Petrogenesis of artifact-bearing fossil-spring tufa deposits from Kharga Oasis, Egypt

• Published in: Geoarchaeology Vol. 14; no. 8; pp. 849 - 863
• Main Authors: Nicoll, Kathleen, Giegengack, Robert, Kleindienst, Maxine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.12.1999
• ISSN: 0883-6353; 1520-6548
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1520-6548(199912)14:8<849::AID-GEA8>3.0.CO;2-L

Petrographic and geochemical study of artifact‐bearing fossil‐spring tufas in stratigraphic contexts associated with Upper Acheulean and Middle Stone Age‐to‐historic artifacts provides a basis for characterizing and comparing Quaternary tufa deposition and diagenesis across the Kharga Oasis region of south‐central Egypt. Analysis of tufa deposits at Refûf Pass, Midauwara Pass, A‘in ‘Amur, and Umm el Dabadib suggest that the low Mg‐carbonates were precipitated by similar inorganic and biogeochemical processes operating within freshwater spring‐fed alkaline stream environments throughout Quaternary time. Detailed petrographic studies suggest that the tufas are relatively pristine, with the original rock textures well preserved with minimal postdepositional alteration. Microstratigraphic details indicate that a variety of interformational facies were present within the former stream environments; understanding these contexts is valuable for interpreting prehistoric human activities. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.