CONSTRAINING THE MID-EGYPTIAN TECTONIC EXTENSIONAL CORRIDOR (METEC)

Our research concerns the study of a collection of abnormally narrow horst-and-graben structures located between the Egyptian cities of Minya and Aswan, a region which we are proposing be called the Mid-Egyptian Tectonic Extensional Corridor (METEC). This region is roughly bounded by the coordinates 27°39'N 29°57'E, 28°19'N 31°20'E, 24°41'N 34°4'E, and 23°53'N 32°49'E. Researching this particular region is important for the understanding of the general tectonic and seismic profile of Egypt as well as the possible causes for the anomalous dimensions of these particular horsts and grabens. Preliminary research will be done using a combination of radar satellite, Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), gravimetric, and digital elevation model (DEM) data. Once the entire METEC has been constrained, more localized research can be done on each particular horst-and-graben structure within the METEC to aid in future seismic hazard mitigation for the region, as well as provide further insight into the formation processes of these atypical structures.