ORCID Profile
0000-0002-9740-1673
Current Organisation
Cairo University
Does something not look right? The information on this page has been harvested from data sources that may not be up to date. We continue to work with information providers to improve coverage and quality. To report an issue, use the Feedback Form.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-2012
DOI: 10.1111/GBI.12011
Abstract: Peritidal ferruginous microbialites form the main bulk of the Middle Eocene ironstone deposits of the Bahariya Depression, Western Desert, Egypt. They include ferruginous stromatolites and microbially coated grains (ferruginous oncoids and ooids). Their internal structures reveal repeated cycles of microbial and Fe oxyhydroxide laminae. The microbial laminae consist of fossilised neutrophilic filamentous iron-oxidising bacteria. These bacteria oxidised the Fe(II)-rich acidic groundwater upon meeting the marine water at an approximately neutral pH. The iron oxyhydroxide laminae were initially precipitated as amorphous iron oxhydroxides and subsequently recrystallised into nanocrystalline goethite during early diagenesis. Organic remains such as proteinaceous compounds, lipids, carbohydrates and carotenoids are preserved and can be identified by Raman spectroscopy. The ferruginous microbialites were subjected to post-depositional subaerial weathering associated with sea-level retreat and subsurface alteration by continued ascent of the Fe(II)-rich acidic groundwater. At this stage, another iron-oxidising bacterial generation prevailed in the acidic environment. The acidity of the groundwater was caused by oxidation of pyrite in the underlying Cenomanian Bahariya formation. The positive iron isotopic ratios and presence of ferrous and ferric iron sulphates may result from partial iron oxidation along the redox boundary in an oxygen-depleted environment.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.SAA.2014.10.090
Abstract: Application of thermoanalyses, FTIR, XPS and Mössbauer spectroscopic methods can differentiate between iron ores formed in different geological environments. Two types of iron ore are formed in shallow marine environments in the Bahariya Depression, Egypt, yellowish brown ooidal ironstones (type 1) and black mud and fossiliferous ironstones (type 2). Both types were subjected to subaerial weathering, producing a dark brown lateritic (pedogenic) iron ore (type 3). Microscopic investigation indicates goethite is the main mineral in types 1 and 3, while hematite is the main mineral in type 2 and also occurs in type 3. Thermoanalyses indicated the dehydroxylation endothermic peak of goethite of type 1 occurs between 329 and 345°C, while in type 3 occurs between 284 and 330°C. This variation can be attributed to the nanocrystalline nature of the pedogenic goethite. The presence of an exothermic peak at 754°C in type 3 is probably attributed to goethite-hematite phase transformation. FTIR spectroscopy indicated that goethite of type 1 is characterized by the presence of the δ-OH band between 799 and 802cm(-1), the γ-OH between 898 and 904cm(-1) and the bulk hydroxyl stretch between 3124 and 3133cm(-1). Goethite of type 3 is characterized by the absence of the bulk hydroxyl stretch band and the δ-OH and γ-OH are shifted to higher Wavenumbers that can attributed to a relative Al-for Fe-substitution. Hematite is identified by two IR bands the first is between 464 and 475cm(-1) and at the second is between 540 and 557cm(-1). Quartz is identified in all iron ore types, nitrates are identified in types 1 and 2, but absent in type 3 and Kaolinite is identified in type 2. The Mössbauer spectrum of type 1 is fitted with one magnetic sextet corresponding to goethite with an isomer shift (IS)=0.374mms(-1), a quadruple splitting (QS)=-0.27mms(-1) and a hyperfine magnetic field (BHF)=∼37. The Mössbauer spectrum of type 2 is fitted with one magnetic sextet corresponding to hematite with IS=0.363mms(-1), QS=-0.23mms(-1) and BHF=∼50. The Mössbauer spectrum of type 3 is best fitted with a single doublet corresponding to ferrihydrite and one sextet corresponding to hematite. The XPS survey scans and the high resolution of the Fe 2p3/2 can differentiate between the yellowish-brown and green ooidal laminae of type 1. The XPS survey scans indicate the presence of Fe, O, C, N, Na, Cl, Ca and Si in all laminae, while S, Zn, Ti and P are only restricted to the green laminae. The high resolution of the Fe 2p3/2 indicates that Fe is linked to OH(-) ligand in the yellowish-brown laminae that correspond to goethite, while Fe is linked to SO4(2-) ligand in the green laminae. The XPS survey scans of types 2 and 3 indicate that Fe is linked to O(2-) ligand that corresponds to hematite.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2012
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-04-2014
DOI: 10.1111/SED.12106
Abstract: Lower and middle Eocene ironstone sequences of the Naqb and Qazzun formations from the north‐east Bahariya Depression, Western Desert, Egypt, represent a proxy for early Palaeogene climate and sea‐level changes. These sequences represent the only Palaeogene economic ooidal ironstone record of the Southern Tethys. These ironstone sequences rest unconformably on three structurally controlled Cenomanian palaeohighs (for ex le, the Gedida, Harra and Ghorabi mines) and formed on the inner r of a carbonate platform. These palaeohighs were exposed and subjected to subaerial lateritic weathering from the Cenomanian to early Eocene. The lower and middle Eocene ironstone sequences consist of quiet water ironstone facies overlain by higher energy ironstone facies. The distribution of low‐energy ironstone facies is controlled by depositional relief. These deposits consist of lagoonal, burrow‐mottled mud‐ironstone and laterally equivalent tidal flat, stromatolitic ironstones. The agitated water ironstone facies consist of shallow subtidal–intertidal nummulitic–ooidal–oncoidal and back‐barrier storm‐generated fossiliferous ironstones. The formation of these marginal marine sequences was associated with major marine transgressive–regressive megacycles that separated by subaerial exposure and lateritic weathering. The formation of lateritic palaeosols with their characteristic dissolution and reprecipitation features, such as colloform texture and alveolar voids, implies periods of humid and warm climate followed major marine regressions. The formation of the lower to middle Eocene ironstone succession and the associated lateritic palaeosols can be linked to the early Palaeogene global warming and eustatic sea‐level changes. The reworking of the middle Eocene palaeosol and the deposition of the upper Eocene phosphate‐rich glauconitic sandstones of the overlying Hamra Formation may record the initial stages of the palaeoclimatic transition from greenhouse to icehouse conditions.
No related grants have been discovered for Mortada ElAref.