•  
  •  
 

Document Type

Original Article

Subject Areas

Earth science

Keywords

Geochemical; Petrography; Iron-ore deposits; Timsah Formation; Aswan, Egypt.

Abstract

The present study concerns the Upper Cretaceous oolitic ironstones of the Timsah Formation located in East Aswan, southern Nile Valley, Egypt. The Timsah Formation contains oolitic iron ore with ~ 3–5 m thick beds. The formation is exposed along the wadi level and the lower part of the scarp face in the study area. It was subject to petrography, mineralogy, and geochemical studies to understand the genetic and characteristic features of iron-ore deposits of the Timsah Formation. The iron ooids of Aswan ironstone are suggested to be formed in sedimentary basins from land-derived iron-rich constituents. Oolitic hematitic sandstone makes up the majority of the Timsah ironstones. The hue of the oolitic ironstones might be violet, yellowish, brownish, reddish, or brownish. According to the petrographic study, the ironstones are made up of pelloids, ooids, and sometimes pisoids (pisoliths) in various forms between matrix and ferruginous cement, which is made up of clay minerals and quartz with fine to medium grains. According to X-ray diffraction (XRD) examination, the primary constituents of oolitic ironstone are quartz, chamosite, goethite, and hematite.

Download

Share

COinS