Composition and origin of thermal waters in the Gulf of Suez area, Egypt

Sturchio, Neil C.; Arehart, Greg B.; Sultan, M.; Sano, Yuji; AboKamar, Y.; Sayed, Muhammad

doi:10.1016/0883-2927(96)00025-x

Cited by 23 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Therefore, the thermal waters from the study area are paleowaters of meteoric origin that flushed and mixed with residual saline water in the Nubian sandstone aquifer. This is also consistent with works of Issar et al (1972), Gat and Issar (1974) and Sturchio et al (1996). The isotopic composition of the Hammam Faroun thermal water, of the highest salinity values, is quite similar to that of Ayoun Mousa-2 well of much lower salinity value.…”

Section: Isotopic Properties Of Thermal Waterssupporting

confidence: 78%

“…The isotopic composition of the Hammam Faroun thermal water, of the highest salinity values, is quite similar to that of Ayoun Mousa-2 well of much lower salinity value. This may indicate that the source of salinity of thermal waters at Hammam Faroun is not totally mixing with residual marine water but may be dissolution of Miocene evaporites and/or dissolution of marine aerosols or evaporite dust (from coastal sabkahas) in the recharge area as suggested by Sturchio et al (1996).…”

Section: Isotopic Properties Of Thermal Watersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The high salinity and the Na-Cl water type may reflect that the seawater component of these thermal waters may be high. However, this water type may result from dissolution of Middle Miocene evaporites, which are common in the Gulf of Suez region and reaches a thickness of about 610 m in Ras Lagia in the vicinity of Hammam Faroun (Sturchio et al, 1996). The second group of hot waters (Hammam Mousa, Ain Sukhna, Ayoun Mousa-2 well and Ras Sudr-2 well) having TDS ranging from 3,500 to 8,400 mg/l and discharge temperatures varying between 32.5 and 72ºC.…”

Section: Hydrogeochemical Properties Of Thermal Watersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They owe their existence to tectonic (or volcanic) heating associated with the opening of the Red Sea/Gulf of Suez rift (Boulos, 1990). Few previous studies have investigated different aspects of the chemical and isotopic composition of geothermal waters of the Gulf of Suez region (Issar et al, 1971;Himida et al, 1972;El Kiki et al, 1978;Morgan et al, 1983;Shata, 1990;and Sturchio et al, 1996). This study presents the chemical and stable isotopic compositions (…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hydrogeochemistry and Geothermometry of Thermal Groundwater from the Gulf of Suez Region, Egypt

El-Fiky¹

2009

ear

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Abstract. The combined chemical composition, O and H isotopes, and the basic geologic setting of the geothermal system of the Gulf of Suez, Egypt have been investigated to evaluate the origin of the dissolved constituents and subsurface reservoir temperatures. Hydrochemical characterization of thermal waters discharged from springs and flowing artesian wells in the Gulf of Suez region show that there are two groups. One is Hammam Faroun thermal waters with salinity values exceeding 10,000 mg/l, discharge temperatures reach to 70ºC, and Na-Cl hydrochemical facies. The other group is thermal waters discharged at Hammam Mousa, Ain Sukhna, and shallow flowing artesian wells at Ayoun Mousa and Ras Sudr. They are characterized by salinity values less than 10,000 mg/l, discharge temperatures ranging from 32.5 to 72ºC and Na-Mg-Ca-Cl (Hammam Mousa), Na-Cl-SO 4 (Ain Sukhna), and Na-Ca-Cl (Ayoun Mousa-2 well and Ras Sudr-2 well) water types. Different graphical presentations using major and minor ions indicated that little mixing with sea water is probably a source of dissolved constituents. Water/rock interaction is also a major source for the dissolved constituents as revealed from Ca and HCO 3 enrichment of the thermal waters that is attributed to dissolution of carbonate minerals. Thermal waters from Hammam Faroun and Ras Sudr-2 well have the highest discharge temperatures and SiO 2 concentrations that indicate that ascending hot water at the Hammam Faroun area is slightly mixed with cold water. The thermal waters from the study area are depleted in 18 O and 2 H and fall on the Global Meteoric Water Line (GMWL) and below the local eastern Mediterranean Meteoric Water Line (MMWL) with d-excess values ranging between 3.42 and 10.6‰, which is similar to the groundwater of the Nubian aquifer in central Sinai and the Western Desert of Egypt and suggesting a common origin. This indicates that these waters are paleo-meteoric water which A.A. El-Fiky 72 recharged and flushed residual saline water in the Nubian aquifer under different climatic conditions than the modern ones. All thermal waters of the study area are undersaturated with respect to sulfate minerals (gypsum and anhydrite) and oversaturated or nearly in equilibrium with respect to aragonite, calcite and dolomite indicating that these minerals occur in the reservoir. All the thermal waters are oversaturated and nearly in equilibrium with quartz and chalcedony indicating equilibration with a sandstone aquifer free of gypsum and anhydrite with minor carbonate minerals. The subsurface reservoir temperatures were calculated using different solute geothermometers and gave temperatures ranging between 13.0 and 190.5ºC. Na/K and Na-K-Ca geothermometers gave the maximum reservoir temperatures (135-190.5ºC), whereas Na-K-Ca-Mg and Mg/Li geothermometers gave the lowest temperatures (13.0-45.9ºC). Quartz geothermometer gave the most reasonable subsurface temperatures (61.5-104.5ºC). The Hammam Faroun and Ras Sudr areas have the highest subsurface reservoir temperatures, which...

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Section: Isotopic Properties Of Thermal Waterssupporting

confidence: 78%

Section: Isotopic Properties Of Thermal Watersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Hydrogeochemical Properties Of Thermal Watersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hydrogeochemistry and Geothermometry of Thermal Groundwater from the Gulf of Suez Region, Egypt

El-Fiky¹

2009

ear

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“…This was performed based on the obtained geochemical and geophysical data to demonstrate the origin of the thermal water as well as the geological structure setting in the study area. Reprocessing of the geochemical data collected and analyzed by Sturchio et al (1996) was made to extract more information about the sources and origin of the thermal water. Furthermore, 2D geoelectrical cross section passing through the hot spring made by El-Qady et al (2000) gave information about the subsurface geological setting below the hot spring.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conceptual model and numerical simulation of the hydrothermal system in Hammam Faraun hot spring, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt

2010

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The tectonic position of Egypt in the northeastern corner of the African continent suggests that it may possess significant geothermal resources, especially along its eastern margin. The most of the thermal springs in Egypt are located along the shores of Gulf of Suez and Red Sea. These springs are probably tectonic or nonvolcanic origin associated with the opening of the Red Sea-Gulf of Suez rifts, where the eastern shore of the Gulf of Suez is characterized by superficial thermal manifestations including a cluster of hot springs with varied temperatures. Hammam Faraun area consists of the hottest spring in Egypt where the water temperature is 70°C. Conceptual as well as numerical models were made on the Hammam Faraun hot spring based on geological, geochemical, and geophysical data. The models show that the heat source of the hot spring is probably derived from high heat flow and deep water circulation controlled by faults associated with the opening of the Red Sea and Gulf of Suez rifts.

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Fault zone hydrogeology in arid environments: The origin of cold springs in the Wadi Araba Basin, Egypt

Khalil

Hamer

Pichler

et al. 2021

Hydrological Processes

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The role of faults in controlling groundwater flow in the Sahara and most of the hyper-arid deserts is poorly understood due to scarcity of hydrological data. The Wadi Araba Basin (WAB), in the Eastern Sahara, is highly affected by folds and faults associated with Senonian tectonics and Paleogene rifting. Using the WAB as a test site, satellite imagery, aeromagnetic maps, field observations, isotopic and geochemical data were examined to unravel the structural control on groundwater flow dynamics in the Sahara. Analysis of satellite imagery indicated that springs occur along structurally controlled scarps. Isotopic data suggested that cold springs in the WAB showed a striking similarity with the Sinai Nubian aquifer system (NAS) water and the thermal springs along the Gulf of Suez (e.g., δ 18 O = À8.01‰ to À5.24‰ and δD = À53.09‰ to À31.12‰) demonstrating similar recharge sources. The findings advocated that cold springs in the WAB represent a natural discharge from a previously undefined aquifer in the Eastern Desert of Egypt rather than infiltrated precipitation over the plateaus surrounding the WAB or through hydrologic windows from deep crystalline basement flow. A complex role of the geological structures was inferred including: (1) channelling of the groundwater flow along low-angle faults,(2) compartmentalization of the groundwater flow upslope from high-angle faults, and (3) reduction of the depth to the main aquifer in a breached anticline setting, which resulted in cold spring discharge temperatures (13-22 C). Our findings emphasize on the complex role of faults and folds in controlling groundwater flow, which should be taken into consideration in future examination of aquifer response to climate variability in the Sahara and similar deserts worldwide.

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Composition and origin of thermal waters in the Gulf of Suez area, Egypt

Cited by 23 publications

References 32 publications

Hydrogeochemistry and Geothermometry of Thermal Groundwater from the Gulf of Suez Region, Egypt

Hydrogeochemistry and Geothermometry of Thermal Groundwater from the Gulf of Suez Region, Egypt

Conceptual model and numerical simulation of the hydrothermal system in Hammam Faraun hot spring, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt

Fault zone hydrogeology in arid environments: The origin of cold springs in the Wadi Araba Basin, Egypt

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