Evaluation of the subsurface structural features of the Farafra Oasis, western desert, Egypt using aeromagnetic data

The Egyptian government has launched enormous national initiatives to reclaim and sustainably developing of 1.5 million acres. Among the promising areas, the Farafra Oasis which has a ground water usage for drinking and irrigation has chosen as the focal point of the project initial phase. Qualitatively and quantitively assessment of the subsurface structures that have an impact on the ground water circulation were taken place using the airborne magnetic data. The airborne magnetic data was subjected to numerous magnetic processing techniques including the reduction to the northern magnetic pole (RTP), power spectrum analysis, 3D Euler deconvolution and 3D modelling technique. Also, Tilt derivative techniques were applied to define the main contact zones, depths and the structural indices of the causal subsurface structural features. The deduced subsurface shallow structures were found at 2 km, whereas the deep structures were extended to 5 km depth. Analysis of the 3D magnetic modelling emphasized the outputs of the applied power spectrum technique that the depths of the basement rocks were ranging from 2 km to more than 4.7 km. Quantitively interpretation of the RTP map revealed the presence of numerous NE-SW, NNE-SSW, ENE-WSW, and NW-SE faults that dissected the area.