ABSTRACT
The north Western Desert forms part of the African plate. In the past, the north Western Desert was intermittently submerged by epicontinental seas. The entire sedimentary section, except in limited areas and for short durations, is of subaerial or shallow marine origin excluding a continental margin model and putting the north Western Desert well south of the Neotethys suture. Several tectonic events affected the north Western Desert. For most of its geological history, the greater part of the north Western Desert formed a platform characterized by relatively mild subsidence; it was situated near actively subsiding basins or depocenters. The north Western Desert, with the exception of the small outlier of Abu Roash, is a plateau covered with Neogene sediments. The Paleozoic sediments of the north Western Desert are of monotonous composition and are made up of interbedded sandstone and shale with a few carbonate beds.
