Geology of Dakhla Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt
41
Fig. 8 Dikaka features in the sandy silt of Deir al-Hagar Playa deposits (Photo taken by author)
2.5 km
2 and nearly flat surface with a remnant of a recent playa in the forming of
yardings. The playa sediments were classified according to Zaghloul 1999, into three
stratigraphic units namely A, B and C at the top. The lower unit (A) contains Neolithic
remains such as lithic artifacts, bone fragments and Ostrich eggshell fragments. The
total thickness is about 3.10 m. and mainly consists of horizontal alternating bands of
soft, friable sand, clay and silt with plant remains, sand clay with Dikaka structures
(Fig. 8) and rare limestone pebbles and gravels. The deflated surface was dissected by
an ancient system of irrigation canals from Roman and Pre-Roman times (Zaghloul
1999).
3.4.2 Sand Dunes
Sand dunes cover the al-Qasr, Mawhub and Abu Minqar areas. These deposits are
represented by extensive sand dunes and sand sheets that cover the areas under
consideration.
This belt is known as the East Farafra (Karawin Dune Field) where the sand
is arranged into parallel longitudinal dunes or seifs dunes oriented in a northwestsoutheast direction, the direction of the prevailing wind. The dune field originates
from the plateau north to Dakhla Depression enters the plateau and continues with
minor breaks in nearly southeastern direction. Patches of sand sheets and barchans
dunes exist at the foot of the scarps and along the slop of al-Qasr to West Mawhub
41
Fig. 8 Dikaka features in the sandy silt of Deir al-Hagar Playa deposits (Photo taken by author)
2.5 km
2 and nearly flat surface with a remnant of a recent playa in the forming of
yardings. The playa sediments were classified according to Zaghloul 1999, into three
stratigraphic units namely A, B and C at the top. The lower unit (A) contains Neolithic
remains such as lithic artifacts, bone fragments and Ostrich eggshell fragments. The
total thickness is about 3.10 m. and mainly consists of horizontal alternating bands of
soft, friable sand, clay and silt with plant remains, sand clay with Dikaka structures
(Fig. 8) and rare limestone pebbles and gravels. The deflated surface was dissected by
an ancient system of irrigation canals from Roman and Pre-Roman times (Zaghloul
1999).
3.4.2 Sand Dunes
Sand dunes cover the al-Qasr, Mawhub and Abu Minqar areas. These deposits are
represented by extensive sand dunes and sand sheets that cover the areas under
consideration.
This belt is known as the East Farafra (Karawin Dune Field) where the sand
is arranged into parallel longitudinal dunes or seifs dunes oriented in a northwestsoutheast direction, the direction of the prevailing wind. The dune field originates
from the plateau north to Dakhla Depression enters the plateau and continues with
minor breaks in nearly southeastern direction. Patches of sand sheets and barchans
dunes exist at the foot of the scarps and along the slop of al-Qasr to West Mawhub