Accepted Manuscript

Mineral composition and geochemistry of the Upper Cretaceous siliciclastics (Nubia

Group), Aswan District, south Egypt: Implications for provenance and weathering

Abdallah M. Hassan

PII: S1464-343X(17)30329-1
DOI: 10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2017.08.013
Reference: AES 2995

To appear in: Journal of African Earth Sciences

Please cite this article as: Abdallah M. Hassan, Mineral composition and geochemistry of the Upper
Cretaceous siliciclastics (Nubia Group), Aswan District, south Egypt: Implications for provenance and
weathering, Journal of African Earth Sciences (2017), doi: 10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2017.08.013

This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to
our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo
copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please
note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all
legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

Mineral composition and geochemistry of the Upper Cretaceous siliciclastics 1

(Nubia Group), Aswan District, south Egypt: Implications for provenance and 2
weathering 3
4
Abdallah M. Hassan 5
Geology Department, Faculty of Science Sohag University, Egypt. 6
7

PT
ABSTRACT 8
The Upper-Cretaceous clastic succession (Nubia Group) in the area northeast of 9
Aswan includes three rock units, from base upwards: Abu Aggag Formation (Turonian), 10

RI
Timsah Formation (Coniacian -Santonian) and Um Barmil Formation (Santonian 11
Campanian). Quartz and clay minerals are the predominant phases throughout the whole 12
succession while feldspars are very rare. Kaolinite is overwhelming among the clay 13
minerals, in addition to less important amounts of illite and illite/smectite. The ultrastable 14

SC
heavy minerals are the prevailing non- opaque phases and they significantly change in 15
relative abundance upsection. SiO2, Al2O3 and Fe2O3 are the dominant chemical 16
components. 17
The statistical examination had revealed that the chemical constituents are loaded 18

U
on three main geochemical trends; the siliceous, the argillaceous and the ferruginous. The 19
enrichment factor shows that the geochemical behavior of the major and trace elements is 20
AN
uniform throughout the sandstones and mudstones of the Abu Aggag Formation. A 21
significant geochemical contrast is documented between the sandstones and mudstones of 22
both the Timsah and the Um Barmil formations. The provenance critical elemental ratios 23
Ti/Nb and Ti/Y are nearly constant throughout the sandstones and mudstones of the Abu 24
M

Aggag Formation, and they fall within the range of granitic-granodioritic composition. 25
The Timsah sandstones have Ti/Nb and Ti/Y ratios that are consistent with those of the 26
Abu Aggag rocks, suggesting a similar provenance. These elemental ratios are extremely 27
D

higher in the Timsah mudstones, reflecting a great influx of mafic material. The Um 28
Barmil sandstones exhibit exceedingly dispersed values of Ti/Nb and Ti/Y, reflecting their 29
TE

derivation from large catchment's areas of different rock types with the eroded products 30
being mixed in various relative proportions. The Ti/Nb and Ti/Y of the Um Barmil 31
mudstones are closely akin to those of the Timsah mudstones suggesting analogous 32
source. The chemical index of alteration (CIA) and the A-CN-K relation, together with the 33
EP

mineral composition, indicate that the siliciclastic rocks throughout the whole succession 34
were derived mainly from deeply weathered detritus under steady-state weathering 35
conditions. Recycling is limited in the Abu Aggag Formation and increases upwards to be 36
more common in the Um Barmil rocks. 37
C

38
Keywords: Nubia Group; Timsah Formation; Upper Cretaceous; siliciclastics; provenance, 39
AC

geochemistry; Aswan 40
41
1. Introduction 42
The clastic succession of the Upper Cretaceous Nubia Group constitutes a 43
significant part of the sedimentary record in Egypt. The Nubia Group is widely distributed 44
in the Aswan District, unconformably overlying the basement rocks. Following El Naggar 45
(1970), this succession includes three lithostratigraphic units; the Abu Aggag Formation 46
(Turonian), the Timsah Formation (Coniacian -Santonian) and the Um Barmil Formation 47
(Santonian Campanian). 48
Although the studies that have dealt with the Nubia Group in Egypt are numerous, 49
the compositional characteristics of these rocks and their controlling factors are 50

1
 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

controversial. Most of the previous studies focused on the stratigraphical and 51

sedimentological setting in addition to few mineralogical and geochemical investigations 52
(e.g., Youssef, 1957; Klitzsch et al., 1979; Mansour and Khallaf, 1979; Sayed, 1979; 53
Hassaan et al., 1981; El Badry et al., 1983; Mansour, 1985; Soliman et al., 1986; 54
Philobbos et al., 1990; Mohamed et al., 1991; El Younsy et al., 1994; El Shatter and El 55
Haddad, 2000, Thurmond et al., 2004; Khedr et al., 2010). Moreover, many studies 56
collected only few representative samples, occasionally over large distances, to make 57

PT
general comparisons and discussions. Geochemical examination and quantification of 58
these rocks are limited. So, detailed mineralogical and geochemical investigations of the 59
siliciclastic rocks (sandstones and mudstones) of this succession at different localities are 60
required to discuss their compositional pattern and to quantify their possible regional and 61

RI
local controlling factors. 62
The present study is intended to investigate the mineral composition and the 63
geochemical characteristics of the siliciclastic rocks of this succession in the area northeast 64

SC
of Aswan (between 32 51 to 33 03 E and 24 03 to 24 15 N) (Fig. 1). The 65
implications for the source rock composition; the climatic and weathering conditions and 66
the sorting fractionation can be deduced. 67
2. Methodology 68

U
The stratigraphic succession representing the three rock units was measured and 69
sampled (57 samples) at two sites, at Wadi Abu Aggag and Wadi Abu Sbeira, in the area
AN 70
northeast of Aswan (Figs. 1 and 2). The collected samples represent the studied Upper 71
Cretaceous rock units. Thirty-five thin sections of hard sandstone were prepared and 72
microscopically investigated for the petrographical study. Thirty sandstone and mudstone 73
samples were prepared and examined by the XRD method using randomly powdered 74
M
mounts to determine the bulk mineral composition. In addition, the fine fractions(<2 m) 75
of 15 mudstone samples were separated and subjected to clay minerals investigation; three 76
oriented mounts (untreated, glycolated and heated at 550 c) were prepared and examined 77
by XRD technique by using Phillips PW 1170 X-ray diffractometer. The heavy minerals 78
D

fraction was separated from the very fine sand fraction (0.063-0.125 mm) of 35 samples, 79
and microscopically examined to identify the different heavy minerals. 80
TE

The major and minor oxides (SiO2, Al2O3, TiO2, Fe2O3, MnO, MgO, CaO, 81
Na2O, K2O and P2O5) and some trace elements (Ba, Cr, Nb, Ni, Rb, V, Zn, Zr and Y) 82
were determined using X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) technique by using Inductively 83
Coupled Argon Plasma (ICAP-OES, PU 7000) emission spectroscopy on the whole rock 84
EP

samples (18 sandstone &10 mudstone samples) and clay fraction (5 samples). The 85
chemical analyses were carried out in the Institute of Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 86
Eberhard-Karls University, Tubingen, Germany. In order to discuss the inner-element 87
relationship and quantify the element variability as controlled by other independent 88
C

constituents, chemical data were statistically analyzed using the multiple linear 89
regressions. In addition, the principal component analysis was carried out in order to 90
AC

categorize the chemical constituents (variables) into geochemically related combinations. 91

So, the chemical behavior of individual elements and their controlling factors can be 92
discussed. The statistical procedure was performed by means of STATISTICA computer 93
software distributed by Stat Soft, Inc. 94
3. Lithostratigraphy 95
The Upper Cretaceous clastic succession (Nubia Sandstone) exposed in the area 96
east and northeast of Aswan is unconformably overlying the Pre-cambrian basement rocks 97
and includes three rock units (Attia, 1955) (Fig. 3a). These are, from base upwards, the 98
Abu Aggag (Turonian), the Timsah (Coniacian -Santonian) and the Um Barmil (Santonian 99
Campanian) formations (El Naggar, 1970; Klitzsch, 1984; Hendriks et al., 1987, 100

2
 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

Klitzsch and Wycisk, 1987; Hermina, 1990). These units reflect two regressive phases 101
separated by a transgressive phase of the Tethys Sea during Late Cretaceous time (Van 102
Houten et al., 1984). 103
During the first regressive phase (Turonian), the extreme southern parts of Egypt, 104
including the study area, formed positive areas to receive continental sediments. Fluvial 105
sediments were accumulated during this stage constituting the Abu Aggag Formation. In 106
the study area, the Abu Aggag Formation measures about ~40 meters thick (Fig. 2). The 107

PT
lithostratigraphic section of the Abu Aggag Formation starts at base with a kaolinitic 108
conglomeratic bed resting directly on the weathered Precambrian basement rocks (Fig. 3b) 109
and followed upwards by two large-scale fluviatile cycles, exhibiting crudely fining 110
upward succession (Fig. 3c). Each cycle starts at the base by conglomerate, conglomeratic 111

RI
sandstone and medium- to coarse-grained sandstone interbeds followed upwards by a 112
succession of fine- to medium-grained sandstone and is terminated with a gray massive 113
mudstone bed. These rocks are characterized by planar and trough cross-bedding. 114

SC
The transgressive phase (Coniacian- Santonian) brought the Tethys Sea southwards 115
into the central and southern Egypt and shallow marine clastic sediments were 116
accumulated in the study area (Timsah Formation). The lower part (~8 m) of the Timsah 117
Formation is composed of sandstone, siltstone and mudstone interbeds including reddish 118

U
brown iron ore bed (80-100 cm) (Figs. 2 and 3d). The sandstone beds are cross-bedded 119
and frequently bioturbated (Figs. 3e and 3f). The middle part (~6m) is formed of massive
AN 120
and fine- to medium-grained sandstones that are commonly ferruginous. The upper part 121
(~9m) is mudstone-dominated and composed of laminated and massive gray, dark yellow 122
and brown mudstone intercalations overlain by iron ore bed (60-80 cm) and is terminated 123
by a bioturbated sandstone bed (~1.5 m). 124
M
The fluviatile rocks of Um Barmil Formation were accumulated in the area as a 125
consequence of the sea regression during Santonian-Campanian time. The Um Barmil 126
Formation is formed of a large-scale, fining upwards, fluviatile cycles consisting of cross- 127
bedded sandstone interbeds (~18m) grading upwards into lensoidal bodies of brown 128
D

siltstone and gray mudstone intercalations (up to 1.5 m) (Figs. 2 and 3g). The fining 129
upward sequence is followed by a rose to brownish cross-bedded sandstone bed (5-6 m) of 130
TE

which the upper part is dark to black and very hard. 131
4. Petrography and mineralogy 132
The sandstones of the Abu Aggag Formation are mainly quartz arenites although 133
quartz wackes are frequent. They are poorly sorted and composed chiefly of quartz grains 134
EP

(80-94%) together with less abundant rock fragments (mostly less than 10%) and very rare 135
alkali feldspars (up to 5%) embedded in finer terrigenous ( commonly argillaceous) matrix 136
(Fig. 4a). The constituents are commonly cemented by siliceous and occasionally 137
ferruginous material. The quartz grains are mainly angular to subangular but rounded 138
C

grains also occur. They are either mono- or poly-crystalline (Fig. 4b) and exhibit both 139
uniform and undulose extinction. Highly sheared and stretched quartz grains occur 140
AC

frequently. 141
The examined sandstones of the Timsah Formation are closely similar in character 142
to those of the Abu Aggag Formation but their grains are relatively finer and commonly 143
cemented by ferruginous material (Fig. 4c). 144
The sandstones of the Um Barmil Formation are mature quartz arenites. They are 145
composed of well rounded and frequently elongated monocrystalline grains and cemented 146
by siliceous material (Fig. 4d). The ferruginous and calcareous cements are uncommon. 147
Almost no feldspar grains are observed and the argillaceous material is less abundant. 148
These sandstones are generally fine to medium-grained and are well sorted. 149

3
 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

The X-ray diffraction analysis (Figs. 5a-5d) had shown that quartz and clay 150
minerals, together with less amount of hematite, are the main mineral phases forming the 151
sandstones and mudstones throughout the Upper Cretaceous succession in the study area. 152
No feldspars are observed in the examined mudstones. Generally, clay minerals are 153
represented overwhelming by kaolinite; less significant amounts of illite and illite/smectite 154
mixed layers also occur in the Timsah Formation (Fig. 5c). Quartz is almost the principal 155
component of the Um Barmil sandstones whereas clay minerals are rare (Fig. 5d). 156

PT
The main identified non-opaque heavy minerals are zircon, rutile, epidote, garnet 157
and tourmaline, together with subordinate amounts of hornblende, staurolite, andalusite 158
and biotite (Table 1). Similar suites of heavy minerals were identified by Soliman (1983) 159
in his work in some exposures of the Nubia Sandstone in the central Eastern Desert. The 160

RI
ultrastable minerals (zircon, tourmaline and rutile) form the major portion of these 161
minerals. The ultrastable minerals collectively constitute more than 90% of the heavy 162
fraction in most samples. Zircon displays its highest content in the heavy fraction of the 163

SC
Abu Aggag Formation (mean =88.7%) and decreases upwards through the rocks of the 164
Timsah Formation (mean=67.9%) and reaches its lowest value (mean=35.4%) in the Um 165
Barmil Formation. Both euhedral and will rounded zircon grains are common in the Abu 166
Aggag Formation. The rounded grains increase upward to be more common in the Um 167

U
Barmil Formation. Rutile and tourmaline behave sympathetically in the examined rock 168
and they display a reverse behavior to zircon, where they exhibit the lowest content in the
AN 169
Abu Aggag Formation (2.2 and 0.26%, respectively) and increase upsection through the 170
Timsah Formation (23.8 and 0.89%, respectively) to attain their highest concentration in 171
the Um Barmil Formation (49.1 and 4.34% respectively). Epidote contents in the Abu 172
Aggag and Um Barmil formations (8.14 and 6.81respectively) are relatively higher than 173
M
those in the Timsah Formation (3.48%). On the other hand, garnet behaves in a reverse 174
manner to epidote and exhibits its lowest content in the Abu Aggag Formation (1.42%) 175
and its highest content is recorded in the Timsah Formation (4.37%). In the Um Barmil 176
Formation, its amount is 2.83%. 177
D

5. Elemental composition 178

Results of the estimated major and trace elements contents in the examined rocks 179
TE

are given in Table (2). In order to discuss and quantify the inter-element relationship, the 180
chemical data were statistically analyzed using the multiple linear regression technique to 181
explain the element variability as controlled by other independent elements. The almost 182
important relationships between the different elements are given in Table (3). 183
EP

SiO2, Al2O3 and Fe2O3 are the main chemical constituents forming the examined 184
samples throughout the entire studied succession. They collectively constitute 97.4 185
1.68% of the bulk composition of the different samples as quartz and kaolinite are the 186
dominant minerals components, in addition to different ferruginous phases. Regarding the 187
C

analyzed sandstone samples, Al2O3 shows its highest concentration in the Abu Aggag 188
Formation (average 3.72%) and decreases upwards through the Timsah Formation 189
AC

(average 2.07%) to reach its lowest content in the Um Barmil Formation (average 0.98%). 190
The examined mudstone samples are comparatively enriched with Al2O3 (Abu Aggag= 191
18.3%, Timsah=19.1 and Um Barmil=18.98%); which is further higher in the clay fraction 192
(Abu Aggag= 37.55%, Timsah=36.6%). SiO2 content behaves in a reverse manner relative 193
to the Al2O3 content and they show a perfect linear trend, strictly comparable to the 194
quartz-kaolinite mixing line (Fig. 6), with a very strong negative correlation (r = -0.98). 195
The sequential R-squared value (R2) of the multiple linear regression (Table 3) indicates 196
that 95% of the aluminum variability is reversibly controlled by that of SiO2. The Fe2O3 197
content exhibits irregular and wide range of concentrations (0.21- 8.63%) in the 198
investigated sandstones throughout the whole succession. The sandstone beds of the three 199

4
 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

units show similar ranges of the Fe2O3 content (0.22- 2.76% for the Abu Aggag 200
Formation, 0.35- 1.37% for the Timsah Formation and 0.53-2.38% for the Um Barmil 201
Formation). In the Abu Aggag Formation, sample N22 is an exception showing abnormal 202
higher content (8.635) to reflect its ferruginous cement. Although Fe2O3 tends to be 203
relatively higher in the finer mudstone (1.58 - 10.34%) and clay fraction (2.76 14.63%), 204
it has less significant positive correlation with Al2O3 (r = -0.48). The R2 value reveals that 205
only 23.2% of the Fe2O3 variability is explained by Al2O3, indicating that the major part of 206

PT
iron behaves independently following the irregular distribution of the Al- free , Fe-bearing 207
phases (opaque heavy fraction and ferruginous cement). 208
The general compositional trend of the examined rocks is thus controlled 209
principally by the SiO2 -Al2O3 - FeO relation (Fig. 7). The rocks of the Abu Aggag 210

RI
Formation are plotted close and parallel to the SiO2-Al2O3 axis. A perfect linear trend is 211
observed with the coarser sandstone samples which fall near the SiO2 apex (quartz) 212
whereas plots of the finer mudstone and clay fractions are regularly dispersed toward the 213

SC
kaolinite plot. The sandstone sample N22 is shifted from the former trend to fall close to 214
SiO2 FeO axis. The plots of the Timsah Formation exhibit a similar pattern but with 215
observable shift toward the SiO2 FeO axis following their relative higher content of the 216
ferruginous phases. The Um Barmil sandstones are plotted at, or very close to the SiO2 217

U
apex with a clear tendency toward the SiO2 FeO axis. This reflects their extreme 218
depletion in Al2O3 due to the very low content of clay minerals and the practical absence
AN 219
of feldspars. The mudstone plots significantly shift from the sandstone ones with a marked 220
gap; a phenomenon that is controlled by the well-sorting and more mature nature of these 221
rocks. 222
The TiO2 concentration shows strong positive correlation with Al2O3 (r= 0.84) and 223
M
the regression analysis shows that 70.5% of the TiO2 variability is explained by that of 224
Al2O3; whereas Fe2O3 adds very little more (0.01%). This indicates that Ti is concentrated 225
in the texturally finer samples containing significant amounts of the heavy and clay 226
fractions, and its incorporation in the Fe-phases is insignificant. The MgO, Zn, MnO and 227
D

Ni contents positively correlate with Fe2O3; the R2 values show that iron explains 93.3%, 228
75.4%, 60.6% and 33.4% of the variability of these elements, respectively, suggesting 229
TE

their association in the different Fe-phases. The geochemical behavior of V, Cr, Nb and Y 230
is significantly controlled by that of TiO2 and Al2O3; the latter constituents collectively 231
explain 89.7%, 84.6%, 78.2% and 68.9% of the variability of the former ones, 232
respectively. This indicates that V, Cr, Nb and Y are associated mainly with Ti and Al., in 233
EP

the heavy and clay fractions. Rubidium, on the other hand, very strongly correlates with 234
K2O that explains 95.4% of its variability. K2O shows a significant correlation with Al2O3 235
(r = 0.70) reflecting the coexistence of K and Rb in the clay minerals. Although K and Rb 236
are generally depleted in the examined rocks, they are comparatively higher in the Timsah 237
C

mudstones reflecting the recorded small portion of illite and illite/ smectite mixed layer 238
clay minerals. This is confirmed by the higher concentrations of K and Rb in the clay 239
AC

fraction of these mudstones. 240

The examined clay fractions show lower concentrations of Si and Zr and higher 241
content of Al, Fe, Mg, Zn, V and Ni relative to their mudstones (Table 2). The matter 242
which is mineralogically controlled where Si and Zr are concentrated in the coarser silt 243
and very fine sand fractions following the contents of quartz and zircon, respectively. On 244
the contrary, Al, Fe, Mg, Zn and Ni tend to be associated in the finer clay fraction 245
following the contents of the clay minerals and ferruginous phases. 246
Regarding the principal components analysis of the chemical data, the first two 247
components are the most powerful being able to explain more than 70% of the data 248
variability. The scatter plot diagram of the 1st and 2nd principal components (Fig. 8) shows 249

5
 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

that the chemical constituents are clearly separated into three various combinations. Al, Ti, 250
Ba, Cr, V, Nb, Y and Zr are tightly associated in one group. They are negatively loaded on 251
the 1st principal component whereas they are positively loaded on the 2nd principal one. 252
Plots of Fe, Mg, Mn, Zn and Ni are negatively loaded on both the 1st and 2nd principal 253
components to form strictly related group. On the other hand, Si behaves reversely relative 254
to the other constituents to form independent group. So, the considered elements are 255
practically loaded on three main factors. The first factor (the argillaceous trend) includes 256

PT
the Al- group and reflects the effect of the clay mineral-rich argillaceous material. The 257
second one (the ferruginous trend) controls the behavior of the Fe-group and suggests the 258
influence of the ferruginous matter. The siliceous trend (the third factor) is directed in the 259
opposite way relative to the mentioned two factors. This behavior is governed by the 260

RI
distribution pattern of quartz, where addition of quartz enhances the Si content but dilutes 261
the other constituents. 262
However, in order to quantify the geochemical behavior of the examined 263

SC
siliciclastic rocks, the effect of mechanical fractionation on the elemental absolute 264
concentrations should be corrected. Enrichment factors for both the major and trace 265
elements were therefore calculated for the data normalization (cf. Musashino, 1993; 266
Hassan et al., 1999). The enrichment factors of the examined mudstones were calculated 267

U
relative to the PAAS (Post Archean Australian Shale, Taylor and McLennan, 1985), 268
whereas the examined sandstones were normalized relative to the average Phanerozoic
AN 269
sandstone (Condie, 1993). The enrichment factor (EF) for an element (x) is given as: 270
EF = (Cx sample/C Al sample) / (Cx standard/CAl standard) 271
Where Cx is the concentration of the considered element and CAl is the 272
concentration of Al., The average values of the enrichment factor for the studied 273
M
mudstones and sandstones throughout the different units are displayed in Fig. (9). 274
Regarding the Abu Aggag Formation, the geochemical behavior of the major and 275
trace elements is extremely uniform, with minor exception, in both the mudstones and 276
sandstones. These rocks are strongly depleted in Mg, Ca, Na, K, Ba, Ni and Rb whereas 277
D

they are enriched with Nb, Zr, Y and Ti, and to a less extent Si and Cr. The sandstones are 278
relatively enriched with Fe and V while the mudstones are depleted in these elements. 279
TE

The geochemical behavior of the major oxides, except for Si, is very consistent 280
throughout the sandstones and mudstones of the Timsah Formation. This pattern is 281
identical to that of the Abu Aggag rocks. The sandstones display much higher enrichment 282
of Si compared with the associated mudstones. The normalized values of Nb, Y, Si, Cr 283
EP

and V are significantly higher in the Timsah sandstones relative to the associated 284
mudstones; Ni shows a reverse behavior. 285
The sandstones of the Um Barmil Formation show a geochemical pattern that 286
significantly contrasts with those of the underlying Abu Aggag and Timsah formations. 287
C

The most important feature is their excessive enrichment with Nb, Zr, Ti, Cr, Y and V 288
relative to the average Phanerozoic sandstones. Although the behavior of the major oxides 289
AC

and the trace elements in the mudstones of the Um Barmil Formation is generally akin to 290
those of the Abu Aggag and Timsah mudstones, Zr, Y, Ti and Nb are more enriched. This 291
may be attributed to the abrasion of the hosting minerals (e.g., zircon and rutile); the 292
common minerals grains in the Um Barmil Formation confirm this assumption. 293
6. Provenance 294
Although the nature of provenance area can be inferred from the mineral 295
composition and geochemical characteristics of the siliciclastic rocks (Condie and 296
Wronkiewiicz, 1990; McLennan and Taylor, 1991; McLennan, 1993; McLennan et al., 297
1993; Potter, 1994; Nesbitt et al., 1996), the bulk composition of these rocks reflects the 298
weathering profiles rather than the pristine bed rock composition when substantial 299

6
 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

weathering profiles are developed in the hinterlands (Nesbitt et al., 1996). Under such 300
conditions, immobile elements will be relatively enriched in the weathering profile as a 301
result of removal of the mobile ones. However, the ratio of the immobile elements will 302
remain almost unchanged. Therefore, elemental ratio of immobile elements is more 303
adequate for monitoring the source rock composition of their hosted rocks. 304
The high field strength elements, Ti, Y and Nb are immobile in aqueous fluids 305
under the surficial conditions (Bhatia and Crook, 1986; Middelburg et al., 1988). This 306

PT
means that these elements do not remain solublized in the aqueous system, and instead 307
they stay behind in the weathered material to be incorporated in the detrital phases. 308
Accordingly, the relative abundance of these elements will be nearly unchanged to be 309
indicative of the source rock composition (cf. Bonjour and Dabard, 1991). The 310

RI
geochemical differences between immobile elements indicative of felsic and others 311
indicative of mafic source have been exploited to contrast felsic and mafic provenance 312
(Condie and Wronkiewiicz, 1990; Bonjour and Dabard, 1991; Mclennan and Tylor, 313

SC
1991). Titanium is more abundant in basic than in acidic rocks but the opposite is true for 314
Nb and Y. Thus, the higher Ti/Nb and Ti, Y ratios are indicative of the more basic source 315
rocks. Such provenance-critical immobile elemental ratios are hence convenient for 316
finding out the approximate source rock composition. 317

U
The scatter plot diagram of Nb and Y against Ti of the studied rocks is displayed in 318
Fig. (10). The Ti/Nb and Ti/Y ratios are nearly uniform throughout the sandstones (mean=
AN 319
161 and 185, respectively) and mudstones (mean=241 and 127, respectively) of the Abu 320
Aggag Formation (Figs. 10a and 10b). The Abu Aggag rocks (sandstones, mudstones and 321
clay fraction) form a linear trend which passes very close to the plots of granites and 322
granodiorites; the regular dispersion of the plots along the linear trend reflects the sorting 323
M
effect. This behavior indicates that the Abu Aggag sandstones and mudstones were 324
derived from the same source, which is principally from granite-granodiorite composition. 325
So, granitoid rocks are mainly the most probable provenance of the Abu Aggag rocks. 326
This assumption is confirmed by the petrographical and mineralogical investigation, 327
D

where the idiomorphic zircon and the highly sheared and polycrystalline quartz grains 328
reflect their proximal source. Also, the extreme prevalence of zircon among the identified 329
TE

heavy minerals together with the very simple clay mineral species represented only by 330
kaolinite substantiate the suggested generation from nearby granitoid terrains. The nearby 331
basement rocks of the Nubian Swell outcropping to the south of the study area are the 332
most probable source of these Upper Cretaceous siliciclastic rocks (see Fig. 1). These 333
EP

rocks are predominantly composed of pre-Cambrian granites, granodiorites rocks with 334
some intervening mafic extrusive dykes (Wadi Natash Basalt of Cretaceous age) (Bernau 335
et al. (1987). 336
The Timsah sandstones have Ti/Nb and Ti/Y ratios (mean= 161 and 185, 337
C

respectively) that are consistent with those of the Abu Aggag rocks, and they exhibit a 338
similar linear trend in the scatter plot diagram (Figs. 10c and 10d) suggesting a similar 339
AC

provenance. The Timsah mudsones and clay fractions display a linear trend, which is 340
significantly shifted from that of the associated sandstones toward higher values Ti/Nb 341
(mean= 487) and Ti/Y (mean = 342). This geochemical manner indicates that a significant 342
reflux of mafic minerals played the major role in the formation of these mudstones. 343
Stratigraphically, the Timsah Formation post-dates the nearby Wadi Natash basaltic flows 344
(WNB) that interfinger with, and overly, the Abu Aggag rocks (Kerdany and Cherif, 1990; 345
El-Sharkawy et al., 1996). These basaltic rocks are accordingly the most probable source 346
responsible for the generation of the clay minerals included within the Timsah mudstones 347
through intense chemical weathering conditions. The linear trend of the Timsah 348
mudstones and their clay fraction, which obviously shifts toward the WNB plot (Figs. 10c 349

7
 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

and 10d), sustains this concept. The widespread ferruginous material and iron ore beds 350
encompassed in the Timsah rocks thus reflect the laterites of the basaltic source rocks the 351
hinterland. 352
In addition to the discussed sources of the Abu Aggag and Timsah rocks, clues of 353
recycling are also documented. The higher contents of Zr in the finer mudstones and even 354
the clay fraction (Table 2) can be attributed only to the attrition of zircon grains as a result 355
of their reworking. Well-rounded zircon and quartz grains are frequently recorded in these 356

PT
rocks and this clearly supports this conclusion. The recycling process as evidently limited 357
in the Abu Aggag Formation and increases upsection to be widespread in the Um Barmil 358
Formation. 359
The Um Barmil sandstones exhibit widely dispersed values of Ti/Nb (range from 360

RI
178 to 810) and Ti/Y (range from 189 to 563) with no discernible trend in the Nb-Ti and 361
Y-Ti scatter plot diagram (Figs. 10e and 10f). This suggests their derivation from large 362
areas through progressive erosion of different rock types with the weathering products 363

SC
being mixed in various relative proportions. The petrographical and mineralogical 364
investigation supports this concept, where the well developed sorting and maturity and the 365
prevailing well rounded and mono-crystalline quartz grains reflect both distal provenance 366
and recycling from pre-existing rocks. In addition, the diversity of heavy minerals 367

U
reported in these sandstones implies that they originated from various rock types. The 368
Ti/Nb and Ti/Y values of the Um Barmil mudstones (mean= 409 and 352.9, respectively)
AN 369
are closely comparable to those of the Timsah mudstones reflecting that weathering of the 370
Wadi Natash Basalt and/ or recycling from the underlying Timsah mudstones were still 371
effective. 372
7. Chemical weathering 373
M
The composition of the rocks is controlled by the relative rates of weathering 374
(mechanical and chemical) and erosion. When the rates of the two processes are nearly 375
constant, steady-state weathering prevails and the mineral composition of the derived 376
rocks remains almost constant over time. If the rates are variable as a result of changes in 377
D

climatic or tectonic conditions, no steady- state weathering will prevail resulting in 378
variable rock composition throughout the stratigraphic succession. The extent to which the 379
TE

sediment composition is uniform or variable may thus provide information on the relative 380
rates of chemical weathering and erosion in the hinterlands (Nesbitt et al., 1997). 381
In the present study, the siliciclastic rocks show that quartz and kaolinite, together 382
with different ferruginous phases, are the essentially components throughout the whole 383
EP

succession. Therefore, only three constituents (SiO2, Al2O3 and Fe2O3) are overwhelming, 384
suggesting the uniform composition of the weathering profiles at the original hinterlands. 385
The observed upsection change in the heavy minerals content is governed by the nature of 386
the source rocks and the hydraulic fractionation. Such compositional uniformity suggests 387
C

that steady-state weathering conditions almost prevailed in the source areas of these rocks. 388
To evaluate the degree of weathering, various indices have been proposed (Nesbitt 389
AC

and Young, 1982; Harnois, 1988 and Chittleborough, 1991). Among these, the chemical 390
index of alteration (CIA) proposed by Nesbitt and Young, 1982 is often used as 391
weathering indicator: 392
CIA= [Al2O3/ (Al2O3 + CaO* + Na2O +K2O)] x 100 393
Where, CaO* represents the Ca incorporated in the silicate fraction only (Nesbitt and 394
Young, 1982 and Nesbitt et al., 1996). Generally, the CIA values reflect intense chemical 395
weathering conditions, the value of 100 indicates the highest degree of weathering with 396
complete removal of the alkali and alkaline earth elements. 397
In the present study, CIA is used as an index to quantify the degree of chemical 398
weathering of the studied rocks as controlled by the prevailed conditions at the time of 399

8
 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

their accumulation. Although Ca-bearing non-silicate phases are rare in the examined 400
samples, traces of calcite were recorded as calcareous cement in some samples. It was thus 401
necessary to correct the measured CaO for the equivalent amounts corresponding to both 402
calcite and apatite (cf. McLennan, 1993), and accordingly the following procedures were 403
carried out: 404
1- Separate portions from the analyzed samples were treated by 10% HCl for digesting the 405
recorded calcite traces, and Ca was measured in the acid extract by means of the atomic 406

PT
absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The total content of CaO was then corrected for the 407
acid-extractable Ca. 408
2- CaO was then corrected for apatite using the recorded P2O5 values. 409
3- If the remaining number of moles of CaO is less than that of Na2O it was adopted. If the 410

RI
number of moles is greater than Na2O, CaO* was assumed to be equivalent to Na2O (cf. 411
McLennan, 1993). 412
The CIA values of the examined rocks (Table 2) are generally high throughout 413

SC
the entire succession (>80 in most samples and >90 in more than 55% of the examined 414
samples). Regarding the mudstone samples, the CIA values are extremely uniform 415
throughout the three units (Abu Aggag= 94.7, Timsah=95.3 and Um Barmil= 92.7, in 416
average). The CIA values of the Abu Aggag sandstones (average=92.3) are very similar to 417

U
that of the associated mudstones. They display an irregular decrease upward through the 418
Timsah sandstones (average=81), to be further lower in the Um Barmil sandstones
AN 419
(average=75.1). The general upward decrease of the CIA values in the sandstones 420
throughout the three units is attributed to the behavior of Al, which shows a marked 421
upward decrease following the higher sorting and more developed maturity of the 422
sandstones upsection. Convincingly, such high values of CIA reflect intense chemical 423
M
weathering conditions that affected the source rocks in the hinterlands. 424
The weathering trend can also be displayed on the Al2O3 (CaO* + Na2O) - K2O 425
triangular plot (A-CN-K relation of Nesbett and Young, 1984 and 1989). The initial stages 426
of weathering form a trend parallel to the A-CN side of the diagram; the trend is then 427
D

turned toward the Al2O3 apex at the advanced stages of weathering. The trends follow 428
mixing lines representing the removal of Ca, Na and K during the breakdown of feldspars 429
TE

and ferromagnesian minerals. Plots of the examined rocks in the A-CN-K diagram are 430
shown in Fig. (11); weathering trends of the average granite, granodiorite and gabbro are 431
also traced. The analyzed sandstones are plotted mostly close to the A-CN boundary and 432
at high Al contents. Few samples plot slightly below the smectite-illite join indicating that 433
EP

they contain less significant amounts of feldspar, which is absent in samples plotted at 434
higher position. One sample (N61) belonging to the Um Barmil Formation displayed 435
extremely different behavior and it is shifted to toward the feldspar join. The examined 436
mudstone samples plot of at much higher Al2O3 values than do the sandstones, reflecting 437
C

the higher proportion of the aluminous phases. Moreover, they plot close to the Al-apex 438
and completely above the smectite-illite join. This indicates that they contain no feldspars 439
AC

and that the aluminous phases are represented only by clay minerals with overwhelming 440
kaolinite. This result is confirmed by the XRD investigation of the bulk mudstones 441
samples and their clay fraction. 442
Despite their derivation from granitic-granodioritic source rocks, as stated above, 443
the Abu Aggag mudstones display abundant accumulation of clay minerals whereas 444
feldspars are almost absent. This signifies that chemical weathering, and not mechanical 445
disintegration, is the dominant process affected the source rocks. Thus, attrition of 446
feldspars is attributable to their conversion to clay minerals under aggressive chemical 447
weathering rather than to comminuting by abrasion. Intense chemical weathering of the 448
source rocks is thus corroborated. 449

9
 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

Although the geochemical pattern of the Timsah mudstones reflects a significant 450
influx of mafic material, kaolinite is the predominant clay mineral. The high Mg and Ca 451
contents of such mafic rocks favor the formation of smectites during the initial stages of 452
chemical weathering (Nesbitt and Young, 1989). During advanced stages, aggressive 453
weathering solutions should react gradually with these secondary phases (smectites) to 454
produce kaolinite and /or gibbsite (Grant, 1963, Meunier and Velde, 1976 and Nesbitt and 455
Young, 1989). So, the prevalence of kaolinite in the Timsah mudstones under such 456

PT
conditions gives another clue suggesting their derivation from deeply weathered source 457
material., The abundant hematitic material and the iron ore beds incorporated in the 458
Timsah Formation reflect widespread laterization of mafic rocks in the source lands 459
confirming intense chemical weathering conditions prevailed at the time of their 460

RI
accumulation. 461
The siliciclastic sediments are mainly controlled by the climatic effect on the 462
hinterland. Climate determines the type and rate of weathering and erosion, thereby 463

SC
affecting the type of sediments available for transport. Many studies have dealt with the 464
effect of climate on textural and mineralogical characteristics of clastic sediments (e.g., 465
Young et al., 1975; Suttner et al., 1981; Velde, 1992). Mahran et al. (1999) recognized a 466
contact relationship between the climatic conditions and the textural as well as the 467

U
mineralogical characteristics of the syn-rift siliciclastic sediments at the southern part of 468
the Egyptian Red Sea coast. Hence, the widespread of the fine siliciclastic sediments in
AN 469
the study area clearly reflects the predominated humid conditions as induced by Garner, 470
1959; Baker and Panteado-Orellana, 1978). The prevailed humid climatic conditions and 471
hence intensive weathering are also confirmed by the disappearance of the unstable 472
minerals which tend to dissolve in humid conditions. This is in agreement with the opinion 473
M
of (Nickel, 1973). Also, the paleoclimate factor has its effect on clay mineralogy. Singer 474
(1984) pointed out that the clay mineral composition of the sediments is largely dependent 475
on the climatic conditions. The predominance of kaolinite in the studied siliciclastic 476
sediments clearly reflects humid tropical conditions (Velde, 1992) 477
D

As a conclusion, the geochemical and mineralogical investigations of the studied 478

siliciclastic rocks credibly indicate that they were originated under intense chemical 479
TE

weathering conditions, which dominated in the area under this span of time. This 480
conclusion is strictly comparable to the global climatic circumstances prevailed during the 481
Late Cretaceous; the climate in the area, as a part from the Late Cretaceous equatorial belt, 482
was very warm and subjected to active hydrologic cycle and increased runoff (Frakes et 483
EP

al., 1992 and Hay, 1995). 484

8. Conclusions 485
1- The studied Upper Cretaceous Nubia Group includes: the Abu Aggag Formation 486
(Turonian), Timsah Formation (Coniacian-Santonian) and Um Barmil Formation 487
C

(Santonian-Campanian). The Abu Aggag and Um Barmil fluviatile rocks were 488
accumulated during two different regressive stages of the Tethys separated by a 489
AC

transgressive phase that formed the shallow marine clastic rocks of the Timsah Formation. 490
The siliciclastic rocks of the succession are mainly composed of sandstone and mudstone 491
lithofacies. 492
2- Quartz and kaolinite, together with less abundant ferruginous material, are the principal 493
mineral phases. The ultrastable heavy minerals (zircon, rutile and tourmaline) are the 494
dominant non-opaque species, and they display significant variability in their relative 495
abundance upsection. While zircon decreases upward, rutile and tourmaline increase in 496
same direction. 497
3- The chemical elements are loaded on three different geochemical trends: the siliceous, 498
the argillaceous and the ferruginous. The siliceous trend is controlled by the distribution 499

10
 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

pattern of Si following the quartz content. The argillaceous trend governs the behavior of 500
Al and the associated elements (Ti, Ba, Cr, V, Nb, Y and Zr) following the clay minerals 501
content and the finally comminuted heavy mineral fraction. The ferruginous matter is 502
responsible for the content of Fe, Mg, Mn, Zn and Ni). 503
4- The widely granitoid terrains distributed in the area east and southeast of Aswan are the 504
most probable provenance of the Abu Aggag sediments. 505
5- The sandstones of the Timsah Formation are compositionally consistent with those of 506

PT
the Abu Aggag Formation suggesting a similar provenance. The Timsah mudstones are 507
compositionally contrasted with those of the associated sandstones; the enhanced values of 508
Ti/Nb and Ti/Y and the widespread ferruginous material and the iron ore beds reflect a 509
significant influx of mafic material. Intense chemical weathering and laterization of the 510

RI
Wadi Natash Basalts is the most probable source of these mudstones and the associated 511
ferruginous phases. 512
6- The sandstones of the Um Barmil Formation are derived from different rock types 513

SC
upon intense chemical weathering, with the weathering products are mixed in various 514
relative proportions. The higher Ti/ Nb and Ti/Y ratios of the mudstones of the Um Barmil 515
Formation reveal that they originated from the Wadi Natash Basalts or recycling of the 516
underlying Timsah mudstones. 517

U
7- The studied siliciclastic rocks were derived from intensely weathered detritus under 518
steady-state weathering conditions. AN 519
8- Clues of recycling are documented; the recycling process is limited in the rocks of the 520
Abu Aggag Formation and increases upwards to be more common in the rocks of the Um 521
Barmil Formation. 522
523
M
References 524
Attia, M.I., 1955. Topography, geology and iron-ore deposits of the district east of Aswan, 525
Egypt. Geol. Survey, 262 p. 526
Baker, V.R., Panteado-Orellana, M.M. 1978. Fluvial sedimentation conditioned by 527
D

Quaternary climatic change in central Texas. Jour. Sedim. Petrology 48, 433-451. 528
Bernau, B., Darbyshire, D.P.F., Franz, G., Harms, U., Huth, A., Mansour, N., Pasteels, P., 529
TE

Schandelmeier, H., 1987. Petrology, geochemistry and structural development of Bir 530
Safsaf-Aswan uplift, Southern Egypt. Journal of African Earth Sciences 6, 70-90. 531
Bhatia, M.R., Crook, K.A.W., 1986. Trace elements characteristics of graywackes and 532
tectonic setting discrimination of sedimentary basins. Contribution to Mineralogy and 533
EP

Petrology 92, 181-193. 534

Bonjour, J.L., Dabard, M.P., 1991. Ti/Nb ratios of clastic terrigenous sediments used as an 535
indicator of provenance. Chemical Geology 91, 257-267. 536
Chittleborough, D.J., 1991. Indices of weathering for soils and paleosols formed on 537
C

silicate rocks. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences 38, 115-120. 538

Condie, K.C., 1993. Chemical compositions and evolution of the upper continental crust: 539
AC

contrasting results from surface samples and shales. Chemical Geology 104, 1-37. 540
Condie, K.C., Wornkiewiicz, D.J., 1990. A new look at the Archaean- Proterozoic 541
boundary sediments and the tectonic setting constraint. In: Precambrian Continental 542
Crust and its Economic Resource. Naqvi, S. M. (ed.). El-Sevier, Amsterdam, 8, 61-83. 543
El-Badry, O., Hassaan, M.M., Abu El-Enien, F., 1983. Sedimentology and chemistry of 544
the sandstones (Nubia Facies), Northern Eastern Desert, Egypt. Bull. Fac. Sci., Zagazig 545
University, Egypt 3, 133-161. 546
El-Naggar, Z.R., 1970. On a proposed lithostratigraphic subdivision for the Late 547
Cretaceous-Early Palaeocene succession in the Nile Valley, Egypt. U.A.R. Seventh 548
Arab Petroleum Congress, Kuwait 64, 3-49. 549

11
 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

El-Sharkawy, M.A., El-Aref, M.M., Mesaed, A.A., 1996. Sratigraphic setting and 550
paleoenvironment of the Coniacian-Santonian ironstones of Aswan, South Egypt. Geol. 551
Soci. Egypt. Speci. Publ. 2, 243-278. 552
El-Shater, A., El-Haddad, A., 2000. Mineral composition of the Cambrian-Cretaceous 553
Nubia series of Egypt: provenance, tectonic setting and climatological implications. 554
12th Symp. Phaner. Develop. Egypt, 1-39. 555
El-Younsy, A.R., Ahmed, E.A., Mansour, H.H., Assran, H.M., 1994. Contribution to the 556

PT
sedimentology and mineralogy of the Nubia Group sequence (Upper Cretaceous), 557
southeast of Aswan, Egypt. Bull. Fac. Sci., Assiut Univ. 23 , 1-31. 558
Frakes, L.A., Francis, J.E., Syktus, J.I., 1992. Cretaceous Paleoclimates. In: Ginsburg R.N. 559
and Beaudoin, B. (Eds.): Cretaceous Resources, Events and Rhythms. Kluwer 560

RI
Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 273-287. 561
Garner, H.F., 1959. Stratigrphic-sedimentary significance of contemporary climate and 562
relief in four regions of the Andes Mountains. Bull. Geol. Soc. Amer. 78, 1203-1232. 563

SC
Grant, W.H., 1963. Weathering Stone Mountaine granite. In: Ingersol, E. (Ed.). Clays and 564
Clay Minerals, Oxford, Pergamon, 65-73. 565
Harnois, L., 1988. The CIW index: a new chemical index of weathering. Sedimentary 566
Geology 55, 319-322. 567

U
Hassaan, M.M., Kolkila, A.A., Hussein, S.A., El-Dardir, M., 1981. Mineralogy and 568
geochemistry of the Nubia Sandstone, El-Mahamid-Sibaiya area, Nile Valley, Egypt.
AN 569
Bull. Fac. Sci. Zagazig Univ. 3, 133-161. 570
Hassan, Sh., Ishiga, H., Roser, B.P., Dozen, K., Naka, T., 1999. Geochemistry of Permian- 571
Triassic shales in the Salt Range, Pakistan: Implications for provenance and tectonism 572
at the Gondwana margin. Chemical Geology 158, 293-314. 573
M
Hay, W.W., 1995. Creatceous paleogeography, Geologica Carpathica 46, 257-266. 574
Hendriks, F., Luger, P., Bovitz, J., Kallenbeach, H., 1987. Evolution of the depositional 575
environments of SE Egypt during the Cretaceous and Lower Tertiary, Berlin Geowiss. 576
Abh. 75 (A). 49-82. 577
D

Hermina, M.H., 1990. Geology of the surroundings of Kharga, Dakhla and Farafra Oases. 578
In: Said, R. (Ed.), The Geology of Egypt, Balkema, Rotterdam, pp. 259-292. 579
TE

Hubbard, H.B., Wood, L.F., Rogers, J.J.W., 1987. Possible hydration anomaly in the 580
upper mantle prior to Red Sea rifting: Evidence from petrologic modeling of the Wadi 581
Natash alkali basalt sequence of eastern Egypt. Geol. Soci. Amer. Bull. 98, 92-98. 582
Kerdany, M.T., Cherif, O.H., 1990. Mesozoic. In: Said, R. (Ed.), The Geology of Egypt, 583
EP

Balkema, Rotterdam, Brookfield, pp. 407-438. 584

Khedr, E.S., Youssef, A.A.E., Abou Elmagd, K., Khzyem, H.M., 2010. Tectono- 585
stratigraphic subdivision of the clastic sequence of Aswan area, Southern Egypt. Fifth 586
International Conference on the Geology of the Tethys Realm, South Valley 587
C

University, 197-216. 588

Klitzsch, E.H., 1984. Northwestern Sudan and bordering area, geological development 589
AC

since Cambrian time. Berlin Geowiss. Abh. 50 (A), 23-45. 590

Klitzsch, E.H., Wycisk, P., 1987. Geology of the sedimentary basins of northern Sudan 591
and bordering areas. Berlin Geowiss. Abh. 75 (A), 97-136. 592
Klitzsch, E.H., Harms, J.G., Lejal-Nicol, A., List, F.K., 1979. Major subdivision and 593
depositional environments of Nubia Strata, Southwestern Egypt. Amer. Assoc. Petrol. 594
Geol. 63, 967-974. 595
Mahran, T.M., Philobbos, E.R., Bekir, R.Kh., Hassan, A.M., 1999. Facies, textural and 596
mineralogical characteristics of syn-rift Oligocene (?)- Neogene siliciclastics south of 597
Wadi Abu Ghusun, Red Sea coastal area: Implications to provenance and 598
paleoclimate. Egypt. Jour. Geology 43, 395-433. 599

12
 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

Mansour, A.M.M., 1985. Sedimentological studies on the Nubia Sandstone, eastern 600
Desert, M. Sc. Thesis, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Egypt, 255 p. 601
Mansour, H.H., Khallaf, A.F., 1979. Application of textural characteristics for 602
depositional environment interpretation of the Upper Cretaceous- Paleocene east of 603
Idfu- Sibaiya, Nile Valley, Annal., of the Geol. Survey of Egypt 9, 498-522. 604
McLennan, S.M., 1993. Weathering and global denudation. Journal of Geology 101, 295- 605
303. 606

PT
McLennan, S.M., Tylor, S. R., 1991. Sedimentary rocks and crustal evolution: tectonic 607
setting and secular trends. Journal of Geology 91, 1-22. 608
McLennan, S.M., Hemming, S., McDaniel, D. K., Hanson, G. N., 1993. Geochemical 609
approaches to sedimentation, provenance and tectonics. In: Johnsson, M. J. and Basu, 610

RI
A. (Eds.), Processes Controlling the Composition of Clastic Sediments. Geol. Soci. 611
Amer. Speci. Publ., 284, 21-40. 612
Meunier, A., Velde, B., 1976. Mineral reactions at grain contacts in early stages of granite 613

SC
weathering. Clay Minerals 11, 235-240. 614
Middelburg, J.J., Van der Weijden, C. H., Woittiez, J. R. W., 1988. Chemical processes 615
affecting the mobility of major, minor and trace elements during weathering of granitic 616
rocks. Chemical Geology 68, 253-273. 617

U
Mohamed, M.H., Atia, G.M., Hassaan, M.M., Ali, M.M., Ramadan, F.S., 1991. 618
Petrographical and geochemical studies on Nubia Formation at Safaga- Quseir District,
AN 619
Red Sea coast, Egypt. Al Azhar Bull. Sci. 2 (2), 481-506. 620
Musashino, M., 1993. Chemical composition of the Toishi-type siliceous shale. Bull. 621
Geol. Surv. Japan 44, 699-705. 622
Nesbitt, H.W., Young, G.M., 1982. Early Proterozoic climates and plate motions inferred 623
M
from major element chemistry of lutites. Nature 299, 715-717. 624
Nesbitt, H.W., Young, G.M., 1984. Prediction of some weathering trends of plutonic and 625
volcanic rocks based on thermodynamic and kinetic considerations. Geochim. 626
Cosmochim. Acta 48, 1523-1534. 627
D

Nesbitt, H.W., Young, G.M., 1989. Formation and diagenesis of weathering profiles. The 628
Journal of Geology 97, 129-147. 629
TE

Nesbitt, H.W. Fedo, C.M., Young, G.M., 1997. Quartz and feldspar stability, steady and 630
non-steady state weathering and petrogenesis of siliciclastic sands and muds. The 631
Journal of Geology 105, 173-191. 632
Nesbitt, H.W., Young, G.M., McLennan, S.M., Keays, R.R., 1996. Effects of chemical 633
EP

weathering and sorting on the petrogenesis of siliciclastic sediments with implications 634
for provenance studies. The Journal of Geology 104 (5), 525-542. 635
Nickel, M., 1973. Experimental dissolution of light and heavy minerals in comparison 636
with weathering and intrastratal solution. In: contribution to sedimentology. 637
C

Schweizerbart`Sche Verlag, Stutgart 1, 1-68. 638

Philobbos, E.R., Youssef, M., Mansour, A., 1990. Facies and heavy minerals content of 639
AC

the sandstones of the Nubia Group, Qena-Idfu region, Eastern Desert, Egypt. Egyptian 640
Mineralogist 2, 103-126. 641
Potter, P.E., 1994. Modern sands of South America: composition, provenance and global 642
significance. Geol. Rundschau 83, 212-232. 643
Sayed, S.A., 1979. Geological studies on the iron-bearing formations of Aswan. M. Sc. 644
Thesis, Faculty of Science, Aswan, Assiut University, Egypt, 181 p. 645
Singer, A., 1984. The paleoclaimatic interpretation of clay minerals in soils and 646
weathering profiles. Earth Sci. Review 15, 303-326. 647
Soliman, M.A., 1983. Heavy minerals of the Nubia Sandstone in some exposures in the 648
central Eastern Desert, Egypt. Bull. Fac. Sci. Assiut University 12 (2), 105-116. 649

13
 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

Soliman, M.A., Habib, M.E., Ahmed, E.A., 1986. Sedimentologic and tectonic evolution 650
of the Cretaceous- Lower Tertiary succession at Wadi Qena, Egypt. Sedimentary 651
Geology 46, 111-133. 652
Suttner, L.J., Basu, A., Mack, G.H., 1981. Climate and the origin of quartz arenite. Jour. 653
Sedim. Petrology 51, 1235-1246. 654
Taylor, S.R., McLennan, S.M., 1985. The continental crust: Its composition and evolution, 655
Oxford, England, Blackwell, 312 p. 656

PT
Thurmond, K.L., Stern, J.R., Abdelsalam, G.M., Nielson, C.K., Abdeen, M.M., Hinz, E., 657
2004. The Nubian swell. Journal of African Earth Sciences 39, 401-407. 658
Van Houten, F.B., Bhattacharyya, D.P.C., Mansour, S.E.I., 1984. Cretaceous Nubia 659
Formation and correlative deposits, Eastern Egypt. Major regressive- transgressive 660

RI
complex. Geol. Soci. Amer. Bull. 95, 397-405. 661
Velde, B., 1992. Introduction to clay minerals, Chapman & Hall, London, 197 p. 662
Young, S.W., Basu, A., Mack, G.H., Darneli, H., Suttner, L.G., 1975. Use of size- 663

SC
composition trends in Holocene soil and fluvial sand for paleoclimatic interpretation. 664
Proc. IX th Int. 1 cong. Sedim., Th 1, Nice, France, 28-36. 665
Youssef, M.I., 1957. Upper Cretaceous rocks in Kosseir area: Instit. Desert Egypt Bull. 7, 666
35-53. 667

U
668
AN 669
670
671
672
673
M
674
675
676
677
D

678
679
TE

680
681
682
683
EP

684
685
686
687
C

688
689
AC

690
691
692
693
694
695

14
 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

PT
RI
U SC
AN
M
D
TE
EP

696
Fig. 1. Geological map of the area northeast of Aswan (modified after Attia, 1955 and 697
Sayed, 1979). 698
699
C

700
701
AC

702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711

15
 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

PT
RI
U SC
AN
M
D
TE
C EP
AC

Fig. 2. Measured columnar sections of the Upper Cretaceous succession in the area 712
northeast of Aswan. 713
714
715
716
717
718
719

16
 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

PT
RI
U SC
AN
M
D
TE
C EP

720
Fig. 3. Field photographs showing. (a) Weathered basement rocks at the base overlain by 721
AC

the three stratigraphic units of the Upper Cretaceous Nubia Group (Abu Aggag,, Timsah 722
and Um Barmil formations); (b) Kaolinite bed rests on the weathered basement rocks 723
followed upwards by cross-bedded sandstone of the Abu Aggag Formation; (c) Fining 724
upward cycles in Abu Aggag Formation (arrows); (d) Iron ore beds within Timsah 725
Formation; (e) Close up view showing planar cross-bedding within the ferruginous 726
sandstone of the Timsah Formation; (f) Close up view showing bioturbation in the 727
ferruginous sandstones of the Timsah Formation; (g) Close up view of the Um Barmil 728
Formation showing fining upward cycles (arrows). 729
730
731

17
 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

PT
RI
U SC
AN
M

732
D

Fig. 4. Photomicrographs showing. (a) Argillaceous sandstone (quartz arenite) consisting 733
of angular quartz grains of various sizes (poorly sorted) set in argillaceous matrix (Abu 734
TE

Aggag Fm.) C.N.; (b) Quartz arenite displaying polycrystalline and monocrystalline quartz 735
grains set in argillaceous matrix (Abu Aggag Fm.) C.N.; (c) Ferruginous sandstone 736
consisting of subangular to subrounded quartz grains cemented by iron oxide (Timsah 737
Fm.) C.N.; (d) Quartz arenite consisting of rounded quartz grains cemented by siliceous 738
EP

material (light gray) and partially stained by iron oxide (Um Barmil Fm.) C.N. 739
740
741
742
C

743
744
AC

745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754

18
 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

PT
RI
U SC
AN
M

755
Fig. 5. XRD patterns showing. (a) XRD pattern of powdered bulk samples from the 756
mudstones of the Abu Aggag Fm.; (b) XRD pattern of powdered bulk samples from the 757
D

sandstones of the Abu Aggag Fm.; (c) XRD pattern of oriented clay fraction from the 758
mudstones of the Timsah Fm.; (d) XRD pattern of powdered bulk samples from the 759
TE

sandstones of the Um Barmil Fm. 760

761
762
763
EP

764
765
766
767
C

768
769
AC

770
771
772
773
774
775
776
777
778
779

19
 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

780
781
782
783
784
785
786

PT
787
788
789
790

RI
791
792
Fig. 6. Sactter plot diagram of Al 2O3 against SiO2 of the studied samples. 793

SC
794
795
796

U
AN
M
D
TE

797
Fig. 7. Showing the examined rocks plotted on the SiO2 - Al 2O3- FeO* ternary diagram. 798
EP

FeO*= total iron as FeO. 799

800
C
AC

20
 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

PT
RI
SC
801
Fig. 8. Loadings of the first and second principal factors of the chemical data. 802
803
804

U
805
806
AN 807
808
809
810
M

811
812
813
D

814
815
816
TE

817
818
819
820
EP

821
822
823
C

824
825
826
AC

827
828
829
830
831
832
833
834
835
836

21
 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

PT
RI
U SC
AN
M
D
TE
C EP
AC

Fig. 9. The average values of the enrichment factor for the examined rocks of the Abu 837
Aggag, Timsah and Um Barmil formations. 838
839

22
 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

PT
RI
U SC
AN
M
D
TE
C EP

840
841
AC

Fig. 10. Scatter plot diagram of Nb and Y against Ti of the examined siliciclastic rocks. 842
Plots of the average granite, granodiorite (Condie, 1993) and Wadi Natash basalt 843
(Hubbard et al., 1987) are displayed. WNB= Wadi Natash Basalt. 844
845
846
847
848
849
850
851

23
 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

PT
RI
U SC
AN
852
M
Fig. 11. Ternary diagram of molecular proportions Al2O3 - (CaO* + Na2O) - K2O (Nesbitt 853
and Young, 1984&1989) for the studied rocks. Weathering trends of average granite, 854
granodiorite and gabbro (Taylor and McLennan, 1985; Nesbitt and Young, 1989), as well 855
as idealized mineral compositions (McLennan, 1993) are shown. CaO* represents the CaO 856
D

associated with the silicate fraction. Weathering trends. 857

858
TE

859
860
861
862
EP

863
864
865
866
C

867
868
AC

869
870
871
872
873
874
875
876
877
Table 1 878

24
 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

879
880

Non Opaques (%)

Non-opaques (%)
Opaques (%)
Formation

Hornblende
Tourmaline

Andalusite
Staurolite
Epidote

Garnet
Zircon

Biotite
Rutile

PT
35.4 49.1 4.34 6.81 2.83 0.15 0.88 0.03 0.32

RI
Um Barmil 81.6 18.4
67.9 23.8 0.89 3.48 4.37 0.35 0.61 0.17 0.18
Timsah 51.8 48.2
88.7 2.2 0.26 8.14 1.42 0.94 0.81 0.21 0.09
Abu Aggag 70.7 29.3

SC
881

U
Table 1. The average heavy minerals content in the studied sandstones. 882
883
AN 884
885
886
887
M

888
889
890
D

891
892
893
TE

894
895
896
897
EP

898
899
900
C

901
902
AC

903
904
905
906
907
908
909
910
911
912

25
 PT
No. Lithology SiO2 TiO2 Al2O3 Fe2O3 MnO MgO CaO Na2O K2O P2O5 Ba Cr Nb Ni Rb V Y Zn Zr CIA Ti/Nb Ti/Y

RI
N56 Sandstone 96.10 1.13 0.76 1.33 0.009 0.14 0.82 0.05 0.04 0.04 50 65 12 0 1 26 12 5 281 78.5 56.3 563

Um Barmil Fm.
N54 Sandstone 94.10 0.81 0.48 2.39 0.013 0.08 2.04 0.08 0.08 0.07 69 69 6 0 1 20 17 2 340 57.9 810 286
N53 Sandstone 96.40 0.50 0.96 1.45 0.005 0.22 0.42 0.04 0.04 0.02 48 72 17 0 0 35 16 8 211 84.5 178 189
N52 Mudstone 74.10 2.14 19.20 4.23 0.017 0.29 0.27 0.20 0.19 0.07 161 112 32 21 12 131 51 37 545 94.5 421 312

SC
N51 Mudstone 66.00 2.18 18.80 10.34 0.084 1.15 0.19 0.78 0.16 0.11 229 87 33 54 5 156 40 59 309 90.8 397 394
N49 Sandstone 96.40 0.73 0.87 0.93 0.007 0.14 0.78 0.05 0.03 0.03 52 59 13 0 0 29 8 7 312 80.9 339 551
N46 Sandstone 96.80 0.62 0.74 0.53 0.007 0.13 0.99 0.06 0.06 0.05 30 68 9 0 0 20 14 6 292 73.8 415 267
N42 Sandstone 96.90 0.31 1.83 0.71 0.005 0.03 0.35 0.11 0.05 0.04 41 25 14 0 1 12 12 5 124 81.3 134 156
N40 Mudstone 60.80 1.94 33.10 3.34 0.004 0.30 0.13 0.05 0.27 0.07 145 134 22 39 3 204 29 32 253 98.7 528 401

U
N40 Clay fraction 53.10 1.88 39.50 4.04 0.005 0.37 0.23 0.34 0.38 0.09 136 157 26 67 11 216 30 39 198 97.1 435 377
N39 Mudstone 75.40 1.80 13.80 7.39 0.016 0.78 0.15 0.09 0.58 0.05 113 11 24 127 25 162 37 135 608 93.8 451 401
N39 Clay fraction 47.50 1.62 31.40 14.63 0.018 2.23 0.46 0.50 1.55 0.08 109 152 21 318 62 229 21 335 134 90.9 373 462

AN
N38 Mudstone 72.90 2.12 21.02 2.53 0.010 0.33 0.26 0.08 0.67 0.17 144 95 28 4 20 106 41 22 568 95.6 455 311
Timsah Fm.

N38 Clay fraction 52.20 2.29 37.04 5.09 0.010 0.80 0.51 0.45 1.37 0.29 188 160 33 38 47 168 43 63 178 93.8 416 319
N37 Mudstone 72.80 2.07 21.03 2.95 0.011 0.27 0.21 0.05 0.65 0.11 158 109 27 12 15 120 34 10 561 96.1 459 365
N37 Clay fraction 53.10 2.26 38.38 3.48 0.010 0.65 0.26 0.51 1.24 0.16 165 150 36 34 36 168 39 31 170 94.4 376 347
N36 Sandstone 96.10 0.38 1.94 0.86 0.006 0.09 0.33 0.10 0.03 0.04 56 32 12 1 1 16 18 6 182 84.8 188 125

M
N35 Sandstone 94.20 0.43 3.07 137 0.008 0.06 0.58 0.13 0.06 0.04 73 39 14 0 2 20 15 11 218 86.4 185 173
N34 Mudstone 73.80 2.08 19.40 3.57 0.008 0.36 0.30 0.09 0.64 0.07 126 118 27 29 17 169 36 37 381 95.1 462 347
N32 Sandstone 97.90 0.08 1.42 0.21 0.003 0.00 0.09 0.16 0.05 0.05 37 19 4 0 0 6 5 3 56 79.6 126 101
N31 Mudstone 87.80 1.51 6.01 3.84 0.011 0.27 0.08 0.01 0.41 0.03 169 34 16 35 11 66 23 35 613 92.6 566 226

D
N30 Sandstone 98.40 0.07 0.69 0.35 0.002 0.00 0.39 0.06 0.06 0.02 3 17 4 0 2 11 4 2 54 73.1 108 72
N27 Mudstone 79.90 2.36 15.01 2.18 1.012 0.09 0.28 0.02 0.04 0.08 219 155 63 18 0 68 113 23 962 99.2 225 125
N23 Sandstone 95.80 0.34 2.64 0.72 0.002 0.06 0.42 0.04 0.00 0.02 178 38 12 0 2 19 8 13 112 94.9 169 254
N22 Sandstone 85.00 0.45 3.91 8.36 0.011 TE
1.32 0.52 0.18 0.02 0.02 128 29 13 37 6 25 12 66 224 66.3 210 227
Abu Aggag Fm.

N18 Sandstone 98.30 0.35 0.84 0.22 0.009 0.00 0.22 0.04 0.00 0.02 27 41 14 0 0 13 10 0 338 85 150 210
N17 Mudstone 72.00 2.94 21.59 1.58 0.004 0.25 0.73 0.74 0.04 0.09 180 232 68 27 0 149 137 8 658 90.1 259 129
N17 Clay fraction 54.70 3.68 37.55 2.76 0.007 0.41 0.55 0.16 0.08 0.15 238 198 78 173 0 220 196 46 467 98.4 283 113
N15 Sandstone 91.00 0.92 6.04 1.81 0.002 0.04 0.11 0.03 0.00 0.04 82 46 30 0 0 58 34 0 747 98.6 184 163
EP
N14 Sandstone 95.00 0.64 3.11 0.75 0.004 0.04 0.30 0.05 0.03 0.03 78 37 23 0 0 36 29 3 138 94.2 137 132
N12 Sandstone 94.10 0.33 3.17 0.55 0.008 0.05 0.48 0.01 0.06 0.03 71 26 15 0 1 17 16 6 121 97.7 131 123
N7 Sandstone 95.00 0.46 3.18 0.77 0.01 0.06 0.38 0.07 0.07 0.02 66 36 21 0 2 23 12 5 145 91.5 130 228
N4 Sandstone 93.00 0.17 5.63 0.34 0.003 0.02 0.58 0.17 0.04 0.04 76 18 7 0 0 10 7 5 95 90.5 143 143
Table 2. Chemical data of the examined siliciclastic rocks (sandstones, mudstones and clay fractions). 913
C

914
915
AC

916

26
 PT
Table 3 917

RI
Sequential
Intercept Regression coefficient R- squared
Dependent Variable Independent Variable Correlation coefficient (r) R- squared
a)) (B) Change (%)
(R2)

SC
Al2O3 SiO2 - 0.09 76.8200 -0.7830 9.0659 06.59
+9.90
Al2O3 9.9600 9.0960 09.69
TiO2 +9.09 9.0009
Fe2O3 -9.9900 9.0966 9.90
MgO Fe2O3 +9.00 -0.0700 9.0005 9.0339 03.39

U
+9.69
Fe2O3 9.9999 9.3309 33.09
MnO +9.00 9.9993
MgO -0. 3090 9.0609 00.99

AN
Fe2O3 Al2O3 +9.09 0.0006 9.0050 9.0309 03.09
Na2O Al2O3 +9.66 9.9509 9.9990 9.3969 39.69
K2O Al2O3 +9.09 9.9000 9.9000 9.0009 00.09
TiO2 +9.95 00.009 9.0009 00.09
3.0009

M
Nb
Al2O3 +9.50 -0.4750 9.0909 0.99
TiO2 +9.00 69.000 9.5005 50.39
Y -9.8630
Al2O3 +9.60 -1.4260 9.5999 5.50
TiO2 +9.00 00.000 9.9035 90.09
00.0559

D
Cr
Al2O3 +9.90 0.90035 9.9050 0.05
Al2O3 +9.00 0.0539 9.9000 90.00
V 5.3999
TiO2 TE +9.95 00.006 9.9050 0.00
MgO +9.99 05.009 9.5309 53.09
Ni -6.0800
Fe2O3 +9.09 0.0009 9.5300 9.95
Rb K2O +9.09 -1.0869 30.569 9.0609 06.09
Zn Fe2O3 +9.90 -15.1400 05.609 9.0609 06.09
EP
Zr TiO2 +9.65 155.7800 039.00 9.3000 30.69

Table 3. Results of the multiple regression analysis for the chemical elements of the examined rocks.
C
AC

27
 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

-The Upper Cretaceous succession of Nubian Group of Aswan area has been
investigated.
- It is composed of three rock units (Abu Aggag, Timsah and Um Barmil formations).
- These rocks are derived from the pre-Cambrian basement rocks.
-These rocks are composed of granite, granodiorites with intervening basaltic flows.

PT
RI
U SC
AN
M
D
TE
C EP
AC