IMPLICATIONS OF TECTONIC MOVEMENTS TO PALEODRAINAGE DEVELOPMENT AND GROUNDWATER ACCUMULATION IN THE CENTRAL EASTERN DESERT OF EGYPT

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data have revealed morphotectonic relations of paleodrainage systems east of Egypt’s Nile Valley between Wadi Qena and Wadi Matula tributaries. Surface runoff connections between the two wadis are inferred from inverted valleys, buried paleodrainages, block movements and tectonic capture processes. Paleodrainages and the more recent drainages (including Wadi Matula, tributaries of Qena Valley along Qena-Safaga shear zone, and Wadi El-Serai) are superposed on weakness zones of major fractures, faults and shear zones. These zones facilitated the hydrological processes that caused erosion and down cutting. Therefore, the paleodrainage channels and the younger tributaries display cross-cutting relationships. Intersections of paleodrainages, drainage network, and active drainages along fault systems, using a GIS analysis tool, allowed the prediction of sites for the accumulation groundwater. Field investigations supported the premise that the tectonic elements control groundwater movements, including surface seepages and springs. Groundwater salinity of both deep and shallow aquifers increases southward toward the downstream as a result of leaching processes. In general, areas of faults, paleodrainages and stream intersections are the best sites for groundwater resources.