Seismicity and Geologic Structures Indubitable in Wadi Hagul, North Eastern Desert, Egypt

Tarek A. Seleem1, Hamdy A. Aboulela21Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt2Marine Science Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, EgyptE-mail: [email protected] November 7, 2010; revised January 14, 2011; accepted January 25, 2011

Abstract

Paleo and recent earthquakes have been recorded in Wadi Hagul area and its environs, which have left behind geologic structures of deformation preserved in exposed sedimentary rocks. To evaluate such deformation and surface break, different techniques and data types are used compromising image processing techniques,Geographic Information Systems (GIS), seismicity data, as well as, field investigation. The field investigation clarified that the study area is enriched with soft-sediment deformation structures encompassing two types of geologic structures; brittle and viscoplastic structures. The analysis of the various types of data elucidate that, the earthquakes of Wadi Hagul are frequently distributed at an average depth ranging from (1 to 35 km) within the top of the Earth’s crust which are mainly controlled by existing Hagul fault zone. The study gives new insight for a better understanding of the seismic activity in the study area which helps in the seismic hazard assessment.