Fault interactions and role of preexisting structures on the geometry of conjugate transfer zones: Structural insights from Cairo-Suez District, Egypt

Abstract

The Cairo-Suez District (CSD), located in the northwestern sector of the Gulf of Suez rift, is characterized by significant structural complexity, including an intricate network of extensional faults and transfer zones. This study focuses on the Gebel El-Himeira and northern Gebel Ataqa areas, situated at the eastern part of the CSD. This research aims to clarify the internal architecture of these areas through detailed geological field mapping, structural data collection, and satellite imagery analysis. The primary objectives are to establish the geometry of the transfer zones, decipher their deformation history, and understand the influence of their evolution on syn-tectonic sedimentation. The structural analysis of the mapped areas reveals that the Gebel El-Himeira and northern Gebel Ataqa regions represent two prominent conjugate divergent transfer zones which formed between adjacent bounding faults that dip away from each other. The results indicate that the development of both transfer zones began during the Late Eocene and led to dissimilar geometries. This difference in geometry is attributed to the role of reactivated preexisting faults. The growth and propagation of these transfer zones exert significant control on syn-sedimentation processes. These findings provide valuable analogues for subsurface mapping and enhance the understanding of structural controls on hydrocarbon accumulation and migration pathways in similar rift-related basins.