New Lights on Mineralogical and Geochemical Characteristics of Cretaceous Rocks, Gabal Qabaliat Area, South West Sinai, Egypt

Mahmoud Ahmed El Ammawy; Bothaina Mohamed Moussa; Refaat Abdelkareem Osman; Gamal Mohamed El Qot; El Sayed Ali El Abd

doi:doi:10.11648/j.aas.20210604.14

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New Lights on Mineralogical and Geochemical Characteristics of Cretaceous Rocks, Gabal Qabaliat Area, South West Sinai, Egypt

Mahmoud Ahmed El Ammawy, Bothaina Mohamed Moussa, Refaat Abdelkareem Osman, Gamal Mohamed El Qot, El Sayed Ali El Abd

Published in Advances in Applied Sciences (Volume 6, Issue 4)

Received: 23 August 2021 Accepted: 3 September 2021 Published: 5 November 2021

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Abstract

The Cretaceous sedimentary succession at Gabal El-Qabaliat range in age from Aptian-Albian to Maastrichtian. Lithostratigraphically, the succession is subdivided into Malha, Raha, Abu Qada, Wata, Matulla and Sudr formations. The mineralogy of bulk samples of Malha Formation reveals one association (quartz, kaolinite, anhydrite, muscovite and calcite followed by dolomite). The Raha Formation reveals the presence of two cycles of environmental conditions. (calcite then quartz, kaolinite and gypsum; quartz, halite, hematite, muscovite, kaolinite and gypsum). Abu Qada Formation has two cycles of environmental conditions (quartz, halite, montmorillonite, kaolinite, muscovite and calcite; quartz, anhydrite, glauconite and hematite) but Wata Formation has one cycle (calcite, dolomite and quartz). Matulla Formation has four associations (calcite, dolomite, anhydrite, hematite, quartz; calcite, dolomite, quartz, goethite, hematite and gypsum; quartz, goethite, gypsum, calcite, hematite, glauconite, kaolinite; quartz, montmorillonite, halite, anhydrite, muscovite and calcite). The clay mineralogy of Raha Formation reveals one clay association (montmorillonite, saponite and kaolinite), but Abu Qada Formation reveals the presence of two cycles of environmental conditions (lower one: kaolinite, chlorite, saponite, illite and goethite; second: montmorillonite, saponite, chlorite=kaolinite, goethite). Matulla Formation has two clay associations [montmorillonite with monor illite, saponite > kaolinite (lower cycle; middle part of this formation), montmorillonite= saponite (2^nd cycle)]. Form the geochemical studies, the variation in each major oxides and trace elements either in clastic or non-clastic rocks discussed revealing the kind of clay mineral associations and other minor components present. Two groups were identified based on CaO and MgO contents; 1^st group has > 54% CaO and low MgO including Raha, Matulla and Sudr limestones while the other group including the moredolomitic facies of Abu Qada. The dolomitic facies of Abu Qada exhibit high CaO compared with the Wata and Matulla formations. Four groups were identified based on SiO₂ and CaO contents, the 1^st group has <1% SiO₂ and > 54% CaO including Sudr, Matulla and Raha limestones; the 2^nd one has 1-2.2% SiO₂ and 47-54% CaO including Abu Qada samples; the 3^rd one has ~3% SiO₂ and 35% CaO as in Wata dolomitic limestone and the 4^th one has 27% SiO₂ and 37% CaO including dolomitic limestone of Matulla Formation. Ba and Sr contents of limestone facies reflect a separation between the different types, where Ba contents of dolomitic facies are more than their contents in limestone facies of Abu Qada, Wata, and Matulla. The Sr contents have the opposite trend where Sr content of limestone are more than that of dolomitic facies (Raha and Matulla).

Published in	Advances in Applied Sciences (Volume 6, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.aas.20210604.14
Page(s)	88-105
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Mineralogical, Geochemical, Cretaceous, Gabal Qabaliat

References

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[2]	Abdel-Gawad, G. I., El-Sheikh, H. A., Abdelhamid, M. A., El-Beshtawy, M. K., Abed, M. M., Fürsich, F., T. and El-Qot, G. M., 2004, Stratigraphic Studies on Some Upper Cretaceous Sucessions in Sinai, Egypt: Egyptian Journal of Paleontology, 4, 263-303.
[3]	Ahmed, S. M. and Osman, R., 1995, A field appraised of sedimentary facies and environment of the pre-Carboniferous, SW Sinai, Egypt: J. Sed., 6, 21-32.
[4]	Allam, A., and Khalil, H., 1989, Geology and Stratigraphy of Gabal Qabaliat Area, Southwestern Sinai, Egypt: Journal of African Earth Science, 9, (1), 59-67.
[5]	Anan, T. I., and Wanas, H., 2015, Dolomitization in the Carbonate Rocks of the Upper Turonian Wata Formation, West Sinai, NE Egypt; Petrographic and Geochemical Constraints. Egypt: Journal of African Earth Science, 111, 127-137.
[6]	Bunter, M. A. G., 1982, Surface and Subsurface Geology of the El Qaa basin, Southwest Sinai, Egypt. 6^th E. G. P. C. Expl. Sem., Cairo.
[7]	Cherif, O. H., Al-Rifaiy, I. A.; Al-Afifi, F. I. and Orabi, O. H., 1989a, Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy and paleoecology of some Cenomanian- Turonian exposures in west-central Sinai, Egypt: Revue de Micropaléontologie, 31, 243-262.
[8]	Cherif, O. H., Al-Rifaiy, I. A.; Al-Afifi, F. I. and Orabi, O. H., 1989b, Planktonic foraminifera and chronostratigraphy of Senonian exposures in west-central Sinai, Egypt: Revue de Micropaleontology, 31, 167-184.
[9]	El-Aassy, I. E., Botros, N. H. and Shahata, R. M., 1992, Geology and uranium distribution in the phosphorite beds, Gabal Qabaliat, southwest Sinai (New occurrence), Processes of 3^rd Conference Geology Sinai Development, Ismailia, 209 – 216.
[10]	Herron, M. M., 1988, geochemical classification of terrigeneous sands and shales from cores or log data: Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 58, 820-829.
[11]	Floyd, P. A; Winchester. J. A. and Park. R. G., 1989, Geochemistry and tectonic setting of learisian clastic metasediments from the Early Proterozoic, Loch Merc Group of Gairloch, NW Scotland: Precamb. Res., 45, 203-214.
[12]	Issawi, B., El-Hannawi, M., El Khawaga, L., Labib, S. and Anani, N., 1981, Contribution to the geology of East Sinai. Annals of the Geology Survey of Egypt, 21, 55-88.
[13]	Issawi, B., El-Hannawi, M., Francis, M. and Mazhar, A., 1999& 2005, The Phanerozoic Geology of Egypt, a geodynamic approach: Egypt Geology Survey., Special publication 76, 462 p.
[14]	Jones, B. F., and Galan, E., 1988, Sepiolite and palygorskite. In: Hydrous phyllosilicates exclusive of micas (Bailey S. W., Ed.): Rev. Mineral., 19, 631-674.
[15]	Keller, W. D., 1964, Clay minerals in the Morrion Formation of the Colorado plateau. United State: Geology Survey, Bull., 1150, 90 p.
[16]	Mansour M. G., Mousa, E. M., and Mohamed, E. F., 2001, Petrography, geochemistry and U-Th distribution of chert in Sudr chalk, Sinai, Egypt: Processes of the 6^th conference. Geology. Sinai for development, Ismailia 165-174.
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[19]	Shahin, A. 1988, Fossil fauna and stable isotopic composition within the Late Cretaceous-Early Tertiary at Gebel Nezzazat, Sinai, Egypt: Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis: 212 pp., 31 pls.
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Mahmoud Ahmed El Ammawy, Bothaina Mohamed Moussa, Refaat Abdelkareem Osman, Gamal Mohamed El Qot, El Sayed Ali El Abd. (2021). New Lights on Mineralogical and Geochemical Characteristics of Cretaceous Rocks, Gabal Qabaliat Area, South West Sinai, Egypt. Advances in Applied Sciences, 6(4), 88-105. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aas.20210604.14

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Mahmoud Ahmed El Ammawy; Bothaina Mohamed Moussa; Refaat Abdelkareem Osman; Gamal Mohamed El Qot; El Sayed Ali El Abd. New Lights on Mineralogical and Geochemical Characteristics of Cretaceous Rocks, Gabal Qabaliat Area, South West Sinai, Egypt. Adv. Appl. Sci. 2021, 6(4), 88-105. doi: 10.11648/j.aas.20210604.14

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AMA Style

Mahmoud Ahmed El Ammawy, Bothaina Mohamed Moussa, Refaat Abdelkareem Osman, Gamal Mohamed El Qot, El Sayed Ali El Abd. New Lights on Mineralogical and Geochemical Characteristics of Cretaceous Rocks, Gabal Qabaliat Area, South West Sinai, Egypt. Adv Appl Sci. 2021;6(4):88-105. doi: 10.11648/j.aas.20210604.14

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@article{10.11648/j.aas.20210604.14,
  author = {Mahmoud Ahmed El Ammawy and Bothaina Mohamed Moussa and Refaat Abdelkareem Osman and Gamal Mohamed El Qot and El Sayed Ali El Abd},
  title = {New Lights on Mineralogical and Geochemical Characteristics of Cretaceous Rocks, Gabal Qabaliat Area, South West Sinai, Egypt},
  journal = {Advances in Applied Sciences},
  volume = {6},
  number = {4},
  pages = {88-105},
  doi = {10.11648/j.aas.20210604.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aas.20210604.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.aas.20210604.14},
  abstract = {The Cretaceous sedimentary succession at Gabal El-Qabaliat range in age from Aptian-Albian to Maastrichtian. Lithostratigraphically, the succession is subdivided into Malha, Raha, Abu Qada, Wata, Matulla and Sudr formations. The mineralogy of bulk samples of Malha Formation reveals one association (quartz, kaolinite, anhydrite, muscovite and calcite followed by dolomite). The Raha Formation reveals the presence of two cycles of environmental conditions. (calcite then quartz, kaolinite and gypsum; quartz, halite, hematite, muscovite, kaolinite and gypsum). Abu Qada Formation has two cycles of environmental conditions (quartz, halite, montmorillonite, kaolinite, muscovite and calcite; quartz, anhydrite, glauconite and hematite) but Wata Formation has one cycle (calcite, dolomite and quartz). Matulla Formation has four associations (calcite, dolomite, anhydrite, hematite, quartz; calcite, dolomite, quartz, goethite, hematite and gypsum; quartz, goethite, gypsum, calcite, hematite, glauconite, kaolinite; quartz, montmorillonite, halite, anhydrite, muscovite and calcite). The clay mineralogy of Raha Formation reveals one clay association (montmorillonite, saponite and kaolinite), but Abu Qada Formation reveals the presence of two cycles of environmental conditions (lower one: kaolinite, chlorite, saponite, illite and goethite; second: montmorillonite, saponite, chlorite=kaolinite, goethite). Matulla Formation has two clay associations [montmorillonite with monor illite, saponite > kaolinite (lower cycle; middle part of this formation), montmorillonite= saponite (2nd cycle)]. Form the geochemical studies, the variation in each major oxides and trace elements either in clastic or non-clastic rocks discussed revealing the kind of clay mineral associations and other minor components present. Two groups were identified based on CaO and MgO contents; 1st group has > 54% CaO and low MgO including Raha, Matulla and Sudr limestones while the other group including the moredolomitic facies of Abu Qada. The dolomitic facies of Abu Qada exhibit high CaO compared with the Wata and Matulla formations. Four groups were identified based on SiO2 and CaO contents, the 1st group has 2 and > 54% CaO including Sudr, Matulla and Raha limestones; the 2nd one has 1-2.2% SiO2 and 47-54% CaO including Abu Qada samples; the 3rd one has ~3% SiO2 and 35% CaO as in Wata dolomitic limestone and the 4th one has 27% SiO2 and 37% CaO including dolomitic limestone of Matulla Formation. Ba and Sr contents of limestone facies reflect a separation between the different types, where Ba contents of dolomitic facies are more than their contents in limestone facies of Abu Qada, Wata, and Matulla. The Sr contents have the opposite trend where Sr content of limestone are more than that of dolomitic facies (Raha and Matulla).},
 year = {2021}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - New Lights on Mineralogical and Geochemical Characteristics of Cretaceous Rocks, Gabal Qabaliat Area, South West Sinai, Egypt
AU  - Mahmoud Ahmed El Ammawy
AU  - Bothaina Mohamed Moussa
AU  - Refaat Abdelkareem Osman
AU  - Gamal Mohamed El Qot
AU  - El Sayed Ali El Abd
Y1  - 2021/11/05
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aas.20210604.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.aas.20210604.14
T2  - Advances in Applied Sciences
JF  - Advances in Applied Sciences
JO  - Advances in Applied Sciences
SP  - 88
EP  - 105
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-1514
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aas.20210604.14
AB  - The Cretaceous sedimentary succession at Gabal El-Qabaliat range in age from Aptian-Albian to Maastrichtian. Lithostratigraphically, the succession is subdivided into Malha, Raha, Abu Qada, Wata, Matulla and Sudr formations. The mineralogy of bulk samples of Malha Formation reveals one association (quartz, kaolinite, anhydrite, muscovite and calcite followed by dolomite). The Raha Formation reveals the presence of two cycles of environmental conditions. (calcite then quartz, kaolinite and gypsum; quartz, halite, hematite, muscovite, kaolinite and gypsum). Abu Qada Formation has two cycles of environmental conditions (quartz, halite, montmorillonite, kaolinite, muscovite and calcite; quartz, anhydrite, glauconite and hematite) but Wata Formation has one cycle (calcite, dolomite and quartz). Matulla Formation has four associations (calcite, dolomite, anhydrite, hematite, quartz; calcite, dolomite, quartz, goethite, hematite and gypsum; quartz, goethite, gypsum, calcite, hematite, glauconite, kaolinite; quartz, montmorillonite, halite, anhydrite, muscovite and calcite). The clay mineralogy of Raha Formation reveals one clay association (montmorillonite, saponite and kaolinite), but Abu Qada Formation reveals the presence of two cycles of environmental conditions (lower one: kaolinite, chlorite, saponite, illite and goethite; second: montmorillonite, saponite, chlorite=kaolinite, goethite). Matulla Formation has two clay associations [montmorillonite with monor illite, saponite > kaolinite (lower cycle; middle part of this formation), montmorillonite= saponite (2nd cycle)]. Form the geochemical studies, the variation in each major oxides and trace elements either in clastic or non-clastic rocks discussed revealing the kind of clay mineral associations and other minor components present. Two groups were identified based on CaO and MgO contents; 1st group has > 54% CaO and low MgO including Raha, Matulla and Sudr limestones while the other group including the moredolomitic facies of Abu Qada. The dolomitic facies of Abu Qada exhibit high CaO compared with the Wata and Matulla formations. Four groups were identified based on SiO2 and CaO contents, the 1st group has 2 and > 54% CaO including Sudr, Matulla and Raha limestones; the 2nd one has 1-2.2% SiO2 and 47-54% CaO including Abu Qada samples; the 3rd one has ~3% SiO2 and 35% CaO as in Wata dolomitic limestone and the 4th one has 27% SiO2 and 37% CaO including dolomitic limestone of Matulla Formation. Ba and Sr contents of limestone facies reflect a separation between the different types, where Ba contents of dolomitic facies are more than their contents in limestone facies of Abu Qada, Wata, and Matulla. The Sr contents have the opposite trend where Sr content of limestone are more than that of dolomitic facies (Raha and Matulla).
VL  - 6
IS  - 4
ER  -

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Author Information

Mahmoud Ahmed El Ammawy

Department of Geology, Desert Research Center, Cairo, Egypt
Bothaina Mohamed Moussa

Department of Geology, Desert Research Center, Cairo, Egypt
Refaat Abdelkareem Osman

Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Benha University, Banha, Egypt
Gamal Mohamed El Qot

Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Benha University, Banha, Egypt
El Sayed Ali El Abd

Department of Geology, Desert Research Center, Cairo, Egypt

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Mahmoud Ahmed El Ammawy, Bothaina Mohamed Moussa, Refaat Abdelkareem Osman, Gamal Mohamed El Qot, El Sayed Ali El Abd. (2021). New Lights on Mineralogical and Geochemical Characteristics of Cretaceous Rocks, Gabal Qabaliat Area, South West Sinai, Egypt. Advances in Applied Sciences, 6(4), 88-105. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aas.20210604.14

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ACS Style

Mahmoud Ahmed El Ammawy; Bothaina Mohamed Moussa; Refaat Abdelkareem Osman; Gamal Mohamed El Qot; El Sayed Ali El Abd. New Lights on Mineralogical and Geochemical Characteristics of Cretaceous Rocks, Gabal Qabaliat Area, South West Sinai, Egypt. Adv. Appl. Sci. 2021, 6(4), 88-105. doi: 10.11648/j.aas.20210604.14

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AMA Style

Mahmoud Ahmed El Ammawy, Bothaina Mohamed Moussa, Refaat Abdelkareem Osman, Gamal Mohamed El Qot, El Sayed Ali El Abd. New Lights on Mineralogical and Geochemical Characteristics of Cretaceous Rocks, Gabal Qabaliat Area, South West Sinai, Egypt. Adv Appl Sci. 2021;6(4):88-105. doi: 10.11648/j.aas.20210604.14

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@article{10.11648/j.aas.20210604.14,
  author = {Mahmoud Ahmed El Ammawy and Bothaina Mohamed Moussa and Refaat Abdelkareem Osman and Gamal Mohamed El Qot and El Sayed Ali El Abd},
  title = {New Lights on Mineralogical and Geochemical Characteristics of Cretaceous Rocks, Gabal Qabaliat Area, South West Sinai, Egypt},
  journal = {Advances in Applied Sciences},
  volume = {6},
  number = {4},
  pages = {88-105},
  doi = {10.11648/j.aas.20210604.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aas.20210604.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.aas.20210604.14},
  abstract = {The Cretaceous sedimentary succession at Gabal El-Qabaliat range in age from Aptian-Albian to Maastrichtian. Lithostratigraphically, the succession is subdivided into Malha, Raha, Abu Qada, Wata, Matulla and Sudr formations. The mineralogy of bulk samples of Malha Formation reveals one association (quartz, kaolinite, anhydrite, muscovite and calcite followed by dolomite). The Raha Formation reveals the presence of two cycles of environmental conditions. (calcite then quartz, kaolinite and gypsum; quartz, halite, hematite, muscovite, kaolinite and gypsum). Abu Qada Formation has two cycles of environmental conditions (quartz, halite, montmorillonite, kaolinite, muscovite and calcite; quartz, anhydrite, glauconite and hematite) but Wata Formation has one cycle (calcite, dolomite and quartz). Matulla Formation has four associations (calcite, dolomite, anhydrite, hematite, quartz; calcite, dolomite, quartz, goethite, hematite and gypsum; quartz, goethite, gypsum, calcite, hematite, glauconite, kaolinite; quartz, montmorillonite, halite, anhydrite, muscovite and calcite). The clay mineralogy of Raha Formation reveals one clay association (montmorillonite, saponite and kaolinite), but Abu Qada Formation reveals the presence of two cycles of environmental conditions (lower one: kaolinite, chlorite, saponite, illite and goethite; second: montmorillonite, saponite, chlorite=kaolinite, goethite). Matulla Formation has two clay associations [montmorillonite with monor illite, saponite > kaolinite (lower cycle; middle part of this formation), montmorillonite= saponite (2nd cycle)]. Form the geochemical studies, the variation in each major oxides and trace elements either in clastic or non-clastic rocks discussed revealing the kind of clay mineral associations and other minor components present. Two groups were identified based on CaO and MgO contents; 1st group has > 54% CaO and low MgO including Raha, Matulla and Sudr limestones while the other group including the moredolomitic facies of Abu Qada. The dolomitic facies of Abu Qada exhibit high CaO compared with the Wata and Matulla formations. Four groups were identified based on SiO2 and CaO contents, the 1st group has 2 and > 54% CaO including Sudr, Matulla and Raha limestones; the 2nd one has 1-2.2% SiO2 and 47-54% CaO including Abu Qada samples; the 3rd one has ~3% SiO2 and 35% CaO as in Wata dolomitic limestone and the 4th one has 27% SiO2 and 37% CaO including dolomitic limestone of Matulla Formation. Ba and Sr contents of limestone facies reflect a separation between the different types, where Ba contents of dolomitic facies are more than their contents in limestone facies of Abu Qada, Wata, and Matulla. The Sr contents have the opposite trend where Sr content of limestone are more than that of dolomitic facies (Raha and Matulla).},
 year = {2021}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - New Lights on Mineralogical and Geochemical Characteristics of Cretaceous Rocks, Gabal Qabaliat Area, South West Sinai, Egypt
AU  - Mahmoud Ahmed El Ammawy
AU  - Bothaina Mohamed Moussa
AU  - Refaat Abdelkareem Osman
AU  - Gamal Mohamed El Qot
AU  - El Sayed Ali El Abd
Y1  - 2021/11/05
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aas.20210604.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.aas.20210604.14
T2  - Advances in Applied Sciences
JF  - Advances in Applied Sciences
JO  - Advances in Applied Sciences
SP  - 88
EP  - 105
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-1514
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aas.20210604.14
AB  - The Cretaceous sedimentary succession at Gabal El-Qabaliat range in age from Aptian-Albian to Maastrichtian. Lithostratigraphically, the succession is subdivided into Malha, Raha, Abu Qada, Wata, Matulla and Sudr formations. The mineralogy of bulk samples of Malha Formation reveals one association (quartz, kaolinite, anhydrite, muscovite and calcite followed by dolomite). The Raha Formation reveals the presence of two cycles of environmental conditions. (calcite then quartz, kaolinite and gypsum; quartz, halite, hematite, muscovite, kaolinite and gypsum). Abu Qada Formation has two cycles of environmental conditions (quartz, halite, montmorillonite, kaolinite, muscovite and calcite; quartz, anhydrite, glauconite and hematite) but Wata Formation has one cycle (calcite, dolomite and quartz). Matulla Formation has four associations (calcite, dolomite, anhydrite, hematite, quartz; calcite, dolomite, quartz, goethite, hematite and gypsum; quartz, goethite, gypsum, calcite, hematite, glauconite, kaolinite; quartz, montmorillonite, halite, anhydrite, muscovite and calcite). The clay mineralogy of Raha Formation reveals one clay association (montmorillonite, saponite and kaolinite), but Abu Qada Formation reveals the presence of two cycles of environmental conditions (lower one: kaolinite, chlorite, saponite, illite and goethite; second: montmorillonite, saponite, chlorite=kaolinite, goethite). Matulla Formation has two clay associations [montmorillonite with monor illite, saponite > kaolinite (lower cycle; middle part of this formation), montmorillonite= saponite (2nd cycle)]. Form the geochemical studies, the variation in each major oxides and trace elements either in clastic or non-clastic rocks discussed revealing the kind of clay mineral associations and other minor components present. Two groups were identified based on CaO and MgO contents; 1st group has > 54% CaO and low MgO including Raha, Matulla and Sudr limestones while the other group including the moredolomitic facies of Abu Qada. The dolomitic facies of Abu Qada exhibit high CaO compared with the Wata and Matulla formations. Four groups were identified based on SiO2 and CaO contents, the 1st group has 2 and > 54% CaO including Sudr, Matulla and Raha limestones; the 2nd one has 1-2.2% SiO2 and 47-54% CaO including Abu Qada samples; the 3rd one has ~3% SiO2 and 35% CaO as in Wata dolomitic limestone and the 4th one has 27% SiO2 and 37% CaO including dolomitic limestone of Matulla Formation. Ba and Sr contents of limestone facies reflect a separation between the different types, where Ba contents of dolomitic facies are more than their contents in limestone facies of Abu Qada, Wata, and Matulla. The Sr contents have the opposite trend where Sr content of limestone are more than that of dolomitic facies (Raha and Matulla).
VL  - 6
IS  - 4
ER  -

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