The Wadi Mubarak belt , Eastern Desert of Egypt : a Neoproterozoic conjugate shear system in the Arabian – Nubian Shield

The Wadi Mubarak belt in Egypt strikes west–east (and even northeast–southwest) and crosscuts the principal northwest–southeast trend of the Najd Fault System in the Central Eastern Desert of Egypt. The belt therefore appears to be a structural feature that formed postdate to the Najd Fault System. In contrast, it is shown here that the deformation in the Wadi Mubarak belt can be correlated with the accepted scheme of deformation events in the Eastern Desert of Egypt and that its geometry and apparently cross-cutting orientation is controlled by a large granite complex that intruded prior to the structural le other younger transport Desert, l Umra east and ajd Fault nger phase est. The El s conform d early c evolution. Structural correlation is facilitated by a series of intrusions that intrude the Wadi Mubarak belt and resemb intrusions in the Eastern Desert. These intrusions include: (1) an older gabbro generation, (2) an older granite, (3) a gabbro and (4) a younger granite. The structural evolution is interpreted to be characterized by early northwest directed that formed several major thrusts in the belt. This event is correlated with the main deformation event in the Eastern elsewhere known as D2. During this event the regional fabric of the Wadi Mubarak belt was wrapped around the E granite complex in a west–east orientation. The Wadi Mubarak belt was subsequently affected during D3 by west– northwest–southeast trending sinistral conjugate strike–slip shear zones. This event is related to the formation of the N System. Detailed resolution of superimposed shear sense indicators suggest that D3 consisted of an older and a you that reflect the change of transpression direction from east-southeast–west-northwest to eastnortheast–westouthw Umra granite complex is dated here with single zircon ages to consist of intrusion pulses at 654 and 690 my. These age with the interpretation that it intruded prior to D2 and that the structural pattern of the Wadi Mubarak belt was initiate during D2. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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