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Geophysical surveys to investigate the relation between the Quaternary Nile channels and the Messinian Nile canyon at East Nile Delta, Egypt

مسوحات جيوفيزيائية لتحديد العلاقة بين قنوات النيل في العصر الرباعي ووديان النيل في العصر المسيني (الميوسين المتأخر) في شرق دلتا النيل- مصر

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Abstract

This paper compares the pattern of historical Eastern Nile Delta branches, delineated by geoelectric resistivity investigation, with the path of the Nile canyon of Messinian time revealed in seismic reflection. A close correlation is evident between the Late Quaternary Nile River channels and the Messinian canyons (wadies) in the eastern Nile Delta. This indicates that the Messinian canyons were a persistent topographic (or geomorphic) feature until historical branches. The results may also have implications for long-term patterns of subsidence in the delta area.

Abstract

تتعلق هذه الدراسة بمقارنة أماكن وديان النيل في العصر المسيني (الميوسين المتأخر) وأماكن فروع دلتا النيل التاريخية في العصر الرباعي في الجزء الشرقي من دلتا النيل . في هذه الدراسة تم تتبع وتحديد أماكن مواقع وديان النيل في العصر المسيني (الميوسين المتأخر) من خلال بيانات خطوط الانعكاس السيزمي المتاحة في هذه المنطقة. أما فروع دلتا النيل التاريخية في العصر الرباعي فقد أمكن تتبعها وتحديد مواقاعها من خلال المسح الجيوكهربي بطريقة المقاومية النوعيه الكهربائية في الجزء الشرقي من دلتا النيل. وبمقارنة مواقع وديان النيل في العصر المسيني (الميوسين المتأخر) بمواقع فروع دلتا النيل التاريخية في العصر الرباعي وجد أن هناك إرتباط إيجابي بين هذه المواقع وبعضها البعض بمنطقة شرق دلتا النيل. تشيرهذه النتائج إلى أن أماكن وديان النيل في العصر المسيني (الميوسين المتأخر) ظلت منخفضة طوبغرافيا حتى آتت فروع دلتا النيل التاريخية في العصر الرباعي وسلكت تلك الأماكن المنخفضة وربما يكون أن تلك الأماكن تعرضت لهبوط فإنخفضت وسلكتها فروع دلتا النيل التاريخية في العصر الرباعي.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are indebted to the late Prof. Dr. M. M. El-Gamili for his encouragement. The authors wish to thank Dr. A. Fowler for revising the final version of this manuscript. Special thanks go to colleagues who provided considerable support during the geoelectric data acquisition. We would also like to thank Prof. Abdullah Al-Amri, the Editor, and anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Water Studies Centre, King Faisl University, P.O. Box 420, 31982, Al Hofouf, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Ahmed El Mahmoudi

  2. Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, UAE University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates

    Amir Gabr

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  1. Ahmed El Mahmoudi
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  2. Amir Gabr
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Correspondence to Ahmed El Mahmoudi.

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El Mahmoudi, A., Gabr, A. Geophysical surveys to investigate the relation between the Quaternary Nile channels and the Messinian Nile canyon at East Nile Delta, Egypt. Arab J Geosci 2, 53–67 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-008-0018-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-008-0018-9

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