Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol.10,
No.3, pp. 295-318, 1987
©Copyright 2000 Scientific Press,
Ltd.
THE PHYSIOGRAPHIC FEATURES
OF THE MIOCENE RAS MALAAB GROUP BASIN, SOUTH
BAKR OILFIELD, GULF OF SUEZ, EGYPT
Mohamed Hossny Elzarka* and
Mokhless M. Wally**
* Faculty of Science, Alexandria
University, Egypt.
** General Petroleum Company
(GPC), Nasr City, Egypt.
Abstract
The lithostratigraphy and petrography of
the Ras Malaab Group were investigated in order to define the
physiography and structure of the depositional basin. The Ras
Malaab Group consists, from the top, of the Zeit, South Gharib
and Belayim Formations. The basal Belayim Formation consists of
carbonate barrier (reefal), lagoonal and marine tidal-flat
carbonates, located from east to west respectively in the basin.
Thus, reefal limestones and evaporites are associated within the
succession of the Belayim Formation. The overlying South Gharib
Formation is composed of thick evaporite sediments that were
deposited in a restricted, subsiding salina basin. Intense
subsidence in the western part of the basin is related to
faulting The Zeit Formation consists of evaporites and fine
clastics derived from surrounding land-masses. The Zeit sequence
indicates relatively deeper, semi-restricted, lagoonal
conditions.
