STRUCTURAL CONTROLS ON MINERALIZATIONS AT ABU HARBA AREA, NORTH EASTERN DESERT, EGYPT

Abstract

Abu Harba area is located in the North Eastern Desert (NED) which mainly covered by metavolcanics, Dokhan volcanics, metagabbro-diorite complex and younger granites. The detailed structural analysis of Abu Harba area indicate that shear stress trending NNE-SSW and NW-SE directions represent nearly the the Gulf of Aqaba and the Gulf of Suez trends. The lineaments in the area are multidirectional orientation with three main trends; ENE-WSW, NE-SW and E-W with less dominant trends represented by N-S, NNW-SSE and NW-SE directions. The mineralizations of secondary uranium (uranophane, kasolite and betafite) in Abu Harba area seem to be lithologically and structurally controlled. The alkali feldspar granites in the area contain highly amounts of silica and alkalis, accessory minerals and iron oxides. On the other hand, the NE-SW lineaments in the study area allowed the hydrothermal solution that bear uranium minerals to infiltrate upwardly parallel faults and joint sets at the peripheral western part of G. Abu Harba alkali feldspar granites. As the faults are suitable places for the flow of hydrothermal solutions bearing mineralization. So, the mineralizations appear to be structurally controlled.