Proc. Geol. Surv. Egypt Cenn. Conf. (1996), PP. 115-142

GEOPHYSICAL DISCOVERY OF ADDITIONAL IRON RESERVES BAHARIYA OASIS, EGYPT

El Hakim, B.A.; El Sorady, A.I.; Ismail, A.M.;

Mahmoud, M.M.; Sultan, S.A.; Meabed, M.E. and Saber, H.S.

Egyptian Geological Survey And Mining Authority

ABSTRACT

The Egyptian Geological Survey and Mining Authority (EGSMA)conducted this study as a part of a contract to search for additional iron ore reserves in both Bahariya Oasis and Aswan areas, to face the increased demand of import the raw material needed for the newly build factories. Due to the very low contrast in the physical properties between the iron ore and its host rocks and the very complex geological origin of the ore, previous geophysical and geological prospecting, including drilling, failed to prove any additional ore reserves. The present geophysical prospecting program is based on a new approach which applies dipole –dipole resistivity profiling, detailed highly accurate gravimetric survey and shallow seismic refraction technique.

Two profiles were measured at Hara area running N40oE and N30o W, a third runs N30oE at El Gedida area and a fourth runs N15oE at Ghorabi area. Each profile is one kilometer long and starts at known iron localities and searches for its extension far away, if any is there.

The dipole – dipole resistivity configuration having electrode spacing a = 10 m was used along the profiles. Five vertical electrical soundings (VES) were measured at selected sites along the profiles for confirmation.

A gravity survey with an accuracy of  0.003 milligal was carried out with a 5m station spacing along all profiles.

Seismic refraction technique was applied using a 10m spacing between geophones along the same profiles. Previous bore hole data and trenching conducted by both EGSMA and Iron and Steel Company were considered when choosing profile locations and during interpretation.

Drilling at recommended sites based on the interpretation of the integrated geophysical measurement mentioned above followed by bore .hole geophysical logging were conducted.

New extensions of the iron ore deposits were proved.