The role of salt weathering in the origin of the Qattara Depression, Western Desert, Egypt

Auteurs :
AREF, M.A.M.
EL-KHORIBY, E.
HAMDAM, M.A.

Description :
This paper describes the results of field studies of evaporite sediments in recent sabkhas and in scattered, isolated hills at elevations of 25, 75 and 100 m below sea level in the Qattara Depression and petrographic examinations of core samples. The purpose of this study was to assess the rate and nature of weathering in this environment. The AA. propose that rapid erosion of the depression is favored by the high sodium chloride content of the near surface ground-water, combined with alternating wetting and drying cycles caused by sporadic groundwater seepage and occasional rainfall and evaporation.


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Geomorphology (Amsterdam), issn : 0169-555X, 2002, vol. 45, n°. 3-4, p. 181-195, nombre de pages : 15, Collation : Illustration, Références bibliographiques : 31 ref.

Date :
2002

Editeur :
Pays édition : Pays-Bas, Amsterdam, Elsevier