On the structures of Abu Roash area and inverted basins of northern Egypt - Comments on “Surface expression of the Syrian arc Kattaniya inverted basin in the Abu Roash area, northeast Western Desert, Egypt: Structural style and tectonic history” by Sayed et al. (2020)

• Published in: Marine and petroleum geology Vol. 142; p. 105261
• Main Author: Moustafa, Adel R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2022
• Subjects: Abu Roash Cretaceous outcrop; Kattaniya inverted basin; Northern Egypt Inverted basins; Syrian arc; Western Desert of Egypt; Wrench structures; Western Desert of Egypt; Northern Egypt Inverted basins; Syrian arc; Wrench structures; Kattaniya inverted basin; Abu Roash Cretaceous outcrop
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2021.105261
• ISSN: 0264-8172

The paper by Sayed et al.2020 presents detailed structural mapping of the Abu Roash Cretaceous outcrop (SW of Cairo) and integrates the mapping results with the tectonic evolution of the Kattaniya basin as one of the northern Egypt inverted basins. I present in this discussion a different age relationship between the folds and faults in the mapped area, where folds form after faults as push-up structures and faults form after folds as tear faults. I also comment on the relationship between the structural deformation of Abu Roash area and the deformation of the Kattaniya basin as the dextral wrenching of Abu Roash area is unique and does not represent the deformation of the northern Egypt inverted basins. Wrenching at Abu Roash formed a push-up structure at a stepover between ENE oriented faults whereas inversion in northern Egypt reactivated NE-SW oriented faults with predominant reverse slip and subordinate strike-slip. The main-bounding fault of Kattaniya basin is not located at Abu Roash outcrop but lies ~35 km to the NW. Basin inversion in northern Egypt continued to post-Early Miocene time, not earlier as suggested by Sayed et al. Other comments on Sayed et al.‘s mapping are also highlighted. •Wrench structures of Abu Roash area do not represent Kattaniya Basin.•Inverted basins of northern Egypt have NE-SW orientation.•Basin inversion continued to post Early Miocene.•El-Ghigiga to El-Hassana SW plunging folds are push-up structures.•Abu Roash outcrop is a push-up structure between ENE oriented faults.