40
E. A. Zaghloul
Nummulites subramondi, Operculina sp., Pecten sp., Lucina sp. As attested by the
nummulites, the age is Early Eocene (Ypresian).
3.3.2 Garra al-Arbain Facies
Kurkur Formation
El-Deftar et al. (1970) mapped a thin dark yellow to brown layer representing the
unconformity surface between the Kharga Shale Member and Qur al-Malik sections.
The thickness is about 40 m. in Teneida and reduced to the west and completely
missing in north of Mut. It consists of 40 m. of argillaceous, dolomitic and oolitic
reef-like limestone, silty shale, and marl. The limestone is fossiliferous with Cardita
wegneri, Cardita tenedensis, Ostrea orientalis, Turritella spp. The faunal assemblage
assigns the age to Upper Paleocene (Landenian).
Garra Formation
This name was first introduced by Issawi (1968), to describe the thick limestone beds
at the top of Gebal Garra. It overlies the Kurkur Formation at Abu Tartur Plateau and
forming the inner scarp and ridges. Lithologically, it is made of a thick limestone,
slightly chalky and partly siliceous, with clay bed near the base. The formation is
fossiliferous with Ventreculites sp., Globorotalia pseudomenardi Plummer, Globogirina angulate, Ananchytes fakhreyi Fourteau, Ostrea Osiris, Natica dakhlensis and
others.
The assemblage fossils assign the age of the Garra Formation by Issawi (1968) to
Landenian at the base and Lower Eocene (Ypresian) at top.
3.4 The Quaternary Deposits
The Quaternary deposits cover relatively extensive topographic low areas in the
Dakhla Depression. These are of continental origin varying from freshwater to
aeolian. These deposits may be classified into the following units:
3.4.1 Lake (Playa) Deposits
These deposits occupy the topographically low areas at the foot of the scarps and
pediment. Three localities covered by these deposits are recognized at Deir al-Hagar
(about 150 km
2 ), West Mawhub (about 10 km
2 ) and on the plateau surface northeast
of Abu Minqar (20 km
2 ). This unit is represented by the Deir al-Hagar Playa which
is located close to Deir al-Hagar Temple. It is a semicircular basin covering about
E. A. Zaghloul
Nummulites subramondi, Operculina sp., Pecten sp., Lucina sp. As attested by the
nummulites, the age is Early Eocene (Ypresian).
3.3.2 Garra al-Arbain Facies
Kurkur Formation
El-Deftar et al. (1970) mapped a thin dark yellow to brown layer representing the
unconformity surface between the Kharga Shale Member and Qur al-Malik sections.
The thickness is about 40 m. in Teneida and reduced to the west and completely
missing in north of Mut. It consists of 40 m. of argillaceous, dolomitic and oolitic
reef-like limestone, silty shale, and marl. The limestone is fossiliferous with Cardita
wegneri, Cardita tenedensis, Ostrea orientalis, Turritella spp. The faunal assemblage
assigns the age to Upper Paleocene (Landenian).
Garra Formation
This name was first introduced by Issawi (1968), to describe the thick limestone beds
at the top of Gebal Garra. It overlies the Kurkur Formation at Abu Tartur Plateau and
forming the inner scarp and ridges. Lithologically, it is made of a thick limestone,
slightly chalky and partly siliceous, with clay bed near the base. The formation is
fossiliferous with Ventreculites sp., Globorotalia pseudomenardi Plummer, Globogirina angulate, Ananchytes fakhreyi Fourteau, Ostrea Osiris, Natica dakhlensis and
others.
The assemblage fossils assign the age of the Garra Formation by Issawi (1968) to
Landenian at the base and Lower Eocene (Ypresian) at top.
3.4 The Quaternary Deposits
The Quaternary deposits cover relatively extensive topographic low areas in the
Dakhla Depression. These are of continental origin varying from freshwater to
aeolian. These deposits may be classified into the following units:
3.4.1 Lake (Playa) Deposits
These deposits occupy the topographically low areas at the foot of the scarps and
pediment. Three localities covered by these deposits are recognized at Deir al-Hagar
(about 150 km
2 ), West Mawhub (about 10 km
2 ) and on the plateau surface northeast
of Abu Minqar (20 km
2 ). This unit is represented by the Deir al-Hagar Playa which
is located close to Deir al-Hagar Temple. It is a semicircular basin covering about