Department of Geology

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Who works at the Department of Geology

Department of Geology has more than 17 academic staff members

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Mr. Abdalraheem Mohammed Mohammed Huwaysh

Publications

Some of publications in Department of Geology

The Basaltic Intrusions of Central Jabal Nefusah Foothills

Abstract The basaltic Intrusions of the Central Jabal Nafūsah Foothills which extend from NW Wādi Zāret to NE Wādi Ghān Dām are part of the latest stage of Gharyān Volcanic Province (GVP). These intrusions are classified on basis of their shape and mechanism of emplacement into four kinds of volcanic bodies. These are; sheets (dykes and a sill), dykes associated with volcaniclasts, volcanic cone and lava mounds. Generally, the dyke emplacements are restricted only to the area between Wādi Zāret to Abū Ghaylān, while the other forms extend from Rās al Mazūl Dome to Wādi Ghān Dam. The more differentiated rocks are restricted to the area between Rās al Mazūl Dome and Wādi Ghān. Farther west towards Wādi Zāret, ultramafic xenoliths and magnesium-number increase, suggesting closer proximity to the source. The rocks are essentially alkaline with within Intraplate signatures. They straddle the composition from picrites, basanites, alkali basalts through hawaiites, mugearite to benmoreites with a compositional gap between the last two types. Generally, the phenocrysts are represented by foresteritic olivine, Cadiopsidic pyroxene, magnesiotaramitic amphibole, plagioclase, K-feldspar and titanomagnetite. The chemical composition of the mafic minerals indicates that they are high pressure phenocryst phases. The most primitive picrites satisfied the criteria of primary mantle melts. The rocks are generally, enriched in LILE suggesting an enriched mantle source. The studied rocks were grouped into five groups based on incompatible trace element ratios; Group-A includes picrite, basanites and hawaiites, and Group-B includes picrite (Z-3), basanites , alkali basalts, and hawaiites, while Group-C is formed of hawaiites, Group-D is composed of mugearite and Group-E is made up of benmoreites. Picrites and basanites of these rock have high Mg-number (>0.64), high Cr and Ni contents and strong light rare earth element enrichment, but systematic depletion in Rb, K and Ba relative to trace elements of similar compatibility in anhydrous mantle. Alkali basalts and more differentiated magmatic rocks have lower Mg-number and lower abundances of Ni and Cr, and have undergone fractionation of mainly olivine, clinopyroxene, Fe–Ti oxide, amphibole and plagioclase. The variation in the concentrations of major, trace, rare earth elements, and incompatible element ratios in the rock samples demonstrate the heterogeneous character of their source region. Such heterogeneity can be interpreted by the involvement of a heterogeneous mantle reservoir to different degrees of partial melting. The REE data require residual spinel stability peridotite field in the source and constrain the melting process of Group-C and Group-D to 2% to 3.5% degrees of melting respectively, Group-A and Group-B both to 5% degree of partial melting while Group-E to 10% degree of partial melting of spinel lherzolite xenoliths of Al Ourban area. Mass balance modelling of the major suggests two possible FC scenarios; Derivation of basanites and hawaiites of group-A from G-3 picritic parental magma. Derivation of Group-D and Group-E was also possible from these basanites. Derivation of basanites of Group-B from Z-3 picrite parental magma and simultaneous derivation of G-4 and QJ-1 alkali basalts from Z-3 picrite parental magma. V Simple mass-balance calculations suggest that the melting assemblages of picrites and basanites consisted of forsteritic olivine, diopsidic clinopyroxene, Ti-magnetite. While the alkali basalts and more differentiated magmatic rocks, mass-balance calculations suggest that the melting assemblages consisted of sodic plagioclase, magnesiotaramitic amphibole, diopsidic pyroxene, Ti-magnetite, K-feldspar with sub amounts of apatite and sphene.
سمية عون (2015)
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Stratigraphy and Depositionalenvironment of Abu Ahaylanformation - NW Libya

Abstract Seven geological sections have been examined and sampled with emphasis on sedimentological & diagenetic processes within Abu Ghaylan Formation and the contact relationships with the underlying Abu Shaybah and overlying Kiklah Formations. Based on current detailed field loggings and microscope investigations, 10 facies are recognized within Abu Ghaylan Formation. The lowermost succession characterised by an overall transition from continental fluvially dominated deposits of the Abu Shaybah Formation into transitional to marginal marine, tidal flat deposits of the Abu Ghaylan Formation upward. The transitional nature of this lowermost part succession is demonstrated by interbeddings of claystone, sandstone and fossiliferous facies arranging in coarsening up cycle, in which most probably deposited in estuary / beach environment.The Abu Ghaylan Formation generally wedges laterally eastward and exposes intermittently east of Wadi Ghan area resulting of syngenetic uplift of Wadi Ghan area followed by erosion (ElHinnawy & Cheshitev, 1975). A slightly earlier uplift and greater erosion in a westward sloping basin of deposition near the close of the Early Jurassic and Early Cretaceous times is suggested by Fatmi & Sbeta (1991). The current study reveals that several exposure surfaces are demonstrated within Abu Ghaylan Formation suggesting uplifting and erosion episodes interrupted Abu Ghaylan Formation, where a restricted distribution of Abu Ghaylan may suggest a local tectonic overprint.Although the overall impression is that the base beds of Kiklah Formation starts with sandstone and red clay beds as channel infill deposits above Abu Ghaylan carbonate unit with surface of unconformity, however, based on current close investigation, a sequence characterized by interbeddings of carbonate and greenish clay overlying Abu Ghaylan Formation with surface of unconformity and gradationally overlain by sandstone beds should be introduced as separate unit attributes to Kiklah Formation.The current study emphasizes and supports a solution collapse origin for the breccias and introduces better insight into architecture and geomorphology of the breccias bodies that are exposed in the area of study. The dissolution of evaporites is considered responsible for all breccias development in this stratigraphic interval. According to the occurrence mode of breccias, the breccias intervals have been divided into two main parts; a lower section of strata that contains collapsed paleocaves and an upper section of strata that is deformed to varying degrees due to the collapse and compaction of the section of paleocave-bearing strata. The sharp flat base, inverse grading, V-shaped/ sag structures and irregular undulating top of brecciated bodies are recognized within Abu Ghaylan Formation and typically characterize solution collapse processes. Based on field study and architecture relationships, five distinctive karst facies are recognized in the area of study.The early diagenetic genetically related processes probably interrupted the deposition of Abu Ghaylan Formation is a most possible assumption for the origin and timing of breccias formation.
أحمد أبوبكر الحلو (2015)
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Geology of Deformed Pan-african Area in Wadi Mourizidie Pass, Tibesti massif, Southern Libya.

Abstract As part of the NE-trending Mourizidie Shear Zone in south-central Libya (south of Mourizidie pass), four units representing Preccambrian basement rocks (metasediments) were mapped during field work: phyllites (metaclaystone); metapelites (metasiltstone); pasmmites (metasandstone) and Quartzites. Granitic bodies of various sizes (few meters to hundreds of meters) are found throughout the study area. The metasediments and granites are both intruded by veins and dikes having an overall NE trend. Four Palaeozoic sedimentary units were mapped within the study area. The concidence of the S1 foliation with the S0 of the original bedding of the protolith is a proof that the S1 foliation is caused by deep burial. The petrographic description of the minerals in thin section shows an assemblage of sericite, muscovite and biotite, all representing a sub-greenschist facies to greenshcist facies. This low grade metamorphism helped in preseving the original sedimentary structures of the protolith, thus helping in identifying the original bedding plane S0. Faults observed in the field or traced on aerial photograhs belong to three major trend: NE, NNE, and ENE. Folds are extremely diverse in shape, attiude and tightness, thus their classification is equally diverse. This diversity is observed in the field even within a distance of no more than few meters. The isostatic rebound of the basement could have caused this great difference in the attitude of the folds, especially at considerable depths characterised by a kinematically ductile, restricted and contained settingAt least two phases of deformation are present in the area. D1 is marked by the generation of S1, while D2 is marked by the first folding F1 caused by the isostatic rebound he generation of S2 foliation as fan cleavage is directly related to the F1 folding. Some folds underwent refolding, which lead to an F2 phase of folding.Sequential schematic structural model is proposed to explain the structural history of the study area. This model should be tested through intensive detailed field work large scale map in nearby areas.
مسعودة محمد حنبولة (2015)
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