Annals of the Geological Survey of Egypt —Vol. Th, 1972 ATALLA FELSITE INTRUSION AND ITS NEIGHBOURING RHYOLITIC FLOWS AND TUFFS, EASTERN DESERT BY M. A. ESSAWY* AND K, M. ABU ZEID ABSTRACT tho alls felsie iotrslon which forms on elonante body bow 19,5 bos tong by 110 3 km wie i by far, the longest fle fniusion ovorded inthe basement complex ofthe Eastern Desert Field and pettoprapic investigation indcues that the Atal Te snurcon and the type lw and us occrsing io the close peihboS see tain to tbe Old Vole, The ryltes were fit eur > hood erosion of the rook of the Hamsmamat Grovby whee the fetstes were later emplaced afer the deposition of the eit. INTRODUCTION AND GEOLOGIC SET UP rhe geology of Wack EbSagi arn tas altndy been coms (Dacdir and Abu yeid prt h), he orca under cositersion (Fig, 1) wish indie the Atalla_ felste ravrion and its neighbosring thyoliic Sow and uf ocsupich; 1 fact, the western part of Wadi El-Saqia ares. ste mapped area covers about 277 kn? and posses the OOWNS coordinates ¢ Latitude 26°07" & 2617" N. Longitude 33°25" & 33°32 EB. ‘The Atalla feste intrusion which is he main subst of the present study is by far the largest felste intrusion recorded in the baseract ‘complex of the Eastern Desert. Tr forms an elongate body about 19.5 km long and | 3 km wide. ‘The thyolite flows and tus, on the other hands form two distinct belts in the close ion, They are clearly cut neighbourhood of, and running paalel ty the Fst inteusi by the felsite intrusion along its southeastern boundary. | iis in the area, They dominate in the northwestern part, where tEY 455 ‘pounded on the easter side by this felsite intrusion. Cato University. ‘£1 Mansoura Foculty of Seener, - 2m -'A discontinuous belt of metamudtonemetagreswackés with intercalated ison bands and pertaining 29 the group of measedimente of the Easter Desert Atsad and BL eats 1960) intervenes between the extensive metavoleanis of Wadi Atle and the orthera part of the felsite intrusion, ‘the metavolcanics consist mainly of metabasalts, They dominate in the eastern, Patt of the area, bounded on the western side by the ‘metamudstone-metagreywackés, aswell fs by the flsite intrusion. ‘The metavoleanics are, however, intruded slong their eastern and northern sides by the Younger Granites and diorites respectively. Serpentnites are represented by two minor occurrences, The fist opsurrens lies along the northern boundary of the area, whereas the second Hes to the south of the Atalla gold mine. Diortie rocks pertaining to the so-called diorite-pidiorite association ( Akaad and Ta Remy, 1960) o2our along the northem boundary of the area intruding che emvcloP= ing metavotcanies and are cut by the neighbouring Younger Granites ‘The Old Voteanics are well represented among the rock groups of the arse under consideration. Apart from the Atalla felsite intrusion which is here assumed to pertain fo the Old Voleanics, the latter is represented by three different occurrences: (a) the rhyolite taf, (b) the rhyolite flows, and Ce) the porphyries in the southwestern corner of the mapped area. ‘The rhyolite tufls form a belt intervening between the southwesicm boundary of the Atalla felsite intrusion and the rhyolitic Hows. The tuffs are intruded by the fels- ite and ate interbedded with the flows. ‘the rhyolitie flows, on the other hand, form an elongate body that rus parallel to the felsite intrusion, intruded by the latter as well as by the Younger Granites of ‘Wadi Umm Eifein. ‘The third occurrence of Old Voleanics is composed mainly of porphyry rocks and cceupies the southwestern cornet bounded to the north cast and 10 ‘the south by gneisses and the Hammamat Sediments. ‘A relatively minor occurrence of subgreywackés to subarenites pertaining, te the Hammamat Group (Akaad and Noweir, 1969) rest unconformably over the central part Of the belt of thyolitic tus, The significance of this ooourrence lies in the fact that se cerves to indicate the underlying tub as pertaining to the Old Voleanies of Dokhan type. = 272 -The Atalla felsite intrusion, however, intrudes the neighbouring gneisses, meta- sediments, metavolcanics,rhyolitic tus, and rhyolitie lows. It is,om the other hand, intruded by the Younger Granites of the Atalla gold mine. ‘Apart from the unmappable dyke rocks of the area, the Younger Granites represent the youngest rock unit. ‘THE ATALLA FELSITE INTRUSION Cccurrences of post-Hammamat Felsites in the Eastern Desert of Egypt : Apart from the Atalla felsite intrusion, other felsites were recorded in different localities in the Eastern Desert. Most of these felsites cut the rocks of the Hammamat Group and are accordingly known as Post-Hammamat fesites, ‘Minor felsite intrusions were first discovered by Akaad (1957) in Wadi Igla, These folsites, intruding the Igla Formation, also proved to include intrusion breccias ( Akaad, 1959). Akaad and El Ramly (1958) discovered similar felsites intruding or closely associat- ed with the Igla Formation at Wadi Ranga, Wadi Shait and Wadi El Miyah. ‘Noweir (1968) discovered an elongate belt of similar felsites cutting the Hammamat rocks in the Hammamat-Umm Seleimat district, These felsites were named post Hammamat Felsites and placed as a distinct unit in the most complete succession of rock units yet known in the Egyptian basement (Akad and Noweir, 1969). Shazly (1971) discovered at the 140 Km mark fom Qift along the Qin-Quscir road felsites identical to those cutting the Hemmamat Group. ‘Akaad (1971) gave a general review on the above mentioned occurrences of post= Hammamat felsites. Dardir and Abu Zeid (1971 a) recorded small felsite intrusions at Gabal El Rishe, north of Umm Guruf and north of Abu Marwa ridge in the area between Latitudes 27000" and 27°30°N, The writers mentioned thet there is no clear field relation between the felsites and the Hammamat sediments, but the presence of felsite pebbles among the fatter may be taken as a criterion of the older age of the felsites. Similar small felsite bodies beating no relation to the Hammamet rocks, were also recorded in the neighbourhood of the present area at Kab Hamdan and Wadi El Sodmain (Dardir and Abu Zeid, 1971 ). ‘The Geological Survey's map of Egypt, scale :1,000,000 (EI Ramly, 1972), contains the felsite intrusions as a rock unit under the name « Post-Hammamat Felsites ». = 213 -Description and Fleld Relations of the Atalla Felste¢ ‘The northern part of the Atalla felsite intrusion is dissected by the upper tributaries of Wadi Umm Had, whereas its soushern partis bourded £0 the east by Wadi Atalla. ‘the clongate outerop of this intrusion is bounded from its ott side by basic metavolcanics and metasediments and from its western ‘side by thyolitic flows and tusls and gneisses. ‘The contacts between the felste intrusion and the enveloping country rocks are usually knife sharp. No contact effects of any considerable importance were ‘observed on the enveloping country rocks. “The felsites, in general, are fine grained rocks of yellow, ‘buff and brown colour. ‘They are highly jointed particularly along the marginal parts of the intrusion. Field relations between the Atalla fesite intrusion and the neighbouring rock units indicate the following = ‘The Atalla felsite intrusion is intruded along the neighbouring gneisses, metasediments, THetavolcanies and the shylitic flows and fis. The latter pertian to the group of Old Voleanics = The felsite intrusion is, in turn, intruded by the Younger Granites. 3 Unfortunately no relations were observed in the field Beivecn the felsite intrusion and the Hammamat rocks. Petrography In thin section, the felsites show a hypidiomonphic’ textires but rarely do they enclose phenocrysts and show accordingly @ microporphysils texture, Some varieties, oa the other hand, show distinct intergrowths of sien ‘and feldspar, therefore grading to rocks identical to proper granophyres. the felsites, in general, consist essentially of quartz. and alkali: feldspar together with subordinate mica (average grain 0.2 mm). Iron oxides are abundant accessory Tninerals, whereas zircon and epidote are minor accessories Quartz is interstitial and may form subhedral ‘exystals (with inclusions of zircon }, as well as fine opaque dust arranged at random. - 274 -‘Alkali feldspar is represented by both orthoclase and albite (An 10). It is variably seticitised and kaolinised and part of it is stained with red hacmatitic material. Mica includes both biotite and muscovite and occurs as threads and minute flakes, Iron oxides form irregular granules disseminated throughout the rock. THE RHYOLITIC FLOWS AND TUFFS General Description + — The Rhyolitic Flows : ‘The rhyolitic flows form an elongate body that runs parallel to the felsite intrusion which extends southward beyond the limits of the present area. The body is about 15 km long by about 3.5 km maximum width at its central part ‘The thyolitie lows are bounded on the eastern side by the rhyolitic tuffs and on the western side by the Hammamat Sediments. The northern end of these rhyolites is, however, intruded on the eastern side by the felsite intrusion and on the western side by the Younger Granites of Wadi Umm Effein The contact between the rhyolitic flows and the tuffs is gradational and is marked by interbedded rocks of both groups. The contacts between the rhyolitie flows and the other units, on the other hand, are rather sharp. ‘These rhyolites are buff to pale red fine-gttined rocks showing excellent flow struct- ‘ure in the outcrop. Flow texture is manifested by the subparallel biotite flakes as well as iron oxide plates oriented in a NW-SE directions parallel to the elongat- jon of the rhyolitic body itsel. — The Rhyolitic Tuffs + ‘The rhyolitic ews form a belt lying between the Atalla felsite intrusion and the thyolitic flows. ‘The belt is about 14 km long and has an average width of about 12 km. ‘Along the contact, the Atala felste clearly and sharply cuts the chyolitie tus. Oe the crther hand, the contact between the rhyolitic tus and the rhyolitie flows is gradational and is marked by interbedding of rocks of both groups, “The shyoltic twls are unconformably overlain by sediments of the Hammamat Group. The latter forms an elongate island (about 3.5 km across) inside the mhyolitic tufts directly to the north of the Atalla gold mine. The tufis are, however, intruded by the younger granitic rocks of the Atalla gold mine = 25 -The thyolitie uff are cemarkably bedded in the outerop. ‘The beds strike NW: and commonly dip NE. Petrography ie rhyolitie flows : In thin scetion the rhyolitic flows consist mainly of oligociase microphenocrysts embedded in a microcrystalline flaidal groundmass formed of abundant quattz, alkali feldspar, iron oxides and mica. Zircon and epidote are minor accessories. The rocks show a distinct fluidal texture marked by the subparallel arrangement of iron oxides and biotite in the groundmass. Oli selase (An 16) phenocrysts form subhedral laths and tabular crystals up to Quartz occurs in the groundmass as-anhedral elongate crystals running parallel to the biotite and iron oxides. Alkali felsd clase and albite. ig restricted to the groundmass and is represented by both ortho- trom oxides occur as irregular elongate plates showing a preferred orientation, Mica including both muscovite and biotite forms parallel threads, The biotite ig cither pleochroie with X= honey brown Y= Z dark brown, or ese X= honey brown Y = Z brownish green. The rhyolitic tuffs + “The rhyolitic taffs are fine-grained rocks varying in colour betwesn buff and pale pink. ‘Angular ashes and are lapilliof a common size ranging Delvesn 0.1 and 4.0 mm fare qoually set in a tuffaccous matrix. Rarely do the rocks contain abundant lapill. “the rhyolitic tufts are essentially crystal tufls as they carry abundant crystal fragments and rare to scarce lithic ejecta. ‘The rhyolitic tufls include three main varieties: coarse crystal tufls, fine crystal tuff and bedded tuff. “The coarse erystal tufls consist mostly of erystal ashes uP 2 mm set in a fine tuffaceous groundmass. The crystal ashes include quartz 28 ‘well as feldspar. Quartz is distinctly strained and iron oxides are abundant, - 276 -‘The fine erystal tuffs carry erystal ash and dust of quartz and plagioclase feldspar firmly cemented with a tuffaceous matrix. ‘The bedded or laminated tufis are formed of laminae of dust tuff alternating with laminae of fine tuff Dust tuff laminae consist of quartz and albite crystals ash in an extremely fine pyroclastic matrix. The fine laminae, on the other hand, closely resemble the fine crystal tufts SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION ‘The Atalla felsite intrusion is, by far, the largest felsite intrusion recorded in the basement complex of the Eastern Desert Field relations between the Atalla felsite intrusion and the neighbouring rock units indicate that the felsite intrusion is older than the Younger Granites and younger than the rhyolitic ows and tuils pertaining to the Old Volcanics. No field relations were, however, observed between the felsite intrusion and the Hammemat Group. Yet, most of the felsite intrusions of the Eastern Desert cut the rocks of the Hammamat Group ‘and are accordingly known as post-Hammamat Felsites. ‘The rhyolitic tuffs, on the other hand, pertain to the Old Voleanies of Dokhan type, as witnessed from their relation with the Hammamat Group which rest uncon- formably over them. ‘The rhyolitic flows are also considered to pertain to the Old Volcanics in view of their interbedding with the rhyolitic tufls. It is both interesting and of paramount importance to note that the Atalla felsite and the rhyloitic flows and tufls are notably rich in iron oxides, simulating in this respect the rocks of the Dokhan type. ‘The present study concerning the Atalla felste intrusion and the neighbouring rhyo- lites throws in fact considerable light on that part of the geological history of the basement complex following the climax of the main orogeny and prior to the emplace- ment of the Younger Granites. The outlines of that part of the geological history of the mapped area may be summarized as follows : “The first event, following the climax of the main orogeny of the basement complex and the intrusion of the gabbroid-diortic rocks, was the outpouring of rhyolies, = 217 -Rhyolitie lavas have flowed over an extensive area in a NW-SE direstion, Evident from the merked flow structures of the shyolites, both in outerop and under the microscope, the shyolites appear to have crystallized during the flow of the lava. Apparently, the eastern side of the lava was relatively viscous and Bas loss was more explosive resulting accordingly in the production of rhyolitie tuft to the east of the cite of the rhyolitic flows. Contemporancous with the rhyoltie voleanism there seems to have eccurrel another eruption of a group of porphyry rocks where lavas of incipient qaurtz and feldspar dacites flowed over the southwestern part of the mapped area, Subsequent to the rhyolite voleanism the rocks of the area had experienced @ tectonism resulting in the deposition of the subgreywackés and subarenites Following the deposition, compaction and Tthifcation of the sediments of the Ham- mamat Group (subgreywack® and subarenites) there seems to have occurred & marked tectonism that effected the faulting of the area. ‘The emplacement of the Atalla felsite intrusion appears to have taken place along, one of these faults synchronous with the tectonism. Cooling of the felsites, was suficiently rapid particularly at the margins. Reerystal- lisation process during the cooling of the felsitic magma gave rise ‘0 intergrowth ‘textures represented by some felsite varieties. “The emplacement of the Atalla felsite intrusion was followed by another cemplace- ment of Younger Granites which terminated the igneous activity of the mapped ares: ‘The intimate association of felsite intrusions with rocks of the Iga Formation and Hammamet Group is indeed remarkable. Such an association, may be attributed \® the emplacement of the felsites along faults or fractures formed within the basin itself ‘where the sediments of the Hammamat Group were laid down. -The authors are of the opinion that it is rather difficult to consider the felsite inerusions as an individual rock eroup of the basement complex of the Faster Desert in view of the following + 1+ Firs, the felsites are of rather limited oocurrence as compared with the other rock groups of the basement complex known as yet. = 278 =2+, Secondly, judging ftom the occurrence of abundant iron oxides in the felsites and the rhyolites of Wadi Atalla, simulating in this respect the voleanic rocks of Dokhan type in general, it is postulated that both the felsites and the rhyolites pertain to ‘the same parent magma which gave rise to the Old Voleanics of the Eastern Desert. Admittedly, chemical analysis as well as trace-element data are needed for both groups of rocks to confirm this view. [As indicated before, the rhyolites were erupted before the deposition of the rocks of the Hammamet Group, whereas the felsites were intruded after the deposition, com- paction and lithification of the latter. The wide lapse of time between the eruption of the rhyolites and the emplacement of the felsites (both assumed to pertain to one end the same magma), appears to be due to the fact that the felsites could have not een intruded before the tectonism which effected the faulting of the basement rocks. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ‘The authors are greatly indebted to Prof, Dr. R. Said, and to Mr. A.A. Attia, for help and encouragement. Grateful thanks are due to Prof, Dr. M.K. Akaad for critical reading of the manu script and to Mr. M. F. El-Ramly and A.A, Dardir for their kind help in the field. REFERENCES AKAAD, M. K., 1957-Petrography, structures and time relations of the Tgla Form- ation, Eastern Desert, Egypt. Journ. Geol., 1, No. 2, 93 pp- AKAAD, M. K., 1959-Dykes, felsite intrusions and intrusion breccia at Wadi Isla, Eastern Desert. Egypt, Journ. Geol., 3, No. 1, 89 pp. AKAAD, M.K., I9TL-A contemplation and Assessment of the 1960-1967 classification of the Rocks of the Central Eastern Desert. AKAD, M. K., and EL-RAMLY, M. F., 1958-Seven New Occurrences of the Iola Formation in the Eastern-Desert of Egypt, Geol. Survey, Cairo, paper No. 3, 26 pp. AKAAD, M. K., and EL RAMLY, M.F,, 1960- Geological history and classification ‘of the Basement Rocks of the Central Eastern Desert. Geol: Survey Cairo, paper No. 9, 24pp. - 279 -AKAD, M. K., and NOWEIR, A.M, 1969 Lithostratigraphy of the Hammarnss Unm Seleimat District, Baste Desert, Egypt, Nature, 223, No. 5203, 284-285. DARDIR, A. and ABU ZEID, K., 1971a-Geology of the basement rocks between ‘Lat. 27°00" and 27°30" N, Eastern Desert. DARDIR, A. and ABU ZEID, K., 1971 b- Geology of Wadi El-Sagia area, Eastern Desert: ELRAMLY, M. F, 1972-A new geological map for the basement rocks in the astern and South-Western Deserts of Egypt, scale 1 + 1,000,000. Avmais Geol. Survey Egypt, Ml, 1-18. NOWEIR, A. M., 1968- Geology of the Hammamat Umm Seleimat District, Eastern Desert, Ph.D. thesis, Assiut University, U.A.R. SHAZLY, A. Gx, 19T1-Geology of Abu Ziran Area, Eastern Desert, Ph, D. thesis, ‘Assiut University, U. A. Re — 280 —