Geomorphology of the Al-Umrani paleo-karst cave (southeastern Egypt): its morphological determinants and links to the Nile Quaternary terraces
(2022). Geomorphology of the Al-Umrani paleo-karst cave (southeastern Egypt): its morphological determinants and links to the Nile Quaternary terraces. EKB Journal Management System, 14(1), 1-24. doi: 10.21608/ejec.2022.230236
. "Geomorphology of the Al-Umrani paleo-karst cave (southeastern Egypt): its morphological determinants and links to the Nile Quaternary terraces". EKB Journal Management System, 14, 1, 2022, 1-24. doi: 10.21608/ejec.2022.230236
(2022). 'Geomorphology of the Al-Umrani paleo-karst cave (southeastern Egypt): its morphological determinants and links to the Nile Quaternary terraces', EKB Journal Management System, 14(1), pp. 1-24. doi: 10.21608/ejec.2022.230236
Geomorphology of the Al-Umrani paleo-karst cave (southeastern Egypt): its morphological determinants and links to the Nile Quaternary terraces. EKB Journal Management System, 2022; 14(1): 1-24. doi: 10.21608/ejec.2022.230236

Geomorphology of the Al-Umrani paleo-karst cave (southeastern Egypt): its morphological determinants and links to the Nile Quaternary terraces

The Egyptian Journal of Environmental Change
Article 1, Volume 14, Issue 1, April 2022, Page 1-24  XML PDF (7.75 MB)
Document Type: Peer-reviewed articles
DOI: 10.21608/ejec.2022.230236
View on SCiNiTO View on SCiNiTO
Abstract
This work presents –for the first time- the geomorphological characteristics of a recently explored karst cave (Al-Umrani karst cave) in eastern Egypt, allowing for better understanding of paleoclimate of Egypt in particular and the Sahara in general. This study provided a detailed geomorphological map and topographic profiles for the cave, which is located 12 km from the eastern bank of the Nile.  With a total area of 61 m2, the cave extends over only 32 m, with a breadth of about 17 m and a depth of 14 m from the entrance to the deepest point.  Al-Umrani Cave is a classic karst cave created by groundwater near the western edge of the Eocene limestone of the Northern Plateau of the Eastern Desert. The cave was formed in a shallow marine limestone hill (Mokattam Group, Samalout Formation) of the Middle Eocene. Inside the cave several paleo-karst features were recognized such as stalactites, columns, and few stalagmites. These geomorphological features indicate that the area was a relatively humid tropical environment during the karistirization activities up to the Quaternary. The cave led to the opening of an entranceway to multi-stages steeply passage to the major double karst chambers, it is formed along a fault line through the limestone hill. In this study, we also assessed effects of the Quaternary fluvial terraces of Wadi Al-Amrani on the cave morphology. This assessment was made based on extensive field work, combined with employing geomorphic mapping, digital elevation model (DEM) analysis, hydro-morphological analysis of Wadi Al-Umrani basin and its network, and detailed surveying of the interior cave using a laser Total Station, in addition to a laboratory analysis of stalactites samples and 14C dating.
Keywords
Al-Umrani paleo-cave; Wadi Al-Umrani; paleo-karst cave; paleo-karst; the Quaternary; Assiut; Egypt
References
  • Amin RM, Eissa MF. 2008. Radon level and radon effective dose rate determination using SSNTDs in Sannur cave, Eastern desert of Egypt. Environ Monit Assess 143:59–65
  • Amin RM, Mansy M, Eissa MF, Eissa HM, Shahin FM. 2008. Assessment of natural radioactivity and radon exhalation rate in Sannur cave, eastern desert of Egypt. J Radiol Prot 28:213–222
  • Bella P, Bosák P, Braucher R, Pruner P, Hercman H, Minár J, Veselský M, Holec J, Léanni L. 2019. Multi‐level Domica–Baradla cave system (Slovakia, Hungary): Middle Pliocene–Pleistocene evolution and implications for the denudation chronology of the Western Carpathians. Geomorphology 327: 62– 79.
  • Brook, G.,  Embabi, N., Ashour, M., Edwards, R., Cheng, H., Cowart, J, Dabous, A. 2002. Djara Cave in the Western Desert of Egypt: Morphology and evidence of Quaternary climatic change, Cave and Karst Science 29(2):57-66.
  • Chédeville S, Laignel B, Rodet J, Todisco D, Fournier M, Dupuis E, Girot G, Hanin G. 2015. The sedimentary filling in the chalk karst of the northwestern Paris Basin (Normandy, France): characterization, origin and hydro‐sedimentary behaviour. Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie 59: 79– 101.
  • Claben, E., Kindermann, K., Pastoors, A. & Riemer, H., 2001. Djara 90/1 - Felsbildhöhle und Fundplatz eines holozänen Gunstraums der Nordost-Sahara (Ägypten), Archäologisches Korrespondenzblatt 31(3): 349-364.
 

  • Droppa, A. 1960. The correlation of some horizontal caves with river terraces, Studies in Speleology 1: 185-193.
  • Dabous AA, Osmond JK .2000. U/Th isotopic study of speleothems from the Wadi Sannur Cavern, Eastern Desert of Egypt. Carbonates Evaporites 15:1–6
  • Egyptian General Petroleum Company (EGPC), 1987. Geological map of Egypt. NG 35 NE Farafra, Conoco Coral. Scale: 1:500000.
  • Korany, E.A., Tempel, R.N., Gomaa, M.A., Mohamed, R. G. 2013. Detecting the roles of the physiochemical processes on ground water evolution, Assiut area, Egypt-applications of hydrogeochemical and isotopic approaches. Egyptian journal of geology v.57:63-83.
  • Gunay G, Ekmeci M, Bayan C, Kurttas T, El-Bedewy F . 1997. A crescent shaped cave in Egypt. In: Gunay G, Johnson A (eds) Proceedings, symposium on karst waters and environmental impacts. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam: 257–263
  • Hansen,C.L. and Butzer, K.W., 1966. Early Pleistocene deposits of the Nile Valley in Egyptian Nubia, Quaternaria v.8: 177-185.
  • Harmand, D.,  Adamson,K.,  Rixhon,G.,  Jaillet, S.,  Losson,B.,  Devos, A.,  Hez,,G.,   Calvet, M. and   Audra, P. 2017. Relationships between fluvial evolution and karstification related to climatic, tectonic and eustatic forcing in temperate regions, Quaternary Science Reviews, Volume 166:38-56.
  • Ibrahim, H. A., Ebraheem, A. M., Abu El Ella, E. M., Bakheit, A. A. and El Hussaini, A. H. (1995): The study of groundwater resources along the plain of the River Nile (from Aswan to Assiut) using geoelectrical resistivity methods. Proceedings of the 1st inter. Conf.: The environment and development in Africa. October, 21-24, Assiut Univ., Assiut, Egypt: 273-300.
  • Kindermann, K., 2003. Djara: Prehistoric Links between the Desert and the Nile [in:] HAWASS, Z. & PINCH BROCK, L. (eds.), Egyptology at the Dawn of the Twenty-first Century, Proceedings of the Eighth International Congress of Egyptologists Cairo, 2000 (Vol. 1), Cairo: 272-279.
  • Kindermann, K., 2004. Djara: Excavations and surveys of the 1998-2002 seasons, ArchéoNil 14: 31-50.
  • Kindermann, K., 2006. Djara. Zur mittelholozänen Besiedlungsgeschichte zwischen Niltal und Oasen (Abu-Muhariq-Plateau, Ägypten). (Unpublished Ph.D. thesis Köln 2006).
  • Kindermann, K. & Bubenzer, O., 2007. Djara – humans and their environment on the Egyptian limestone plateau around 8,000 years ago [in:] BUBENZER, O., BOLTEN, A. & DARIUS, F. (eds.), Atlas of Cultural and Environmental Change in Arid Africa, Africa Praehistorica 21, Köln: 26-29.
  • Kindermann, K., Bubenzer,O., Nussbaum, S., Riemer, H., Darius, F., Pollath, N. & Smettan, U., 2006. Palaeoenvironment and Holocene land use of Djara, Western Desert of Egypt, Quaternary Science Reviews 25(13- 14): 1619-1637.
  • Kuper, R., 1996. Between the oases and the Nile. Djara: Rohlfs’ Cave in the Western Desert [in:] Krzy˝Aniak, L., Kroeper, K. & Kobusiewicz, M. (eds.), Interregional Contacts in the Later Prehistory of Northeastern Africa, Studies in African Archaeology 5, Poznan: 81-91.
  • Merghany, E.A.,2018. Cave and karst geomorphology of Assiut Governorate, unpublished MA thesis in Arabic language, Geography department, Assiut University. 317 p.
  • Nehme C, Jaillet S, Voisin C, Hellstrom J, Gérard‐Adjizian J, Delannoy JJ. 2016. Control of cave levels in Kanaan, Kassarat and Jeita karst systems (Central Mount Lebanon, Lebanon). Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie 60(2): 95– 117.
  • Osman, H. Z., 1980. Geological studies on the area to the northwest of Assiut. M. Sc. thesis, Fac. Sci., Assiut Univ., Assiut, Egypt.
  • Palmer, A. 1989.Geomorphic history of the Mammoth Cave system, in White, W. B. and White, E. L. (Eds), Karst Hydrology-Concepts from the Mammoth Cave area, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York: 317-337.
  • Rai, R.K., Upadhyay, A., Ojha, C.S.P., Singh, V.P., 2011. The Yamuna River Basin: Water Resources and Environment (Water Science and Technology Library), Springer, Netherlands: 478P.
  • Riemer, H., 2003. Abu Gerara: Mid-Holocene sites between Djara and Dakhla Oasis (Egypt) [in:] Krzy˝Aniak, L., Kroeper, K. & Kobusiewicz, M. (eds.), Cultural Markers in the Later Prehistory of Northeastern Africa and Recent Research 8, Poznan: 73-93.
  • Sallam, E, Dmitry A. Ruban,  Mostafa,M.,  . Elkhodery, M., Alwilily, R., Molchanova, T., Zorina, S. 2019. Unique desert caves as a valuable geological resource: first detailed geological heritage assessment of the Sannur Cave, Egypt, Arab J Geosc,13:14.
  • Schumm, S.A., 1956. Evolution of drainage systems and slopes in Badlands at Perth Amboy, New Jersey, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 67:597-646.
  • Smart, P. L, 1986. Origin and development of glacio-karstic closed depressions in the Picos de Europa, Spain, Zeitschrit fur Geomorphologie, N.F. 30:423-443.
  • Strahler, A.N., 1964. Geology, Part II, quantitative geomorphology of drainage basins and channel networks. In: Chow, V.T. (Ed.), Handbook of Applied Hydrology, McGraw-Hill Company, New York: 439-476.
  • Warwick, G. T., 1960. The effect of knick-point recession on the water-table and associated features in limestone regions, with special reference to England and Wales, Zeitschrift fur Geomorphologie, Supplement Band, 2: 92-99.
  • Youssef, M, 2003. Structural setting of central and South Egypt: An overview, Micropaleontology 49(Suppl_1):1-13.

 

Statistics
Article View: 342
PDF Download: 654