ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the sequence of tectonic events which shaped the structure of Egypt, and discusses the tectonics of the northern Red Sea-Gulf of Suez rift. The best geophysical tool for mapping tectonic trends of deeply buried basement rocks is magnetics. Usually aeromagnetic mapping reflects the horizontal variation in magnetic properties of underlying rocks. The tectonic trends affecting the Phanerozoic section, from Paleozoic to Quaternary, will be discussed with reference to a series of isopach maps of various stratigraphic rock units in selected areas such as the north Western Desert and the Gulf of Suez. Aeromagnetic maps generally show broad, low frequency anomalies resulting from relatively deeper and older structures, as well as high frequency local anomalies that reflect shallow tectonic features. In summary, Mesozoic tectonics resulted in two main fold systems, an older northwest trend system and a younger northeast trend system.
