diagenesis of Abu Aggag sandstone…………………….......
66 Porosity features in the investigated sandstones………..........
67 2.3 Surface and Subsurface Geologic Structures of Wadi Qena
Basin………………………………………………………….
69 1. Delineating the surface structural features based on ratio
image……………………………………………………..
71 2. Delineating deep seated faults using aeromagnetic total
intensity data……………………………………………...
73 2.4 Discussion and Results………………………………………..
CHAPTER (III) HYDROGEOLOGICAL CONDITIONS
78 3.1 Alluvium aquifer (Quaternary)…………………………….....
83 3.2 Carbonates and Sandstone of Post Nubia Aquifer (Eocene-
Pliocene)……………………………………………………..
88 3.3 Nubia Sandstone Aquifer (Turonian-Santonian)…...…………
94 3.4 Fractured Basement Complex Aquifer (Precambrian)……….
95 1. Wadi Abu Sheih…………………………………………….
98 2. Wadi El Markh (El-Misikate Area)…………………………
98 3. Wadi El Gidami…………………………………………….
100 4. Wadi Fattera………………………………………………..
100 5. Wadi Umm Douqal…………………………………………
III
CHAPTER (IV) HYDROGEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS
OF GROUNDWATER
104 4.1 Hydrogeochemical Aspects of Groundwater…………………
105 1. Groundwater salinity (TDS)………….………………........
112 2. Major ions concentration.………………………………......
115 3. Hypothetical salts combinations…………………………...
119 4. Hydrochemical coefficients (Ion ratios)…………………...
124 5. Geochemical classification of the groundwater…………...
127 6. Evaluation of groundwater quality………………………...
131 7. Stable isotopes……………………………………………
140 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS………….………………..
146 RECOMMENDATIONS…………………...….…………….…
149 REFERENCES………………………………...…………….….
ARABIC SUMMARY……………………………...….…….….