Distribution of Bottom Offshore Sediments in the Deltaic Coastal Zone Between Ras El-Barr and Port Said, Egypt

Hosny Hemdan Hammama, Ghaleb Essa

The northern coast of Egypt, particularly its eastern part, is subjected to serious changes as a result of the action of the erosional processes, especially since constructing the Aswan High Dam. A retreat of 2 m/yr is reported to have occurred lately at Ras El-Barr.

Our study deals with the types and distribution of sediments on the marginal shelf from Ras El-Barr to Port Said to a depth of 6 m below sea level from 1971 to 1978 along 16 beach profiles. The samples were investigated for textural and mineralogical composition. Percentage-frequency maps showing the relative distribution of gravel, sand, mud, carbonate, grain size parameters, beach profiles, and other constituents of the sediments in the offshore area have been constructed and interpreted. The possible processes of erosion and accretion in relation to sediment drift along the coast of the area are also discussed.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91032©1988 Mediterranean Basins Conference and Exhibition, Nice, France, 25-28 September 1988.