PETROGRAPHICAL, MINERALOGICAL AND GEOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF CRETACEOUS-PALEOCENE CLASTIC ROCKS IN WADI QWIEH – WADI ABU HAMRA AREA, CENTRAL EASTERN DESERT, EGYPT

Integrated petrographical, mineralogical and geochemical studies were carried out on the sandstone and shale bedsof Tarif, Qusier, Duwi, Dakhla and Esna formations exposed at Wadi Qwieh – Wadi Abu Hamra area, which located between Latitudes 26° 16ʹ and 26° 20ʹ N and Longitudes 34° 05ʹ and 34° 08ʹ E
Petrographically, the studied sandstone samples in Tarif Formation is quartz arenite with iron oxides and silica cement, generally monocrystaline, moderately sorted, sub-rounded to sub-angular with normal and wavy extinction. The main mineralogical constituent of the studied sandstone is quartz with hematite, gypsum and microcline as minor constituent. The clay minerals are montmorillonite and kaolinite, where montmorillonite is more abundant that pointed to presence of ultramafic-mafic rocks in the source area.
Geochemical studies reflect that the sandstones of the Tarif Formation were probably deposited under relatively warm and slightly alkaline conditions.