Elsevier S & T

The Great Sand Sea in Egypt: Formation, Dynamics and Environmental Change - a Sediment-analytical Approach

Besler, H.

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Table of contents
  • Cover
  • Table of Contentsv
  • List of Figuresix
  • List of Tablesxi
  • Prefacexiii
  • Chapter 1 Introduction to the Great Sand Sea1
  • Chapter 2 Methods of Investigation5
  • 2.1. The Main Objectives5
  • 2.2. Selection of Suitable Methods6
  • 2.3. Brief Description of the Procedures8
  • 2.3.1. Digital elevation models and watershed analysis on the basis of satellite and radar data8
  • 2.3.1.1. Introduction8
  • 2.3.1.2. Digital elevation data8
  • 2.3.1.2.1. ASTER elevation data10
  • 2.3.1.2.2. Elevation data from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission12
  • 2.3.1.2.3. Quality and accuracy of the digital elevation models used14
  • 2.3.1.3. Generating a uniform elevation database for the Western Desert of Egypt17
  • 2.3.2. The topographic surveys19
  • 2.3.3. Sedimentological analysis24
  • 2.3.3.1. Granulometry24
  • 2.3.3.2. Morphoscopic analysis25
  • 2.3.3.3. Heavy-mineral analysis26
  • 2.3.3.4. Scanning-electron microscopy26
  • 2.3.4. Salinity measurements27
  • 2.3.5. Luminescence dating of sand deposits27
  • 2.3.6. Meteorological observations30
  • Chapter 3 Topography of the Great Sand Sea33
  • 3.1. Geological Setting and Bedrock Topography33
  • 3.1.1. Geological formations and their spatial pattern33
  • 3.1.2. Bedrock landforms34
  • 3.1.3. Reconstruction of palaeo-drainage systems by digital elevation data39
  • 3.1.3.1. Introduction39
  • 3.1.3.2. The potential bedrock relief and the hypothetical palaeo-drainage system41
  • 3.1.3.3. Conclusions46
  • 3.2. The Pleistocene Draa46
  • 3.2.1. The southern longitudinal draa of the trades49
  • 3.2.2. The northern transverse draa of the westerlies52
  • 3.3. The Holocene Dunes58
  • 3.3.1. Dunes on the transverse draa59
  • 3.3.2. Dunes on the longitudinal draa60
  • 3.3.3. The southward progradation and the northern extension of dunes67
  • 3.3.4. Comparison with modern winds68
  • 3.4. The Sand Budget71
  • Chapter 4 The Granulometric Analysis73
  • 4.1. Historical Developments73
  • 4.2. Grain-Size Parameters75
  • 4.2.1. Mean grain size (Mz)76
  • 4.2.2. Sorting (So)79
  • 4.2.3. Skewness (Sk)80
  • 4.2.4. Kurtosis (K)81
  • 4.3. The System of Granulometric Sand Types82
  • 4.3.1. Granulometric sand types of the draa85
  • 4.3.2. Granulometric sand types of the dunes88
  • 4.3.3. Granulometric types of the sandstones94
  • 4.4. The Response Diagram95
  • Chapter 5 Luminescence Dating99
  • 5.1. The Sampling Sites99
  • 5.2. Laboratory Procedures and Results105
  • 5.2.1. Equivalent-dose determination106
  • 5.2.1.1. Sampling, sample preparation and measurement facilities106
  • 5.2.1.2. Measurement procedures for De estimation106
  • 5.2.1.3. De determination for the Great Sand Sea samples110
  • 5.2.2. Dose-rate determination112
  • 5.2.2.1. Uncertainty about the state of equilibrium of the radioactive-decay chains114
  • 5.2.2.2. Impact of varying overburden thickness on the cosmic-dose contribution115
  • 5.2.2.3. Influence of uncertainty in water-content variations115
  • 5.3. Interpretation of Dating Results118
  • 5.3.1. OSL ages of the draa118
  • 5.3.2. Growth rates of the draa119
  • 5.3.3. Younger aeolian reworking of draa121
  • 5.4. Comparative Discussion of Regional Datings: Time Slices in the Great Sand Sea123
  • Chapter 6 Quartz Sand as an Indicator of Humid Periods129
  • 6.1. The Salinity of Sands129
  • 6.1.1. Water in dunes129
  • 6.1.2. Interpretation and discussion of the salinity130
  • 6.2. The Rubification of Sands135
  • 6.2.1. Introductory discussion of red dune sands135
  • 6.2.2. Reddened sands in the Great Sand Sea138
  • 6.2.2.1. The western transection139
  • 6.2.2.2. The middle transection139
  • 6.2.2.3. The eastern transection141
  • 6.2.2.4. Colour observations during the topographic surveys143
  • Chapter 7 Heavy-Mineral Analysis145
  • 7.1. The Total Heavy-Mineral Content145
  • 7.2. The Heavy-Mineral Assemblages148
  • Chapter 8 Scanning Electron Microscopy153
  • 8.1. Brief History of the Development153
  • 8.2. How to Prevent a Biased Interpretation154
  • 8.3. General Properties of the Quartz Grains155
  • 8.4. Correlations with Dating156
  • 8.5. The Most Frequent Microstructures: Controversial Phenomena160
  • 8.6. Discussion of the Environmental Developments164
  • 8.6.1. Processes in the Holocene164
  • 8.6.1.1. The more common features164
  • 8.6.1.2. The environments at the dating sites170
  • 8.6.1.2.1. The eastern sites170
  • 8.6.1.2.2. The sites in the middle172
  • 8.6.1.2.3. The western sites174
  • 8.6.1.3. The spatial pattern175
  • 8.6.2. Pre-Holocene processes in the Great Sand Sea176
  • 8.6.3. Major sand sources181
  • 8.6.3.1. Environments outside the Great Sand Sea181
  • 8.6.3.2. Major differences186
  • 8.6.3.3. The southwestern sand source186
  • 8.6.3.4. The eastern sand source189
  • 8.6.3.5. The western sand source190
  • 8.6.3.6. Sand sources for the southern middle sand sea192
  • 8.7. The Question of Earlier Cycles of Draa/Dune Formation193
  • Chapter 9 The History of the Great Sand Sea Compared to that of Other Active Ergs195
  • 9.1. Sand Sources and Their Influence195
  • 9.2. Draa Patterns and Draa Formation197
  • 9.3. Time Slices of Draa Formation and Reworking202
  • 9.4. Conditions During the Holocene Climatic Optimum206
  • 9.5. The Final Aridization208
  • Appendix 1: List of Samples and Their Investigated Parameters211
  • Appendix 2: Procedure of SEM Feature Analysis and Environmental Composition Exemplified for Sample N219
  • References225
  • Index243
Book details
  • Vendor Elsevier S & T
  • SKU 9780444529411
  • ISBN-13 9780080558967
  • Author Besler, H.
  • Category Science
  • Subject Geology

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The Great Sand Sea in Egypt presents the history of one of the large sand seas in the Sahara, beginning with the sand supply by fluvial transport from partly distant areas and also by local sandstone weathering. It also details sand as carrier of information and shows the possibilities of sedimentary analysis in dealing with such a topic. Simple measurements may supply important information (e.g. salinity measurements). Well known methods can be developed further to answer special questions. A wealth of information can be drawn from especially adapted sedimentological investigations. In the end, bits of information from different analytical sources can be put together to reveal the history of a large sand sea.

*Analyzes different geological sources to decipher the history of the Great Sand Sea
*Presents the possibilities of sedimentary analysis to interpret the history of an area
*Develops well-known methods to further answer special questions